Traditional gates add character and security to your driveway....

If your worried that installing electric gates to your property will ruin the look of your driveway and entrance, then think again. A well-made set of traditional wooden gates finished in a traditional paint colour can add a touch of class to your driveway as well as providing additional security. A large set of wooden gates can conceal your driveway and property entrance from prying eyes, where smaller gates can add an extra obstacle to unwanted callers as well as keep small children and pets secure in your grounds. If treated or painted with a quality paint, then maintenance won't be a headache. You can choose from a range of pre-made designs or if you are looking for something a bit different then a bespoke design might be the answer. Most installers will provide a free design service, so you can see what the gates will look like with your property and driveway. If you have a small driveway then a sliding gate can still provide the look and feel of traditional opening gates as well as provide additional security.

Article by Lee Hilton
Windlesham Electric Gates

Value added: Automatic gates

THE Prime Minister has got them, so has David Beckham. Automatic gates outside your house let people know that you are important or famous or would like to be both. Some people need them for security, but only a few. Certainly not the thousands currently installing them up and down Britain. The market in gate automation is increasing by a bewildering 30 per cent a year. They have become the latest aspirational accessory: they raise expectations as they gently swing open, massage the egos of returning commuters, and let burglars know that you've got something worth stealing.

Read the full article written by Jon Stock

Maintaining your wooden electric gates

Having invested in the ideal gate for your driveway and property, it makes perfect sense to protect your investment and keep it looking good for as long as possible. If well maintained there’s no reason why a good quality wooden gate wouldn’t last a lifetime.

The majority of garden gates are treated to protect the timber against wood rot and insects. This said, these treatments don’t provide all-round protection against weathering. Weather erosion and UV rays will slowly degrade the effectiveness of these treatments eventually rendering them ineffective. Whether made from a softwood or hardwood, treating the timber with a wood preservative and a top coat of oil, stain, paint or varnish will protect the wood for years.

If you want your gate to keep a natural look where the wood is clearly visible, our recommendation is to overcoat any preservative treatment with a clear exterior wood oil or decking oil. These products tend to contain a blend of wood oils, waxes and resins that penetrate into the wood grain to provide excellent protection against water ingress. Many of these products also contain UV filters which help to retain the natural colour of the timber for longer, delaying the onset of the grey, weathered look.

13 Tips for troubleshooting a bad electric gate installation

This is a general guide as to what to look for if you are experiencing problems with your Electric gates, automation or access controls. it is intended for you to isolate the source of the problem and possibly help you to fix the issue.

It is something we've all had to face, running late and trying to leave and bam! the gate doesn't work, you're stuck! so you put it on manual and have a HUGE security risk..
This guide is aimed at helping you find the cause and maybe fix it.

https://hubpages.com/technology/ElectricGatesTroubleshooting

Stuck in electric gates

FIREFIGHTERS from North Tawton were called to Spreyton at 2.50pm on Saturday, after reports that a horsebox was trapped in electric gates at Bowbeer Cross.
http://www.okehampton-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=463&headline=Stuck%20in%20electric%20gates&sectionIs=news&searchyear=2010

How to Clean Wrought Iron Fencing

How to Clean Wrought Iron Fencing: Wrought iron fencing can add an authentic look to your Victorian home. Here we have some easy restoration tactics to restore and clean wrought iron fencing.

Is it cost effective to install electric gates and will they help protect my property?

It wasn’t long ago that electric gates were something you only saw on big estate houses and the driveways of the rich and famous. We all imagine tall iron gates with security cameras and intercoms that produce an over protective security guard demanding some scheduled appointment or other whys ‘please leave’.

Those days are long behind us and more and more people are installing stylish looking gates that complement the age and style of their property, protect their home or business and keep away unwanted callers.

So why not just install some basic gates and save some pennies?
Unfortunately, we are all only human and who wants to continuously get in and out of their vehicle every time we want to leave or enter our driveway. Especially when the rains coming down or we are late to get the kids to school. So, if we have gates, we leave them open. It’s just easier that way and open gates in a driveway are about as useful as no gates at all. What’s more inviting to an unwanted caller than an open driveway. Whether they are looking to tell you about their favourite religion or just checking out your property for late night easy access.

Are electric gates really that easier to use?
In short, yes. Long gone are the days of pressing a buzzer on a voice box to gain access to your home, or having to get your car inches from the gates to get the remote to work. The very latest technology provides access from remote wireless triggers or even your mobile phone. The Telephone Entry System (TES) is perhaps the most flexible system, it can offer the flexibility to use multiple phones with multiple access codes which can even be allocated to different time zones.

Will they help to secure my home?
Electric gates alone won’t guarantee a completely secure driveway, but used in combination with further security measures they will act as a deterrent to potential intruders. When not in use the gates are closed making it that much harder to access your property.

What will they cost?
The cost of installing electric gates can vary greatly. Your choice in material and the design and style of gate will affect the cost. A quality set of automated gates can be in the region of £6,000.00 to £9,000.00. You then need to add in the cost of access control.

Most qualified installers will provide a free quotation and advice. So, if you have a sloping driveway or access is difficult from the street then they will have a solution that will work for you. Look for an installer that is accredited and approved by the right industry bodies to ensure they meet all safety standards.

No one can guarantee that a new set of electric gates will increase the value of your property but they will appeal to future purchasers looking for additional security and privacy to their new property.

