Why Choose a Steel Driveway Gate?

Aside from having a house full of memories you cherish with your entire family, you also wish that above all the house is safe. While there are other types of driveway gates you can install, the best choice is still choosing one that’s made of steel. It is expensive, sure, but the benefits of having one around your home and in your driveways is worth the cost. Here are some reasons why:

Deterrent. Steel gates are usually higher than six feet. A burglar who plans to trespass inside your home will think twice about entering it, since steel security driveway gates are difficult to get out of. It is easy to slide down, but during moments of panic when their presence is discovered, it is difficult to get out of a house guarded by this type of driveway gates.

Security. Steel gates are usually the ones wherein contractors can easily install security features, like the hidden camera, without making the feature too obvious. This will enable homeowners to view their place from the inside and can also manage to spot those unwanted people who may be a threat to your family’s security.

Safety. Houses with long driveways and a huge garden can benefit from installing steel driveway gates. Since they are a lot higher than garden gates, they allow the kids and the pets to roam freely in the garden or lawn to play and discover things. Keeping the gates closed ensure that the kids are safely within the perimeter of your house and that you can easily keep an eye on them while they are out and about.

Parking. Many homeowners who have huge properties usually have problems of people trespassing the property or a neighbor’s visitors parking on their lawn or driveway for free. If you’re very particular with ownership and privacy, the steel driveway gates allow you to keep these people out of your area. It gives you control as to giving only people who ask permission to park in your driveway or lawn.

Maintenance. If the reasons stated above are still not enough, consider this: steel gates are low maintenance. Who loves to clean up every weekend anyway? Steel driveway gates can be cleaned using a wet cloth or a household cleaner. They can develop rust, but only after a few months. Steel driveway gates also last longer than wooden gates if they are kept clean and free of dust and other debris.

Different Types of Driveway Gates

The driveway is an essential part of the home. It is a private road, which the house owner has the main access of. It can be decorated as it is a part of your home. Normally the family who owns the house has the only access to the driveway; however there are still some people from the neighborhood who have this annoying habit of using another driveway for rerouting or doing vehicle turns. If you are a homeowner who’s particular with the privacy of your home or one who works hard to maintain its beauty, then you can try building a gate around your driveway.

There are different types of driveway gates which you can install. The type depends on your purpose, which could either be to add aesthetic value to your home or security or maybe both. If your concerns are both, then you can choose from the different types according to your judgment or contact your driveways contractor – they can help you choose depending on your need. Gates are made of either metal or wood, and remember that metals cost higher than wood. Again you should choose depending on your family’s needs. Here are the different types of driveway gates you can choose from:

Sliding gates. The sliding gates mainly use small wheels for opening and closing. There are two types of driveway sliding gates: the first one utilizes the wheels for opening and closing and the gates rest on top of these wheels; the second one is the one which most families use today – the cantilevered type gate, which also have wheels that are attached to another section of the fence or the wall.

Swing gates. Swing gates come in single or double. The single swing gate is the easiest to install and also the most economical. The double swing gate is the most elegant-looking. Nevertheless, it is better if the swing direction of your gates is directed towards your property instead of outside. While swing gate installment may look easy, there are a lot of things to consider – more than the ones you should think of when installing other types of gates.

Garden gates. Garden gates stand lower compared to the sliding and swing gates. They are low-level gates and depending on the installation and material, they are strong enough to protect your driveway and your home. They open on a shorter distance, which is ideal if the family vehicle is smaller and only needs enough space for storage and maneuvering. While most people think that garden gates are only available in wood material, there are also contractors who offer those which are made of steel.

Types of Driveways

Driveways can be personalized to complement the physical features of your home and to reflect the lifestyle of the people living in there. Driveways can be constructed from a variety of materials. If you are considering a new driveway or are building a new home and selecting the type of driveway you want to install, you have several options.

But then your options will be determined and limited by things such as the budget, structural preferences and building permit. Otherwise, you can have any style of driveway you want.

