An automated gate is far more than a way to open and close your driveway. It is the first thing a guest sees and the last thing they remember — an immediate impression of your home that also provides security, privacy and everyday convenience.
Whether you’re building a new property, renovating an existing home or replacing ageing gates, choosing the right automated gate is a significant investment. From the opening style to the materials, finish and automation system, every decision influences how your gate performs and how it sits against your property for decades to come.
We work with homeowners across Hertfordshire and Essex, including Hertford, Welwyn Garden City, Bishop’s Stortford, Saffron Walden, Stevenage and the surrounding villages — many of them period and country properties where a mass-produced gate would simply look wrong.
This guide brings together what we’ve learned designing, forging and installing bespoke automated gates for homes across the region. Whether you’re considering elegant swing gates for a traditional country house or clean-lined sliding gates for a modern architectural property, you’ll find everything you need to make an informed decision.
Still exploring ideas?
View the gate collectionsAutomated gates are driveway or entrance gates fitted with an electric operating system, allowing them to open and close using a remote control, keypad, intercom, smartphone app or vehicle recognition system.
Unlike traditional manual gates, automated gates eliminate the need to leave your vehicle every time you arrive or leave. With a press of a button, the gate opens smoothly and securely, then closes automatically behind you.
Modern systems have become remarkably intelligent. Today’s gates integrate with video intercoms, smartphone apps, smart home systems and advanced safety sensors, creating an entrance that is as convenient as it is secure.
The gate itself, however, is only one part of the system. A properly engineered automated entrance combines several elements working together:
Each component must be specified correctly for the system to run reliably for years. This is why who designs and installs your gate matters as much as the design itself — and why we believe one engineer should own the whole job, rather than a salesperson, a fabricator and a fitter who never meet.
The popularity of automated gates has grown significantly over the last decade. Improved security remains the most common reason homeowners invest in electric gates, but today’s buyers are equally motivated by convenience, appearance and long-term property value.
For many families, an automated gate quickly becomes something they wonder how they ever lived without.
Your entrance is the first line of defence for your property. An automated gate creates a controlled access point that deters opportunistic intruders and gives you a clear, physical boundary at the road.
Combined with modern access control, video intercoms and safety sensors, an automated gate offers far greater protection than an open driveway. No security measure guarantees complete protection, but a professionally installed gate is a highly visible barrier that discourages unauthorised access — and unlike an alarm, it works before anyone reaches the house.
Instead of stopping the car, getting out in the rain, hauling heavy gates open and repeating the whole process on the way out, your gate opens effortlessly from the driver’s seat.
Arriving home after work, collecting children from school, returning late at night — automated access becomes second nature within days. Many of our clients add smartphone integration, letting them open the gate for a delivery or a visitor from wherever they happen to be.
An open driveway invites cold callers, turning vehicles and casual foot traffic. An automated gate clearly defines the boundary of your home, and visitors can be screened through the intercom before access is granted — so the decision about who comes up the drive is always yours.
Your entrance creates the first impression of your home, and a bespoke gate can transform it. Every gate we build starts as a hand-drawn elevation for your specific opening — not an off-the-shelf design adapted to fit. Whether the property is Georgian, Victorian, Arts and Crafts or contemporary, the result should look as though it has always belonged there.
When a gate is designed, forged and installed properly, it should outlast the automation fitted to it — a hand-forged wrought iron gate, galvanised and powder-coated, has a working life measured in decades. That’s why we back every gate with a written guarantee of up to five years and service what we build for life, with a 24-hour callout if anything ever goes wrong.
Quality materials, expert fabrication and professional installation cost more at the outset, but typically cost far less over the life of the gate than replacing a budget system every few years.
Next, the different types of automated gates — swing, sliding, cantilever and bi-fold — and which opening style suits your driveway, your ground and the way you live.
Choosing the right style of automated gate is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Appearance naturally plays a role, but the layout of your driveway, the space available, the ground levels and how you use your property every day matter just as much.
There is no single “best” type of automated gate — the ideal solution depends on the character of your property. Because every gate we make is designed and built to order, we’re never steering you towards a stock product: when our engineer first visits, the question isn’t which design you like, but which opening system the site itself calls for.
Below are the four types of automated gate we install most often across Hertfordshire and Essex.
For many properties, swing gates remain the most elegant and timeless solution. Operating much like a pair of traditional doors, they turn on hinges at each pier, driven by motors mounted either underground — invisible once installed — or discreetly on the rear of the gate. Most open inwards towards the property, though they can open outwards where the boundary allows.
Their classic appearance makes them a natural fit for period homes, country houses and listed properties, where a traditional entrance enhances the character of the house. Because the leaves need clear space to swing, they suit reasonably level driveways with enough depth inside the entrance.
From hand-forged wrought iron to clean-lined steel, swing gates offer almost unlimited design freedom. The Knebworth, our twin-leaf iron design, is a good place to start.
Sliding gates are an increasingly popular choice where the space behind the entrance is limited. Rather than swinging open, the gate travels horizontally along the boundary wall or fence — ideal for shorter driveways, or where vehicles need to park close to the entrance.