Surrey based Windlesham Gates completes over 1000 installations

Surrey based Windlesham Gates has completed over 1000 installations since it first started back in March 2011. Owner Lee Hilton and his team of installers are now recognised as one of the UK's leading gate installers. You can see some a sample of the teams work on their website gallery pages, on Pinterest or on Facebook. Accredited by CAME, BFT and Gate Safe, Lee comments "it's never been more important to make sure your automatic gate installation meets all safety regulations and we can provide free advise to make sure you choose the right gates for your property". If you would like to talk to Lee and his team about installing electric gates for your property then visit his website for further information.

Gate Safe register hits 1000

 
Nearly seven years since Gate Safe became the first organisation to initiate a campaign for improved standards in automated gate safety, the charity marked another important milestone, as it celebrated hitting 1,000 installers on its acclaimed national register of Gate Safe Aware Installers - which currently features 459 companies.

The training session at Trade Skills 4 U – the UK’s no 1 provider of electrical training which regularly hosts Gate Safe Aware training – was attended by 17 delegates, including 4 from Acctive Systems, signifying 1,000 trained Gate Safe Aware installers in the UK.

In recognition of this important anniversary, Acctive Systems was provided with a year’s supply of Gate Safe MOT stickers, Gate Safe Aware van stickers and high-vis Gate Safe Aware Installer vests.

Richard Jackson, founder of Gate Safe commented, “When we first launched our IOSH (Institution of Occupational Safety & Health) accredited training programme, our intention was always to establish a national register of installers who had undergone the necessary training to enable them to understand the requirements to deliver a safe and compliant automated gate. The training has been especially developed with the installer in mind, the course is easy to understand and not over-complicated by technical jargon; it has a strong practical emphasis and does not put too much pressure on the smaller company, both in terms of financial outlay and time spent out of the business.

With such a broad (and consistently growing) spread of installers across the UK, the Gate Safe brand continues to grow both in terms of stature (Gate Safe has been commended by the HSE, is officially supported by 12 credible opinion former bodies and is the leading authority on automated gate safety) and reach.”

Gate options - Which style will work with your driveway

The position and angle of your driveway will paly a large part in your choice of gates, whether you will need sliding gates or swing opening gates. A driveway that is on an incline towards your house would restrict the operation of electric swing gates opening inwards, therefore sliding gates may be a more suitable option. In some cases it is possible to install rising hinges with a swing gate and if the gate is heavy or the slope is steep then a counter balance could be installed.

If you are after a greater level of security then sliding gates may be your prefered option – swing gates can be forced open with enough pressure. The benefits of sliding gates is they require less space to operate and provide full driveway access even when approaching from an angle.

Electric Sliding Gates

Electric Swing Gates

Choosing the right automatic gate installer

There are a large number of companies providing automatic gate installation, so choosing the best company for the job can seem daunting. Here are a few tips to help you make the right decision.

Make sure the installer is recognised and approved by industry trade bodies,  they will ensure safety and quality are up to standard. These include CAME, BFT, GATE SAFE and DHF. These organisations are there to ensure that installers deliver quality work that meets all safety regulations. Approvals will be displayed on company websites but if in doubt ask the installer.

To comply with health and safety legislation, all automatic gates MUST be installed with safety edges to ensure that they release quickly in an emergency.

Electric gates should ONLY be installed by qualified engineers.

Check customer feedback. What are customers saying about the quality of the installers work - did they complete the project on time? Did the quality of work meet their expectations?

Can the installer provide on-going maintenance of your electric gates? Poorly maintained gates do not just become unreliable but they can also become unsafe to use.

Follow these guidelines and choosing the right installer for your electric gates will be a little easier and give you peace of mind.

Why install security shutters?

Security shutters are a serious deterrent to thieves. This can be all you need to help prevent break-ins to your premises as the heavy-duty design makes it impossible to gain access. For this reason, many insurance companies will insist on the installation of security shutters.

Roller shutters consist of a series of interconnected slats that are usually made out of galvanised steel, plastic or aluminium. When rolled up they coil tightly into a discrete box that blends with the external appearance of the building. When rolled down the slats travel through tracks on either side and once fully extended they fit tight against the floor.

Gate Safety Week 2017

What is ‘Gate Safety Week’?

Gate Safety Week is a dhf (Door and Hardware Federation) initiative; launched with the dhf’s Automated Gate Group to create awareness around the installation and maintenance of automated gates, drawing attention to specific issues such as poor installation and maintenance.

Launched in 2014 and now in its fourth year, the campaign’s objective is to educate and inform professional installers, industry contacts and the general public on the dangers of poorly installed and maintained automated gates, in addition to how to report an unsafe gate and what to look for.

Key messages of our campaign:

- Our message for 2017 is very clear: ‘Safe Gates Save Lives!’ Help us by spreading the word on your website and social media platforms.

In addition, we want:

To encourage a user/owner to ask a specialist to check the operation and condition of their automated gates and report those that aren’t satisfactory.
To provide a neutral platform for organisations with common interests in the automated gates industry.
To engage and educate specifiers, merchants, installers, inspectors, surveyors and users in the correct specification, supply, installation and operation of automated gates.
To ensure that installers and maintenance companies are aware that the safety of automated gates is required by law.
To highlight the liability and responsibilities that apply to automated gate installers.
To raise the importance of CE marking and what the dhf’s coveted ‘Safety Assured Mark’ means.

For further information about Gate Safety Week, or to lend support please visit our website.
FB: https://www.facebook.com/doorandhardwarefederation/ TW: @gatesafetyweek