Things You'll Need
Shovel
Concrete mix
L-shaped steel rod
Bricks
Mortar
Bricklaying trowel
Concrete slab
Every front gate needs something solid to support it, but purchasing pre-made pillars or hiring contractors can result in a bill much larger than you'd like. You can build your own pair of pillars much more cheaply, laying bricks around a steel-reinforced concrete core for a column that is sturdy enough to hold any gate you attach to it, yet attractive enough to stand on its own if you prefer to keep your driveway unimpeded.
Step 1
Dig a hole 42 inches deep, with a width of 12 inches and a length of 20 inches. The long side of the hole should be perpendicular to the eventual orientation of your gate.
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Step 2
Fill the hole halfway with concrete, embedding an L-shaped steel rod in it with the horizontal length submerged and the vertical extending up above the ground. Wait 24 hours for the concrete to solidify.
Step 3
Build the pillar around the steel rod, laying bricks in a square formation, layer upon layer with mortar in between. Fill the interior space with concrete, pouring a little more each day and waiting for it to harden until it reaches the top.
Step 4
Cover the upper surface with mortar and lay a concrete slab atop the pillar to serve as a capstone.
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