Electric Gates in Melbourne: What the Installation Process Looks Like and What to Expect?

Melbourne’s relentless climb in property values has pushed security and kerb appeal right to the top of the priority list for both residents and builders. Electric gates Melbourne have now become the norm on a lot of new builds, especially dual occupancy and townhouse projects in the inner and middle suburbs. And it’s all thanks to smart home tech that’s made automated gates so much more accessible than they used to be. You can now get app-controlled gate systems that’d have cost an arm and a leg just five years ago.

Sliding gates are the way to go in Melbourne’s inner suburbs where driveways are tight, they don’t need any clearance space and are perfect for narrower block frontages.

Sliding vs Swing Gates: What Makes Them Different?

Sliding gates take up loads of extra space beside the driveway, so you need to leave a clear run of about three and a half metres for a three-metre gate. Swing gates on the other hand need the ground to be level and there can’t be any arc space blocked. If your driveway’s sloping or there’s a car parked near the gate then it can stop the system working properly altogether. Cantilever sliding gates are handy for uneven or cracked surfaces because they don’t need any bottom track to work, whereas standard sliding gates will just jam.

Double swing gates are great for bigger entranceways and heritage properties where looks are what matters, they just require two motors or one super heavy-duty one with synchronised arms. You can’t just size a motor by how much a gate weighs you have to know how many times it gets used in a day too. A 200kg steel sliding gate that’s used 15 times a day is going to need a different motor than a 60kg aluminium swing gate that’s only opened a few times.

Access Control: How to Let People In?

Standard remotes are still the most common way to control access to residential gates they’re cheap and easy to use. App integration means you can operate and monitor the gate from anywhere, which is useful if you’ve got deliveries or tradespeople coming and going all the time. Keypad entry is good for properties that get lots of visitors or deliveries where it’s not worth giving out remotes. Video intercoms are getting more popular on residential properties because you can see and talk to visitors before letting them in.

On commercial sites with loads of vehicle traffic swipe card systems are the norm because you can’t give everyone their own remote. Building management system integration is also common on commercial sites with lots of access points you gotta get the access control sorted out before installation starts though because some systems need conduit running during the gate installation which can be a real pain to add later.

Safety, Servicing, and the Actual Contents of Warranties

Australasian safety sensors are mandatory for automatic gates with vehicle or pedestrian access. Automatic gates with no safety sensor present are not only a potential safety hazard, but also a potential liability. Gate Gurus provide a five-year warranty for all installations, which is a guarantee well worth checking with all Melbourne suppliers before committing. The motors most commonly recommended in Melbourne are those made by FAAC, BFT, and Centsys, mainly due to the availability of local spare parts and technicians familiar with the systems in question. While imported motors may lower costs, they may lack local service networks, meaning parts have to be imported in case of malfunction.

Regular servicing once per year is advisable and includes a motor torque check, testing of the safety sensors, and checking of structural fixings. That is also when ground shifting and/or post shifting is detected to prevent later problems with the system operation. It is possible to automate an existing manual gate provided that the frame, hinges, and posts survive a structural test. Rust, misalignment and loose fixings have to be fixed before the automation process can take place successfully.

Choosing a Supplier and Quoting Process

Request a site visit before taking a quote, as property layout, driveway slope, fence run and location of electrical connections affect system choice in ways impossible to ascertain over the phone and email. Inquire into whether the supplier does design, manufacturing, and installation in-house, or outsources fabrication, as this information is relevant when there is an issue to be addressed following installation. Post-installation service is also crucial; a gate which fails during holidays or rainy periods requires a supplier who can attend immediately.