Driveway Gates

A driveway can be defined as a private road. It is a private road for local access. It provides access to one building structure or a small group of structures.

tags: tarmac, tarmac-driveway, driveway-gates, electric-gates, gated-driveway,

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Mr Brown - MD

"Driveways, like all personal property, need to be protected."

You’ve made it when you have… A driveway is one thing, a tarmac driveway is another so a tarmac driveway with gates in a league of it’s own, you know youve done something right when you drive up to electric gates met with profesionally installed tramac!

Residential or domestic driveways are frequently used by their owners to enter or exit their properties efficiently while ensuring that the security of their home is locked down.

*** Driveway gates *** Manual or electric gates themselves are generally made in either wrought iron or wood or a combination of both. The classic electric gates are wrought iron with gold finials to complete the look. However a modern home may not suit this style so they may opt for something like a steel framed set of gates with wood or composite clad inserts.

In addition the traditional method is to huse a pair of gates that open at the same time that really stes the tone of “we have arrived”, again a contemporary way of opening and closing is the sliding method where there is only 1 gate which slides horizontally.

*** The logistics of driveway gates *** As an owner of driveway gates, you have the logistical side of things to consider which are entry systems, the mechanisms used to operate gates and threshold maintenance.

*** Entry systems *** Obviously if you are entering or exiting your property you will be able to control your gates yourself using a key fob, auto detection or app but visitors will not have that so how will you know that someone is at the gates? There are many entry systems out there from commercial grade entry systems like AES (not recommended) or home automation solutions from the likes of Ring, for a slightly more professional solution Ubiuiti do a great intercom system. Other options include GPS systems that rely on installing a sim card which calls your phone or intercome but although the GPS system are stable, they are a little outdated compared to newer offerings which have polished app experiences.

*** Electric gates *** Obviously you need to run power to your gates and usually comms too to entry systems although your could use wifi extenders. BFT offer robust control systems that include swing and slide gate operation with sensors and key fobs which provide the basic opening and closing functionality. The entry systems piggyback onto these systems to provide your with a complete system but it’s worth noting the BFT do offer the intercome experience too.

*** Threshold, Drainage and Security *** The threshold is important because of the tarmac, see the tarmac driveway has to stop somewhere and it’s better to stop against a something solid so that it doesnt break up at the edges. Blockwork if you friend here and provides an aesthetically pleasing border too. Lastly you need to think about drainage too, gate are heavy and the last thing that you want is water pooling round your gates only for them to eventually start moving.

*** Should you install driveway gates? *** If you can afford it and your have the room then driveway gates have many advantages from security to kerb appeal and increasing the value of your home. Installed correctly and combined with a plush tarmac driveway, electric gates are a seriously attractive option with many benefits.