Google
Book Appointment!
Custom gate design · Galveston County, TX

Custom Gate Design in Galveston, TX

A custom gate is drawn for one opening instead of picked from stock panels. You choose the leaf split, the top, the infill, the frame and finish, and the hardware, and each choice has to work with the posts, the salt air and the local rules. Try it in the designer below.

  • Reviewed Sept 26, 2026
  • Sources: 2021 ISPSC, AGA, ASTM F2408, City of Galveston LDR
  • Live gate designer
Call (346) 910-8641Design your gate
Arched double wood gate closing off a concrete driveway
A steel-frame double drive gate with wood infill and an arched top, from recent work.
The short answer

Custom gate design comes down to five decisions. The first is the size and leaf split, which sets the gate post: one steel line’s table goes from 2.5 in. for a leaf up to 4 ft to 6 in. for 10–16 ft. The others are the frame and finish, the infill and top, the hardware and automation, and the local rules. For salt air, ask whether steel is hot-dip galvanized after fabrication (ASTM A123) or built from pre-galvanized tube (G90 is about 0.76 mil of zinc per side). In a pool barrier, no opening may pass a 4 in. sphere, and gaps drop to 1¾ in. when rails are under 45 in. apart.

6″Gate post one steel line lists for a 10–16 ft leaf (2.5″ up to 4 ft)
0.76 milZinc per side on G90 pre-galvanized steel, before any powder coat
4″Pool gates: no opening may pass a 4-inch sphere
5 ftFront-yard limit for a gate at least 60% transparent (4 ft if solid)

Sources: Ameristar Montage Commercial Table 1; American Galvanizers Association; 2021 ISPSC §305.2; City of Galveston LDR §2.501.

What “custom” means for a gate

A stock gate comes in set widths and styles. A custom gate is sized to your opening and designed around how you’ll use it: the width of each leaf, the height at the posts, the top, the infill, and the hardware. It can match an existing fence or gate, or mix materials such as wood boards in a steel frame. See what custom fabrication actually means and matching an existing fence.

For estate-scale entries with columns and walk gates, see estate entry gates. For design ideas in iron, see custom iron driveway gate ideas.

Design your gate

Set the opening, the leaves, the top and the infill. The drawing redraws as you go, and the checks show the gate post one maker lists for that leaf, how open the design is, and which Galveston rules apply.

6 ftEACH LEAF
Post
Infill
Finish

Gate post: Ameristar Montage Commercial catalog Table 1 (up to 4 ft leaf 2.5 in., 4–6 ft 3 in., 6–10 ft 4 in., 10–16 ft 6 in.), one product line’s table and an example only; masonry columns are designed separately. Picket count and openness are arithmetic: 1 in. pickets, 2 in. stiles, pickets only. Front yard: City of Galveston LDR §2.501. Pool: 2021 ISPSC §305.2 and §305.3 (required by the City’s pool permit). Historic: LDR §10.106. Finish: American Galvanizers Association; ASTM F2408. Automation: ASTM F2200 and UL 325 (City Ord. 23-012, IRC Appendix AO). A design aid, not shop drawings.

Elevation of a custom double drive gate under an arched top between two posts set in concrete footings. The left leaf has vertical pickets in a welded frame and the right leaf has wood boards in a steel frame. Hinges are on the posts, a latch joins the leaves and a drop rod holds one leaf. Dimensions mark the leaf width, which sets the post size, and the height Top profile: arched here; flat or reverse arch are the other common choices Pickets in a welded frame Wood boards in a steel frame HINGES LATCH DROP ROD LEAF WIDTH SETS THE POST HEIGHT Hinge post sized to leaf
A-1
DrawingThe parts of a custom double gate
BasisAmeristar Montage Commercial Table 1 (gate post by leaf width), an example only. Elevation, not to scale
ScaleNot to scale
Every custom gate has the same parts: a frame, an infill, a top profile, hinges on posts sized to the leaf, a latch and, on a double gate, a drop rod.
Black metal walk gate with a laser-cut geometric pattern panel, matching the screen panels beside it at a brick building
A laser-cut panel gate matching the screens beside it, from recent work.
Black horizontal-slat metal gate between square posts over a gravel strip
A horizontal-slat metal gate, from recent work.
Double gate with vertical wood boards set in a black metal frame with a solid lower panel, beside a house
A double gate with wood boards in a black metal frame, from a project in Galveston.

