Finding Your Perfect Driveway Gates
Your driveway gates are a key part of your home’s overall security, keeping unwanted visitors out and creating a more comfortable space for your family, blocking out outside noise from pedestrians and road users. Security is not the only factor in driveway gates. They also make a bold style statement and look excellent, boosting your home’s exterior appearance and kerb appeal.
Yet when it comes down to choosing the perfect driveway gate, there are several factors to consider before you make a purchase. That’s why, here at Juke’s Timber Solutions, as experts in driveway gates, we’ve put together the following guide to help you find the best to match your requirements and your home’s overall aesthetics.
In This Buying Guide
When you’re considering what type of gate to get, it’s important to consider its purpose. Do you need a gate to provide security for your children and pets? Improve your privacy? Perhaps you’re simply looking for one that lifts your home’s kerb appeal and makes your property look great. Whatever your vision, there’ll be a gate to suit.
What Are The Benefits Of Choosing A Wooden Gate?
There are various reasons why wooden driveway gates are so popular amongst homeowners.
Firstly, wood has a timeless, natural look that complements virtually any property, enhancing the overall beauty and charm. Wood can be stained, painted or left with a natural finish, so you can truly personalise a wooden gate to suit your personal style and taste.
Wooden gates can be created in a variety of styles and sizes, including to your exact measurements.
High-quality wood can offer excellent durability and strength, and with the right care and attention, your wooden gate could last for several decades. Plus, thick timber gates offer a good level of security, making them hard to break through.
Firstly, Softwood or Hardwood?
Softwood gates are often more economical than hardwood; however, they may not be as durable. Whilst there are exceptions to this rule, this is a good rule of thumb. This isn’t to say that a softwood gate isn’t a good option. If you care for it properly, you’ll get many years of life out of a softwood gate, and it’ll look great.
Hardwood gates typically have fewer knots than softwood, which gives a more attractive finish, and they have a high-density finish that is naturally resistant to dents and forced entry. However, hardwood is typically more expensive.
Essentially, the wood you choose will come down to your budget and security needs. However, it’s always good to make an informed decision when it comes to which wood type your gates are made from. For a more in-depth look at softwoods and hardwoods, and their properties, take a look at our guide here.
Made-to-Measure or Standard Size?
Whilst many outlets simply sell off-the-shelf, standard-sized gates, often these won’t suit many properties. Not every driveway is the same size, and sometimes, you may want to customise your driveway gate’s size for more privacy.
Opting for a made-to-measure driveway gate is a great way to ensure everything fits and is exactly as you wish for installation. A made-to-measure gate will be made individually for your home by our professional master carpenters to look impressive in front of your property.
Measuring
To measure for your driveway gate, do so correctly to avoid any confusion and further problems when fitting your gates.
For deeper insight into exactly what you should measure for your driveway gates, make sure to read our guide here.
If you’re still confused about which size is right, always contact a professional. Our team will be more than happy to help you.
To order bespoke sizing on our website, simply select the standard driveway gate size closest to your desired size, and we’ll provide you with a price. Then, on this page, select the bespoke size option and input your desired size in the H & W box. We will refer to the notes when creating your gates.
Swinging or Sliding Gates
A sliding gate will operate horizontally, moving along a track, typically parallel with the fence or boundary wall. Usually, they are powered by an electric motor or operated manually. This gate configuration is an excellent choice for properties with limited front driveway space or ones with sloped or uneven driveways, where the gate could hit the ground and not open properly.
Swing gates open inward on hinges much like a door. A traditional choice, these gates look brilliant on flat, level driveways with plenty of room, especially in front of traditional or heritage-style properties, as they offer a classic appeal.
Please note that we can manufacture gates suitable for use as sliding gates, but we don’t offer a fitting option for this.
What About a Gate Automation?
An automated gate uses an electric motor to open and close automatically, rather than moving it yourself.
This can enhance the convenience of your driveway gate, meaning that you won’t need to get out of the car or walk down the driveway to open it, which can be a huge bonus in bad weather.
Automated gates can seem like a premium property feature to potential buyers, so they can help to lift your home’s kerb appeal and overall value even further.
Please note that we can manufacture gates suitable for use as automated gates, but don’t offer a fitting option for this or motors.
Mortise and Tenoned, Ledged and Braced, What Does It All Mean?
In a driveway gate, a mortise-and-tenon is a traditional carpentry joint which interlocks the wood at right angles. Widely considered one of the strongest, most durable methods of gate construction, the mortise is a hole or slot carved into one piece of timber, and the tenon is a protruding tongue or peg carved into the secondary piece of timber.
