Gate Automation in Hampshire: Swing, Sliding and Cantilever Gates
Automating a gate means more than bolting a motor on. The gate, the posts, the ground, the way you use your entrance and the people who walk past it all shape what's right for you. We're based in Southampton and automate gates for homes, businesses and industrial sites across Hampshire, as well as Dorset, Surrey and Berkshire. Here's how we approach it.
What gate automation involves
An automated gate has four main parts: the gate itself, the motor or motors that move it, a control panel that tells the motors what to do, and the safety devices that stop the gate if something is in the way. On top of that sits your access control, which is how you and your visitors open the gate.
Each part has to suit the others. A heavy steel gate needs a motor that can drive it smoothly without straining. A gate across a footpath needs safety devices placed to protect people walking past. A busy business entrance needs equipment that can cope with frequent use. We look at the whole entrance, not just the gate.
Swing gates
Swing gates open on hinges, inwards or outwards. They suit most driveways where there's room behind the gate for it to open. On double gates we fit one motor per gate, so each leaf is driven and controlled on its own.
Things we check for swing gates:
- Enough space for the gates to swing without hitting cars, walls or kerbs
- The slope of the driveway, as a rising drive can stop an inward-opening gate
- The strength of the posts or piers that the hinges and motors are fixed to
- Hinge gaps, so there are no finger traps at the hinge side
Sliding gates
Sliding gates run along the boundary, usually on a track in the ground. They're a good choice for short driveways, sloping drives or entrances where there isn't room for gates to swing. They need clear space to one side for the gate to slide into.
Cantilever gates
A cantilever gate is a type of sliding gate that doesn't run on a ground track. Instead, it's carried on rollers on one side of the opening, with a counterbalance section behind it. Because nothing crosses the opening at ground level, cantilever gates suit uneven ground, gravel and industrial yards where a track would fill with debris. They do need extra run-back space for the counterbalance. We install cantilever gates for both homes and commercial sites.
Automating gates you already have
If your existing gates are in good condition, we can often automate them. Before we suggest it, we check:
- whether the gates are straight, solid and swing or slide freely by hand
- whether the hinges and posts can take the extra load of a motor
- whether there are gaps or features that could trap fingers, which may need changing
- where power can be run, or whether a solar-powered gate would suit (our site survey is free)
If the gates aren't suitable, we'll tell you honestly. Because we make our own steel gates, we can also make a new pair designed for automation from the start.
Access control: how you open the gate
Choose the options that suit how you live or work:
- Remote handsets for drivers in the household or business
- Keypads for visitors, deliveries or staff
- Intercoms so you can see or speak to callers before letting them in
- GSM units that let you open the gate from your phone
- Loops in the driveway that open the gate automatically as a car leaves
Safety comes first
An automatic gate is a heavy machine that moves by itself, so it must be safe for everyone around it. We fit photocells, which are non-contact sensors that stop the gate if a beam is broken, and safety edges, which are contact devices that stop or reverse the gate if they touch something. Most gates use both.
Every installation is force tested before handover. A force tester measures how hard the gate pushes when it meets an obstruction, so we can make sure it's within safe limits. At handover you get an O&M manual, the force-test readouts and a settings book kept in the control panel.
Looking after it afterwards
Automated gates should be serviced at least every six months. We offer maintenance contracts tailored to each site, with force testing on every service and a written report each visit.
Where we work
From Southampton we cover the whole of Hampshire, including Portsmouth, Winchester, Romsey, Eastleigh, Totton, Fareham, Basingstoke and the New Forest. We also work in Dorset, Surrey and Berkshire.
Frequently asked questions
Can any gate be automated? Not every gate. It needs to be in good condition, move freely and be fixed to posts strong enough to take a motor. We'll check this at your survey.
Is a sliding or swing gate better? It depends on your space and slope. Swing gates suit most driveways with room to open. Sliding and cantilever gates suit short or sloping drives. See our guide to sliding vs swing gates.
Do double gates need two motors? Yes. Double gates have one motor per gate.
Can I open my gate from my phone? Yes, with a GSM unit.
Do you automate gates for businesses? Yes. We also supply and install barriers, bollards and industrial gates.
How do I get started? Call or WhatsApp 07890 387915. You can send photos of your entrance by WhatsApp to help us plan the survey.