Sliding Gates At Breezemount

Uneven or sloping ground conditions are one of the reasons for installing a sliding gate. You could also consider a double leaf swing gate system. However, it all depends on the direction of the slope, the gradient and surrounding ground conditions. At Breezemount, our specialist team will help you to choose the right system. Every one of Breezemount’s electric gate systems are custom built to suit our client’s exact requirements.

Sliding gates are also referred to in the industry as tracked gates or cantilever gates. The main difference is how the gate is supported, the location of the wheels and how the gate(s) run along.

Tracked sliding gates run along a fixed track that is cast into the ground. The tracks protrude above the finished road surface by approx. 10-15mm. Wheels mounted on the base of the gate frame guide the gate along the track, with a guide rail across the top frame. The drawback is that the ground track needs to be kept clear of debris which can impair the smooth operation of the gate(s).

A cantilever gate is a trackless gate system that requires little or no groundwork. Instead of sliding along a track in the ground, a cantilever gate is designed to counterbalance on horizontal posts which removes the need for tracking. The overall length of the gate will be around 50 percent greater than the entrance it spans on your site, and it will need a runback area.

An alternative tracked gate design, telescopic gates are ideal for entrances where runback space is limited. They are made up of two or more panels that move simultaneously along a ground track. When the gates are open, the panels stack one in front of each other, at one side concertina style. Available with up to 5 sections, a telescopic gate can span an entrance up to 25 metres wide and 5 metres in height.

There are pros and cons to both and unfortunately, one gate design does not fit all sites. Swing gates are usually less expensive than sliding gates, as they are a simpler design with fewer parts than a sliding gate. Generally, swing gates are quieter than sliding gates and require less maintenance and repair. However, if space is limited or if you have uneven or sloping ground, swing gates may not be an option and a telescopic or bifold gate may be more suitable for your application. Swing gates can be less secure than sliding gates and also can be affected by adverse weather conditions.

Suitable for openings up to 20-30 metres wide with a maximum height of 5 metres, sliding gates are available as single leaf, bi-parting pairs or telescopic stacking panels. Generally, the space required to accommodate a tracked sliding gate’s opening size is the same as the width that it covers. An eight-metre-wide entrance would need to have 8 metres on one side for gate storage and about 0.5 metres to allow manoeuvrability around the gate frame. A cantilever gate needs to be approximately 50 percent wider than its span to counterbalance the weight of the suspension posts.