If you haven’t purchased a gate before or know the benefits of an aluminium gate, a beginner’s guide to choosing an aluminium gate is the perfect place to start. When you make the decision to buy an aluminium driveway gate or side gate, you need to be prepared with some key information for when you speak to a supplier or installer. You will also need a list of questions to understand the type of gate you will be getting. Many aluminium gates may look the same but in reality, there are some big differences between gates.
You may also find that there is some terminology used by installers and suppliers that you don’t understand. Don’t worry, we will guide you through some of these terms so that you can fully understand what the provider is trying to discuss with you.
Basic information that is important to know includes:
Each company is likely to have a website with their own designs. Do your homework, look at the site, research the company, and look for any examples of gates they have produced or installed. You may be dealing with the gate manufacturer directly or it may be an installer who works with a manufacturer to provide the complete solution; either way, there should be images or ideas on the type of gates that they supply.
Have an idea of the design that you want as it’s likely that cost will differ for flat top gates or those with a curved top, or gates that have more detailing such as frosted glass windows or aluminium strip detailing.
Each company will also have a standard range of colours but are able to offer the majority of colours at a cost. Most suppliers will work off a RAL colour chart, so a simple search will bring up the different RAL colours so you can discuss with them if it’s a standard colour or it’s a unique colour that will incur an additional charge. Colours such as black (9005) or Anthracite Grey (7016) will be a standard colour for the majority of companies. Many will also offer a selection of woodgrain finishes.
If you are installing yourself or an installer is doing it for you, you will need the opening where the gate will be installed. By the opening, we mean the total width between the existing pillars or the total opening you have for the gate to be installed. Bear in mind if you have no posts you will need a post to fix the gate to, so by having the total opening as opposed to the gate size it allows the company you are dealing with to work out the gap needed for hinges or automation. If you do know the exact size of the gate you want, then it’s not a problem but remember that depending on the hinges used there will always be a gap that you need to take into account for installation.
The height is also something that would be useful. If you are having a flat top then it’s simple; if you are having a curved top, it may be that there is a different rise to the middle of the gate depending on the company that you are using. For example, the gates we offer would have a 200mm rise, so a 1800mm gate would rise to 2000mm. These gates will sometimes be described as a swan neck or bow top.
Knowing the type of aluminium gate that best matches the shape of your driveway is a great step to complete when choosing the right driveway aluminium gate for you.
It can be hard to work around curved driveways because a gate usually needs a lot of room to swing open on both sides. Despite this, a swing gate will likely be your best option for a curved driveway.
Swing gates are your standard gate designs that are versatile in the angle they can swing open.
Swing gates require ample space to open fully, so consider looking into a bespoke service such as the one offered by TFS Gates. Alternatively, you could explore getting a bi-folding swing gate, which minimise the space needed to open completely. If you’re curious to know more about bi-folding gates, we have written an article on this also.
A sloped driveway poses a unique problem because a normal swinging gate might not work with the uneven ground. Instead, your best option for a driveway gate on a slope would be a sliding gate.
Sliding gates avoid uneven ground by opening horizontally along the fence line. They accomplish this through a straight track on the floor that the fence runs along. This mechanism is also why sliding gates are impractical for curved driveways, as the track would need to bend and curve, which is not achievable for standard sliding gate tracks.
Straight driveways are the easiest driveways to work with as they can quite easily accommodate both swinging and sliding gates. Both sliding and swing gates are suitable for straight driveways.
If you have a straight driveway, we recommend looking at how swinging and sliding gates function to properly understand which one you prefer.
For initial quoting purposes, these different details are important for any company to provide you with an accurate quote. Remember that by having a standard RAL colour and a smaller gate, the price will be different from having a non-standard RAL at 4000mm wide and 2200mm high. There are always different options that can increase or decrease the cost of your gate.
Recap of Basic Information for a Quote:
If you are working with an installer, from here they will likely visit your property, take measurements, discuss different options with you, and then provide you with a quote for the complete project.
A key thing to remember when working with an installer is that a complete gate installation with automation doesn’t come cheap. With materials, automation cost, and the labour, it is likely that the complete install can cost anything from £7000 upwards, although this will differ depending on the installer that you use and the amount of work that needs to be done in terms of groundwork or the running of electrical cables to ensure the site is ready to have the gate safely installed.
Each company will have a different installation cost and will use different gate automation systems but any good installer will always give you a breakdown of your cost. One thing to always remember with the gate is the quality. Some gates are constructed using thicker aluminium and have been reinforced specifically for automated gates. It’s not to say that automation can’t be fitted on cheaper gates but best practice would suggest you want a gate that has been manufactured with gate automation in mind.
It’s always good to point out safety should be important with any gate installation. Many installers are Gatesafe or DHF regulated; this shows you that they have attended and passed courses with either company regarding gate safety. Not every company has this accreditation and that doesn’t mean that they can’t install a gate safely, but always ask the question about safety; any good installer will be able to provide you with information about the measures that they take to ensure your gate has been safely installed. Trying to save a few pounds on an install but compromising on safety is never advisable.
For manual gate installations, things can be a little simpler. The cost to install will be cheaper and although we always advise a professional to install, there are many who will install their own gate as part of a DIY project. If this is the case, please ensure you ask your supplier for hinge information and any advice they can provide on safety. There are often components that can help improve the safety of a gate such as safety cables that come at little cost.
This doesn’t answer every question about aluminium gates but it should give you a starting point on your journey to finding the gate you are looking for, or at least enough information to speak to a company and get an idea of cost and the work involved.
If you are looking for more information on the cost of an aluminium gate and the different factors that can affect the figure that gets sent through to you on a quote then please read our article How much does an aluminium gate cost and why?
If you are interested in exploring our gate options, feel free to browse our selection! If you have any additional questions or are curious for a free quote, we are happy to help. You can reach us through email: sales@tfsdirect.co.uk telephone 0330 700 3030 or by filling out our contact form.
