Sometimes it’s just not possible to have gates installed to a home. Or at least that’s what you might have thought – until now. Perhaps not as well known as the traditional style of gate, sliding gates could well be the solution for you. If you thought you could never have an attractive, reliable gate system installed, due to space restrictions it could be time to think again…
Why Sliding Gates?
Adding automated electric gates to your home has a number of benefits. Firstly, they look great, making the property more attractive whether you plan to live in it or sell it on. Secondly, they give home owners peace of mind because they offer added security (only individuals with access codes or remote controls can open and close these specially designed gates). Sometimes, however, space limitations defeat your goal of traditional swing gates.
That does not mean, however, that gates aren’t possible. Installing sliding gates is a great alternative. Sliding gates have a much smaller footprint than their swing counterparts, which means that vehicles can drive right up to the gate without needing to leave room for it to open – ideal if your property is close to a main road, or has a smaller front garden. Not only that, but sliding gates have a built in self-locking feature. What does that mean? It means that you can choose to keep the gates open (or closed) whenever you want to.
If it’s security you want, then automated gates are perfect for you. Adding any kind of gate to your home will deter thieves (or make it more difficult for them to try anything) and will make your house more secure, but adding sliding gates will give you that added strength you could be looking for. With sliding gates there is no weak spot in the middle where traditional swing gates meet since sliding gates are in one piece.
How Do Sliding Gates Work?
Sliding gates work with a simple yet clever piece of technology. They run along a track that is fitted across the entrance or exit to your home or office space. This track is made long enough to extend out to the side of the gate so that when it needs to open, the gate can simply slide along it, out of the way. The great thing about the machinery involved is that it can all be housed within a tamper proof box, giving you peace of mind that no one can get to it for any malicious reasons.
Are Sliding Gates Suitable For Me?
It all depends on what you want to access through them, and where they are to be installed. Sliding gates are ideal for low traffic areas where there is little space, or which need to be totally secure. However, sliding gates won’t work as well as they should if they get clogged up with dirt or mud in the special tracks, such as they probably would on a farmyard. In these instances, your expert gate installer should recommend another option, such as a cantilever gate system. A sliding gate is not a suitable option if your driveway is on a slope but a cantilever gate can easily solve this problem. You will need enough space to one side of the entrance to enable the gate to slide back so if your entrance is 3m wide, for example, then you will need at least a 3m wide space to one side.
What About Safety?
Sliding gates are made with safety in mind. If something obstructs the sliding mechanism or track for the gate, there is an automatic shut off. This means that whatever is obstructing the gate won’t be damaged, and neither will the gate, thanks to the safety photocells which are installed between the gate posts. People, animals, vehicles, or anything else that could obstruct the gate are all protected. Any reputable gate installer will be able to go through all the safety features of any gate they recommend, and leave you understanding how it all works should anything untoward ever happen. And if that isn’t enough, AutoGate staff have completed the GateSafe® training course, which is accredited by The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (the world’s biggest health & safety membership organization, and the only chartered body for health and safety professionals).
What Next?
Sliding gates have many benefits, and if you feel that installing them would give your property a security boost as well as an attractive facelift, then simply contact AutoGate. We provide a no obligation survey and quotation, and can talk you through all the options open to you (including all the safety features).