Automatic Gate Repair Los Gatos, Expert And Local!

Start with gate material and design, then move on to size, opening action and accessories.

A. Material: Most driveway gates are made of powder-coated steel, wrought iron or aluminum. Steel and iron are strong and durable, but aluminum is lighter, rust-resistant and less expensive. Wood gates are available as well, but note that they’re heavy and prone to cracking and warping. Plus, wood gates require more maintenance than metal gates.

B. Design: Gates come in various designs depending on the gate crafter. Most residential driveway gates have a series of vertical pickets set within a perimeter frame. The three most common gate designs include: flat-top, arched-top and arched-top with finials.

Flat-Top: A flat-top gate is the simplest style. Its upper horizontal rail is perfectly straight, creating a flat-top design
.most popular style for driveway gates.

Arched-Top: The upper rail of a standard arched-top gate is bent to form a gentle upsweeping arch. The pickets fit flush within the rail. This is the most popular style for driveway gates.

Arched-Top with Finials: The arched-top gate with finials is similar to the standard arched-top gate, except that the tops of the pickets extend past the upper rail. Each upper rail is fitted ith a decorative finial.

Note the slight variations in these three basic designs. For example, there are gates with double upper rails or spear-point pickets set within the frame, and some flat-top gates have pickets that protrude past the upper rail.

Another option is to have a steel gate custom-designed and built by a local metal fabricator. One more is to hire a carpenter to custom-build a wooden gate. These are the most expensive options, but they allow you to create a truly unique driveway gate.

C. Size: After choosing a gate design, you must decide on the proper size gate for your specific driveway. Ready-to-install driveway gates measure 4 ft. to 6 ft. tall, and come in various lengths to accommodate virtually any driveway width. A single gate is commonly available in 12 ft. lengths and is sufficient for narrower driveways and tight spaces. Dual gates come in 12 ft., 14 ft. and 16 ft. lengths and provide a larger traffic lane. They are recommended for wider driveways.

When deciding on which size gate to buy, be sure it opens wide enough. As a result ambulances, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles will be able to pass.

D. Opening Action: There are two ways that driveway gates operate: either by swinging or sliding.

A vast majority of residential driveway gates swing open because they require less space beside the driveway than a sliding gate.

Most driveway gates swing inward, meaning as you pull into the driveway, the gates swing inside toward the house. However, whether or not you can install an in-swinging gate will depend on the slope of your driveway.

If the driveway is relatively level or slopes down toward the house, then you can install an in-swinging gate. However, if the driveway slopes up toward the house, there might not be enough clearance to swing inward. (There is typically about 4 in. of space beneath the gate.) In those cases, the gate will have to swing away from the house and toward the road.

Remember to consider the gate’s position on the driveway. It’s important the gate be far enough up the driveway so that vehicles, including delivery trucks, can pull up to the gate without blocking the road, sidewalk, bike lane or pedestrian crosswalk.