Advice

Advice for a Better Driveway Gate Installation

1) When selecting the exact spot for your gate, opt for a place that allows for your vehicle to leave the roadway while waiting for the gate to open. Also, be sure to envision your gate fully open and look for any objects that might obstruct its path, including uneven ground or driveway slope.

2) Measure the distance between your posts before setting them at least a few times. We recommend using chalk/temporary paint to mark the spots where your piers will go. When you put your piers in , measure the distance between them again to be sure.

3) Run a string between two stakes in a line that follows the bottom of your gate when hung. Use a line level to make sure it is level. Take care that the ground below where the gate will hang is flat. Since your gate hangs only a few inches from the ground, you may be surprised that what looked like a small bump is now in the way of the gate.

4) When digging your post holes, do not make a perfectly round hole – this will help prevent the posts from twisting.

5) When mixing your concrete, leave it a bit stiff. If it is too soupy, you will have to brace your posts while they set.

6) Use a level and plumb line when you set your posts into the concrete. If the posts are not plumb, your gates may not hang properly. Take time to measure the post distance again while you are filling your concrete around the post.

7) Use an adjustable hinge so you can compensate for any small deviations from plumb.

8) If you are installing an automatic gate opener, a PVC pipe can serve as a conduit between the two posts when installation bi-parting swing gates. Thread the PVC with a string so you can tie it to the opener wire and pull it through when you are ready.

9) If you have pillars and you are thinking about attaching your gates directly to the pillars, we recommend using posts just behind the pillars, particularly if you are going to automate your gate. This will save you the headaches of drilling into your pillars and will provide an easier mount where your opener can function more freely.

10) Read all manuals all the way through before beginning. And have all your tools ready for the day’s work ahead of time.

HOW TO SELECT A GATE

Size of Opening
Determine the opening width. Our in-stock gates come in 4 sizes: 12, 14, 16, and 18 feet. The sizes are “in the clear” dimensions between gate posts and are not the actual gate panel size. (Please check the gate spec drawings for exact gate dimensions – available on the individual driveway gate style pages.) If you need a specific size not shown in our standard sizes, we can create that size for you. Call us for more information.

Swing Type
In most cases a swinging gate (as opposed to sliding), swinging on hinge posts away from incoming traffic and into the property is best. If your driveway slopes up too steeply you’ll need to have a gate that swings away from the property and toward incoming traffic. A bi-parting gate is best for a sloped driveway whether it swings in or out. Note that our 12 ft gate is a single swing while the 14, 16, and 18 ft gates are bi-parting.

Curving vs. Straight Driveway
If the approach to your entry is a straight shot you can use a smaller gate such as a 12′ single if it clears your driveway; if the approach is at an angle or if it curves sharply, consider using a wider bi-parting gate.

Hanging the Gates
Our driveway gates are designed to be “stand alone” and hang on their own set of gate posts. If you have a masonry pillar it is, in most cases, best to set our posts just behind the pillar. A gate can be ordered without posts if you want it to hang from your pillar but in that event you’ll need an articulated arm gate operator instead of the less expensive and easier to install linear actuator type gate operator. Call us if you have questions about this situation.

Sliding Gate
If your project calls for a sliding gate please call us.

Gate Style
Select your gate style. Choose from our gallery.