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Choosing the Right Gate for Your Home
Erecting gates is a wonderful way of adding value to your property. Not only do they make things much more secure, but well painted, varnished or otherwise treated gates look stylish and add a sense of class and elegance. They can also protect your home from the elements and be an excellent investment for years to come.

Why Go Electric?
An electric gate for your property provides a great sense of security and privacy. They are a major deterrent for burglars and can reduce the risk of car theft from your driveway. If you’re really serious about security, combine an electric gate with high fences or walls. You can get a lower premium from your home insurance company if you take certain security measures, including the installation of electric gates. Stylish gates can make your property more attractive to potential buyers if you’re considering selling and they also mean that small children and curious pets can’t wander far.

What You Need to Know
If you have manual gates, this can be a pain for drivers as they have to get out of the car to open and close the gates. However, it is possible to add electric gate openers to existing gates. You can choose to have keypad access for family or well-known visitors and an intercom to find out who is visiting you before you allow them to enter your driveway. When electric gates are installed, they come with sensors to detect whether a vehicle or person is there and the gates will not close. This means that you don’t have to worry about gates swinging shut in an unsafe manner.

Swing Gates
Most electric and manual gates swing open like doors, which means that you need to have the space on your driveway to accommodate this. Barrier Components provides a comprehensive range of hardware and accessories for swing gates, including gate caps, catches, closers, hinges and stops.

Sliding Gates
These gates are a much better option if you have limited space on either side of your home or if your property is on a slope. They also provide more resistance to forced entry if you have real security concerns. If you’re thinking of replacing a gate and you want to choose something larger, then it’s wise to check with your local council about planning permission because the rules change all the time. If your proposed gate is going to go within two metres of a road, definitely read up on what is acceptable.