ot; buying a driveway gate

[scaredyclassic]

shopping for a fancy driveway gate. pretty expensive item, kind of hard to tell whata good price is for various designs. wife of course picks out most expensive $6k gate in gallery of one buider. Yet I think they go much higher.

anyone have any good experience witha custom driveway gate, any thing to look out for.

i could be kidding myself, but I feel like if we were trying to sell this joint for top dollar in the future, it might be worth something for people to drive up to a fancy gate. maybe not 6k, but 3?

[spdrun]

If you’re looking for a fun project, you can build your own.

[FlyerInHi]

$6k sounds about right for a nice one.
Get a steel one that rusts to a nice patina. looks nice.

Do you have a family crest to put on the gate?

[scaredyclassic]

no. there’s dissent about what might be decorated…some say “kitty ranch”. wife thinks it should bear her name.

to me, generic seems best, for resale value, although i probably wont move, id still rather not have anything too specific. even grapes o r horses seem limiting.

[FlyerInHi]

Since you now own an estate, you need a family crest. Design one for posterity.

The crest can be removable. It doesn’t have to be soldered on. The crest itself can have some bolts soldered to the back of it. Then use some nuts to secure to the gate.

[NotCranky]

I’ll loan you mi welding machine, Stick welder ,easy as pie, when I built my house I bought the welder and all the materials and built the handrails up to the three porches. It’s very satisfying. Could you imagine entering the property everyday through this priceless gate that you built …it will last longer than you back muscles will. Your kids will be bringing your grandkids through the gate the grandpa built.

[FlyerInHi]

I’ve been wanting to learn how to weld.

I want a backyard patio cover for my Vegas house.. But I’m too cheap to pay someone. No wood because of maintenance. And I don’t want those cheesy aluminum covers. I want steel that rusts to a nice patina.

I think that you need to practice welding for a while before you get it right.

scaredyclassic, you need to name your house also. Like “Casa Mi Amor” or something like that.

[spdrun]

Buy a welder, some rods and a good (read automatic) helmet. Wear thick leather gloves and a fairly non-flammable jacket (otherwise, you’ll get sunburn from the UV rays from the arc).

Get some uncoated steel of the appropriate thickness and practice, practice, practice. Don’t use any galvanized or cad-plated metal as it will make toxic fumes when welded. And ideally, work outside.

You want a stick welder, not a wire-feed or MIG since you’ll be welding thicker metal. You should be able to grab one off Craigslist cheaply.

[UCGal]

Whatever you do – make sure the gate is made of solid stock. There’s a lot of chintzy fake “wrought iron” that is hollow and corrodes out pretty quickly. It’s less of an issue in warm/sunny Temecula, than on the coast with the marine layer… but we had a huge fight with our contractor over this. Get solid stock unless you want it to look like crap in a few years.

[HLS]

Scaredy,
I highly recommend you contact PRO GATES in Fallbrook. 760-723-1389. Roger has been in the industry for many years. Nice guy.
He deals with the motor & install. Ask him questions about what kind of gate you should buy and who you should get it from.

There are several guys in Fallbrook that design & make the gates, Roger does installation and repairs.
things to consider:
Depending on width, whether you need a single gate & arm OR a dual OR a slider & Whether to go solar or electric.

[TeCKis300]

The OP didn’t ask for how to make it, but multiple people suggested trying to make your own. I did, cause I enjoy custom projects. But I will say it’s not trivial.

There a lot of custom fabrication, especially the bracketing and hinge work that require precision. Especially when you are talking about doors that can weigh in excess of a hundred pounds depending on span. And to get it all nicely aligned in the end.

Here’ mine. The structure itself is all steel underneath with a wood facade.

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t1.0-9/420256_3338700070506_1242497931_n.jpg

[CA renter]

[quote=TeCKis300]The OP didn’t ask for how to make it, but multiple people suggested trying to make your own. I did, cause I enjoy custom projects. But I will say it’s not trivial.

There a lot of custom fabrication, especially the bracketing and hinge work that require precision. Especially when you are talking about doors that can weigh in excess of a hundred pounds depending on span. And to get it all nicely aligned in the end.

Here’ mine. The structure itself is all steel underneath with a wood facade.

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t1.0-9/420256_3338700070506_1242497931_n.jpg

[/quote]

Very nicely done! That’s a beautiful gate, TeCKis.

[Hobie]

Scardey: +1 on resale. probably one of few things 1:1 return on resale.

$6 might be low depending on span, design, etc. Spend the $$ on bearing type hinges, huge footings for side columns, and as Teck mentioned (beefy) steel frame; regardless of design (wood, etc.) Electric opener is nice and can be added later.

[scaredyclassic]

We already have big columns, former owner sold the gate before the short sale. Actually, two gates.

[Author]

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