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DIY automatic gates: Everything you need to know

April 4, 2019 3 Comments

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If youโ€™re looking to install new driveway gates, automatic gates can be a convenient way to take control from the comfort of your car and increase your homeโ€™s security.ย But installing DIY automatic gates isnโ€™t as simple as knocking a few posts in.ย To determine if automatic gates are the right DIY job for you, hereโ€™s what you need to know before you put shovel to dirt.

Pinterest gate
Image source: Pinterest/emts.be

Use quality parts and materials

A problem with DIY automatic gates is that many online kits are of variable quality.ย Sub-standard gates jeopardise security and lack aesthetic appeal because of the lower quality materials supplied. Flimsy steel, plastic parts and hinges that wear prematurely will result in an electric gate that looks cheap and wonโ€™t last the distance.

Instead, source a supplier who uses quality materials and components. Reputable suppliers can design and manufacture an automatic gate for you to install yourself, rather than a cheap online kit. Higher quality gates are more resistant to weather, pests and damage, and can provide a safer security solution for your home. Choose custom-design for greater versatility.

DIY automatic gates require specialist skills

Installing an automatic gate is a highly specialised task.ย If you are tackling the job without a fencing contractor or installer, you will need building and electrical skills.

Homeowners attempting to do their own installation with a DIY kit and little experience could face additional costs if the task is not completed correctly. However, costs can be reduced by doing the groundwork yourself and hiring a reputable installer to do the final wiring and setup. Itโ€™s recommended that automating your gate should be done by an electrician or qualified installer.

Poor installations may void warranties and guarantees if defects are caused. To reduce risks, be wary of potential problems such as slope issues and fixing underground motors, which can be problematic if underground drainage is hampered. Contours and slopes can introduce installation issues and should be marked out as part of your planning process. Calculate the length of the boundary before you begin.

Gate - supplied image

Local council regulations

Risks can also be reduced by ensuring your automatic gate abides by local council regulations.ย In Australia, there are strict guidelines and minimum requirements regarding the spaces between panels and measurements of the fence and gate. You will also need council approval before installing.

Cost vs time

Before deciding if automatic gates are the right DIY job for you, consider the cost savings of supply only versus supply and installation, and how much your time is worth.

Homeowners who are trade qualified can benefit from an affordable solution with a supply only kit. Savings are usually in the installation costs. But youโ€™ll need to weigh up the liability and risks involved before choosing the DIY path.

Pinterest image
Image source: Pinterest/CustomMade

Swing vs sliding

Swing automatic gates are the most commonly used for residential properties because theyโ€™re practical and easier to install. However, they wonโ€™t function if it swings towards an upwards slope. Driveway length, room for cars to park and traffic on your street should also be considered before choosing a swing gate.

If space is an issue or you have a driveway incline, sliding gates are an ideal solution as they can be installed on an angle and take up less space. However, installing sliding gates isnโ€™t recommended for the average DIY enthusiast. Sliding tracks need to be embedded into concrete to work smoothly.

Once you have chosen a preferred gate type, determine its automatic access and how itโ€™ll be powered.

How to choose

Although visual appeal will help dictate which gate option is best for your property, the final decision usually comes down to space, driveway type and installation.ย But style is still an important consideration and the type of gate chosen should also complement the property.

Picket-style gates pair with Hampton houses. Modern homes can benefit from the clean and minimal appeal of slat fencing and gates. Alternatively, if you have an older property consider steel or aluminum gates with intricate tops like โ€˜gothicโ€™ for detail and character.

Author Bioโ€ฏย 
This article is written by Jayde Ferguson who recommends Fencemakers in Perth, Western Australian for the manufacture of automatic gates and installation by skilled contractors. Catch Jayde on LinkedIn.

A chic DIY laundry | DIY you should avoid

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Before & after: Renovating a kitchen while keeping Before & after: Renovating a kitchen while keeping ALL the character!

What a great example this is by @huntingforgeorge 

See all the details, and the laundry, on the blog now, via link in bio.
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Letterbox kinder egg deliveries from a friend, dressing changes without a flinch and refusing to nap despite all the bribes (check the face on him in pic 3!).

Thanks for all your care and messages/comments for this tired and shaken up mama! Now very relieved and grateful ๐Ÿ™
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It's not just the award winning designer houses that get us excited here. It's also the beloved family homes which are renovated and extended to make them fit for purpose so people can continue to live where they love ๐Ÿค—

@inspiredspacesaus helped her clients with teenage kids transform this house in Sydney's Hills District inside and out, making it their forever home. 

Due to the nature of the block they could only extend sideways and then gave it street appeal with render, new windows and doors.

