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An editorial from GateFrames

Driveway Gates

Volume 04 · Autumn 2026 The Blog
Driveway gate guides
The Gate Book

Cover · Volume 04

Department 00 From the workshop

Latest guides

Guide · 01

Aluminum vs. Steel vs. Wrought Iron Driveway Gates: Which Material Should You Buy?

Weight, rust resistance, upkeep, lifespan and price for the three metal gate materials, plus wood and composite for comparison, with a plain recommendation for coastal, windy, wide and security-first driveways.

5 min read · 2026-09-07

Guide · 02

Automatic Driveway Gate Safety: UL 325, Entrapment Zones and the Sensors You Must Install

What the UL 325 and ASTM F2200 standards require of an automated residential gate, where the entrapment zones are on swing and sliding gates, which sensors cover them, and a pre-power checklist.

5 min read · 2026-09-07

Guide · 03

Custom Size Driveway Gates: Why Sized-to-the-Inch Beats Stock, and How to Order One

What stock gate sizes cost you in fit, fillers and rework, how a made-to-order gate is built to your exact opening, what to measure, and why custom sizing should not carry a premium.

4 min read · 2026-09-07

Guide · 04

DIY Driveway Gate Installation: What Ships, What You Need, and a Weekend Plan

A two-person weekend plan for installing a steel swing or slide gate yourself, with the tools list, post depth and concrete math, the alignment steps that decide whether it swings true, and when to call a pro instead.

5 min read · 2026-09-07

Guide · 05

Driveway Gate Maintenance Schedule: What to Check Monthly, Yearly and Every Few Years

A maintenance calendar for steel, aluminum, wrought iron, wood and composite gates and their openers, the ten-minute monthly check that catches most failures early, and how to touch up a powder coat chip before it rusts.

5 min read · 2026-09-07

Guide · 06

Driveway Gate on a Slope: Which Gate Type Works and How to Measure the Grade

How much slope a swing gate can tolerate, when a sliding or cantilever gate becomes the right answer, and a ten-minute method to measure your driveway's grade with a level and a tape.

5 min read · 2026-09-07

Guide · 07

Do You Need a Permit for a Driveway Gate? Setbacks, Height Limits, HOA Rules and Fire Access

When a driveway gate needs a building or electrical permit, the setback and sight-line rules that trip up most installs, fire-department access requirements for automated gates, and how to get HOA approval without a redesign.

4 min read · 2026-09-07

Guide · 08

How Wide Should a Driveway Gate Be? Sizes for Cars, Trucks, RVs and Trailers

The opening widths that actually work for a sedan, a pickup with mirrors, an RV or a boat trailer, how to measure your posts, and why a gate sized to the inch beats a stock size.

4 min read · 2026-09-07

Guide · 09

HOA-Friendly Driveway Gate Designs That Pass Review the First Time

The design patterns that clear most architectural review boards, how to match color and height to the neighborhood standard, what to put in the submission, and the modern, traditional and farmhouse looks that fit each kind of community.

4 min read · 2026-09-07

Guide · 10

How Much Does a Driveway Gate Cost in 2026? Real Numbers by Material and Type

Installed price ranges for steel, aluminum, wrought iron, wood and composite driveway gates, what actually moves the number, and where ordering direct and installing yourself saves the most.

6 min read · 2026-09-07

Guide · 11

Solar vs. Electric Driveway Gate Openers: Cost, Sizing and When Solar Actually Pays Off

What a plug-in opener, a solar kit and a smart opener cost installed, how to size a solar panel and battery for your gate's daily cycles and climate, and the trenching math that decides whether solar saves money.

5 min read · 2026-09-07

Guide · 12

Swing vs. Sliding Driveway Gates: How to Choose in Five Site Checks

The five things about your driveway that decide swing or slide before style ever comes into it, with the cost, clearance, slope and opener differences laid out side by side.

4 min read · 2026-09-07

Department 01 Topics

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Department 02 Gate types

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Department 03 Materials

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Department 05 Atlas

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