Choosing A Sliding Gate
There are a range of gates that can be used to secure the driveway to your home. From wrought iron gates to wooden gates, they come in a wide variety of materials and a variety of opening and closing mechanisms.
Sliding gates are a great alternative to the traditional swing gates, they are often the second choice but sliding gate designs can replicate those of swinging gates and can also be made from the same materials.
There are many advantages to sliding gates, they fit where traditional swing gates wouldn't and are more secure when locked. They are a brilliant security measure for your property as they are less accessible and the design of the gates mean they can not be driven into.
Sliding gates can be fitted in two ways, firstly where the bottom of the gate is put on runners or hung in a cantilever style.
Tracked gates provide an easy and economical way of installing sliding gates. A metal rail the length of the entrance should be embedded in the ground and the gate is guided along the track using wheels which are fitted to its base.
If you decide to have a tracked sliding gate installed, don't forget that you will need to leave the ground track to set and in the concrete so it will be 7 days before the rest of the structure can be fitted. It is worth remembering that you will also be unable to access your driveway at this time.
A cantilever sliding gate is different in that it does not need tracking, this style gate is suspended over the entrance using horizontal posts. Although quieter than tracked gates the cantilever design does require an additional section of gate to be fitted to either a wall or hedge perimeter, so additional room is needed next to the gateway.
Unlike with a tracked gate you have full access to your driveway during the installation period, which is another advantage to this design.