Electric Gates

Electric Gates For All... 

Electric gates have become increasingly popular in the last 10 to 20 years and their lower cost now means they are within the budget of most people. But there are many factors to be considered when installing them, some of which may not be obvious at first glance e.g. safety.

The obvious factor is that you need a driveway. It does not have to be large but remember that the gates will need space to open into when the car is parked on the drive. If your drive already has manual gates then it should be possible to install electric gates in their place. It may be possible to utilise the gates you already have and attach electric gate openers to them. If space is limited, electric sliding gates can be used as an alternative to swing gates.

Why Electric Gates?

There are three major benefits delivered by electric gates: privacy, security, and convenience.

Privacy. They control access to your property and keep out unwanted callers and prying eyes. These may be door-to-door salesmen, people looking for odd jobs, potential burglars etc. Using audio or visual communications you can identify your visitors before you let them in.

Security. A good set of electric gates completes your security perimeter of a high wall or fence and can be a significant deterrent to burglars especially the opportunist burglar. There is little point in having a high fence around your property if the gates to the front drive are always left open. you can combine electric gates with surveillance cameras to enhance your security.

Convenience. Many properties have gates that are rarely used because it is just too much trouble to open and close them manually. They are effectively merely a decoration for the drive entrance and of no practical benefit. A set of electric gates with a handheld remote control makes it easy to actually use your gates and keep them closed at all times except when access to your home is needed.

But there are other benefits to having electronic gates for your property.

Children and Pets. Automatically closing electric gates will ensure that gates are kept closed and children and pets are not allowed to wander out.

Wild animals. In rural areas an electric gate system can help protect your garden from the unwanted attention of rabbits or deer.

Unauthorised use of drive. Your electric gate system will prevent your driveway being used for unauthorised turning (or parking) by motorists.

Insurance. Most major insurers will offer a discount when they are fitted as part of your security measures.

Appearance. An automated electric gate system can improve the appearance and status of your property i.e. impress the neighbours. It is also a good selling point for your house.

Installing Electric Gates

If you decide that you would like electric driveway gates the question is how to get them installed.

Self installation.
It is perfectly possible to install electric gates yourself if you have DIY skills and the time to do it. Many suppliers sell the parts that you need and complete sets of electric gates can be purchased in kit form.

Once you get your electric gates up and working remember they will need maintenance to keep them working reliably.

Professional installation.
This is the easy but more expensive way. A good professional installation will cost at least £3000 when everything is taken into consideration. The growth of the electric gate market in recent years led to an explosive growth in the number of companies in the business and this has unfortunately led to poor practice by inexperienced people and to the installation of gates with poor long-term reliability.

A good electric gate installation company will take you through all the stages of designing a gate system and the installation process, including fitting an electric gate motor, safety devices and arranging maintenance.

If you are hiring professional installers make sure they are from an experienced company and have a maintenance and repairs service available. And remember that cutting corners by using the cheapest products you can find may well result in having an electric gate system that breaks down after only 12 to 18 months.

'The Ultimate Guide to Home Security' by Dan Berg, Your complete guide to locks, alarms, cameras and security systems designed to protect homeowners and their valuables. This book is available as an inexpensive instant-download.