No matter whether you are choosing a sliding or swing gate, it’s manual or automatic, having it installed properly at your place plays a big part to make your security unbreakable. Here are a few tips you can follow to get a proper gate installation at your house.
Tip #1 – Choose the right gate for installation
You should start with the end in your mind. Ask yourself questions like, where do you want this gate to open? Should it swing or slide? Where will it rest when fully opened? Make sure you know all the answers before you initiate the whole process.
It is important that you choose a gate according to the available space. The corners shouldn’t touch the ground or the gate will sag down when open. You might want to leave some space on both ends of the gate. If it’s too wide, the latch might get stuck, and if it’s too tight, you might get your hand smashed in it. The gate should also be 3” shorter than the gap you are trying to cover, that makes 1.5” space on both the hinge and the latch side.
Tip # 2 – Choose the right material for gate installation
Traditionally there are wrought iron, steel, and timber gates being installed, but most homeowners prefer aluminum due to lost maintenance cost. The material you choose is important and might have a significant impact on the overall cost of your gate installation. A solid hardwood gate would cost you almost double than a similar softwood installation. Due to the additional material weight, you might have to add a heavy duty gate operator.
Tip # 3 – Select the professional service for gate installation
Gate installation is a one-time decision and not many homeowners would like to do some experimentation with the gate. The sure way of having a reliable and secure gate installation is to hire professionals.