Their rigid operating mechanism also makes them one of the most secure options available, and they handle wider entrances comfortably. They do need a clear run to one side of the opening, which is one of the first things our engineer measures at the site visit.
Sliding gates suit contemporary architectural homes especially well, where the clean horizontal line complements the building. You’ll find examples in the gate collections.
Where ground conditions make a tracked sliding gate impractical, a cantilever gate is the answer. Instead of running on a ground track, the gate is carried on a counterbalanced support system and glides across the entrance without touching the drive at all.
That makes cantilever gates an excellent choice for gravel driveways, uneven surfaces, or anywhere leaves, debris or snow could foul a track. The engineering is more sophisticated, but the reward is exceptional reliability with very little to maintain.
For larger entrances or awkward ground, a cantilever gate is often the most elegant long-term answer.
A tracked slider on a gravel drive will spend its life fighting stray stones. It’s exactly why the cantilever exists — nothing touches the ground, so there’s nothing to foul.
Where space is genuinely tight, bi-folding gates solve the problem a different way: each leaf folds in half as it opens, dramatically reducing the driveway depth required.
They open and close quickly — useful for entrances in frequent daily use — while keeping the security and presence of a full-sized gate. They’re less common than swing or sliding gates, but for town properties and homes with restricted access they can be exactly right.
Every property is different, which is why our recommendation always begins with a site visit — carried out by the same engineer who will go on to build, install and service your gate.
We consider far more than the size of the opening. Driveway gradient, the space available for the gate to move, surrounding landscaping, prevailing wind, vehicle turning circles and the architecture of the house all shape the right answer.
Ultimately, the right choice comes down to your property’s layout and your own preferences. At the site visit we’ll assess the entrance, talk through how you use the driveway, and recommend the solution with the best balance of appearance, practicality and long-term reliability.
Next, a short chapter to help you narrow the field — the questions worth answering about your own entrance before you brief anyone.
Choosing an automated gate isn’t simply about selecting a style you like. It’s about finding the solution that works best for your property, your lifestyle and the way you use your entrance every day. The most successful projects all begin the same way — not with a material or a colour, but with the right questions.
You’ll find detailed guidance on each of these throughout the guide — answering them first means you approach your project with confidence.
The first question isn’t about the gate at all — it’s about how you live. Think about a typical day at your driveway:
The answers influence everything from the type of gate to the automation system. A long private driveway may suit elegant swing gates; a shorter drive close to the road may call for a sliding or cantilever design that needs no room to swing.
Chapter 03 — Types of automated gates →Some homeowners want a striking architectural statement; others prefer an entrance that quietly complements the character of the property. Neither is wrong. A contemporary build may suit clean horizontal lines and understated detailing, while a Georgian home or country residence often calls for traditional proportions and handcrafted metalwork. The most successful gates don’t dominate a property — they feel as though they were always meant to be there.
Chapter 07 — Designing for the house →The material you choose will shape the appearance of your entrance for decades. Some are drawn to the timeless elegance of wrought iron; others to the natural warmth of English oak or the stability of Accoya®. There are practical questions too: how much maintenance are you happy to take on, and how exposed is the site? The right material balances aesthetics, durability and long-term ownership.
Chapter 05 — Materials & finishes →For some families a simple remote is all that’s needed; others want video intercoms, keypads or smartphone control from anywhere. Think early about visitors, deliveries, contractors, family members and future smart home integration — it lets the automation be designed around the way you live.
Chapter 06 — How the automation works →Understanding the likely cost from the beginning makes every other decision easier. We believe pricing should be transparent rather than hidden behind a sales conversation — which is why we publish investment bands and explain exactly what moves the price. A realistic budget doesn’t limit your options; it helps us recommend the solution with the best long-term value.
Chapter 09 — What automated gates cost →For most homes, an automated gate under two metres doesn’t need planning permission — or under one metre where it sits next to a road used by vehicles. Listed buildings, conservation areas and Article 4 Directions can remove these rights. Every property is different, and it’s worth understanding the planning position before finalising a design.
Read our planning permission guide →By the time you’ve answered these six questions, you’ll already have a much clearer picture of the entrance that suits your property. Whether yours is a contemporary build in Bishop’s Stortford, a period property in Hertford or a country home deep in the Essex countryside, the same principle applies:
The material you choose will define far more than the appearance of your gate. It influences its character, longevity, maintenance requirements and how naturally it complements your property.
At Herts & Essex Gates, we don’t manufacture standard, off-the-shelf products. Every gate is individually designed and handcrafted in our workshop using carefully selected materials, chosen for their performance, beauty and long-term durability.
Whether you’re looking for the timeless elegance of wrought iron, the versatility of mild steel or the natural warmth of handcrafted timber, we’ll help you choose the material that best suits your home, lifestyle and architectural style. There is no universally “best” material — only the material that’s right for your property.
Few entrance features make a statement quite like handcrafted wrought iron gates. For centuries, wrought iron has been associated with prestigious homes, country estates and historic properties, valued for its strength, intricate detailing and timeless elegance. Today, it remains one of the most desirable choices for homeowners seeking a truly bespoke entrance.
Every wrought iron gate we manufacture is built to order, allowing complete freedom of design. From traditional scrollwork and decorative finials to clean contemporary lines, each gate is crafted specifically for the property it will protect.
