Get matched with top driveway gate pros in Amherst, TX

Installing your own gate is possible, but we don’t recommend it. Gates can weigh hundreds of pounds in some cases, and even types of gates made from the lightest materials are heavy, bulky, and difficult to maneuver into place. Positioning your gate perfectly is also crucial to make sure it swings smoothly and either closes automatically or doesn’t close without force, depending on your preferences. Mistakes made by DIYers can be quite costly, too, as the materials alone average around $1,000. As such, it’s better to hire a professional gate installer.

In most cases, you will need a permit to install a gate or fence on your property. Before your local municipality can issue a building permit, you might also need a site plan or survey to identify property lines. Otherwise, you could infringe on your neighbor’s property, leading to having to pay to take down and re-erect the fence. Permits for a gate and fence usually cost under $100. Luckily, your gate installation company will usually pull the permits for you and handle all of the red tape.

If you only use your gate as a pedestrian, walking through without a vehicle, you’re fine to stick with a single fence gate. If your fence opening needs to accommodate vehicles of any kind, from cars to trucks to 4-wheelers, then a double fence gate will suit the space much better and give you more freedom. 

Driveway gates can last anywhere from 10 to 30 years, depending on how well you maintain your gate, the material type, how frequently you use it, and whether you choose an automatic or manual gate. Automatic gates generally require more maintenance than manual gates due to their added sliding gate mechanisms, which can go out from frequent use.