Automated Gates: Easy Selection Guide

Once you’ve made the decision that you want to install an automated gate, there are a few things you need to determine.

What material do you want your gate to be made of? The most popular materials are aluminum, steel and wood.

What style of gate are you interested in? Your options are a sliding gate, a swing gate or a vertical pivot gate.

Do you have enough room for the gate you want?

Sliding Gates

Cantilever gates span not only the length of your gate opening, but also an additional 50% of the gate opening that acts as the storage. For example: If your gate opening is 20 feet, your cantilever gate would need to be 30 feet in total length so the gate can be supported as the gate is in the closed position.

Swing Gates

Swing gates may seem like a simple and easy choice, but don’t be fooled. Look at the driveway or road where you want to install an automated gate. Does it slope up or down in any direction? You may think you can just have the gate swing open going down the slope, to avoid bottoming out. However, swing gate operators usually need to be installed on the opening side of the gate, so if the road or drive slopes up toward your property, the operator would need to be installed on the outside of the property. You also need enough room for a car to sit and wait for your swing gate to open without needing to back up into traffic to avoid being hit by the gate leaves. One potential solution to these issues is to get a double swing gate

Vertical Pivot Gates

If it doesn’t seem like a swing gate or cantilever gate will work for you, you may want to look into getting a vertical pivot gate. Vertical pivot gates are don’t require the extra storage of a sliding gate and are not hindered by slopes like a swing gate. These gates pivot at the operator and pull your gate up in to the air. However, if you live in an area that experiences a lot of wind or ice, a vertical pivot gate may not be the right option for you.

Answering these questions is the basic first step to selecting and purchasing your automated gate. Check out our comprehensive guide to selecting your gate and gate operator for more information.