Garden gates have grown in popularity over the years, especially now that many people have higher walls and sliding gates. Although it is unlikely that many of us will return to having low walls around our gardens, there is a growing demand for us to tailor our homes to our changing requirements.
Segmenting our inner yards for multiple uses has become important to homeowners, and using a garden gate helps to make this easier to achieve. When you are considering garden gates there are some important aspects to remember. You will need to think about what the gate will be used for, such as keeping your pets out of certain areas, preventing children from entering certain areas, or separating your house for a work-from-home-office.
A well-planned gate gives you the opportunity to open or close these areas as you choose. Below is everything you need to know about gates.
Garden Gate Basics
The problem with buying a garden gate is that they always come in standard sizes and do not for the opening that you would like to close. Manufacturing to a specific size is costly and is mostly done by small operators. Only a handful of manufacturers do offer gates at specific lengths to fit a specific opening size. This will allow it to fit easily into its designated space without too much modification to your wall or property. A gate can be mounted onto a wall or a pole or post, depending on what structure you have in place.
You can use a garden gate anywhere in your yard, and it is very useful at keeping your dogs and other pets away from your children and vice versa. You can also separate your front yard from your back yard, helping to keep your dogs or pets in the back half. Many dogs are home alone for the day as their owners work, which can cause them to bark at anything that moves. If they are in the front half of the yard, this can become annoying to neighbours, but providing your dogs with their own space to run around in can help their boredom and barking.
Driveway Gate Essentials
Driveway gates are an essential item for any home to have. Traditionally they are used as a vehicle entrance to your property. But many people also place driveway gates in front of a car-port or garage, and between the boundary wall and the outer wall of your house.
These gates help to create a barrier for pets or children, making it difficult for them to gain easy access to the outside while unsupervised. Although there are many cheap options available it is advised that these gates be made with sturdy materials like hot-dipped galvanised or pre-galvanised steel for long-lasting quality.
Pedestrian Gate Information
A pedestrian gate and garden gate are often similar but used for different applications. There are many sizes and shapes available for pedestrian gates, and you can choose the option that suits you the most. Pedestrian gates are often used as a side entrance for your property or as an entrance to your office on the same property.
Installing pedestrian gates often follows the same process as a garden gate, but they are placed in different areas. If you live in a complex or in a cottage that is separate from the main house on a property, you will likely have a pedestrian gate as an entrance to your property. These gates can include a decorative scroll or be simple and plain, based on your own preferences.
The Problem With Ordering And Installing A Gate
Once you have identified the areas that you want to block off and where you want to install your gates, you might run into a problem. You might find that there are no garden gates, driveway gates, or pedestrian gates that you can purchase from a store that fit your specific gate opening.
To remedy this, you will need to contact someone to measure your gate opening, manufacture and install the gate. For those who are new to the world of home improvements, you may be concerned about being overcharged or having no idea who to call. There are some simple tips you can follow to ensure that your gates are correctly measured and installed.
- Specific gate sizes: If you choose to measure up the area and send it to a reputable company which will make it to the measurements, there are not many companies to choose from. As most walls are not straight, always supply the shortest distance between the walls (the opening size) and use steel spacers to square up the longer side.
- Installation: If you have basic DIY skills, you will be able to install your gate yourself, but it can be difficult to line up the horizontal and vertical angles. You will also need to consider the angle of the ground beneath the gate. You also need to account for the imperfections of your walls, as many are not completely straight. Consider the opening angle and the ability to open the gate fully too when installing a gate.
- Cost and quality: There is a vast difference between a well-made gate and an inferior gate. In some cases, a superior gate is double the cost of a poor gate but paying for quality and safety should take precedence over the price. There is also a vast difference between a well-made gate and a bespoke gate made and installed by a manufacturer/installer.
You can perform a quality check yourself by doing the following:
- Picking up the gate and feel the weight of it. It should be heavy and solid
- Check the quality of the welding and wire mesh
- Check the quality of the hinges and closing mechanisms.
Well-made garden gates, driveway gates, can outlive a poor one by decades. With Van Schoor, you will have a gate that is built farm-tough by an agricultural manufacturing company and enjoy many happy years of ownership. Contact us today to find out what we can offer you.