15’ Custom Steel Single Swing Driveway Gate in Burlingame
We built a 15-foot custom steel single swing driveway gate for a Burlingame home and automated it with a LiftMaster LA500 operator. Here is the project, including how we cut the brick pillar so the operator arm mounted in the right position.
The project
This Burlingame homeowner wanted a custom steel driveway gate that looked right at the street and opened on its own. We designed and built a 15-foot single swing gate in black steel, then automated it with a LiftMaster LA500 swing gate operator. The finished gate closes off the driveway, adds security and curb appeal, and runs smoothly day after day.
A single swing gate is a solid choice for a driveway this width when there is room for one leaf to open. We handled the whole job in house: the gate design and fabrication, the gate operator, the wiring, the safety sensors, and the setup, all backed by a 1 to 2 year labor warranty. The details are what make a gate like this last, and this project is a good example of why.
The 15-foot custom steel swing gate
We fabricate our gates in house, so the gate is built to the opening rather than cut down from a stock size.
The gate is a black steel single swing with an arched top, vertical pickets, a decorative lattice and diamond detail across the upper section, and solid lower panels for a bit of privacy at the base. The frame is welded steel, finished in black to match the home’s brick pillars and lantern posts. Because it is a single leaf spanning 15 feet, the gate has to be built square and true so it hangs level and swings without binding, which is where in-house fabrication pays off.
Custom steel single swing gate, arched top with decorative detail · Burlingame, CA
LiftMaster LA500 operator installation
The operator is what turns a nice gate into an automatic one, so choosing and mounting it correctly matters.
We paired the gate with a LiftMaster LA500 swing gate operator, a residential-grade arm operator well suited to a single swing gate this size. It runs quietly, handles daily cycles, and works with remotes and keypad entry so the homeowner can open the gate from the car. On a wider dual swing entrance we run one LA500 per leaf, as we did on our Ipe wood dual swing gate in Emerald Hills. We ran clean wiring to the control box on the pillar, set the open and close limits, and installed and tested the safety sensors so the gate stops and reverses if anything is in its path.
15’ steel single swing gate
Welded black steel gate with arched top, decorative upper detail, and solid lower panels, built to the opening.
LiftMaster LA500 operator
Arm operator sized for the gate, wired to a pillar-mounted control box for quiet, reliable daily use.
Remote & keypad entry
Open the gate from the car or at the pillar, with room to add a video intercom later.
Photo eyes & safety sensors
UL 325 entrapment-protection sensors installed and tested so the gate stops for any obstruction.
Why we cut a niche into the brick pillar
A swing gate operator only works right when its arm is mounted in the correct position relative to the hinge. LiftMaster gives a range for where the LA500 has to sit so the arm sweeps through the proper angle as the gate opens and closes. On this property, the brick pillar was in the way of that position.
Rather than force the operator into a compromised spot, we cut a clean niche into the operator-side pillar so the LA500 could mount exactly where the geometry called for. That small step is easy to skip, but it makes a real difference: an operator mounted at the wrong angle fights the gate on every cycle, which strains the arm, wears the mounts, and shortens the life of the whole system. Mounted correctly, the gate opens smoothly and the operator does the job it was built to do.
The takeaway for homeowners: small installation details, like proper LA500 arm placement, can make a big difference in how a gate operates long term.
What this means for the homeowner
A custom gate, installed with care, pays the homeowner back every day.
A closed-off driveway
The steel gate keeps the property closed to the street and controls who comes up the driveway.
Open without leaving the car
Remote and keypad access mean the gate opens on approach, rain or shine.
A clean, finished entrance
A custom steel gate that matches the brick pillars gives the front of the home a put-together look.
Built to last
Correct operator geometry and tested safety sensors mean fewer callbacks and smoother operation for years.
Automatic gate installation in Burlingame
Burlingame’s tree-lined streets and older brick-and-paver entrances suit a custom steel gate that is built to the property rather than pulled off a shelf. Whether you want a single swing like this one, a dual swing, or a sliding gate for a tighter driveway, we design the gate to the home and automate it with the right operator. For a modern take, see our horizontal slat dual swing gate with a vehicle exit loop, also in Burlingame.
We build and service custom driveway gates, install gate openers, and handle full automatic gate installation across Burlingame and San Mateo County.
Already have a gate in Burlingame?
If your existing automatic gate is stuck, grinding, or will not close, we also handle same-day gate repair across Burlingame for all brands and every operator type. We can inspect your current setup and tell you honestly whether a repair or a new gate makes more sense.
See Gate Repair in Burlingame →Burlingame gate project FAQ
How wide is the driveway gate you built in Burlingame?
Which operator did you use, and why?
Why did you cut a niche into the brick pillar?
Can you build a custom steel swing gate for my Burlingame home?
Do you install LiftMaster LA500 operators in the Bay Area?
Planning an automatic gate in Burlingame?
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