See inside on the blog now, via link in bio. It was completely overhauled!
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Bravest little patient ever. Yes I've had a ๐Ÿท

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The new @studio.xox ONLY sells Australian brands. Like @nood_co coloured basins, lead-free eco brass from @faucetstrommen and @lindseywherrett's  ceramic basins made by hand in Tassie.

And as for their Sydney showroom (they also sell online): WOW.

See and read more on the blog now via link in bio.

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I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new @madeinaustshow in Sydney this August.

๐Ÿฆ˜๐ŸจForget every tacky association you ever had about touristy Australian made and prepare to see a showcase of the best of home, lifestyle, fashion and beauty made right here. If the pandemic has made you appreciate buying local even more, this is for you.

It's the first business to business trade event connecting retailers with Australian made products to champion our local makers๐Ÿ™

Apply to exhibit or find out more at their website, via their bio, now!

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Doesn't matter what they tell you or how many times it's sealed, I'm not sure it's a great idea in a room which is so, well, wet!

I love having the warmth of timber in the bathroom and it's a beautiful piece, but timber on the top? Never again.

Ours probably lasted a year (if that) before it started to go downhill (and we want a good decade out of a bathroom, right?!). 2.5 years on, everything else in this bathroom looks virtually brand new and the water marked vanity top was really letting the side down and making me sad!

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The kids are allowed to brush their teeth and wash their hands (liquid soap ๐Ÿฅด) in here again and I can leave my hair straightener on there with gay abandon ๐Ÿ˜†

The reflective surface (which I can clean with whatever I like!๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป) brightens the room up too!

Next week I'll tell you what I really think of my brass tile trim too ๐Ÿ˜‰

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Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than F Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than French onion?

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Get to know me! I haven't done one of these in YE Get to know me!

I haven't done one of these in YEARS so there's possibly thousands of you who don't know my back story. Here's a few things you may not know about me!

โœ”๏ธ I'm English ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ and I moved here (just for one year) back in 2008๐Ÿ˜† 

โœ”๏ธ I can't end the day without a bath, even if I get home really late or on a really hot day. It's a mental health thing and my happy place. ๐Ÿ› 

โœ”๏ธ Before becoming a blogger and running my own small business, I was a journalist from the age of 18. My favourite news gathering times were as a newspaper crime reporter (bit different to interiors!) ๐Ÿ““ 

โœ”๏ธ I once worked at New Scotland Yard in London ๐Ÿš” 

โœ”๏ธI had an interview at Oxford (didn't get in!) but chose not to go to uni at all after being offered a job on the local paper #universityoflife ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My mum died when I was 3, I have an excellent dad and one sister (younger) in the UK โค๏ธ ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง 

โœ”๏ธ At school, my favourite subject was French ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท and I was head girl ๐Ÿค“๐Ÿค“

โœ”๏ธ I'm addicted to โ˜•๏ธ , long hot baths and๐Ÿ’„ (been wearing it since I was about 14!)

โœ”๏ธ I'm not a phonecall person and will never ever pick up an unknown number. Ever. They can leave a message ๐Ÿ˜

โœ”๏ธ My favourite cuisine is Japanese ๐Ÿฃ ๐Ÿœ and Damian and I honeymooned in Tokyo and Venice 

โœ”๏ธ I have zero design qualifications. I just started blogging about my passion, which is trying to persuade everyone to #heartyourhome That was 11 years ago...

โœ”๏ธ My favourite tipple is a good GnT or๐Ÿท 

โœ”๏ธ Cheesy as it sounds, ๐Ÿ’โ€โ™€๏ธbeing a mum is my absolute biggest joy in life ๐Ÿง’๐Ÿ‘ฆ

โœ”๏ธ I will never give up my old school paper diary! Has to be A5 and week to view ๐Ÿ“– 

โœ”๏ธ My official surname isn't Bishop. I kept my maiden name for work after I got married but changed it for everything else. Often confuse myself!

โœ”๏ธ I didn't get my Ps until I was 37 and I'm still a terrible parker ๐Ÿ˜ฏ ๐Ÿ…ฟ๏ธ

Hope you feel like you know me a bit better ๐Ÿ˜˜

๐Ÿ“ธ @vanlowvanlow
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Amy Collins Walker

About Amy Collins Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarMatt says

    April 4, 2019 at 6:14 pm

    Thanks for tips, I’m in the process of changing my old gate so it might be useful.

    Reply
  2. AvatarAdam Smith says

    April 5, 2019 at 11:11 pm

    Quite helpful articles for most homeowners. Thanks for the tips.

    Reply
  3. AvatarDave says

    August 19, 2019 at 11:31 pm

    From a UK perspective the most important part of this article would be the part that says make sure your automatic gate has working safety devices that stop it crushing anybody. There is a standard in the UK it needs to meet, but for anyone anywhere it is very important that the gate stops if there is any danger to anyone.

    Reply

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