When correctly manufactured and professionally finished, a wrought iron gate can provide an exceptional service life — often exceeding 70 years with appropriate care and maintenance.
Wrought iron is the ideal choice for homeowners who view their entrance as a permanent investment rather than a temporary improvement.
Mild steel offers outstanding versatility, making it one of the most popular materials for bespoke automated gates. Its structural strength allows us to create everything from minimalist contemporary designs to ornate traditional entrances, all manufactured to the exact dimensions of your property.
Unlike mass-produced gates, every mild steel gate is fabricated in-house, giving us complete control over proportions, detailing and finish. Whether you’re looking for privacy panels, laser-cut features, horizontal rails or a completely bespoke design, mild steel provides exceptional flexibility without compromising strength.
For many homeowners, mild steel offers the perfect balance of durability, design flexibility and long-term value.
Nothing matches the warmth and natural character of a handcrafted timber gate. Timber creates an entrance that feels established and welcoming, making it a popular choice for country homes, period properties and rural settings. Every piece of timber is unique, ensuring no two gates are ever exactly the same.
At Herts & Essex Gates, we manufacture timber gates using carefully selected hardwoods chosen for their appearance, stability and durability.
English oak has been used in traditional craftsmanship for generations and remains one of the most characterful materials available. Its distinctive grain, natural colour and timeless appearance make it especially suited to listed buildings, farmhouses and heritage properties.
As a natural material, oak will move as it responds to seasonal changes in temperature and moisture. This movement is entirely normal and is allowed for during the design and manufacturing process. For many homeowners, these subtle changes simply add to the character and authenticity of a handcrafted oak gate.
Often referred to as “African teak”, iroko is an exceptionally durable hardwood renowned for its natural resistance to weathering. Its stability makes it an excellent choice for exposed locations where gates are subjected to changing weather conditions throughout the year.
Over time, iroko develops a beautiful natural patina, although it can also be maintained with specialist treatments to preserve its original colour.
Accoya represents one of the most advanced timber materials available for external joinery. Created through a specialised modification process, it offers exceptional dimensional stability, outstanding durability and significantly reduced movement compared with traditional timber.
Accoya is supplied with a 50-year warranty for above-ground use, making it an outstanding choice for homeowners seeking the appearance of natural timber with exceptional long-term performance.
For the most prestigious projects, bronze offers a level of craftsmanship and permanence that few materials can equal. Its rich appearance and ability to develop a natural patina over time make it especially well suited to period restorations, landmark properties and architect-designed homes where every detail matters.
Bronze gates represent a true statement piece — combining exceptional durability with a timeless elegance that will continue to evolve beautifully for generations.
The quality of a gate depends not only on the material itself but also on how it is protected against the elements. Every metal gate manufactured by Herts & Essex Gates undergoes a comprehensive finishing process designed to provide exceptional long-term durability.
Each gate is immersed in molten zinc at around 450°C, creating a protective coating that bonds metallurgically with the steel for outstanding corrosion resistance.
The galvanised surface is carefully prepared through a sweep and etch process, ensuring excellent adhesion for the paint system that follows.
A high-performance two-pack epoxy primer is applied to provide an additional protective barrier while creating the ideal base for the final finish.
Finally, the gate receives a durable polyester powder-coated finish, available in the full range of RAL colours with satin or matt finishes.
This multi-stage process produces a finish that is both beautiful and engineered to withstand the demanding British climate.
Corrosion protection begins beneath the paint, not above it. The zinc bonds with the steel at 450°C long before a colour is chosen — the coat you never see is the one doing the work.
Aluminium doesn’t feature in our core bespoke palette above, but it’s the material behind three of our named designs — the Broxbourne, the Hatfield and the Saffron— chosen for its light weight and low maintenance. It can also be specified for a fully bespoke gate by special commission; ask at your site visit if you’d like to explore it.
Every property tells a different story, and the material you choose should enhance that story rather than compete with it. During your consultation, we’ll discuss your property’s architecture, your preferred design style, your expectations for maintenance and how you intend to use your entrance before recommending the most appropriate material.
Because every gate is designed and manufactured in-house, we’re never limited to standard sizes or catalogue designs. Instead, we create an entrance that is individually crafted for your home — built to perform beautifully today and for decades to come.
Next, we explore the technology behind modern automated gates — motors, access control, safety systems and smart home integration — so you can understand what makes a gate operate safely, reliably and effortlessly every day.
An exceptional automated gate is about far more than the gate itself. Behind every smooth, effortless opening is a carefully engineered automation system designed to provide years of reliable, safe operation.
At Herts & Essex Gates, we believe the automation should feel almost invisible. A well-designed system responds quickly, operates quietly and performs consistently in all weather, becoming a seamless part of everyday life. Every installation is individually specified to suit the size, weight and style of the gate, so the automation works in harmony with the gate rather than simply being fitted to it.
There is no single motor brand that’s right for every gate. We specify each system from three of Europe’s most respected manufacturers — BFT, FAAC and CAME — choosing the motor that suits the gate’s weight, geometry and daily workload. We never fit budget or own-brand motors. You can read more about the specific systems we install on our automation page.
