In some parts of the country, and the world for that matter, driveway gates are a common site.  Most of the time, these gates are found on rather large properties.  Many people probably imagine the huge mansions owned by movie stars when they think of having a gate guarding the entrance to a private driveway.  Beautiful driveway gates can adorn the properties of even us more common folk too though.  In general, installing driveway gates is not something that should be attempted by anyone but a professional.

You will need to consider some important design factors before proceeding with a gate installation.  Your installer will certainly consult with you, but there are some basic things he may want to discuss with you as you decide what type of gate system you want to purchase.

Gate design might start with a simple question of why you want a gate on your driveway in the first place.  If it is a security gate, you might have some different requirements than if it is serving mostly as an aesthetic accent to your property.  A driveway gate being used for security is more than likely going to be made from metal.  A popular choice that we have all probably seen before is the wrought iron fence.  These will serve well and are quite strong, but the rest of your property must also be secure.  If the fence is bordered by a three foot high stone wall, you aren't going to keep many people out if they really want to get in.

When you meet with the contractors who will be bidding on your job, you will need to take some things into consideration that are very basic.  The location of the gate is, of course, very important.  How close the gates are to a street where traffic flows will be a very important important thing to think about.  If you want gates that swing open, you cannot have cars waiting for that to happen while they are blocking traffic.  Depending on the distance from the road, you may either have to have gates that open inward or gates that slide open parallel to the road to allow room for cars to sit out of the way of traffic until they can proceed.

The lay of your land is also of vital importance when considering driveway gates. Even a basic installation on flat ground is a major project, but if you driveway slopes up or down hill, there may be clearance issues as the gates swing. Once again, a sliding driveway gate may be necessary.

Because the driveway gates must meet perfectly, the installation must be done on a rock solid surface that will not shift or move when temperatures change. If you have a sidewalk or patio made up of separate stones, you may have noticed how much they can move when the ground freezes and thaws. You cannot have this happening to the supports of the gate. Your contractor may have to do some very involved concrete work to ensure that the entire structure is stable and reliable.

Adding a driveway gate to your property can enhance the look and security of your home. It is a major project however. Be sure that you are dealing with a qualified contractor or home architect and ask for references. Being able to visit sites where he has completed work already should give you a good indication of the quality of work you can expect. As with any major project, get several estimates for comparison, ask about guarantees on the work that is done, and inquire about whether the contractor is fully insured for the job at hand. There is a lot of work involved in a driveway gate installation, your contractor should be able to give you a detailed description of what is being done, every step of the way.