The arrangement of suburban areas near private houses is not complete without the construction of reliable and beautiful fences, and such structures must necessarily have gates. Even if the owner does not yet have a personal car, the gate will allow guests’ cars to enter and various goods to be delivered to the site by truck.
There is no need to rush to make a final decision; carefully read the maximum number of different options, analyze them taking into account your own wishes, terrain features and the size of the site.
It is imperative to take into account financial possibilities, because the cost of existing options differs significantly. By the way, what is more expensive is not always the best in practice from an operational point of view.
DIY gates: drawings, photos and videos
What materials are best to make it from?
Wooden gates
Natural wood can easily fit into any style - from traditional to modern. The texture goes well with the environment, buildings made of wood or brick. True, only sliding or swing doors are made from wood.
Pros:
- Environmental friendliness. 100% natural renewable resource.
- Economical. Construction from boards is the most budget option.
- Easy to assemble. Self-manufacturing of gates is available.
- Possibility of repair. If one board is damaged, it is easy to replace.
Minuses:
- Difficulty of preparation. To extend the life of wood, it is impregnated with protective compounds against fire, water, and pests.
- Fragility. Even despite careful preparation, wood's life expectancy and safety margin are less than those of metal.
But thanks to the large selection of paints, the decoration of wooden gates can be made original by painting it with a gradient, applying patterns or an inscription.
Advice! If you like the appearance of wood, but want something more practical, choose an artificial analogue: a polymer composite. Modern, stylish and reliable WPC doors will delight you with their beauty for many years.
Metal gates
Aluminum
Aluminum structures are used with automatic drives in service parking lots and company areas. They look modern and businesslike. The doors close quickly, easily and almost silently.
The sashes are made of aluminum profile 96 × 177 mm or sandwich panels, protected from deformation by an internal diagonal cable stretch. The manufacturer guarantees 25 - 28 thousand operations, and no corrosion for 15 years.
From profiled sheet
The design of metal pipes covered with profile sheets is considered the most popular, modern and practical. Such doors are practically not inferior in strength to forged gates, and the ability to make the structure yourself only increases their popularity.
In the manufacture of this option, the same technology is used as in the production of a fence from corrugated sheets. The cladding can be easily matched to the color of the fence. The weight of doors with a height of 3 meters will be about 300 kg. And the cost is much less than aluminum and forged options.
Approximate prices for the above designs:
| Design | Cost, rub) |
| Forged | From 9,500 per m² |
| Aluminum | From 50 000 |
| From corrugated sheet | From 7 000 |
When choosing a gate for your site, experts recommend being guided by the following principle: if the fence is made of a metal profile or modular sections, the best option for it would be a swing gate made of aluminum or a steel profile, and for a fence made of stone, a forged option would be an excellent choice.
Video: Making iron gates
Types of garage doors
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Foundation for sliding gates
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What do you need to know about gates with a wicket?
The first thing to decide for a gate with a wicket door is whether the parts will interact. That is, there will be a built-in gate or a separate one.
Integrating the entrance into the gate seems more convenient, more economical, and simpler in the end. But let's look at it from the other side:
- The presence of a threshold. For example, a door in a sliding gate will definitely have a lower threshold that you will have to step over every time.
- Possibility of breakdown. Accidentally opening the gate with the wicket open will cause damage.
- Reduced security. The intersection of the paths of a pedestrian and a driver will create constant problems for both those entering and those entering.
Professionals advise making a gate for a private house separately - to the right or left of the entrance. This will allow you to properly separate the pedestrian and roadway areas and protect the gate mechanism from damage. To make the structure look solid, it is necessary to correctly make the gate and gate leaves from the same material, in the same style.
Briefly about the main thing
Deciding what the width of the gate will be is not an easy task, since it is determined by many factors.
First of all, you need to decide on the location of the gate. They need to fit into the surrounding space, provide convenient entry and road safety. The width of swing gates reaches 3 m, sliding gates are usually made about 4 m wide, and for folding gates there is no exact value, since their width is determined by the thickness and the number of sections. Garage doors have special requirements
When calculating their width, the dimensions of the machine are taken into account. The most acceptable width of a fence gate is 1 m.
The recommended width of the gate for entry is considered to be 3.5 - 4.1 meters wide.
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What to consider when choosing a design?
In order for the exterior of the house to look harmonious, everything must be combined with each other: the decoration of the facade of the house and other buildings, the material of the fence and doors, the style of execution. Let's look at the main modern trends.
High tech
Choose a minimalist design, modern materials: plastic, metal, WPC. It is better to make the doors blind, and always automatic.
Loft
Rough, industrial materials are suitable: welded metal, brick or concrete supports, burnt wood.
Classic
Timeless black forging with silver or gold plated elements is just right. Perfect for brick or plastered houses.
Provence
The doors are made of wood or forged, preferably with metal elements (hinges, locks, awnings). The pillars are made of stone (sandstone, limestone); as a compromise, choose white-painted brick.