The correct solution depends on several factors, all assessed at the design stage so the chosen system delivers smooth performance without placing unnecessary strain on the gate or the motor:
Where appearance is a priority, underground motors provide the most discreet automation available. Installed below ground and concealed beneath the gate, they preserve the clean lines of the entrance and let the gate itself remain the centre of attention. We typically fit the BFT Sub or FAAC 390.
Underground automation is especially popular on prestige homes, listed buildings and architect-designed properties where the aesthetics of the entrance are paramount. Because the system is concealed, careful installation and proper drainage are essential to its long-term reliability — one of the reasons installation quality matters as much as the equipment.
The biggest threat to an underground motor isn’t wear — it’s water. We design the drainage before we dig the pit, which is why concealment doesn’t have to cost reliability.
For some installations, above-ground operators are the more practical and robust choice — particularly for larger or heavier gates, where engineering requirements take precedence over concealment. Here we usually specify the CAME Ferni or BFT Phobos.
Modern operators are compact, reliable and far more discreet than earlier generations, and they remain easy to access for servicing and maintenance. In most cases they can be integrated sympathetically into the overall appearance of the entrance.
Sliding and cantilever gates use a different system entirely: a gearmotor mounted beside the opening drives the gate along its run through a rack-and-pinion mechanism. We fit the CAME BX and BFT Ares, sized to the weight of the leaf.
Because the gate is positively driven along its whole travel, sliding systems are extremely difficult to force — part of why sliding gates rank among the most secure options — and they handle wide, heavy leaves that would strain a swing motor.
An automated gate should make life simpler — not more complicated. Modern access control lets you choose how you enter and manage your property, whether arriving in the car, welcoming visitors or granting access remotely. Depending on your requirements, your system can include:
Each solution is tailored to the way you use your property, providing convenient access while keeping you in complete control of security.
A powered gate is machinery in the eyes of the law, and its installation is governed by specific standards — not guidelines. Every gate we install is designed to meet BS EN 12453, which sets the safe force limits for powered gates, and is force-tested to BS EN 13241 before handover.
In practice, that means multiple layers of protection working together:
Infrared safety beams detect vehicles, pedestrians or obstacles within the gate’s operating area. If something interrupts the beam, the gate stops or reverses to prevent contact.
Pressure-sensitive edges fitted to the gate detect unexpected contact and immediately stop or reverse movement — additional protection anywhere a trapping risk could exist.
The control system continuously monitors the resistance experienced by the motor. If unexpected resistance is detected, the system reacts immediately to reduce the risk of injury or damage.
In the unlikely event of a power failure, every automated gate incorporates a secure manual release, so the gate can be operated safely until power is restored. Where continuity matters, we can also fit battery backup — or solar power with battery storage for entrances a long way from the house.
Your gate may open and close several times a day, every day of the year. Reliability isn’t simply about choosing a quality motor — it depends on careful engineering, professional installation and correct commissioning. Before any installation is handed over, we test:
Only once every component has been thoroughly tested is the system commissioned for everyday use.
Technology continues to evolve, and modern gate automation can evolve with it. Most systems can be expanded later with additional access control, video intercoms, smartphone connectivity or integration with wider home automation — so your entrance adapts as your requirements change, without replacing the whole system.
Even the finest automation equipment can only perform as well as the installation behind it. Motor positioning, foundation preparation, cable routing, safety configuration and final commissioning all determine whether a system runs dependably for years. That’s why automation is never an afterthought in our process — it’s part of the design from the first site visit, handled by the same engineer who builds and installs the gate.
Next, we look at design — how a bespoke gate is shaped by the architecture of the house it serves, from Georgian symmetry to contemporary minimalism.
An automated gate should do more than secure your property — it should feel like it has always belonged there. The most successful entrances aren’t the ones with the most decoration or the largest gates. They’re the ones that complement the architecture of the home, reflect the owner’s style and create a natural transition between the public road and private property.
At Herts & Essex Gates, design starts on the drawing board — a pencil elevation of your actual entrance, not a template from a pattern book. The result is a bespoke entrance that is both beautiful and practical, built to enhance your home for decades to come.
No two properties are the same, which is why no two of our gates are either. During the design process, we consider:
A well-designed gate should feel like an original feature of the property — not an addition.
Every architectural style carries its own language of proportion and detail, and the gate should speak the same one. These are the four briefs we're given most often.
Georgian architecture is governed by symmetry and proportion, and the gate should be too. A twin-leaf design centred on the axis of the front door, a vertical rail rhythm that echoes the glazing bars of the sash windows, and a flat or shallow-arched top rail all sit naturally against a Georgian frontage.
Ornament stays restrained — the elegance comes from proportion, not decoration. Painted finishes in off-white, black or a soft grey-green suit the period well; the Stansted, our Georgian-inspired design, is a good example.
Victorian architecture welcomes ornament, and the gate can carry far more decorative confidence: forged scrollwork, gothic arches, patterned panels and finials — the fleur-de-lis and arrow patterns are period favourites. Deeper colours such as dark green work beautifully against Victorian brick.
Rather than reproducing a historic design exactly, we create gates that capture the same character while the automation stays discreetly out of sight — period elegance with none of the compromise.
