What type of gate is suitable for your country house?

Main types of gates

According to their design features, there are 4 types of gates for a private home:

Sliding

The design resembles a compartment or a barn door – to open the driveway, the sash should be rolled back onto the fence. Sliding gates are a fairly common solution in the private sector, which is due to a number of advantages:

• Space saving. Sliding gates usually take up empty free space along the fence, which is not used anyway.
• Possibility of automation. At any time, a drive is usually installed on an already finished system, thanks to which opening the gate will be easy.

Among the disadvantages – complex installation, the need for a foundation. In addition, not in all cases there is space along the fence to open the sash.

Advice! If a gate with a wicket is planned, it is cut into the shutter or placed nearby. The second option is preferable.

Swing gates

The simplest type of gate for a private house — it opens like a regular door on hinges. The device is so simple that it does not require any special knowledge or skills — you can install it yourself, without lengthy calculations and preparation. They are made from a variety of available materials (metal, wood, plastic), making them suitable for any fence: from picket fencing to complex carved forging. Other advantages:

• They do not have an upper crossbar, suitable for entry of vehicles of different sizes.
• They will last a long time, including due to simple and quick repair.
• The material, fittings, and installation are inexpensive.

The main disadvantage of this system is that it needs to open somewhere (into the yard or onto the street). But not all areas have space for an opening sash. In addition, you will have to think about protection against accidental opening, so that the gate in the open position does not scratch the car parked inside.

The photo shows swing doors

Folding

The so-called accordion gates have a guide at the bottom, along which they fold to the side. On the one hand, they do not require space for opening, like swing gates, on the other hand, they do not take up a line along the fence, like sliding gates. In addition, such fencing also has automatic opening mechanisms, which simplifies the operation process.

But there is one big drawback – for the rollers to work correctly, the guide should be constantly cleaned, especially from snow. Therefore, it is not recommended to install such gates in northern latitudes.

Lifting

This variety includes lifting and turning, roller and sectional options. In general, all types of gates for a private house, which move upward when opened. Roller gates are most often used for fences, less often – sectional ones. The essence is the same – at the push of a button, the canvas moves up, and after the car enters, it goes back down.

The main advantage: saving space on the side and in the opening itself. The disadvantage is the presence of an upper crossbar, to which the gate itself is raised. In addition, they are not considered the most reliable in terms of protection against burglars.

The photo shows the lifting mechanism

In addition to the type of construction, there is also a division by the opening method. A mechanical and automatic method are distinguished.

• In the first case, the entry capacity is provided by hinges, levers, guides. The opening is performed directly by the owner of the house.
• In the second case, the gate is moved by a special drive that opens and closes the sashes. The control is set up from a telephone, remote control, button on the support post, etc.

How to choose the right size?

Width

Many people think that the wider the gate with a wicket, the better. In fact, this is not entirely true, because manufacturing and installing heavy doors larger than 2 m is an expensive and complicated process. Reinforced support posts, plenty of space for opening, and high-quality wear-resistant parts are required.

For a country house, experts recommend not the maximum possible size, but the optimal size for a particular case. Depends on:

• Access conditions. From a comfortable wide road, you can drive into an opening of 3-3.5 m. The width of the street is also important if the doors are hinged.
• Vehicle dimensions. Different conditions are required for parking a minibus and a passenger car. In most cases, the optimal opening dimensions are 350-400 cm.

Height

This indicator is not relevant for all gates with or without wickets – only for those whose design includes a crossbar. For example, sliding or lifting.

For a passenger sedan or hatchback, 2 m is enough, for an SUV or pickup truck it is better to leave 2.2-2.5. If you plan to drive small trucks (like a Gazelle) onto the property, you need ~3-3.2 meters from the ground.

What materials are best?

Wooden gates

Natural wood can easily fit into any style, from traditional to modern. The texture blends in well with the surrounding environment, wooden or brick buildings. However, only sliding or hinged doors are made of wood.

Pros:

• Environmentally friendly. 100% natural renewable resource.
• Cost-effective. A structure made of boards is the most budget-friendly option.
• Easy to assemble. You can make the gate yourself.
• Possibility of repair. If one board is damaged, it can be easily replaced.

Cons:

• Complexity of preparation. To extend the service life of wood, it is impregnated with protective compounds against fire, water, and pests.
• Short-lived. Even with careful preparation, the lifespan of wood and the safety margin are less than that of metal.

But thanks to a large selection of paints, the finish of wooden gates can be made original by painting them in a gradient, applying patterns or an inscription.

Advice! If you like the appearance of wood, but want something more practical, choose an artificial analogue: a polymer composite. Modern, stylish and reliable doors made of WPC will delight you with their beauty for many years.

Metal gates

Modern systems are often made of metal. In terms of strength, durability and reliability, it is deservedly considered the optimal material for making gates. Metal entrance structures require virtually no maintenance, have a long service life, and can be made individually.

