Automatic Sliding Driveway Gates on Sloping Ground
Most Installers of Sliding Driveway Gates insist they go on level ground but realistically most driveways have some sort of slope on them and to make them level is either expensive or not possible, so what can be done?
Check out the following video on how to install sliding gates on a slope or read below.
Also see Automatic Swinging Driveway Gates on Sloping Ground
If you're in Australia and would like to buy hardware for sliding gates, motors or full gate check out these links:
Slope Across a Driveway
Automatic sliding gates can be on driveways that slope across ... even if it's quite steep, this is done by shaping the gate to fit the slope and making the entire track the gate rolls on is straight as possible on the same slope as the driveway.
READ MORE About Automatic Sliding Gates on Uneven Ground
Generally a larger motor is needed for sliding gates that slope across because it is having to lift a portion of the gates weight.
Guide System to Use
If the top and bottom rails have the same rake (slope), have no palings on the front and the track is reasonably straight a roller guide system may be used. Otherwise a guide rail, block and post system must be used. The guide block and channel needs to be square to the Top Rail and if the top rail is raked the guide block needs to be angled too.
Top can be Level Opening Downhill
The top of the gate may be level to match a stepped fence and if opening down hill the guide rail can be at the top of the gate because it drops as the gate opens. The guide rail runs through a nylon block ... that slides in a channel fitted to a post. The channel must be long enough for the movement of the block.
An issue with a level top and raked bottom is it does add to the cost of making the gate because any vertical cladding must be cut to different lengths or if cladding is horizontal such as slats, these must be carefully fitted to the angle of the bottom the gate, which is time consuming.
Top can be Level Opening Uphill
In this case the guide rail rises as the gate opens and must not rise above the fence line otherwise the guide post would need to be higher than the fence, which wouldn't look so good so the guide rail would need to be set lower down the gate, which normally means having to fit a middle rail or depending on the design of the gate the guide rail may be attached to vertical middle stiles or slats.
Telescopic Gates on a Slope
When there is limited space a gate can be made up as two or more panels that stack one in front of the other that are commonly called Telescopic or Stacker gates and can be on a driveway that slopes across.
READ MORE About Telescopic Gates
The bottom rail of both gate panels must be raked (sloped) to fit the slope of the driveway with the telescopic drive mechanism built into the bottom rail of the back panel at an appropriate angle (and middle for three panels). The top can also be raked, either the same slope as the bottom or at a different slope although the guide block and channel must be angled square to the top rail as it is with single panel sliding gates.
Level Top Telescopic Gates Opening Down Hill
A Telescopic gate with a level top that opens down hill has guide rails dropping down as the gate opens and if the tops of both gate panels are at the same height when closed the guide rails can be fitted to the top of each panel. The amount each guide rail drops with a two panel telescopic gate is half that of a single panel sliding gate, three panels are a third.
The panels may also be stepped keeping the size of each panel much the same, ideal for steeper slopes, although the guide rails need to be lower down, the front panels guide rail must be lower than the top of the back panel.
Level Top Telescopic Gates Opening Up Hill
A telescopic gate with a level top that opens uphill has guide rails rising up as the gate opens so they need to be lower down so they don't rise above the top of a back panel or fence. The amount each guide rail rises with a two panel telescopic gate is half that of a single panel sliding gate, three panel are a third.
The panels may also be stepped keeping the size of each panel much the same, ideal for steeper slopes, although the guide channel between panels should be lower than the panel in front so it's not seen above this panel when the gate is closed as this doesn't look nice.
Ground that Slopes Up From the Driveway
If the slope across the driveway increases significantly off the edge of the driveway the ground will need to be excavated to keep the gate track straight and have a retaining wall built that rises above the ground to keep the gate track clear of any debris.
The gate track should be well drained and pad for the motor high enough so rain water runs around it.
Ground that Slopes Steeply Up from the Driveway
If the slope across the driveway increase a lot off the edge of the driveway a telescopic gate may be more economic to install because it requires much less excavation. Halving the distance to excavate could be up to a quarter of the volume of soil to be removed so could be dug by hand more easily rather than having to get a machine in and could require a quarter of the materials to build a retaining wall too.
Ground the Slopes Down From the Driveway
If the Ground Slopes Down from the edge of the driveway a Metal Footing can be used to suspend the open gate in the air rather than using a big chunk of Concrete. Again if the ground is steep a Telescopic gate may be more economic.
Slope up the Driveway
Any slope up or down the driveway from the direction of the road has little effect on sliding or telescopic gates so long as the footing for the gate track is on the same slope as the driveway. With telescopic gates if the slope from the road is steep the gate heights may need to be adjusted. For very steep grades the wheel will dig into the side of the track to some degree increasing friction so its better to make this part not so steep when forming the driveway in the first place.
The pad for the motor should be level and high enough so any rain water runs around it and not through the motor.
The footing for the gate track should not be level if the driveway is sloping, this will not work. The footing may start on the same slope as the drive way and gradually become level over a distance of 1.8 metres (6') or more if need be.