Rural entrances suit natural materials and established forms: oak or iroko five-bar gates, boarded timber where privacy matters, or ironwork hung between brick piers with estate railings running either side. Wider clear openings earn their keep on working entrances.
An inverted-arch profile — dipping to the centre, keeping height at the piers — is a country-drive classic; you’ll see it on the Hertford. For the full heritage statement, the Knebworth, our twin-leaf iron design, shows how far hand-forged work can go.
Modern architecture calls for the opposite discipline: clean horizontal lines, minimalist framing, flat top profiles and automation hidden underground. By stripping away detail, the focus shifts to proportion and the quality of the materials themselves.
Horizontal-slat designs like the Broxbourne suit contemporary builds especially well, doubling as privacy screening. For many modern homes, less truly is more.
If in doubt, take detail away. Proportion does the work that ornament can’t — and a gate that’s right for its house stops reading as an addition at all.
The line of the top rail sets the character of the whole gate, and it’s one of the first decisions on the drawing board. Five profiles cover most of the gates we build — each drawn full-size before anything is fabricated.
A crisp, level line across the full width. Quietly formal — equally at home on a Georgian frontage or a contemporary build.
Level rails between raised heel and toe posts. The classic estate-gate silhouette, understated and enduring.
A gentle rise to the centre of the pair. The traditional swing-gate profile, softening the entrance without ornament.
A taller, more pronounced sweep for imposing openings — where the entrance is meant to be read from a distance.
Dips towards the centre, keeping height at the piers while opening up the view through the entrance. A country-drive favourite.
The smallest details often have the greatest impact — and because every gate is made in-house, virtually every element can be tailored: forged scrollwork, feature panels, laser-cut house numbers, family initials or monograms. Finials — the shapes that crown each vertical bar — come in eight traditional patterns:
These details transform a gate from a functional entrance into a feature that reflects the personality of the home.
One of the biggest design decisions is whether the gate should be a bold architectural feature or blend naturally into its surroundings. Timber offers warmth, texture and a softer presence that works especially well on rural plots, tree-lined driveways and period homes. Metal — wrought iron or mild steel — makes a more defined visual statement, with almost unlimited scope for bespoke detailing from heritage scrollwork to contemporary geometry.
During the design consultation we’ll explore both, and they needn’t be mutually exclusive — iron frames with oak privacy infill are one of our most requested combinations.
Some homeowners want a grand entrance that offers glimpses of the property beyond; others prefer complete seclusion. There is no right or wrong answer. Open rail designs create an elegant, welcoming appearance and keep the view; boarded timber and solid-panel metal gates give privacy, reduce noise and strengthen security.
Many clients choose a balance of both — open railwork above a solid lower panel, or carefully spaced slats that screen the drive without closing it off entirely.
Colour should be chosen with the house in view — literally. A gate reads against brickwork, render, stone and joinery, and the right shade ties them together: anthracite against a modern render, black or dark green against Victorian brick, soft off-whites for Georgian frontages. Wood-effect finishes such as Golden Oak can give a metal gate timber warmth without the maintenance.
The full palette — any RAL shade, satin or matt — and the four-stage protective process behind it are covered in the materials chapter.
The finest entrances are rarely just gates. Matching pedestrian gates, estate railings, brick or stone piers and a video intercom can be designed as one scheme, so the whole entrance feels carefully considered rather than assembled over time.
Designing these elements together — rather than adding them piecemeal over the years — is one of the quiet advantages of working with a single workshop from the start.
A gate’s design should still look right not just next year, but twenty or thirty years from now. That’s why we lean on timeless proportions, quality materials and traditional craftsmanship rather than short-lived trends — an entrance that enhances both the appearance and the value of the property for as long as it stands.
Next, how a gate actually gets made — the eleven steps from first conversation to lifetime service.
Every bespoke gate begins long before the first piece of steel is cut or the first timber is shaped. The quality of the finished installation is determined by the care taken at every stage of the journey — which is why every project follows a structured process, from the initial conversation through to final commissioning and ongoing servicing.
One thing stays constant throughout: your project is run by a single engineer, from the first site visit to the day the gate is commissioned — and for the servicing that follows. No handoffs, no subcontracted fabrication. Every measurement, every detail and every engineering decision is made with one objective: an entrance that looks exceptional, operates flawlessly and continues to perform for decades.
Every successful project starts with a conversation. Before discussing gate styles or automation systems, we take the time to understand your property, how you use your entrance and what you want your new gate to achieve — the style and character of your home, security and privacy requirements, how many vehicles use the entrance each day, access for visitors and deliveries, preferred materials, automation options and your anticipated investment.
Your engineer then carries out a detailed assessment of the entrance, so the gate is designed around the realities of the site rather than assumptions made from photographs or rough dimensions:
These details form the foundation of the design and make for a smooth installation later in the project.
This is the stage that sets Herts & Essex Gates apart. Rather than relying on computer-generated templates, your engineer prepares a hand-drawn elevation of the proposed gate — capturing the proportions, detailing and character of the design so you can see how it will relate to your property before anything is manufactured.
