Garden Gates Carry the Standard of a Grand Estate

During a renovation of a historic estate near Columbus, Ohio, updated landscape design and perimeter walls called for several new pass-through gates.This feature was one detail among many. Still, the expectations were high. 

The larger project demanded that every element feel considered and correct. That meant the new wood gates had to maintain the design of those original to the property, fit within existing stonework, and hold up over time.

The builder had set a rigorous standard for the overall work, and the homeowner was invested in seeing it carried through. Our job was to extend that level of care to a part of the estate that might seem small, but mattered to the whole.

Built for Outdoor Exposure

Because the gates sit fully exposed, durability was an early consideration. While the client brought a clear vision for how the gates needed to look and perform, Rockwood brought the material knowledge and construction methods to help achieve it. 

Using one original gate as the pattern, we reproduced the desired design while adapting the construction for long-term outdoor performance. Based on Rockwood’s recommendation, the client chose to build with genuine mahogany, a wood species well suited for exterior projects. 

The gates were assembled with marine epoxy adhesive and coated with penetrating epoxy before primer to help seal the wood against moisture. Those choices do not remove the need for maintenance, but they provide a stronger starting point for woodwork that will face sun, rain, and seasonal change year after year.

Getting The Details Right

The scrollwork required the same level of attention. Rockwood templated the original pattern and reproduced it using a combination of CNC machining and hand joinery, then reviewed the tradeoffs with the client. While CNC offers consistency and efficiency, it can soften certain details that would require additional hand-tool work to reproduce exactly. By discussing those priorities early, Rockwood helped the client choose an approach that protected the character of the design while staying aligned with cost and project goals.

What made the final work notable is not that it stands apart from the property. It is that it belongs to it completely. Even among more substantial improvements to the estate, the gates reflect the client’s commitment to get every detail right.