Metal Entrance Gates

Choosing a material is usually the first step in the driveway gate shopping process. To help you choose the best metal for your property, here are some things you should know about the different kinds of metal used for automatic gates!

Materials for Metal Gates

Metal driveway gates are made from four different kinds of materials:

Steel. Steel, an iron and carbon alloy, is more impact-resistant and stronger than pure iron. The strongest material is steel.

Aluminum. This metal is pliable and lightweight. Also, it is completely impervious to rust. But it’s not as strong as steel.

Wrought iron is iron that has been heated and worked with tools. It can be formed into more complex designs because it is more pliable than cast iron. Furthermore, the metal has a lot of character due to its fibrous appearance.

Cast iron is made of melted iron that has been poured into a mold and allowed to solidify. Although it is a strong metal, it lacks the ductility and heavy-duty qualities of wrought iron. It is smoother than wrought iron in terms of appearance.

 

Comparing the Various Metals

Each of the four metals used to make driveway gates has advantages and disadvantages. Here is a comparison of them.

 

Durability and strength

Aluminum is the least durable metal, while steel is the strongest. This implies that a steel gate is, in principle, the most resilient to misuse and the leverage forces involved in gate operation. Steel gates are much more durable than iron gates.

Aluminum gates are the least durable, but they’re not at all fragile, and the majority of them can withstand anything that you or Mother Nature may throw at them. It should be mentioned, though, that aluminum gates are typically not one piece that has been welded together like steel and iron gates are. The pickets are screwed in instead. As a result, they might become looser with time and need to be adjusted. Constructions that are fully welded are invariably stronger.

 

Upkeep

 

Every metal gate requires little care and attention from the user. One benefit of aluminum is that it resists rust by nature. To prevent rust, peeling, or fading, iron and steel gates are coated with a powder finish.

 

Weight

 

Compared to steel and iron gates, aluminum fences are roughly 2.5 times lighter. As a result, they are less demanding, but they also need less assistance. As a result, they can be automated using a gate operator with less power. Additionally, aluminum can be a useful material for very large gates, making it easier to open and close them.

Look

 

Whether made of steel, iron, or aluminum, metal gates are inherently beautiful as long as they are constructed well. Wrought iron is a great choice if you want a more elaborate look. A flat-top steel, cast iron, or aluminum gate might be the best option for you if you prefer simplicity.

 

Metal Gate Designs and Styles

 

Typically, metal gates come in one of three designs:

Flat on top. The most basic type of gate is this one. A flat-top gate has a perfectly rectangular shape because its upper rail is perfectly straight.

Arched-top. An arched-top gate’s upper rail creates a slow, flowing arch. This type of metal gate is perfect for double swing gates and has a sophisticated, classic appearance.

Topped with arches and finials. In contrast to the arched-top design, this gate style has a more decorative finish because the pickets’ tops, or finials, extend past the upper rail.

Although these are the three fundamental designs, a gate can be further customized in a variety of ways. For instance, you can select the height at which the gate is raised off the ground, the distance between the pickets, and the various decorative patterns for the finials and pickets.

 

Is it better to swing or slide when opening a gate?

 

Gates that swing are the most widely used option. Compared to sliding gates, they have the benefit of taking up less space beside the driveway. Additionally, swing gates complement traditional arched-top gate designs the best. There are swinging gates with one or two swings. Larger openings are best suited for double swinging gates, which have a more conventional appearance but do require two gate operators. For smaller openings, single swinging gates are a better choice.

A classic slide gate stows next to the fence and slides along a track. There are also trackless cantilever gates that glide on rollers that are fixed to posts. Another choice is a telescopic, or stacker, gate, which can be stored in a small space because it has two or more panels that stack on top of one another when the gate opens.