You’ll have the drawing within ten working days of the survey, with no deposit required to see it. Because every gate is bespoke, this stage is invaluable in making sure the final design feels completely at home in its surroundings — and details are easily refined at the drawing stage.
The elevation arrives with a detailed fixed-price quotation. Unlike estimates that drift as work progresses, our quotations set out the agreed scope of works clearly and remain valid for 90 days — time to make an informed decision with confidence. The number we quote is the number you pay, unless you change the specification.
We’ll explain exactly what’s included, answer your questions and discuss any optional features before work begins. Complete transparency, from the outset.
Once approved, your project moves into the workshop — where the drawing becomes reality. Your gate is built under the same engineer who surveyed your entrance, using carefully selected materials and traditional fabrication techniques combined with modern engineering where appropriate.
Attention is paid to every detail, from structural accuracy and weld quality to symmetry, finish and fit. Because every gate is built for one property, there is no production line — and no compromise on quality.
Before the first bar is cut, the gate is drawn again — at full scale, in pencil, on the workshop wall. Fabrication starts only when the full-size drawing is right.
A beautifully made gate deserves a finish that will outlast fashions. Every metal gate is hot-dip galvanised at 450°C, swept and etched, primed with two-pack epoxy, then powder-coated in your chosen RAL colour — the four-stage process described in full in the materials chapter. Timber gates are finished with the appropriate oils, stains or paint systems for the species.
Installation is where planning and craftsmanship come together. Your engineer prepares the site and installs the gate, making sure every component is aligned and operating precisely as intended. Depending on the project, this may include:
With the gate hung, the automation is configured and commissioned. We specify equipment from BFT, FAAC and CAME — whichever suits the installation — and programme the remotes, intercom, keypads and access control while fine-tuning the opening and closing cycle for smooth, quiet operation.
Safety is never left to chance. Before handover, the gate undergoes comprehensive testing, including force testing in accordance with BS EN 13241. Safety devices, obstacle detection and operating forces are checked and adjusted — and the gate is then left running for 24 hours before we sign it off.
When your gate is complete, we’ll walk you through everything: operating the system, using the remotes and access options, and simple routine care. We’ll also explain your guarantee — up to five years, in writing — along with servicing recommendations, and answer any questions before leaving you to enjoy your new entrance.
Our relationship doesn’t end at handover. Like any precision-engineered system, an automated gate benefits from regular care — so we offer annual servicing, responsive aftercare and a 24-hour callout, all handled by the engineer who knows your gate because he built it.
Because for us, a gate isn’t a completed project — it’s an entrance that should keep welcoming you home for decades.
Next, the question every client asks first: what does a bespoke automated gate actually cost — with our published price bands, and the eight things that move the number.
One of the first questions we’re asked is: how much does an automated gate cost?It’s a fair question — yet one many companies avoid answering, asking you to arrange a site survey before you get even a rough indication of price.
We take a different approach. If you’re considering a significant investment in your home, you deserve honest guidance from the outset — and while every gate we make is bespoke, that doesn’t mean pricing should be a mystery. So we publish realistic investment bands based on the projects we complete every year. They won’t replace a detailed quotation, but they will tell you what different levels of specification typically cost, and why.
Every quotation we provide is fixed, fully itemised and valid for 90 days — the number we quote is the number you pay, unless you change the specification.
Every project is unique, but most installations fall into one of three bands.
These figures are complete installed systems, accurate to within about 10% for standard specifications — not just the cost of the gate itself. Every project includes the site visit, the hand-drawn elevation, hot-dip galvanising, motor installation and commissioning, a BS EN 13241 force-test certificate, safety devices and VAT. The full list of what’s always included is on our investment page.
No two entrances are identical, so no two quotations are either. Eight factors do most of the work:
The biggest single variable. Every extra metre adds material, motor load and labour — the physical dimensions often have a greater impact on cost than homeowners expect.
Wrought iron typically costs 30–40% more than mild steel, and hardwood infill panels add 15–20%. Each material carries its own fabrication and finishing demands.
Underground rams cost £800–£1,400 more than above-ground operators per leaf, including the groundwork — the price of complete concealment.
Some projects use existing piers and foundations; others need new structural work first. New brick piers run £1,200–£2,800 per pier, depending on specification and height.
Video intercom adds £600–£900 and ANPR £1,200–£1,800. App control is included as standard.
Bespoke finials, gothic arching and custom motifs are priced individually at the drawing stage — the more individual the design, the more time at the forge.
The four-stage protective process and a standard gloss or satin colour are included in every quote. Metallic or specialist RAL shades carry a £180 supplement.
Travel is included within 25 miles of the workshop. Beyond that, it's quoted at £0.60 per mile.
Beyond the gate itself, many clients complete the entrance with a matching pedestrian gate, estate railings or new piers — designed as one scheme, and itemised in the same fixed-price quote.
The examples below — all from our completed projects — show how different design choices place a project within the bands.
Designed for a contemporary family home where the owners wanted the natural warmth of timber combined with the strength of steel — and where the brief was for the gate to disappear entirely into the garden wall when open. A cantilever system removed the need for a ground track, keeping the driveway surface clean and the operation smooth in every season.
