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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.
