A chainwire fence does one of two things: it keeps something in, or it keeps something out. Often both. But a fence you cannot get through when you need to is just a bigger obstacle than you meant to build, so every fence needs a gate, and every gate needs a way to stay shut. That job usually falls to a latch.
Fence latches are deliberately simple and robust, and that works in your favour. A simple mechanism needs less looking after. Many latch types run for years, even in rough conditions, on little more than the odd squirt of lubricating oil, and still hold and release just as well as the day they went on.
How outdoor latches work
Most outdoor latches rely on either spring action or gravity. Both give you an automatic or semi-automatic action, so when you push the gate closed the latch engages on its own. Other latches are manual, where you set the latch by hand once the gate is shut. Manual latches tend to be the more secure of the two.
On security: some latches include a keyed lock in the design, but more often you will add your own padlock. That sounds like an extra cost, but a good padlock is usually more secure than a built-in lock and stands up to weather better. And if you do not need it locked, there is no risk of a built-in lock jamming shut on you.
Common latch types
- Single flat spring latch. About the simplest automatic latch there is. The spring rides over a two-sided cam and snaps into the notch between them. It allows the gate to swing both ways, but it can miss if the gate is swung too hard.
- Butterfly latch. Another simple dual-swing option. A plate on each side of the gate upright lifts as the gate shuts. One plate stops the gate swinging past the closed position, the other drops to hold it there.
- Manual fork latch. Lifted to release, then dropped over the gate post when the gate is closed. Very secure, but you need to hold the gate shut until the latch is over the post.
- Semi-automatic fork latch. Mounted on a rod that lifts to release. When the gate closes it is caught in the fork and the rod drops back into place on its own.
Picking the right one
The best latch depends on the gate: how big it is, how it swings, and how much security you want. A light residential gate is happy with a spring or butterfly latch. A heavier security gate wants a fork latch and a padlock. If in doubt, tell us how the gate will be used and we will match a latch to it rather than fitting whatever is in the box.
For gates themselves, from small pedestrian openings to wide sliding and swinging gates, see our gates range.