The driveway is the biggest point of entry to your property. For many homeowners, it's an open entry. However, other homeowners prefer more privacy and security. If you're in the latter group, you may have already had a privacy fence installed, or are planning to do so. The gateway to your inner sanctum needs to be designed so you can still enjoy your privacy and security, though.

Privacy Gate Design

A privacy gate is an ideal accompaniment for a privacy fence. Many homeowners simply extend the fence to the gate. In other words, the gate consists of the same privacy panels as in the fencing. Those panels just happen to either swing or slide open. This style of privacy gate is ideal if you want to maintain a consistent façade throughout your whole fence line.

Many homeowners like to add decorative touches with their driveway gates. Just because you've opted for a privacy gate doesn't mean you have to forego ornamentation, though. One of the most popular styles of ornamental gate is constructed of wrought iron.

Wrought iron gates are highly ornamented from rail to finial to picket. Because of their sturdiness and finials tops, they're highly secure. However, wrought iron gates are open-construction. So, fencing contractors often back them with the same fencing panels they used for the privacy fencing to make for a closed gate.

You can also choose different styles of closed gates to augment your privacy fence. For instance, if you favor a modern style, consider a gate with wide rails and posts. Their lines will speak to the modern ideal. As with the wrought iron gate, you can have this style closed off with a privacy panel or even frosted PVC for a truly modern look.

Gate Opening Style

Once you've settled on a privacy gate, you'll need to decide how you want the gate to open. Essentially, you have two options - swing and slide.

Swing gates are attached to the gateposts with hinges. So, when you unlatch one, you swing it open, usually into the driveway where you have more clearance. Swing gates can consist of either one or two panels. With the latter, the two panels meet in the middle and latch. They usually feature some clearance at the bottom so they don't scrape the driveway.

Slide gates can operate a little like sliding glass doors. They can feature a track at the bottom along which the gate rollers slide. Conversely, the rollers can slide across the driveway directly. Sliding gates are usually single panel.

When it comes to which offers more privacy, neither has a real advantage. They both have to open completely to allow a car to pass, and both can be partially opened for a pedestrian or bike. Most homeowners base their choice on where they have more clearance. If you have a long driveway behind the gate, a swing opener will work. If you don't, you'll want a sliding opener.

Gate Opener Operation

Homeowners usually find the task of opening the gate cumbersome. So, they have an automatic gate opener installed. When it comes to security and privacy, an automatic gate opener is ideal because you have to trigger the access point to open it. It's essentially locked otherwise in the same way your garage door is locked via an opener.

The opening style of your gate will drive a lot of your decision for your gate opener. However, the access point is where you'll make an important decision.

The main access styles are remote and keypad. You either trigger the opener with a remote, like with your garage door, or by punching in a security code. Both are good for security. The benefit of the security code is you can easily choose with whom to share it and when to change it. Likewise, both systems come with an intercom system for visitors.

Design a driveway entrance that keeps your property private and secure. Consult with the experts at Northgates In Motion to implement your ideas.