A Breakdown of Your Custom Drive Gate Options

A residential driveway gate says a lot about your property. With one glance, every passerby will appreciate the elegant, beautiful, private, and secure place you call home. 

And the best part about drive gates? You can customize them to fit your needs and wishes exactly. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about these luxury features.

What to Expect from the Design Process

When it comes to custom home upgrades, drive gates are second to none. They boost a home’s curb appeal, functionality, and security. So if you’re looking to customize your home’s exterior and want the most bang for your buck, drive gates should be at the top of your list.

But with so many options before you, how do you go about designing the perfect custom drive gate? First, consider the following:

• What is your priority: privacy, security, or curb appeal?
• What is the size and layout of your drive?
• Do you want to automate the gate later on?
• Does your aesthetic lean modern, rustic, or traditional?

With the answers to these questions in hand, you’re now prepared to weigh the options and conquer the design of your new gate. And if you bring your project to Mae Fence, you’ll gain access to all our many resources. We weld our gates in-house to ensure we meet the design visions of our clients.

From aluminum to cedar and vinyl, you can create a drive gate from any one of our favorite materials. But before we meet to talk more about your project, get familiar with the various gate types. Here are the five most popular options to consider. 

Option #1: Swing Gates

A swing gate is one that swings into or out of your property. They’re beautiful and easy to use. Even better, they are one of the more affordable options on this list. You can have one made of vinyl, cedar, or aluminum and they come in a wide range of designs. 

But before you sign off on a swing gate, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. For starters, swing gates require a fair amount of room to operate. If your driveway is not long enough for a large gate to swing open and close, this option may not be the right fit. 

If you do have the space, keep in mind that you can install a swing gate now and automate it later. Whether you opt for manual or automatic, these gates are super easy and intuitive to use. 

Option #2: Bi-fold Gates

Bi-fold gates are similar to swing gates in their operation, but they are a little more complex. They are made up of two leaves that collapse against each other before the gate swings open or closed. If you like the idea of a swing gate but have limited space, this may be the perfect solution.

Some bi-fold gates operate on a track, but this doesn’t have to be the case. They also can work manually, if you don’t have room in your budget for automation. Another benefit? Because they require less space for operation, they are also quicker to get open and closed. 

One downside to installing a bi-fold gate is that it requires a little more maintenance than a standard swing gate. All of the moving parts require cleaning and checking from time to time. 

Option #3: Sliding Gates

Why did the chicken cross the gate?
To get to the other slide. 

We promise sliding gates are nowhere near as terrible as that joke is. And if security is one of your top concerns, this gate type should be a serious contender. Sliding gates run along fixed tracks and are therefore harder to force open. Naturally, this makes a greater deterrent to potential trespassers.

Another great feature of sliding gates is that they require much less room to operate. They slide sideways, rather than inwards or outwards, so they don’t require any extra space to open or close. However, because they operate via tracks and wheels, they are generally more expensive. They also need more long-term maintenance than swing gates.

Still, sliding gates are super easy to use and can easily be automated down the road. They’re also versatile in design and can be made of vinyl, aluminum, or cedar. We think slide gates are an excellent choice for anyone with extra room in their budget. 

Option #4: Curved Sliding Gates

Curved sliding gates are exactly like sliding gates. Except curved.

(You may have guessed that from the name, but we thought it was a point worth clarifying.)

Curved sliding gates are great because they accommodate limited space and/or the unique geography of a property. Like standard sliding gates, these fixtures operate via track and wheels and can also be automated. Sliding gates are also just as durable and secure as their standard versions, although they can cost a bit more money to install. 

If you’re trying to install a drive gate in a narrow or unique location, be sure to keep this type in mind. They’re less common than some of the other options on our list, but they work just as well. 

Option #5: Lift Gates

If you have limited space but envision something grander than a traditional swing gate, consider a vertical lift gate. These fixtures are quite a bit more expensive than the other options on this list because they can only be installed with automated operation. 

That said, this can be an appealing option for homeowners with a bigger budget. Lift gates are very secure, have a lot of design potential, and are pretty easy to use. They’re also one of the fastest options on this list because they need only pop up and down to allow or bar access to a property. Most lift drive gates can open and close in under eight seconds!

Ask Mae Fence About Our Custom Drive Gates

At this time, Mae Fence manufactures and installs swing gates, bi-fold gates, sliding gates, and curved sliding gates. And we’re happy to install these gates in a way that allows you to automate them later on. Just let us know if that’s your preference. 

If you are interested in any of the options we’ve listed or have any questions about design or operation, please call. We have installed countless custom drive gates over the years. And we’re confident that we can find a solution that looks and works exactly how you want it to. Bring your vision to our team!