The tenon fits snugly into the mortise, often likened to a puzzle piece, locking the frame together securely. This interlocking design is exceptionally strong, helping heavy driveway gates to support their own weight. Often, a mortise and tenon is seen as the hallmark of quality craftsmanship.
Ledged and braced refers to another traditional method of construction. This is designed to prevent a gate from twisting, warping or sagging.
It is made of visible support timbers on the back of the gate. The ledging is the horizontal pieces of timber secured across the back of the boards to hold the vertical planks together and provide solid support for the hinges and latches. The braces are diagonal pieces of wood running between the horizontal ledges to form a ‘Z’ pattern across the back.
A standard ledged-and-braced gate consists only of vertical boards, horizontal ledges and diagonal braces. This makes for a lightweight and rustic gate. A framed, ledged and braced gate, on the other hand, has all the same elements, but they are enclosed in a thick outer wooden framework.
Solid Vs. Open Designs
Solid driveway gates will provide you with maximum privacy and a high-end look. However, they can catch the wind and act like a sail, which can put huge pressure on the gate posts and hinges, risking warping or structural damage.
Open gates typically consist of evenly spaced horizontal or vertical slats or bars. These gates are more resistant to wind damage, as they allow air and light through. However, they do make your driveway completely visible to the public, and risk your small pets slipping through the gaps and escaping.
Often, driveway gates can be made to a hybrid design, with a fully boarded bottom half and an open top half. This helps pets stay secure and adds structural strength, whilst still keeping your entrance feeling airy, letting light and wind pass through.
What Care Do Wooden Driveway Gates Require?
Whilst many hardwoods can be naturally resilient and fairly maintenance-free, it’s recommended that you treat both hardwood and softwood gates annually with a wood preservative. These products help combat environmental factors such as UV damage, water damage and insect infestation. Some gates may come treated, but if your gate has not been treated, it’s important to ensure that it is treated immediately after installation.
Wood Oils
Wood oils help to moisturise the wood, replacing the natural oils that can be lost over time. Oiling wood will stop it from drying out, reducing cracking and damage.
Wood Stains
Wood stains are a good way to colour wood whilst still preserving the natural appearance of the grain. Often, wood stains contain protective properties, such as water protection.
Priming and Painting
Priming and painting is the process of applying a long-lasting professional finish to a gate.
A primer is a foundational coat that covers the porous wood surface. This repels water from entering the wood, which can cause it to swell, crack or develop rot. Primer also stops the natural tannins and oils from bleeding through the painted surface, which can discolour the top coat. A good primer base will also create an even surface for your colour coat.
Applying paint with a high-quality spraying process will create a surface that not only looks brilliant but repels rainwater whilst still allowing the timber underneath to breathe. Wood paint also often provides UV protection to prevent the wood from drying out and cracking over time.
Here at Juke’s Timber Solutions, we offer an expert priming and painting service. We use quality spraying techniques to create a smooth, second-to-none surface that is practical yet visually striking. We’ll always apply two layers of primer, including knotting solution, for maximum coverage and durability, followed by coats of Sikkens paint in a colour of your choice for a long-lasting, beautiful finish.
Do I Need Gate Posts?
You will need gate posts to hold your gates securely. After all, wooden driveway gates are heavy, and hanging them directly onto brick walls or standard fence posts can cause the masonry to crack or the posts to sag over time.
If you have existing gate posts, evaluate their stability and inspect for signs of rot. As your new gates will create a heavy, constant weight, you don’t want even minor rot or shifting to compromise your security or cause the gate to sag or drop.
Choosing The Right Hardware
Choosing the right hardware for your driveway gate depends on different factors.
Black metal hardware is popular for its sleek, traditional look.
Hook and band hinges are ideal for driveway gates because they offer exceptional weight-bearing strength, and they can handle a wide swing. This heavy-duty design makes them a great choice for handling large, heavy wooden driveway gates. Plus, they allow for easy levelling to combat seasonal swelling, and as they consist of a band resting on a fixed pin, they provide great security and prevent intruders from lifting the gate off its hinges.
Installation
Installing a driveway gate requires properly setting heavy-duty posts, spacing the gates correctly and securing the hardware for security. It can be completed by yourself with a helper and a few tools.
Take a look at our guide to installing a driveway gate here.
If you are ever in doubt about installation, it is best to call in the professionals. An expert will have all the knowledge and tools required for a correct, safe installation. We do offer a fitting service; just get in touch.
What’s Next?
If you’re looking for a new wooden driveway gate, get in touch with a member of the Juke’s Timber Solutions team today. We’ll be happy to discuss your requirements and ensure that you receive the gate that best fits your needs.
