When you decide to invest in automatic electric entrance gates for your home, as with anything electrically operated, the perfect system is one that operates perfectly every time and is reliable 24/7. However, with the booming of social media advertising, you may feel lost or be misled by false information when researching on the Internet.
With nearly 40 years of experience, our team at AGD will guide you on some factors that you need to consider before you decide to buy an electric entrance gate.
When you do research on timber gates, you will see the price gap among types. The high-quality timber gates, manufactured with the right timber species, are going to serve you well for many years to come if they are installed correctly in the first place and maintained well. The cheaper option, with lightweight profile sections and unseasoned timber, usually called softwood, will twist, crack, and deteriorate very quickly and may not even be suitable for the strains of the electric drive motors, placing their specific forces on the gate leaves.
At AGD, we only supply and install electric timber gates with 70mm thickness to meet the high safety standards.
Steel Gates were probably the most common gate material in the past and they are still a great choice for so many gate designs. Very strong and adaptable on designs with large sizes possible
Like timber gates, aluminium gates are readily available in cheaper and lightweight build options. However, they may not all be totally suitable for electric automation. Many low-priced aluminium gates are available on the Internet, but they may originate from smaller manual gates manufactured in Europe, so be aware when you want something larger and with automation.
Larger aluminium gates need to be built to a standard which can take the daily stresses and strains, particularly if your gate entrance is exposed to wind.
A swing gate usually has a post on either side or sits between brick or stone gate pillars. Single or Double gates.
A sliding gate slides behind vertical support posts or gate pillars, so its visual appearance is quite different, even when the design is the same as the swing version. These are best for security and longevity.
Bi-fold gates have a unique double-hinged system allowing each leaf to fold back onto itself - requiring only a quarter of the width of the gates in its open position. Great for where space is tight on either side of the entrance.
Safety is one of the biggest topics in automatic entrance gate forums and among the specialists who work in this market. There are some very basic and common-sense safety guidelines, but there are also legal requirements when it comes to an electric gate system. Gate Safe, the leading charity that campaigns for improved standards in automated gate safety, has revealed that a staggering 90% of gates have been shown to be unsafe.
So, how do you know that your gate is compliant with legal requirements? The Gate Safe MOT is an infinitive showing the highest standard of safety for your gate. It provides a clear visual reference to indicate that a gate has been installed/ maintained in accordance with best industry practices.
You can find out more about Gate Safe MOT here.
A well-manufactured gate must achieve harmony among all its components, ensuring a final product that is durable, functional, and reliable.
Here are some simple tips on how material choice and manufacturing processes contribute to gate quality:
The quality of a timber gate heavily depends on using the right timber species and ensuring the wood is properly seasoned.
Aluminium gates require complex preparation before assembly to ensure longevity and integrity. The processes like cleaning, etching, priming and painting have to be prepared properly before being attached to each other. Cheap gates will just bolt together, while high-quality gates will be bonded and screwed where necessary for complete overall structural strength to deal with the rigors of daily use and windy conditions.
The durability of steel gates depends on the quality of the welding and the effectiveness of the galvanising and painting processes.
Electric gates offer convenience, security, and style to your property, therefore, it is important to choose the right controls to ensure they operate safely and effectively. There are some popular and best controls for electric gates, such as:
The biggest and most common question we receive every day is,‘’ How much will it cost me?’’ Obviously, the answer is not simple because of the many sizes, styles, control methods, and gate materials.
At AGD we do a full site survey, design, and then install reliable and compliant electric gates with a price range from:
We have seen many times the incorrect comparison of a complete installation of entrance gates from ourselves at around £12,000 against an online shopping basket comparison of £4,000. However, the gates themselves are completely different, and they do not include many of the necessary components for safety and compliance, as mentioned above. Also if incorrect gate motors are not paired property with the gate, based on weight and wind force potential you could end up with a set of gates which constantly cause you operational issues.We get those calls every week from people who have fallen into this situation.
If you still have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact our team at 01933 229123 or email: enquiries@agdsystems.co.uk.
