Everything you need to know about Installing Sliding Driveway Gates
Automatic (motorised) sliding gates or rolling gates have two wheels fitted to the bottom that roll on a metal track fitted to a footing on the ground and can either open to the left or right. The bottom rail must extend far enough to allow for a motor (operator) to be placed off the edge of the driveway. Lengths of 'rack' are fitted to the bottom rail of the gate that connect to the motor to propel the gate open and closed by remote control.
READ MORE about installing sliding gate motors and How they Work
A Typical automatic sliding gate
Do NOT use more than Two Wheels
Any more than two wheels used on a sliding gate can be dangerous. This is because no gate track is never dead straight so only two wheels can ever properly contact the track at any one time and if the gate goes over a bit of a hump one wheel could be far enough in the air to not even hold that end of the gate, which means it could very easily derail.
So it's best to stick with two wheels as these will always bear the load evenly.
If the gate is very heavy then use heavier duty wheels or double wheels with a pivoting trolley.
Footings
Footings for the sliding gate track and pad for the motor to mount on can be made from concrete or metal.
READ MORE about installing footings for sliding gates
Guides and Stops
The gate must have a guide system that holds the gate up as it moves and hard stops at each end so it doesn't go off the end of the guide and fall over.
READ MORE about guide systems and stops for sliding gates
Sloping and Uneven Ground
Sliding gates may go on a driveways that slope or are on uneven ground. They may also be cantilevered or can hung from above so there is no track across the driveway.
READ MORE about sliding gates on sloping and uneven ground
Side Room to Open
Sliding gates do need side room to open, which includes an allowance for the motor.
READ MORE about space required by Sliding Gates
Telescopic Stacker Gates
If side room is limited two or three sliding gate panels may be stacked one in front of the other to take up less less side room than a single panel. These are commonly known as a telescopic or stacker sliding gates.
READ MORE About Telescopic Gates
Bi-parting
Two sliding gates may also slide apart from each other commonly known as Bi-Parting sliding gates. They may also go around a corner.
Cabling (wiring) Requirements for an Automatic Sliding Gate
Cable for power is run to the motor that can either be hardwired or a Power Outlet installed next to the motor on small post (not on the fence). For Bi-parting gates that have a motor either side power is required on both sides as well as a 4 core data cable between motors. Other cable requirements may include a 2 or 4 core from the gate motor to one or more sets of photocells, digital keypad, intercom, press button or in ground vehicle sensor. If the cable is to go in the ground it must be suitable for in the ground.
How do Visitors get In?
For people you don't know you can install an Intercom on your gate that can either ring inside your house or call you on your mobile phone so you can talk to them and open the gate remotely to let them in.
READ MORE about Gate Intercoms
For visitors you do know rather than giving them a remote control you can install an access control device such as a Digital Keypad and give visitors a pin number, which is also handy for the meter reader, gardeners, cleaners and kids coming home from school.
READ MORE about Gate Access Controls
How Do Visitors get Out?
The simplest option is to install a press button along side the driveway so visitors can press this to let themselves out, although if someone jumps the fence they too can easily use this to open the gate and let a vehicle in. A better option is to use an in ground vehicle detector so if any vehicle (not a person) drives up to the gate from inside the property it will open automatically for them. This system is known as an Auto-Exit Loop
READ MORE about Auto-Exit Loops
An automatic gate closing by itself (auto-close)
An option with most gate motors (operators) is to have it close automatically after a time delay but it is a good idea to install a safety photocell if you want to use this option to prevent the gate from closing on a vehicle. The Photocell can also be used to close the gate as soon as a vehicle has driven through for improved security.