Two Metals That Automated Gates Commonly Use
Posted on: 23 July 2019
No matter where you live, keeping your friends and family safe will be a prime concern, which is an excellent reason to install automated gates. While numerous options for materials abound, two standard options are aluminium and steel. Read on to find out more about these two metals.
Aluminium Gates
Gates are outside in all kinds of weather, needing to endure all seasons and environments—thus, your chosen material needs to be resilient. With an oxide layer that protects it from rust and corrosion, aluminium is an ideal choice. Available in a wide range of styles, common forms include tubular or slat designs. Tubular styles can be simple or ornate—choose from flat-top models with straightforward vertical and horizontal railings or decorative designs with spearheads and swirls. Slat gates offer various degrees of privacy. With widely spaced slats, the gate affords more openness, or else with closely-spaced slats, the gate will provide more seclusion.
Many metals feature a powder-coated finish, which adds extra protection. Baked-on resins and pigments form an attractive, hard and smooth surface in a range of colours, letting you match the gate to your fence and home architecture. Being lightweight for smooth operation and also low maintenance, aluminium automated gates secure your home and enhance the landscape with little upkeep.
Steel Gates
A gate's primary job is to protect your home, and the exceptional strength of steel is up to this task. One drawback, however, is that some can rust. Stainless steel repels rust due to its chromium content, but other varieties need added protection. Galvanised steel has a shielding layer of zinc: the result of dipping the metal in a bath of the molten zinc. Powder coating also offers protection from the elements. Steel gates are typically available in a range of tubular styles, too, both straightforward and decorative. And various colours let you match it to your landscape.
Both steel and aluminium are alloys; they consist of a combination of elements that make them more suited to their use. Steel comes in numerous grades, and aluminium also in different weights and kinds. While steel is generally stronger, aluminium gates are also durable. And while aluminium naturally repels rust, steel can undergo processes to protect it. Stainless steel also automatically resists rusting in any case.
Both metals are generally available in swinging and sliding gates models. For sliding gates, you will need adequate room along the fence for the gate to slide. For swing gates, you need level ground on the swinging-open side. Different automated systems, using sensors, handheld devices, keypads and card readers, are generally available for both gate styles and metals.
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