Except your premises is situated in a secure location with no worries about privacy, intruders, trespassers or other security concerns, or except you really do not think you have anything or anyone worth protecting, chances are that you absolutely need a gate. Even though not many people really give much thought to gates, it cannot be overstated that gates are, overall, an essential feature of any property.
Having established this, the question then becomes what kind of gate should you get? Generally speaking, one way to classify gates would be either Swing Gate or Sliding Gates.
Without much ado, let’s get into the merits and demerits of each and what to consider before deciding on either.
COST
Cost is a major factor in the choice of which of these is a best fit for you. If you’re on a tight budget and want to keep costs low, a swing gate would be just right for you as they are comparatively the less costly of both options. This is because even in the event that both gates look alike, a sliding gate typically requires extra parts because of its more complex opening mechanism.
MAINTENANCE
Quite obviously, a sliding gate, as a result of its many moving parts, requires more maintenance than a swing gate. You must constantly clean the track to keep it free from debris to prevent jamming issues, as well as ensure the complex system of pulleys and hinges that operate it are oiled frequently and checked to see what needs repairs or replacement.
If you do not want to be bothered about gate maintenance, a swing gate may just be the best option for you.
SPACE
Another important factor to consider is the space available. If your driveway is not very spacious, you might be better off considering a sliding gate. The bigger the breadth of a swing gate, the bigger must be the allowance for its swing arc. You don’t want the gate hitting vehicles or blocking off other movement whenever it is open. A sliding gate, on the other hand, can simply slide along the wall and, essentially, disappear, unobtrusively.
SLOPE
If your driveway is level, either gate can work. However, if the ground is uneven or sloped, it can mean that a swing gate can open only in one direction or would have difficulty being installed or operated. Here, though, sliding gates perform excellently well.
It is important that, having gone through these main considerations, you analyze your peculiar needs and decide what is a deal breaker for you before making a final decision.
