Right now is the perfect time to get an entrance gate installed. Kids are out for school, vacations are being taken and more homebuyers are out and about looking at homes and neighborhoods. But what kind of home entrance gates should you be considering? Perimeter Security Systems recommends the following access control gates for homes and residential areas.
Swing Gates
Swing gates are some of the most used access control gates on the market today. These entrance gates are typically located at the front of a driveway and usually require that a code be keyed in before the gate will open. Because of this many swing gates must have a control panel as a part of the system. Swing gates can be single swing or bi-parting. Single swing gates have one door, approximately 12’ wide. Bi-parting swing gates are two doors of 14’ or more that open in the middle swinging out in opposite directions. If you have a steep driveway or other obstruction that doesn’t allow the swing gate to open away from the incoming traffic towards the home, then a bi-parting door could be a better option as it has a shorter swing radius.Slide Gates
Slide gates are a great option for homes that have limited options for swing gates due to obstructions or an inclined driveway that makes a swinging gate more difficult to operate. These access control gates have a door that slides to the side rather than swinging out in front of vehicles entering the property.Three main components make up a sliding gate system: the gate, a track the gate slides across and a gate opener. The gate opener is a motor that is specified to open gates of a certain length and weight so it’s important to choose the proper motor for your gate.
Barrier Arm Gates
Barrier arm gates are affordable and very effective entrance gates for residential communities. These gates have a long “arm” that stretches out across an entrance, stopping through traffic and preventing vehicles from entering until either a code is entered or an up command is given which raises the arm so vehicles can pass through. Features to look for include:• Wood, plastic or aluminum arm that’s brightly colored
• At least 12’ arm for single lane traffic
• Multiple up command options
• Systems with back up DC power in case of an outage
• Arms that can be mounted from either side of the road
DoorKing is one of the top manufacturers of these types of access control gates.