What other characteristics do metal doors have depends on the type:

• Profiled sheeting. Galvanized sheets come in different colors, are inexpensive, and are installed on the frame quickly and easily. An excellent budget option that has only one serious drawback – appearance. You can’t call this solution sophisticated or beautiful.

The photo shows a structure made of corrugated sheeting

• Euro picket fence. From a distance, a metal picket fence is not much different from a wooden one, but it lasts much longer than its natural counterpart. Fits into a modern design, matches the same fence.

The photo shows a combination of euro picket fence with stone

• Forging. It has proven itself as a reliable aesthetic option for decorating a house inside and outside. Forged gates with a wicket look expensive, can be made according to an individual project. There is only one drawback – the high cost.

When deciding what the doors will be made of, consider an important nuance: does the material block the view of the site? And do you want to hide from prying eyes? If a through view is an advantage, a picket fence or forging will do. Blind doors are made of boards, wood-polymer composite, corrugated board, or by “laying” sheets of metal or polycarbonate under the forging.

What do you need to know about gates with a wicket?

The first thing to decide for a gate with a wicket is whether the parts will interact. That is, will there be a built-in wicket or a separate one.

Building the entrance into the gate frame seems more convenient, more economical, and easier in the end. But let’s look at it from the other side:

• The presence of a threshold. For example, the door in sliding gates will definitely have a lower threshold, which you will have to step over every time.
• Possibility of breakage. Accidental opening of the gate with the wicket wide open leads to damage.
• Reduced safety. The intersection of pedestrian and driver paths will create constant problems for both those entering and those entering.

Professionals advise making a separate gate for a private house – to the right or left of the entrance. This will allow you to correctly separate the pedestrian and roadway areas, and protect the gate mechanism from breakdowns. To make the structure look integral, it is correct to make the wicket and gate leaves from the same material, in the same style.

What to consider when choosing a design?

For the exterior of the house to look harmonious, everything should match each other: the decoration of the facade of the house and other buildings, the material of the fence and doors, the style of execution. Let’s look at the main modern trends.

High-tech

Choose a minimalist design, modern materials: plastic, metal, WPC. It is better to make the doors blind, necessarily automatic.

Loft

Rough, industrial materials are suitable: welded metal, brick or concrete supports, burnt wood.

Classic

Timeless black forging with silver or gilded elements is just right. Perfectly suits brick or plastered houses.

Provence

The doors are made of wood or forged, preferably with metal elements (hinges, locks, awnings). The pillars are made of stone (sandstone, limestone), as a compromise, choose white-painted brick.

Country

Let the facades, fence and gates be 99% wood: choose thick, natural beams, unedged boards. An excellent option for a country house fence.

Modern

The main condition is that the gate should not be blind. Preference is given to welded metal structures with abstract geometric or plant patterns.

How can you decorate a gate?

Since decor is a purely individual matter, there are no precise instructions on this issue. Only recommendations. The following are suitable as decorations:

Forged elements

Welded to a metal base. There is ready-made metal decor on sale – assemble a composition from it, or order from a master according to an individual project.

Carving

An alternative to forging for wooden bases. Elements are carved on the gates or separate boards, attached to the doors.

The photo shows beautiful overhead carving

Drawings

3D airbrushing looks especially impressive: it can be used to hide nondescript corrugated sheets and fit the gates into the surrounding landscape.

Plants

If you let creeping ivy or, for example, maiden grapes grow along the gates, the view will be beautiful, but the gates will not open. Therefore, as an alternative, choose small hanging flowerpots with petunias or other flowers.

Important! Flowerpots are hung only on swing gates.

Superstructure

This is no longer about decorating the gates, but rather about the design. Install a beautiful arch on top of a regular gate to completely transform the appearance of the entrance group.

The photo shows a wooden superstructure

Beautiful examples for inspiration

Everyone has their own criteria for beauty: some like rich decoration, others see aesthetics in minimalism. If you want to make the gate primarily a decoration, so to speak, the “face” of your home, choose complex designs: use forging or welding of metal, as well as artistic wood carving.

For example, in the first example, the gate depicts a stone bridge with lanterns and railings, as well as a fisherman in a boat. The second one has a beautiful gate with an amazing ornament along the edge and a complex plot.

Forged imitation is suitable as something simpler, but no less visually attractive: as in the example below. Wood-like corrugated sheet, metal frame and decorative hinges give the structure a special charm.

If the gate should be primarily functional, and the design is a secondary matter, choose universal modern solutions. Gate shutters should be minimalist with geometric inserts: such will not go out of fashion for many years.

For example, on the left are WPC sashes in a stylish graphite shade. Through holes in the center serve as decoration and allow the owners to see the guests, and the guests to see the owners.

The example on the right is as simple as possible, but meets modern trends. Owners and designers are gradually abandoning 3-meter-high blank fences in favor of neat fences – they do not block the view and do not spoil the landscape. This is especially important if the house is located in a picturesque area.

When choosing a gate design, remember: you need a functional, convenient and beautiful one! Look at the photos of gates for a private house in the gallery and choose the most suitable ones.