Because the existing brick piers were retained, more of the budget could go into the metalwork itself. A single leaf under four metres with an above-ground motor is the textbook Entry-band project — here finished with a video intercom for a period home in the town centre.
A wide contemporary entrance designed around the clean architectural lines of the property. The horizontal design prioritised simplicity, low maintenance and seamless integration with the house — proof that restraint can carry as much presence as ornament.
Because transparency builds trust — and because a good gate costs real money, we’d rather you knew before you ring whether we’re the right workshop for your driveway. Publishing realistic bands means our conversations can focus on designing the right entrance for your home rather than dancing around the subject of price. When your quotation arrives, it’s a clear, fixed-price proposal setting out exactly what’s included — no hidden costs, no surprises.
An automated gate is one of the hardest-working features of your property, operating day after day, year after year. Choosing quality materials, thoughtful engineering and experienced craftsmanship from the outset is an investment not only in security and convenience, but in the long-term appearance and value of your home.
For the detailed breakdown — the three bands in full, optional upgrades and everything that’s always included — see our investment guide, or book a site visit and have the only number that really matters put in writing: yours.
Next, how regular servicing, preventative maintenance and our guarantees keep your gate operating safely and smoothly for decades.
A bespoke automated gate is one of the longest-lasting investments you’ll make in your home. Long after kitchens have been renovated, driveways resurfaced and gardens redesigned, a well-built gate should still be welcoming you home every day.
That’s why our relationship with clients doesn’t end when the van leaves the driveway. From the moment your gate is commissioned, the focus shifts from creating it to keeping it performing beautifully — and the engineer who does that is the one who built it. Like any precision-engineered system, an automated gate benefits from professional care throughout its life: regular servicing isn’t about expecting problems, it’s about protecting the quality, safety and reliability of an entrance designed to last.
Every operating cycle places a small amount of wear on the mechanical components, the automation and the safety systems. Regular servicing keeps those thousands of movements as smooth, reliable and safe as they were on the day the gate was installed — and lets small adjustments be made before they become expensive repairs.
A gate used just four times a day completes almost 1,500 operating cycles a year — around 14,600 over a decade. Routine servicing keeps every one of them safe, smooth and reliable.
Every visit follows a structured inspection — we don’t simply arrive, apply lubricant and leave. The whole installation is assessed, so the gate keeps operating exactly as it was designed.
Every visit ends with the smaller details that add up over the years: lubrication, drainage around underground motors, cable condition and a check on overall performance — recorded in a written report.
The annual plan is the one most clients choose. Full details of all three — and the complete service checklist — are on our service page.
Between professional visits, a few simple habits make a real difference:
Leaves, gravel and debris can affect the smooth running of sliding tracks and the drainage around underground motors.
If your property is close to treated roads, occasionally rinsing off accumulated salt helps preserve the painted finish.
A gate that starts making unusual noises or behaving differently is usually signalling that something needs attention. Small changes addressed early prevent larger repairs.
If the gate begins opening more slowly than usual, arrange an inspection before extra strain is placed on the automation.
The simplest way to maximise the life of the installation: planned preventative maintenance by the engineer who knows the gate.
Every gate we make is backed in writing, and we explain exactly what’s covered before the project completes — confidence comes from clarity. Every installation carries a parts-and-labour warranty of between one and five years depending on the specification, set out in your quotation, and your handover pack includes the warranty documents, servicing recommendations and your BS EN 13241 force-test certificate.
Even the best automated gates occasionally need attention. Our 24-hour callout is for all customers — contract or not — and a gate stuck open is treated as an emergency with a same-day response, guaranteed. Whether it’s a replacement remote, an adjustment or an unexpected fault, you’ll be speaking to the engineer who designed, built and installed your gate — which is usually why problems are diagnosed in minutes rather than visits.
Installation day isn’t the end of the project — it’s the beginning of ownership. Many of the gates we install today will still be welcoming families home twenty or thirty years from now, and as technology evolves and properties change, we’ll keep providing the servicing, advice and upgrades to match.
That’s the advantage of choosing a workshop over a supplier: you’re investing in a relationship that continues long after the installation is complete.
Finally, the evidence: the standards, craftsmanship and promises that define every project — and why homeowners across Hertfordshire and Essex choose Herts & Essex Gates.
Choosing an automated gate isn’t simply about selecting a design you like. You’re choosing the people who will design it, manufacture it, install it and support it for many years to come. We believe trust is earned through the way we work, not through marketing claims — so rather than telling you we’re different, here are the standards every project is held to.
We don’t buy gates from a catalogue. We don’t modify imported products. We don’t subcontract, and we don’t drop-ship. Every gate is individually designed and manufactured for one property and one client, so the entrance complements the proportions, character and architecture of your home — rather than asking your home to fit a standard product. Bespoke isn’t an upgrade here; it’s where every project begins — and you can see where it happens on our workshop page.
The first conversation isn’t about selling you a gate — it’s about understanding your property. How do you use your entrance? What level of privacy do you want? How should the gate sit against the architecture? Only once those questions are answered do we begin developing a solution, because the right gate is never picked from a range. It’s designed around the way you’ll live with it.
