Cantilever Gates vs Other Driveway Options
We are all familiar with what a driveway gate looks like. However, most people don’t know that how a gate opens makes more difference than you would think. Across driveways in the UK, cantilever gates have become a popular choice. However, not many homeowners know what a sliding or a swinging gate looks like. Before you choose one style over the other, understanding the differences is essential.
Why are Cantilever Gates Unique?
A cantilever gate is unique because it does not touch the ground when it moves. Other sliding gates roll along a track to move, while cantilever gates are supported by a system that is mounted on one end, allowing it to move freely sideways across the opening, almost like it floats. This means that there are no ground tracks crossing the entrance of your driveway. This solves many of the problems that people have with other gate options.
The Ground Track Problem
Living with traditional sliding gates can be very frustrating, especially for people who experience British winters. A lot of snow, ice, and leaves will build up in the winter and fall. You will have to clear the snow and ice from the gate’s track and even then, debris will still get dragged around and damage the rollers.
Swing gates don’t have a track problem, but they do need enough space to swing the gates in or out. It’s not always possible to have the gates swing in and out, especially on busy roads. If the gates open onto the pavement, it creates a serious safety hazard.
Cantilever gates do not need swing clearance and they do not need a track. For properties with small or sloping driveways, that often becomes the deciding factor.
Installation and Ground Preparation
Cantilever gates do need more upfront with the counterbalance system. It requires more foundational work, and we mean a concrete base that extends beyond the gate width. This will be a more complex installation than just fixing hinges onto a set of swing gates or laying a track for standard sliders.
Still, once set up, the entire system is mostly self-sufficient. While swing gates require two sturdy posts and tracks require perfect leveling, a cantilever track setup, although more complex at the start, usually needs less adjustment as time goes on.
Maintenance needs
Automated gates of any kind will require maintenance, and cantilever systems have more moving parts than swing gates, but have less at ground level than tracked sliding gates. Because cantilever systems open and close on rollers, the bearings and rollers are up high and are less exposed to standing water and road salt.
Weather is still a factor, and cold weather means the metal parts will expand and contract, and motors may struggle, but at least you won’t have to deal with frozen tracks, and blocked channels. Other sliding gates will have more issues from snow than these do.
Property Style and Appearance
When placed, cantilever gates are not visually distinguishable from any other sliding gates. One difference is that the base is track-less. Some people appreciate a clear threshold and think it looks more clean when the base is track-less, but whether that matters is up to your entrance design and how much you appreciate details.
They design gates in many different styles, including modern gates that include metal elements to vintage gates that include wood. The operational mechanism is not the special concern when it comes to aesthetics, and customers are mainly choosing the function of the gate not the look.
Reality of Cost
When comparing swing gates and tracked sliding gates, a cantilever gate is significantly more expensive to obtain and install. The reason for this more expensive cost is the additional charges related to counterbalance systems, additional material and labor costs for a more complex installation, and the foundation being more indurated to support the additional weight. Some properties have conditions that allow for the cost to be justified.
The other related costs to the automation and sliding swing cantilever systems are comparable, so the cost difference tends to be more in the systems themselves rather than in the other elements of the automation of the sliding gate or swing gate.
Making the Most Appropriate Selection
The different styles of gates are each designed for different circumstances. A cantilever gate allows for more use of a track in winter maintenance without breaking. A gate with a track is over engineered for use on a flat driveway but use of a gate with a track is justified for use on a flat driveway.
It’s important to think about the unique elements of your entrance aside from the gate style. A swing gate that you have selected right is often going to outlast a more complex cantilever gate that you have selected incorrectly.
The best gate for your property is the one that works every time. Sometimes a gate is the most technically advanced option, but it also may be the simplest option.