Custom Cedar Dual Swing Driveway Gate in San Rafael
We designed, built, and automated a cedar dual swing entrance for a San Rafael home: an arched gate finished with cedar on both sides over a concealed steel frame, two LiftMaster CSW24UL operators hidden inside custom masonry columns, matching stonework, and lantern-style sconce lighting.
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The project
Automatic Gate Masters completed this custom cedar dual swing driveway gate for a residential property in San Rafael, CA. The homeowner wanted a private, substantial entrance built from natural wood, but did not want the automation equipment visible from the driveway. The final design combines a concealed steel structure, cedar on both sides, two LiftMaster CSW24UL operators, custom masonry work, and matching sconce lighting. The project was managed by Matt, who coordinated the gate, the automation, the stonework, and the lighting as one build.
The result is a complete entrance system that looks intentional from every direction, not simply an automatic gate added between existing columns. Both leaves meet cleanly at the center, the operators are out of sight, and the same finished cedar faces the street and the property.
Arched cedar dual swing gate
Solid privacy panels below, open vertical slats above
The property side matches the street side
Cedar on both faces, steel frame concealed inside
Cedar against gray masonry
Warm wood framed by stone columns and lower walls
Operators concealed in the columns
Custom masonry built around the CSW24UL equipment
An arched profile with privacy below and light above
The gate was shaped to feel substantial without feeling closed off.
The entrance was designed as a two leaf swing gate with a symmetrical arched profile. Each leaf carries a solid cedar lower section for privacy and an open vertical slat section across the top. The arched top rails rise toward the center, giving the entrance a softer architectural shape that works with the surrounding landscape and masonry rather than a hard flat line.
The split does real work. The solid lower portion blocks views into the property at eye level from the street, while the upper slats let light, air, and partial visibility through so the gate never feels like a wall. Closed, the two leaves meet cleanly at the center and read as one balanced composition.
Symmetrical arched top
The rails rise toward the center for a softer architectural shape.
Solid lower panels
Vertical cedar boards block views into the property at eye level.
Open vertical slats above
Air, light, and partial visibility keep the entrance from feeling heavy.
Cedar, carefully arranged
Consistent spacing and proportions across both leaves, front and rear.
Cedar was selected for the visible surfaces because of its natural warmth, visible grain, and residential character, which work well against the cool gray masonry and the surrounding greenery. We build gates like this through our custom gate design service as part of our driveway gates work.
Finished from both sides, with the equipment out of sight
Two decisions define this project. The first: the gate is finished with cedar on both sides. Many wood gates are designed for the street side only, leaving steel framework, bracing, or unfinished construction visible from inside the property. Here, the rear of the gate was built to look nearly identical to the front, so the homeowner sees the same premium design leaving the house as guests see arriving.
Behind the cedar sits a custom steel frame that carries the weight of the wood, keeps each wide leaf aligned, and provides secure mounting points for the hinges and automation. Because cedar covers both faces, that structure stays completely hidden inside the gate: the look of a fully wooden gate with the rigidity of internal steel.
The second decision: no visible operator cabinets. After investing in a custom cedar entrance and detailed masonry, the homeowner did not want automation equipment interrupting the view. So we designed and built columns around the LiftMaster CSW24UL operators. The equipment stays accessible for service, but visually it disappears into the finished stonework.
The takeaway for homeowners: an automatic gate does not have to look like machinery. With the frame concealed and the operators built into the columns, the entrance reads as architecture, not equipment.
Two LiftMaster CSW24UL operators, hidden but hardworking
One operator per leaf, coordinated as a single system, concealed inside the masonry.
The gate is automated with two LiftMaster CSW24UL swing gate operators, one controlling each leaf, so both sides open and close together as a coordinated system. The CSW24UL is built for swing gate applications where reliable movement, controlled operation, and integration with access control equipment matter. The system was adjusted so both leaves operate smoothly and meet properly at the center when closed.
See the full range on our automatic gate openers page, or explore access control options that pair with this platform.
Custom masonry, stonework, and sconce lighting
The stone frames the cedar, hides the equipment, and carries the light.
Our scope also included the masonry surrounding the entrance. The gate is framed by substantial gray masonry columns and matching lower walls, built to complement the warm cedar rather than compete with it. The contrast between brown wood and cool gray stone gives the entrance a balanced, custom appearance and visually connects the gate to the property and its retaining walls. The stonework also creates the space needed to conceal the automation equipment, with finished caps and edges, openings for gate hardware and electrical, and clean integration with the driveway and landscaping.
The sconces. Lantern-style fixtures were installed on both sides of the entrance. The black housings match the gate hardware and add a warm accent against the gray masonry. At night they illuminate the driveway entrance and make the columns easy to see on approach, turning the columns from purely structural elements into a visible feature of the property.
Cedar, stone, and sconce light at dusk · San Rafael, CA
The finished result
Privacy, automatic access, and a refined entrance with nothing mechanical on display.
The completed San Rafael gate provides privacy, automatic access, structural strength, and a refined appearance without exposing the automation equipment. The cedar gives the entrance warmth and natural character, the concealed steel frame keeps the leaves aligned, two CSW24UL operators run the system, and the custom masonry keeps the equipment hidden. The stonework and sconce lighting complete the entrance, making the gate feel like a permanent part of the property rather than a separate mechanical installation.
Custom automatic gates in San Rafael and Marin County
Marin properties tend to pair natural materials with established landscaping, and entrances here have to look right from both sides of the gate. That is exactly what this project delivers: a cedar entrance that reads as architecture, with the automation integrated instead of added on.
We design and build custom driveway gates, install gate openers, and handle swing gate installation across San Rafael and Marin County. If you like this cedar direction, see the custom cedar dual swing gate we built in Alamo.
Want the automation hidden on your gate too?
Concealed operators, cedar on both sides, masonry, and lighting can all be designed as one entrance from the start. Free on-site estimate.
See Custom Gate Design →San Rafael cedar gate project FAQ
What is the gate in this San Rafael project made of?
Why was the gate finished with cedar on both sides?
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Did the project include the masonry and lighting?
Can you build a custom driveway gate in San Rafael or Marin County?
Planning a custom driveway gate in Marin County?
We design and install custom driveway gates throughout San Rafael, Marin County, and the Bay Area: custom fabrication, wood and steel construction, gate operators, access control, masonry columns, safety equipment, and lighting integration, all designed around your property. Free on-site estimate and a written quote before any work begins.
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