How Does A Sliding Gate Work?

Sliding gates continue to be a popular choice for homeowners.

They like the flexible, convenient and secure nature of this type of gate automation, as well as the ease with which they can be used.

There are other benefits too; careful consideration of what some perceive as a luxury purchase can reap dividends in the future by adding both value and desirability to your home.

What Should I Consider Before Opting For A Sliding Gate?

The space available for a gate to move through while opening and closing plays a big part in the selection of swing gates or a sliding gate.

Opening times and design preferences are important too, but space is the most significant limitation.

A sliding gate needs to slide along a continuous, straight track across the driveway opening between the pillars or posts until it 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.

Whether you can install a sliding gate at your property depends on several factors, and a comprehensive site survey by a qualified gate installer should be your first step.

The best ones will conduct 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.

A sliding gate can prove to be an optimum choice when you don't have enough room for swing gates to open and close safely.

Depending on the layout of your property, they can leave more space on the driveway to park.

How Does A Sliding Gate Work?

Sliding gates move across a driveway opening into a space to the side of one gate post that is both in line with the opening and longer than the gate itself.

It is most often a single leaf, with wheels beneath its base that runs on a track across the driveway entrance.

Sliding gates are moved by a motor to which a protruding toothed cog is attached.

This meshes with a rack mounted on the inside of the gate, opening or closing the gate as the motor rotates the cog.

What Type Of Sliding Gate Should I Choose?

If you’ve decided that a sliding gate is for you, then gate automation selection is pretty simple.

A sliding gate motor may have a few differences in terms of its safety features and motor voltage, but the basic elements are essentially the same.

Tracked Sliding Gates

Fast and efficient, the simplicity of tracked sliding gates makes them a popular choice for both residential and commercial properties.

As described above, a sliding gate runs on wheels mounted to its underside and moves along a track installed across the driveway entrance.

Telescopic Sliding Gates

Telescopic sliding gates are made up of two, or more, gates that stack in front of one another as they open.

They usually need less space to slide into than a standard, single-segment sliding gate, and are driven by a standard sliding gate motor with cables that control the opening and closing of the segments.

That makes them a useful solution where space is limited on one side of an entrance.

However, installation brings with it challenges; in addition to the added complexity of installing multiple leaves and drive cables, a telescopic sliding gate system requires a separate track to be laid for each segment.

Cantilever Sliding Gates

Cantilever sliding gates operate in a similar way to sliding gates but don’t run along tracks.

Instead, they are weighted on one side to allow the gate to be suspended off the ground.

That requires a counterbalance adding to the close end, which adds considerable extra length.

As a result, a significant foundation is usually required to mount the carriage wheels and support the weight of the gate on one side.

This type of gate is supported on post-mounted rollers that slide in a tubular track fitted to the bottom of the gate.

Guide rollers are also positioned at the top to stop the gate from falling over.

This setup allows cantilever gates to be used for wider openings, and they are often chosen for industrial applications.

Not only that, if your driveway is uneven then a cantilever sliding system is worth considering because it carries the gate clear of the ground.

Expert Advice For Buying Sliding Gates

If you'd like professional advice about any aspect of sliding gates, then please don't hesitate to contact the friendly, knowledgeable and experienced team at Gate Automation Supplies. 

Call us on 03300 883 890 today.