Swing or Slide Driveway Gate for Georgetown Lots

The swing gate looks simple. Often the lot says no, and the breakdown sitting on driveway gates georgetown museum house on bloor lists the reasons in order for a driveway in Georgetown, TX: setback, grade and the length of fence beside the opening.

What setback does a swing gate need?

A swing gate needs a clear arc equal to its leaf width. A twelve foot opening with a dual swing pair needs six feet on each side, and a single swing leaf needs the full twelve on one side. If the arc crosses a sidewalk, a parked car or the street, the gate must swing inward, and the drive inside must be level enough to allow it.

When does a slide gate win?

A slide gate wins on a short setback, on a rising drive and on a wide opening. It rolls or slides across the opening and never crosses the arc. The cost is the run beside the opening, which needs a clear fence line about the same length as the opening, and a track or a post line at the base. A cantilever gate avoids the track by carrying the leaf on rollers that mount to the posts.

What does the grade change?

A swing leaf scrapes a rising drive, and a slide gate does not care about the rise across the opening, only along the track. A slope along the fence line is harder for a slide gate than for a swing, because the track needs a level base. Streets near Sun City Texas and the hills west of Interstate 35 have both conditions, and the choice often turns on which slope is worse.

What about the fence line beside the opening?

A slide gate needs the fence beside the opening to be clear of trees, utility boxes and stored items. A line of mature live oaks, common in Williamson County, can rule it out. The fence next to a slide gate is often rebuilt in lighter steel tubing, so the leaf can run along a straight, picket-free line.

Which is cheaper to run?

A slide gate has rollers, a track and a chain or rack, and each of these needs checking. A gate opener on a swing leaf is easy to release by hand, and a slide operator is released at the motor box. Both need photo eyes and a reverse stop, and both need a manual release that works with the power off.

How is the final choice made?

The setback, the rise across the arc and the length of clear fence are written on one sheet. If the arc is clear and the rise is small, the swing is chosen. If the arc is blocked or the rise is large, the slide or cantilever gate is chosen. Style and finish follow, and powder coat or galvanized steel works on either type.