A gate across your driveway is important not only from a security standpoint, but also from the perspective of the visual impact that the gate can have on those who visit your home. In both the case of security and creating curb appeal, you need to be willing to spend more money to buy a fence that will resist intruders and impress guests. Knowing what options are available will make your choice easier.
Side Pivot Gate
The first option that you should consider is a gate that has a pivot point to one side of the gate. The most basic model of such a gate will be nothing more than a wooden plank or metal bar that is raised at the pivot point to allow guests into your home. On the other hand, most pivot gates only deter unwanted guests who don't want to damage their vehicle by ramming the gate, but a determined intruder with a brush guard on their vehicle could plow through a side pivot gate. You can dress up a pivot gate by using a decorative panel, but you still have the security limitations.
Roll-Away Gate
A second option to consider is a gate that rolls out of the way. A roll-away gate will have a set of wheels at the top and bottom of the gate. These wheels will roll in grooves, and a motorized gate will have an electric motor to operate the gate. When you use a roll-away gate, you can either use a decorative panel or a heavy solid metal panel. However, ramming the gate should dislodge the wheels from their tracks, so you may still not be able to get the security that you want from a roll-away gate.
Lift Gate
One last option worth considering is a lift gate. Such a gate will be solidly anchored at either side of the gate opening, and motors will lift both sides of the gate up out of the way to allow entrance to guests. Because it is solidly anchored at both sides of the opening, lift gates tend to be more resistant to ramming, and they make quite a visual impact. On the other hand, because you have to pay for two motors to lift the gate up out of the way, they tend to be more expensive than other options.
Choosing a gate is largely a factor of how much budget you have for your fence. If you have the money, you should consider buying the most visually impactful and secure fence you can afford. On the other hand, if you don't have a large budget, you will have to make compromises. Work with your fencing contractor to choose a fence that still makes a statement but provides you with as much security as possible. Contact a company like F & W Fence Company, Inc. to get started.
