Automatic Driveway Gates & Gate Openers

Swing or Slide

Where the Gate Goes

Set a driveway gate back far enough that a car can pull completely off the road while it opens. Inside the City of Gainesville this is a rule, not just good sense: vehicle gates cannot sit closer than 25 feet to a public street right-of-way. Long rural driveways in North Hall usually have room to set the gate well back, which also keeps the keypad away from passing traffic.

Power and Access

• Solar or hardwired: solar works well for long rural driveways where running power is expensive, as long as the panel gets sun. Hardwired is more reliable for heavy gates and frequent use. Running new electrical service to the gate is a job for a licensed electrician.
• Ways in: remotes, a keypad at the driveway, intercom, phone app control, or a combination.
• Ways out: an exit sensor or exit wand opens the gate automatically as you drive up from the house side.
• Safety: photo-eye sensors and edge sensors stop and reverse the gate if something is in its path. Operators should be listed to UL 325, the safety standard for gate operators.

Automatic Gate Repair

When a gate stops opening, the problem is often simpler than a dead motor:

• Dead remote or keypad batteries, or a solar battery that no longer holds a charge
• Photo eyes knocked out of line, which makes the gate think something is blocking it
• The gate itself is sagging or binding, so the operator strains and trips its safety stop
• Limit settings drifted, so the gate stops short or overshoots
• Worn gears, arms or a failed control board, which do need parts

If the gate drags or the hinges are worn, we fix the gate first. An opener pushing a sagging gate will keep failing no matter how many parts are replaced. Most operators have a manual release so you can open the gate by hand until it is repaired.

Frequently Asked Questions