If building permit and your budget allow, you can choose from different styles of driveways. Some people may choose a circular driveway if they live on a high traffic street. This way, there is no backing out into traffic and visitors can pull in and exit from either direction. You may also simply choose to add a turn around in your driveway that allows you to pull out, rather than back out.

Here are types of driveways and driveway materials you can choose from:

Gravel driveways are one of the most popular options as they are cost-efficient, easy to lay, easy and low maintenance and look stunning in certain types of environment. Though this type of driveway may be allowed in certain jurisdictions, many building codes prohibit gravel driveways because they are considered unfinished. This leaves construction material for driveways essentially limited to asphalt, brick, or concrete.

Asphalt driveways are less expensive than other building materials but they require more frequent maintenance. This type of driveway will need to be resealed yearly depending on frequency of use.

Brick or cobblestone driveways provide a very decorative effect. These materials can withstand years of use but tends to settle unevenly over time and will likely need periodic maintenance or repair.

Concrete driveways may be less expensive than brick and usually wear better than blacktop with no need for regular sealing or resurfacing, but will most likely crack eventually. As long as a crack in a concrete driveway is properly filled and repaired, a concrete driveway can last for years with little maintenance. Concrete driveways can also be decorative in nature. Concrete can be tinted to provide a color variant from the standard grayish-white and can even be poured in decorative forms or given a decorative finish.

Driveways can help you create a gorgeous and durable home entry that you will surely be proud of. Carefully select the materials you will choose in building your driveways to achieve the structure or the look that you want.

How to Design your Driveway

Elementary, my dear Watson. That’s what Sherlock Holmes would have said if he was your driveway contractor.

You don’t want to let other people – even the contractor – design your driveway for you. After all, it’s the first thing that your mates and acquaintances first see upon reaching your house. Furthermore, you want it to be to your own liking, to reflect your style. Now, that’s personal. It sets your home apart from the rest.

It won’t be a walk in the park at first, but don’t be daunted. After all, it took you some time before you learn how to drive. You also didn’t learn how to write overnight. You weren’t born a natural walker too.

Designing means unleashing your creative side. Everyone has it, from simple to elaborate, from symmetrical to artsy. How much you’ll spend (for the design) will likely narrow down your options. In this article, though, everyone is a beginner.

There are three things to consider, namely design types, design elements, and materials.

Design Types

Not a few home owners will choose the basic design, which is a driveway leading straight from the road entry. Usually, the turning radius into a garage is the first thing to determine. Then there’s the amount of space needed to back out of the garage. Both don’t require a lot of effort, so we leave it to that.

If you want something a bit out of the ordinary, then you may have three options, namely circular, courtyard, and crossover.

Circular is a popular choice among those who want something more than the basic. It’s a loop, which begins at the street, travel across the area near the front door, and continues out (to the street).

Courtyard is a classy design, the loop usually a fountain, which provides a nice touch in your driveway. It’s more expensive than circular (or the basic), but the end results will leave your visitors breathless (or envious).

Crossover is an interesting, if not smart, option, the entry of which begins at one side of the house, crosses over the front, and then exits on the other side.

So which ones is the right design for you? It depends on your taste – and your budget. So think it over and take your pick.

Design Elements

Many factors are considered here, such as width, lighting, and edging, all of which are better discussed in another article.

Design Materials

Asphalt is an inexpensive material, thus a sensible option. It’s not the only one, though, as you may consider granite. Then there’s brick. The list goes on, which can be explored in another article.

This is just an introduction, something that will make you engaged in the process. So what are you waiting for? Find a contractor first.

A New Beginning

I am taking a new, bold step in making this blog about driveways.

I have written so many things from serious stuff such as dissertation papers, scientific abstracts and more. That’s why I consider writing about driveways as a great form of therapeutic hobby.

Not that driveways do not deserve my serious musings. It’s just that I am finally focusing on a topic that I dearly love.

No driveways are the same and I notice that they represent the homeowners’ character. So for my own driveway, I just opted for something simple and useful that’s enough to accommodate my vehicles.

You will hear more from me when I work on this blog. I will keep you posted!