Frame and infill options

OptionWhy people choose itWhat to ask about
Steel picketsStrong, classic look; spear, flat or arched topsHot-dip galvanized after fabrication (A123) or pre-galvanized tube, then powder coat. ASTM F2408 covers galvanized ornamental steel.
Aluminum picketsLight and doesn’t rustLeaf width and bracing; insulate where it touches other metals
Wood boards in a steel frameThe warmth of wood without a wood frame to sagBoard species and spacing; how the boards are fastened to the frame
Horizontal slatsModern look, more privacyWhether it counts as solid for front-yard height; climbability at a pool
Laser-cut panelsA pattern or motif, privacy with some lightPanel thickness, the open area, and cutout width at a pool

American Galvanizers Association (A123 vs. G90; galvanized steel with aluminum parts); ASTM F2408 scope; 2021 ISPSC §305.2.

Three 48 inch tall barrier panels. The first has rails 45 inches or more apart with vertical pickets no more than 4 inches apart. The second has rails less than 45 inches apart, placed on the pool side, with gaps no more than 1 and three quarter inches. The third is a solid panel with no handholds or footholds. Notes give the gap under the gate and the gate latch rules ≤ 4″≥ 45″< 45″≤ 1¾″ GAPSNo handholdsor footholds ≥ 48″ Rails 45″ or more apart Rails under 45″ apart rails go on the pool side Solid infill Gap under the gate: ≤ 2″ over grass or gravel, ≤ 4″ over concrete. No opening may pass a 4″ sphere. Gates open outward, self-close and self-latch; at a home the outside release is at least 54″ up.
A-2
DrawingIf the gate is part of a pool barrier
Basis2021 ISPSC §305.2.1–305.2.6 and §305.3, required by the City of Galveston pool permit. Elevations, not to scale
ScaleNot to scale
The same design can pass or fail as a pool gate depending on its rail spacing and gaps. Check before fabrication, not after.
Arched double wood drive gate with black ring pulls closing off a concrete driveway between a brick wall and a house
An arched double wood drive gate, from a project in Baytown.
Wood fence gate with black strap hinges and a slide latch
A wood gate with strap hinges, latch and drop rod, from a project in Galveston.
Black metal gate frame being fitted against a brick wall, with the hinge mounted to the wall
Fitting a metal gate to a brick wall, from a project in Kemah.

How a custom gate comes together

  1. Free on-site estimate. We measure the opening, check the posts or columns, the ground and the room to swing or slide, and talk through how you’ll use the gate.
  2. Design choices. Leaf split, height, top, infill, frame and finish, hardware, and whether it will be automated now or later.
  3. Rules check. Front-yard height, historic district, pool barrier and automation standards, before anything is built.
  4. Written price, then fabrication and installation. Ask for the dimensions and the finish in writing.

What affects cost and timing

We give you a written price after a free on-site estimate. What moves it:

  • Size. Wider and taller leaves need more material and heavier posts.
  • Frame and finish. Steel or aluminum, and galvanizing and powder coat for salt air.
  • Infill and top. Arches, laser-cut panels and wood infill take more fabrication than flat pickets.
  • Hardware and automation. Heavy hinges, locks, drop rods, an operator and access control.
  • Posts and columns. New posts, or fitting to existing masonry.

See what determines the cost of a custom gate and custom vs. standard. Financing is available through the providers on our financing page, subject to credit approval.

What Galveston customers say

5.0
90 Google reviews · read them all on Google
★★★★★
Very professional and friendly. Gotten automatic gates done and they are done to perfection! Thank you
Tannia Cravinas · Google review · a year ago
★★★★★
Great work. Fast service. Very friendly. I recommend using this company to replace your fence.
Roshanta Bell · Google review · a year ago
★★★★★
Absolutely loved my fence once i saw the finished product. No hassle, no rude interactions, and no inconveniences everything was just perfect. One of the best fencing companies in Texas
Elayn Pineda · Google review · 2 years ago

Reviews shown word for word from the Mustang Fencing Services Google Business Profile (Galveston), captured 2026-09-26.

