Gate Arbor Designs
Generally speaking, there’s not a whole lot of difference in the structure of arbors that are designed to go over gates. The real differences that show up are in what plants are trained up over the arbor, if any at all. This can dramatically affect the look of the gate’s arbor, and in some cases even mask the look of the actual arbor structure itself.
Simple Gate Arbor
The simplest type of arbor used with gates is a square arbor. It is comprised of posts which extend up to a given height, with a latticed platform across the top. Generally lattice is also applied up the sides, between the posts, to allow for vines to be trellised up to the top.
However, in some cases the structure is left bare of foliage. In this case a lot more care should be taken in construction, as any imperfections in the build will be much more noticeable than they would be if a leaf canopy was concealing the structure.
Arched Gate Arbor
A much more complex design for a gate arbor, the arched arbor can be both beautiful and functional. This creates a much smother transition from vertical to horizontal, resulting in easier climbing by vines and less stress and distance for them to have to deal with.
However, building an arched arbor for a gate requires a lot more skill and work than the simple box variety. Curves can be difficult to fabricate, especially when you need to create 4 very similar curves on such a large scale.
Triumphal Arch Gate
This type of gate arbor is a hybrid of the simple gate arbor, and that of the more complex arched arbor. This is due to how the outer structure of the triumphal arch is squared, but the inner one is curved. A good example of this type of arch is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France.
When building an arbor of this type, first you build the simple gate arbor. The only real difference is at that point you need to attach arched members across the top of the front and back of the arbor. This will give the appearance of an arched entryway in a squared arbor.