From the first site visit to final commissioning — and for every service visit after — your project is run by a single engineer. The person who measures your entrance is the person who draws it, oversees its fabrication, installs it and answers the phone if it ever needs attention. No handoffs between a salesperson, a fabricator and a fitter who never meet; no gaps for details to fall through. When one person is accountable for everything, everything gets done properly.
Before anything is manufactured, your engineer prepares a hand-drawn elevation of the proposed gate. You see the proportions, detailing and character of the design before a single piece of material enters the workshop, and the smallest details are refined while they’re still pencil lines. Good design isn’t rushed; it’s developed.
Every metal gate goes through the full four-stage finish described in the materials chapter— the zinc alone, bonded to the steel at 450°C, is protection most homeowners never see but benefit from every day. It’s why every gate leaves the workshop with its guarantee in writing — up to five years, depending on specification.
No single automation system is right for every installation, so we specify from BFT, FAAC and CAME — whichever suits the gate’s weight, geometry and workload — and never fit budget or own-brand motors. The result is an entrance engineered around your property and the way you use it.
An automated gate isn’t simply a moving structure — it’s a safety system. Every installation is designed to BS EN 12453 force limits and force-tested to BS EN 13241 before handover, with the certificate in your handover pack. Safety isn’t an optional extra; it’s built into every stage.
We publish our investment bands, quote fixed prices that stand for 90 days, and explain exactly what moves the cost of a bespoke installation. No unrealistic “from” prices, no hidden extras — just clear information that lets you make informed decisions. Transparency builds trust, and trust is the foundation of every successful project.
The relationship doesn’t end when the gate is commissioned. Annual servicing, repairs, upgrades and a 24-hour callout — for all customers, contract or not — keep your gate performing as designed for as long as you own it. Our commitment is to be there for the whole journey.
Every property is different, and every family uses their entrance differently — every gate we create reflects that. Whether you’re renovating a period property in Hertford, building a contemporary home in Bishop’s Stortford or improving the entrance to a house deep in the Essex countryside, the approach never changes: we listen first, design carefully, manufacture with pride, install with precision, and support every project long after it’s complete.
Because a bespoke automated gate isn’t simply an entrance — it’s something you’ll enjoy coming home to every single day.
Finally, the questions we’re asked most often — answered plainly.
The questions below are the ones that come up most often before a project begins. For the full list — including workshop visits, weekend working and conservation areas — see our complete FAQ.
Typically 12–16 weeks: a week or so to arrange the site visit, ten working days for the drawing and fixed price, a few weeks while you decide, then six to ten weeks in the workshop and around two days on site.
Most projects fall between £8,500 and £42,000+, depending on size, material, automation and groundworks. Our bands and the eight factors that move the price are covered in the cost chapter, and quotes are fixed and valid for 90 days.
Not usually for domestic gates under two metres — or under one metre where the gate sits next to a road used by vehicles. Listed buildings, conservation areas and Article 4 Directions can remove these rights. Our full planning permission guide covers the detail, or check with your local authority before ordering.
Yes, when installed properly. Every installation is designed to BS EN 12453 force limits, protected by photocells, safety edges and obstacle detection, and force-tested to BS EN 13241 on commissioning day — with a written certificate.
Yes. Smart-app control is available on every motor type we install — opening, closing, status monitoring and sharing access with family or regular visitors.
Every motor has an emergency manual-release key, so the gate can always be operated. Battery backup is standard on most motor types and strongly recommended; solar with battery storage suits entrances a long way from the house.
Usually, if the structure is sound. We assess hinge condition, leaf weight and pier stability before quoting — and if it can’t be done safely, we’ll tell you before we start.
Often, yes — pier condition is checked at the site survey. Retaining sound existing piers frees more of the budget for the gate itself, as in our Hertford project.
Usually, yes. We’ve matched Victorian ironwork, Edwardian estate gates and even 1970s continental-style designs. Bring good photographs to the site visit and we’ll tell you honestly whether it can be made to scale.
Yes, but the slope shapes the choice. Swing gates need reasonably level ground to open across; on steeper drives a sliding or cantilever gate, travelling along the boundary rather than across the slope, is usually the answer.
A locked automated gate is a genuine physical barrier that works before anyone reaches the house, and sliding gates in particular are very difficult to force. Paired with a video intercom or ANPR, you control exactly who comes up the drive — though no single measure guarantees complete protection.
Properly finished wrought iron has a working life of 70+ years with care; Accoya timber carries a 50-year above-ground warranty from its manufacturer. The automation works hard and typically needs attention sooner — but it’s replaceable without touching the gate.
Annually, as a minimum — force-limit testing, lubrication, safety-edge checks and control diagnostics. Problems caught early are cheap to fix; left alone, they aren’t. Our annual plan is £395 with two visits and 24-hour callout included.
A parts-and-labour warranty of between one and five years depending on specification, always in writing, plus your BS EN 13241 force-test certificate. Exactly what’s covered is set out in the quotation before you commit.
We’ve installed twin-leaf swing gates up to 7 metres and cantilever sliders up to 9 metres. Beyond that, structural engineering input is needed for the piers and motor foundation.
Yes — we take on inherited gates. Ring us, describe the motor brand, and we’ll tell you on the call whether we can help. If we can’t, we’ll point you to someone who can.