Country
Let the facades, fences and gates consist of 99% wood: choose thick, natural beams, unedged boards. An excellent option for country fencing.
Modern
The main condition is that the gates should not be blind. Preference is given to welded metal structures with abstract geometric or floral patterns.
How to calculate the size of the opening based on the number and type of cars?
The main task of any garage door is to ensure free entry into and exit from the premises. at least 60 cm to the width of the car body (including side mirrors)
- For one light car, an opening 2.4-2.7 m wide is sufficient.
- For a more impressive jeep or minibus - 2.8-3 m.
- Owners of two cars need to plan an opening at least 5 m wide.
At the same time, there must be enough space in the garage itself so that the driver and passengers can freely get out of the car without hitting the neighboring car or scratching the door. Ideally, the width of the room is 20-30 cm
. If the garage has shelving along the walls, this is also worth taking into account by adding extra centimeters.
The height of the opening is influenced by the dimensions of the car, as well as the presence of an antenna or trunk on its roof. In general, the height of overhead garage doors should be at least 20 cm greater than the height of the car.
How can you decorate a gate?
Since decor is a purely individual matter, there are no exact instructions in this matter. Recommendations only. Suitable decorations:
Forged elements
Welded to a metal base. There is already ready-made metal decor on sale - assemble a composition from it, or order it from a specialist for an individual project.
Thread
An alternative to forging for wooden bases. The elements are cut out on gates or separate boards, attached to the doors.
The photo shows a beautiful applied carving
Drawings
3D airbrushing looks especially impressive: it is used to hide nondescript corrugated sheets and blend the gate into the surrounding landscape.
Plants
If you put shoots of creeping ivy or, for example, maiden grapes along the doors, the view will be beautiful, but the gate will not open. So as an alternative, choose small hanging planters with petunias or other flowers.
Important! Flowerpots are hung only on swing gates.
Superstructure
This is no longer about decorating the doors, but rather about the design. Install a beautiful arch on top of an ordinary gate to completely transform the appearance of the entrance group.
The photo shows a wooden superstructure
Drawings of 45 mm sandwich panels
Microwave
- Can be painted in any color according to the RAL and DB catalogs
- Individual photo image on the gate leaf according to the customer’s sketches - digital printing
Brown, close to RAL 8014
Sand oak
Red brick
S-corrugation
- Can be painted in any color according to the RAL and DB catalogs
- Individual photo image on the gate leaf according to the customer’s sketches - digital printing
Brown, close to RAL 8014
Sand oak
Red brick
Select color
M-corrugation
- Can be painted in any color according to the RAL and DB catalogs
- Individual photo image on the gate leaf according to the customer’s sketches - digital printing
Brown, close to RAL 8014
Select color
Select color
Sand oak
Red brick
L-corrugation
- Can be painted in any color according to the RAL and DB catalogs
- Individual photo image on the gate leaf according to the customer’s sketches – digital printing
Brown, close to RAL 8014
Select color
Select color
Sand oak
Red brick
Panel
- Can be painted in any color according to the RAL and DB catalogs
- Individual photo image on the gate leaf according to the customer’s sketches - digital printing
Brown, close to RAL 8014
Select color
Sand oak
Red brick
Beautiful examples for inspiration
Everyone has their own criteria for beauty: some like rich decoration, others see aesthetics in minimalism. If you want to make the gate primarily a decoration, so to speak, the “face” of your home, choose complex designs: use forging or welding of metal, as well as artistic wood carving.
For example, in the first example, the gate depicts a stone bridge with lanterns and railings, as well as a fisherman in a boat. On the second there is a beautiful gate with an amazing ornament around the edge and a complex plot.
For something simpler, but no less visually attractive, imitation forging is suitable: as in the example below. Wood-look corrugated sheets, metal frames and decorative hinges give the structure a special charm.
If the gate must be primarily functional, and design is a secondary matter, choose universal modern solutions. Gate shutters should be minimalist with geometric inserts: these will not go out of style for many years.
For example, on the left are WPC doors in a stylish graphite shade. Through holes in the center serve as both decoration and allow the hosts to see the guests, and the guests to see the hosts.
The example on the right is as simple as possible, but in line with modern trends. Owners and designers are gradually abandoning 3-meter blind fences in favor of neat fences - these do not block the view or spoil the landscape. It is especially important if the house is located in a picturesque area.
When choosing a gate design, remember: you need something functional, comfortable and beautiful! See photos of gates for a private house in the gallery and choose the most suitable ones.
We calculate the width of the gate depending on the number and type of cars
Manual calculations allow you to evaluate individual minimum requirements for comfortable entry and exit of cars. By comparing these numbers with the manufacturers' sizing chart, it is easy to choose the best option.
For one car
The height chosen is a comfortable figure for a person’s passage – 2-2.2 meters. Any passenger car can pass through such an opening, even with a trunk.
The width is calculated using the formula: car width (including mirrors) + tolerance.