Questions we get about this

What makes a gate “custom”?
It is sized to your opening and designed for how you’ll use it, rather than picked from stock widths and styles. You choose the leaf split, the height, the top profile, the infill, the frame and finish, and the hardware, and it can match an existing fence or gate.
Should my gate be a single or double leaf?
It depends on the opening and the room to swing. Splitting an opening into two leaves halves the leaf width, which means lighter leaves and smaller gate posts. One commercial steel line’s table lists a 6 inch gate post for a 10 to 16 foot leaf and stops at 16 feet.
What finish holds up best in Galveston’s salt air?
For steel, ask whether the frame is hot-dip galvanized after fabrication under ASTM A123 or built from pre-galvanized tube, which carries a thinner coating (G90 is about 0.76 mil of zinc per side), and whether it is powder coated over the zinc. Aluminum doesn’t rust; insulate it where it touches other metals.
Can a custom gate be part of a pool fence?
Yes, if it meets the 2021 ISPSC: at least 48 inches tall, no opening that passes a 4 inch sphere, gaps of 1¾ inches or less when rails are under 45 inches apart, a small gap underneath, and a gate that opens outward and self-closes and self-latches.
How tall can a gate be in my front yard?
In a City of Galveston residential front yard, 4 feet if solid, or 5 feet if at least 60 percent transparent. An open picket design can earn the extra foot.
Do I need approval for a gate in a historic district?
Under the City’s Land Development Regulations, building or altering a structure in a historic overlay district needs a certificate of appropriateness. Ask the City whether your gate needs one before it is fabricated.
Is financing available for a custom gate?
Yes. Financing is available through the providers listed on our financing page, subject to credit approval.

Sources

Checked September 26, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the City before you build.

  1. Ameristar Montage Commercial catalog, Table 1 — minimum gate post by leaf width (an example product line).
  2. American Galvanizers Association, ASTM A123 and G90 Specifications — G90 about 0.76 mil per side; A123 batch galvanizing after fabrication.
  3. American Galvanizers Association, Galvanized Steel with Aluminum Parts — slight chance of reaction; insulate dissimilar metals.
  4. ASTM F2408, Ornamental Fences Employing Galvanized Steel Tubular Pickets — hot-dip galvanized steel with polyester powder coat; not for solid bar or wrought iron.
  5. 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, Section 305 — barrier height, clearances, openings, horizontal members, gates and latches.
  6. City of Galveston Land Development Regulations, §2.501 and §10.106 — front-yard heights; certificates of appropriateness.
  7. City of Galveston Ordinance No. 23-012 (2021 IRC, Appendix AO) — automated vehicular gates: ASTM F2200 and UL 325.
Free on-site estimate

Have a gate in mind?

Bring a photo, a sketch or just the opening. We’ll measure, talk through the choices and the rules that apply, and give you a written price. Free on-site estimates across Galveston County.

Call (346) 910-8641Request an estimate

Keep planning

ServiceEstate entry gatesServiceDriveway gatesServiceWrought iron gatesGuideWhat a custom gate costs depends onGuideCustom iron driveway gate ideasServiceGate automation and access control
Page reviewed September 26, 2026 by Mustang Fencing Services, Galveston. Next review due March 2027.

PLAN YOUR FENCE OR GATE PROJECT WITH US TODAY

Planning a new fence, a driveway gate or an automated entry? Tell us about your property and we’ll set up a free on-site estimate. We work with homeowners, HOAs and businesses across Galveston Island and Galveston County.

Prefer to talk? Call (346) 910-8641.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING

Mustang Fencing

WE PROUDLY SERVE GALVESTON ISLAND & GALVESTON COUNTY

  • Call us today

Areas we serve:

Galveston TX

Galveston Island

Jamaica Beach TX

Tiki Island TX

Bayou Vista TX

La Marque TX

Texas City TX

Hitchcock TX

Santa Fe TX

Dickinson TX

Bacliff TX

San Leon TX

Kemah TX

League City TX

Clear Lake Shores TX

OUR PARTNERS

Genie brand logo
LiftMaster brand logo

More Services

Fencing

Gates