Lock Gates
Oak is a naturally robust and hard-wearing material used for lock gates, formally classified by TRADA (Timber Research and Development Association) as durable, and is readily available in a wide range of section sizes and lengths.
Once the lifeblood of industrial Britain, the canal network of today is still very much in service and The Green Oak Carpentry Company is proud to play its role in keeping some of these distinct waterways alive. Every set of oak lock gates is as unique as its environment and they are built by our carpenters to the exact specifications of the lock they are to serve.
This combination of carpentry and engineering has remained unchanged for hundreds of years, and over the course of its twenty-five year-or-so lifespan, an oak gate will be subjected to considerable water pressure and wear and tear. You might say this application demands the best of what green oak has to offer: strength, resilience, and the ability to control and harness the power within nature.
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FAQs
Lock gates are typically fabricated using fresh-sawn oak, which is absolutely suitable for prolonged weather exposure. Of course, when submerged in water the life span of the timber will be reduced, but will still last a healthy 15-20 years with ease, in a well-maintained lock.
We work with some of the largest canal and waterway management companies in the UK, supplying lock gates up and down the country. Generally, these gates will be similar, if not identical. Undertaking new lock gate projects requires design as if it were a standard oak frame project, which we are more than happy to help with.
Gates can be painted using bitumen paint, often used for weatherproofing to increase the longevity of lock gates, however, this is often considered aesthetically when the gates are in production as some prefer to leave the gates untreated.