The tolerance for direct entry is 0.2-0.3 meters, if at an angle - 0.4-0.5 meters.
For two cars
The height requirements do not change. For two cars, they first decide whether they will make separate gates or install common ones. If they install single ones, then the normal width for a pair of cars is 4-5 meters. A gap of 0.5 meters is left between the machines.
For jeep
An SUV or minibus differs from a passenger car in its greater width and height. The formula for calculation does not change. The optimal opening width is 2.8 meters. In terms of height dimensions, an opening of 2.5 or 3 meters is preferable.
For freight transport
The peculiarity of calculating the opening for the Gazelle is associated with the large length of the car. If the length of vehicles is up to 8 meters, then the width parameter for direct entry is 1 meter, and at an angle – 1.5 meters. For longer lengths, the corrections are 1.2 and 2.0 meters, respectively.
When parking two cars, the distance between them must be at least 0.7 meters.
Practicality of check-in
The correct choice of gate location is largely determined by how convenient the entry will be. It is important to consider who owns the road near the site, so that the gate does not interfere with traffic and access from neighboring sites, and whether safety is ensured during movement. The ease of entry is affected by the location of the road in front of the house.
When choosing a gate design, you should not choose gates that open outward, as this may impede the movement of other motorists.
The next factor influencing the practicality of installing a gate is the smallest turning radius. If a passenger car is driving in, the turning radius is five or six meters; in the case of a truck, it will be six to seven meters.
The radius value is determined when the car turns, counting from the protruding part of the car. When there is a gap between the gate and the roadway, the magnitude of which is comparable to or greater than the turning radius of the car, then when driving through, there remains space on opposite sides of the car for the gate.
It’s good if the questions “how” and “why” are just a joke Source manspacemagazine.com.au
If the gap does not exceed the turning radius, then the entering vehicle must be driven at an angle, which may cause it to rub against the curb and cause damage or scratches. To avoid such situations, it is recommended to choose a larger width of the entrance gate, which will be three to three and a half meters.
However, if in order to enter the site it becomes necessary to cross the axis of the roadway, then such a distance will not be enough. In such situations, it is proposed to place the entrance gate on the site a little deeper (about a meter or one and a half).
Types of sliding structures
Despite the complexity of constructing sliding gates, compared to swing gates, more and more owners of country houses are choosing them for installation in their countryside. This can be easily explained by saving space in front of the structure.
After a snowfall, you don’t have to clear the area in front of the entrance to open the gate. Sliding gates are more reliable and burglar-resistant. In addition, such structures are wind-resistant. Another important advantage of sliding structures is the ease of installation of the electric drive. Automation is cheaper to install.
There are three main types of design. Their features and advantages are worth considering in more detail. Regardless of the choice of design for the gate installation, you must have welding skills.
Hanging gates
These sliding structures are often installed at industrial facilities. The leaves of such gates are massive, but quite reliable in operation. In such structures, the canvas moves along a beam that is placed above the passage.
Among the advantages of sliding gates are high resistance to gusty winds, burglary resistance, and no requirements for passage width. The main disadvantage of the gate is its high metal consumption. The final cost of installing such structures is high. The height of the guide beam determines the height of passing vehicles.
Rail gates
Such designs are represented by simple and reliable products. In them, the road surface moves along a rail, which is installed at the same height as the road surface. Gates attract many owners of suburban areas due to their ease of installation and high reliability. When installing such sliding structures, you can close fairly wide openings.
The design of the gate allows the installation of a powerful frame with fairly heavy cladding. As a result, the product will be able to withstand a high-power ramming strike. The main disadvantage of the designs is the need for regular cleaning of the rail. In the spring, the water freezes in it.
Cantilever structures
The gate device allows you to get rid of the disadvantages of suspended and rail products. They do not impose restrictions on the height of vehicles and do not contact the ground. The canvas is placed on cantilever roller carriages. Their movement is carried out along the beam. Among the main components are beams and roller blocks. They are located at the bottom of the gate.
Console products do not have guides at the bottom and top of the opening. This allows any vehicle to freely enter the site.
Less common situations occur when roller blocks with a guide beam are placed in the middle or on top of the web. This choice is justified in situations where there is a chance to place the cantilever assemblies and mechanical components of the gate on the wall of a house or other structure. The wall must withstand the load from the sash. This allows you to reduce the cost of constructing individual power devices for gates.
In addition to the fact that cantilever-type gates do not impose requirements on the height of vehicles, they have a large number of other advantages. The design of such products involves the placement of trolleys with rollers inside the beam. Snow and slush do not get into it. This guarantees reliable operation of the structure and stable operation of all mechanisms.
When choosing sealed bearings in carts, there is no need to lubricate the rollers. Lubricant is added to the unit at the factory.
Cantilever sliding structures fit closer to the fence than other types of gates. In this case, there is not even a gap left for prying eyes. Another advantage is the possibility of installing automation. The disadvantage of this solution is the complexity of installation.
