Driveway Gates & Access Automation

Your driveway gate is an essential part of how your home is perceived, particularly by passers by. Driveway gates help to foster a sense of privacy. They keep children and pets contained more effectively than a fence. They encourage less foot and vehicle traffic to your home. Quality gates have to be functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. We have noted that most people who install gates are looking to have them automated, so we’ve included both gates and automation in this section.

The biggest choice to make with driveway gates is how they will be built. Aluminum is popular due to the lightness and strength of the material. Aluminum gates also have a long service life because they do not rust. Steel and wrought iron gates also serve a long life, but rust will degrade them without maintenance. Timber gates pair well with older homes, due to a nostalgia factor. The other major design consideration is if the gate will be a swing or sliding gate. Swing gates, of course, require a clear path, but sliding gates are the best choice for sloped or shorter drives.

What makes a gate useful is the addition of automation. A gate motor does the hard work, and you just push a button on your remote. You can add a keypad, an intercom to see who is at the gate, and an out-of-home access option on your phone to let people through while you are away. The system makes a big difference on a rainy night when you’d prefer to stay in the car.

One thing that people always forget is about the power. Once the main power goes out, an unpowered motor just becomes a heavy, manual gate again. Battery backup keeps the gate functioning during power outages, and a bigger battery or a solar panel will keep the backup going. The time to think about this is before power outages, not the other way around.

Look through the following articles. Whether you are deciding on a gate, automating an existing gate, or deciding on backup power, you will find what you need to know before you spend your money.