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Automated sliding gates are the preferred choice for many properties all over the UK.
Whether rural or urban, business or residential, properties benefit from the flexible, convenient and secure nature of this type of gate automation, making it easier for both the owner and any approved visitors to access the property.
They enhance its security too.
This depends on several
factors, and a comprehensive site survey by a qualified gate installer should
be your first step.
The minimum that you will need is a risk
assessment, and enough space to the side of your driveway for the gate to slide
into.
For most residential and commercial
property owners, keeping everything safe and secure is a priority.
Sliding
automated gates offer peace of mind when you leave your property, knowing that
your possessions are secure.
Additional
gate locks provide an extra layer of security.
Sliding
automated gates also act as a physical barrier to
opportunistic thieves.
Automated sliding gates do not need you to leave your vehicle; they open and close on their own for you.
That is particularly useful when it is
late at night, or when the weather is bad.
Automated sliding gates are also
beneficial for anyone with mobility issues.
Automated sliding gates with access
control systems such as audio and video intercoms, keypads and proximity readers,
keep out unwanted visitors.
They also help to keep those who are
inside safe.
Children and pets can play safely on
your property when closed electric gates prevent them from wandering into busy
roads or other dangerous situations.
Increasing the
security of your home or commercial property doesn't mean you should compromise
on aesthetic appeal.
There is a
vast range of colour, style and material combinations to choose from.
Gates can be personalised to reflect your preferences for colour, size and material and can even be customised to fit in with your business' branding.
Gates are one of the first things seen
by visitors to your home, so choosing the right design to fit in with the style
of your property can make a big difference.
First impressions count, so careful consideration of what
some see as a luxury purchase can reap dividends by adding value and
desirability to your home.
Additional security provided by electric gates is recognised by
insurers who sometimes offer
reduced premiums for home and car insurance when a property has them fitted.
Regular maintenance is essential to
keep your electric sliding gates safe.
How often they are used will determine
when they should be serviced.
Low-use domestic gates usually only
need to be serviced twice a year, while those with greater levels of traffic
may need to be checked up to four times.
You should ask a qualified gate
installer to conduct a thorough examination of your gates, ensuring they are
working properly and that all of the safety features are functioning as they
should.
The cost of electric sliding gates varies according to material, styles, size and
design.
Larger
gates cost more than smaller ones of the same design that are manufactured from
the same material.
Aluminium
gates are comparable in price to hardwood gates but need almost zero
maintenance to keep them looking like new.
More
ornate gates are often more expensive than simper designs, and non-standard
finishes and colours will add to the cost.
Electric gate installation costs are determined by the
groundworks required and the type of gates.
An experienced installer will be able
to provide an accurate estimate based on your requirements and any logistical
challenges that need to be met.
Installing sliding gates sounds like it should be the
cheapest because there is usually only one gate and one motor.
However, track needs to be laid for the gate to move along
and that may need additional preparatory work.
If you need a gate installer, Gate Automation Supplies can
recommend one.
Predicting
the reliability of gates isn't straightforward due to the unique nature of each
installation.
How
long electric sliding gates last depends on the combination of the gates themselves, the automation system,
location, weather, how often they are used, and how frequently they are
serviced.
It
is important to factor in the cost of regular servicing because, as with most
things, your gates will last longer if they are properly looked after.
A
qualified installer will use a safety audit to identify the potential
risks and propose procedures for the design and construction of the automatic
gate system, as well as its usage, that eliminate as many of these as possible.
Equipment
that may be included in safe gate design includes physical guarding to prevent
access to risk areas, electronic safety beam photocells on either side of the
gate, and pressure edges on the ends of the gate and any fixed points the
moving gate passes closely.
24V
electric gate motors feature obstacle detection that ensures a gate stops and
can reverse if an obstacle is encountered by the moving gate.
Signage
that explains safe operation of the gates can be included, and all electric
gate installations should have manual release systems.
These
allow a gate to be moved manually in the event of a power cut, or automation
system failure, by partially disconnecting the gate from the drive system.
It is important to arrange regular
servicing and checks to confirm that the safety devices installed are operating
as they should.
Sliding
gates are more suited to some settings than swing gates.
Major
considerations in determining which is more suitable for you include the layout
of your property and the space available.
Sliding
gates need to slide along a continuous, straight track across the opening
between the pillars or posts until the gate has completely cleared the opening.
This
means that your property’s perimeter wall or fence cannot angle onto the
property within the distance required by a sliding gate to clear the driveway
entrance.
Swing
gates move through an arc from hinges on the pillars, usually into a driveway,
so nothing can be left in that space that would prevent the gates from fully
opening.
If
a driveway slopes upwards onto your property, then it is more complicated to
install swing gates because inward opening gates will hit the ground at some
point.
There
are hinges that open swing gates at an angle to accommodate rising drives, but
these put additional strain on motors.
Alternatively,
mounting the gates on traditional hinges so they don’t hit the drive as they
open requires a larger gap below the closed gates.
Providing
an adjacent wall or fence isn’t going to be an obstruction, an automated sliding gate
can be a better solution in these circumstances.
Sliding gates are not inherently
better than swing gates and, as demonstrated in the examples above, both have
advantages and disadvantages.
Gate Automation Supplies is one of the
UK’s leading suppliers of sliding
gates kits and sliding
gate motors.
Don’t hesitate to contact
our friendly, knowledgeable team with any
questions you have.
