An entrance gate is one of the most important parts of a fence — it delivers privacy and security, but it also acts as the public face of a building. At the stage of choosing an entrance gate for your property, match it to your needs: look at the types available, what they do, the models on offer, and which gate width will be best and most comfortable in everyday use. Do not forget either that positioning it correctly matters enormously. Here are our pointers.
The types available
Choosing the best entrance gate is not an easy task. Various types are available, so a few important points need bearing in mind. An entrance gate should be matched to the other parts of the fence, because only then will it form a coherent whole. It also has to be comfortable in everyday use and, under the regulations, must not obstruct manoeuvring once the leaves are open. It should not open outwards from the property either. Which gates are most popular? Without doubt sliding entrance gates and single- or double-leaf entrance gates, both of which are in our range.
Entrance gate dimensions
A double-leaf entrance gate (also called a swing gate) works best at a property with a long driveway, because its leaves take up a good deal of room. Our Fello gate with two leaves has built-in hinge covers (fitted to the posts on the outer side of the fence) in the colour of the frame. This is an extra detail that improves the look.
Advantages of double-leaf gates
- ideal for a property with a long driveway,
- easier to install than sliding gates,
- high resistance to mechanical damage,
- a wicket can be fitted on either side of the entrance gate.
An automatic gate
A sliding entrance gate can only be fitted on a wide property, because it travels along the line of the fence. That means it takes up little room on the driveway, but bear in mind that it needs around 10 metres to operate. The most important part of a sliding gate is the load-bearing rail, because the functionality of the whole gate depends on it — which is why we chose running rails made from aluminium.
Advantages of sliding gates
- a sliding gate takes up very little room,
- fitted with an actuator (automation) it gives comfortable access to the property,
- sliding gates are convenient to use.
Please note: we do not sell gate automation systems.
What is the minimum width of an entrance gate? The regulations
Is there a minimum width for an entrance gate?
There is no statutory minimum width for a private entrance gate in the UK. What is regulated is the access onto the road: a dropped kerb or vehicle crossover has to be approved by the local highway authority, and most councils specify a minimum crossing width of around 2.4–3 m along with sightline requirements.
One rule does apply directly to the gate itself. Under section 153 of the Highways Act 1980, a gate that fronts a street must not open outwards over the highway — so a swing gate at the boundary has to open inwards, onto your own land.
In practice, 3 m is the width most people settle on for a single vehicle entrance, and 3.5 m or more is comfortable where larger vehicles or deliveries are involved.
The optimum entrance gate width — how to settle on the right dimensions
When choosing the width of a gate you have to take into account the spatial constraints and the location of the particular plot. Three metres is generally considered the optimum entrance width. A suitable gate width delivers comfort and safety and lets a car be parked easily. An entrance gate that is too narrow can make access difficult and often creates problems and a risk of scratching the vehicle. The wider the entrance gate, the more comfortable the driver is coming onto the property.
How far from the road should an entrance gate be?
A vehicle’s turning radius is usually around 5–6 m, which is why it is worth setting the entrance gate back by roughly that distance. That allows a perpendicular approach. If it is not possible, choose a wider gate.
What are Fello gates made from?
Fello gates are made from a combination of two materials — stainless steel (which forms the structure) and aluminium (the infill). We are a manufacturer of aluminium gates, so we build every order to an individual design. Before production we prepare drawings and visualisations. To produce gates and the other aluminium products in our range we use the highest quality materials, guaranteeing many years of comfortable use.
Powder coating
We have our own powder coating shop, so an entrance gate can be matched perfectly to your fence, facade or other components. We paint in RAL collection colours and with a wood imitation effect:
- RAL palette – a single colour throughout; colours mixed freely,
- wood-effect sublimation – infill only, the rest in any shade from the RAL palette,
- wood imitation accent – one or two wood-effect pales, the rest in a RAL colour.
Our range also includes painting products supplied by the client. Have a part you would like repainted in a shade from our standard or extended range? Get in touch — we will agree a date and all the details of the job. Do fill in the quotation form and we will come back to you as quickly as possible.
The Fello gate range — made-to-measure models
The Fello range includes several models of sliding and swing gates, each of which can be fitted at the customer’s request with the accessories needed to install automation. We hold all the fence models, matched perfectly to the style of our railings. Take a look at our completed projects. All our products are suitable for self-assembly, but we also offer a professional installation service. We propose a gate in the same style as the wicket and the spans, so that together they form a perfect whole — we will match the gate to the rest of the fence.
See also: a modern driveway in front of the house