The Ultimate Guide to Sliding Gates

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When most people think about getting a sliding gate, they usually think it’s a one size fits all situation. However, there are several different types of sliding gates that use different kinds of hardware and are designed for different applications.

There are also different considerations when it comes to the room needed for the gate to slide and a variety of other things to consider. So, let’s take a closer look at the different kinds of sliding gates out there, how they work, and which one might work for you.

Sliding Gates with Ground Tracks

In warm countries and interior applications where snow and ice are not a factor, many people choose sliding gates with a ground track.

These tracks are usually embedded in a concrete beam and have welded “arms” to give them extra strength and stability.

Sliding gates that are made for these types of tracks are usually heavier duty and have a large rectangular steel section as a bottom rail, with steel wheels embedded inside the track. Because these gates are very heavy and to accommodate upper guide hardware, these kinds of sliding gates are usually installed in a special type of post called a “portal,” which is a u-shaped post with two vertical sections planted in concrete.

This type of sliding gate is usually only about 500mm wider than the gate opening size, which means they only need a little more than the width of the gate in terms of sliding room. If they will be automated, it’s usually done with a rack and gear-based track system.

Cantilever Gates

In North America, where snow and ice are a problem, most sliding gates are cantilever gates.

These gates are installed using post-mounted rollers, and they use a trailer or counterweight that is equal to about half of the width of the gate opening to give the gate stability and balance.

The biggest problem with this design is that it does require a sliding space equal to one and a half times the gate opening size for the gate and the trailer to move into when in the open position. One solution to this in locations that have limited space is to use a double cantilever, or even a cantilever with two different leaf sizes, based on the available space for sliding.

Cantilever gates usually use chain-driven gate operators that operate higher than any potential snow along the gate opening, and they can be made out of wood, steel, chain link and other materials.

Track and Wheel Systems

There are several types of track and wheel systems that can be used to create sliding gates.

Some use a lipped u channel installed on the gate with either a ground or post-mounted steel roller set. Each gate will have several posts with hardware to ensure that the gate is properly supported when sliding and in the fully open and fully closed positions.

Some gates that use track and wheel systems – usually in interior applications – use a system similar to the type of barn door hardware that is used for sliding doors in homes. While this does require a transom above the gate for the track to be installed on, if there is not an unlimited height requirement for the sliding gate, this could be a cost-effective solution.

Most track and wheel systems do not require a cantilever trailer, so they usually only need sliding space equal to the width of the opening.

Rolling Track Gates

In North America, another option for sliding gates is what is known as rolling track gates. These gates use horizontal rails on the gate and specially designed brackets combined with gate carrier wheels to create a sliding gate. This type of gate is usually not automated, but it is usually only a little wider than the gate opening required, so it’s a good choice for locations with limited space for sliding.

In some cases, rolling track gates can be designed to latch to a swing gate leaf so that the opening can be wider without making the rolling gate wider than the space available.

Things to Consider When Designing a Sliding Gate

No matter where you are in the world, there are a few universal things you need to consider when you are designing a sliding gate system for any fence project. These include:

• The opening size required and how much space you have alongside the opening for the gate to slide – if there are obstacles in the way, you might need to reposition the gate or take them into consideration in your design
• The height and material your gate will be constructed from – this will affect the weight of your gate, which will affect everything from the type of gate motor you can use if you plan to automate to the size and wall thickness of the steel or other metals and materials used to manufacture it
• Available steel and other materials might also impact the width and design of your gate – usually, you do not want to have any joins in the bottom rail of a gate, and most types of steel and metal used for this type of gate comes in standard sizes, which may limit the widths that are possible with a continuous bottom rail
• Whether the area the gate will be installed in is level or not – in some cases, as with a cantilever gate, longer posts can be used in ditches or depressions without too much trouble, but if you are using a track based or another system, you might need to fill and compact the area, or you might have to reposition the gate
• Whether you plan to automate the gate at any point in the future – even if you don’t plan to do it immediately, there are certain things like running conduit to the gate and designing the gate to be gate motor compatible that can be done to make future automation easier
• What kind of climate you live in – if you live in a place that has significant snowfall or other climate concerns, you might need to adjust your design to accommodate them

Designing a sliding gate that is functional, safe, and durable is a complex process. It’s best to take your time, review all your options, and get as much information as possible.

Custom or Off the Shelf?

In some cases, particularly if you buy your sliding gate from a large fence manufacturer, there are standard sizes of gates available, and you will usually have to design your entrance area to suit what is available.

However, there are also fence manufacturers that will manufacture custom sliding gates to your specifications. This might take a little longer and might be more expensive than buying a ready-made gate, but, particularly if you have a complex project, it’s often a better solution.

How to Get the Best Sliding Gate for Your Project

If you want to install a sliding gate on a project, the best thing you can do is speak to a contractor who specializes in this type of gate.

Ask them to visit the site if possible, or provide them with plans and blueprints, photographs of the area the gate will be installed and other information.

Make sure you also work with a contractor who can provide you with design drawings for the gates so that you can visualize their design better. If you’re not a fence professional, it can be very hard to imagine what a sliding gate will look like based on a written specification only.

Ensure that you also have other information about the gate, whether it’s custom-made or from a catalog. Data sheets that include information like the gate weight and part numbers can be very useful if you need to automate your gate or make any repairs.

Perhaps most importantly, however, remember that when you’re choosing complex equipment like a sliding gate of any type, price should not be your first priority. If your sliding gate quote seems too good to be true, it probably is, and the last thing you want to do is install a poorly made, unsafe sliding gate.