Adding a gate/arch to our homestead

Another homestead project. This time a gate/arch.

The project has three phases. #1 Excavating and concrete work, #2 erecting the pillars and crossbeam, #3 constructing and hanging the gates. If I can find a good, quality solar, gate opener, I may add that as well as a wireless, solar intercom. We are too far from any power source to trench in electrical.

In a few weeks, I will start my 62nd trip around the son but I still have a few projects left in me. And I learned that to hire somebody to do the entire project would run near $10,000. Without paying myself, I estimate the materials to be less than $1500.

This is phase #1. Since my tractor has a back hoe, and the holes are on the small side, this is not a real challenge (except for the rocks but I encountered none lager than a basketball)  

Not shown in the fist two images below are large rocks placed around the two small wing fences on both sides. When I did the CAD modle I did not bother to draw boulders.






























































My little Jackery power bank would not power an electric concrete mixer so I just mixed the batches by hand



















Then I applied a WATER BASED cure and seal (No toxic gick)

Your organisation is beyond belief!
Well done.

I am pleased to watch your work on this project.   This will be a portal into your realm, one could surmise.  It is great to see how your build is so strong and  handsome.

I do like the rebar bender - gives lots of possibilities....

A little quality time with some heavy timbers.  Now I have to work on the cross bar to join the two side.

More Entrance gate progress. The wing fences and some rocks are in place and I did some staining. Still waiting on the metal work for the gates and the cross beam.

I will be adding more boulders beyond the wing fences. If I can fit a boulder in the bucket of my tractor, it will lift it. Im always surprised at what this tractor can do.

If somebody has a desire to drive around or through the outer wing fences, The boulders will give them a bit of grief.

We have gates hung. Not secure gates (yet) but they will have security features added.




















Next will be raising the big beam.

It's looking very smart Ron! Can you please show us how the lifting pulleys will be/are set up?

Its almost finished. I still need to do the security, locking portion and the motion sensing and security camera portion.







Drone footage of completed project

Video showing the lifting of the big cross beam

Professional quality, and I applaud all your efforts