Teesside electric gate FAQs
The questions Teesside homeowners actually ask about automated gates, answered honestly: what it costs, what the law expects of you, what happens when the power goes off, and when repair beats replacement.
Straight answers on electric gates across Teesside. Anything not covered here, ask us directly.
Prices and quotes
How much do electric gates cost in Teesside?
£3,200 to £9,500 for a complete installation, £1,300 to £2,600 to automate gates you already own, and £95 to £350 for most repairs.
Why are quotes so different from each other?
Usually because of what is left out. Safety devices, certified power supply, groundworks and surface reinstatement are the four lines that go missing from cheap quotes.
Is the quote really free?
Yes. The opening is surveyed, the work is priced in writing with the motor kit named, and you decide in your own time. No charge and no pressure.
Do I have to pay for a survey?
No. A gate cannot be priced honestly without someone measuring the opening, the slope and the cable route, so that visit is part of quoting.
Choosing gates
Should I choose sliding or swing gates?
Swing gates if the driveway has depth for the leaves to arc and the ground is level. Sliding if the drive rises, the frontage is tight onto a busy road, or the opening is wide. The ground usually decides before budget does.
Which material lasts longest here?
Marine-grade aluminium or galvanised-then-powder-coated steel, particularly near the coast. Hardwood looks superb and needs maintaining. Painted mild steel near the sea is the one to avoid.
Will wind be a problem?
On exposed plots, a solid infill acts like a sail and wears motors and hinges. Slatted or vertical bar infills cut that load dramatically and are the standard recommendation on open Teesside sites.
Can gates be fitted to existing brick pillars?
Often yes, if the pillars are solid rather than faced. Where they are not, a steel post is set behind and clad so the appearance is kept.
Rules and safety
Do I need planning permission?
Usually not for a gate up to one metre high next to a highway, or two metres elsewhere. Listed buildings, conservation areas and private covenants are the exceptions, so check with your council and your deeds first.
Are automated gates legally machinery?
Yes. That means force limitation, obstacle detection, guarded crushing and shearing points, a manual release and a documented handover are part of a compliant installation, not optional extras.
What is force testing?
Measuring, with a gauge, how hard the gate pushes when it meets an obstruction, and adjusting until it is within the limits. The results should be in your handover paperwork.
My gates are old. Are they still safe?
Have them force tested. Settings drift as hinges wear and photocells get knocked out of alignment, and both are inexpensive to correct.
Living with them
What happens in a power cut?
Use the manual release, normally a keyed lever on each motor, and push the gates by hand. Battery back-up is a worthwhile option on a property with one entrance.
How do deliveries get in?
A keypad code you can change, an intercom, or a GSM unit that rings your mobile from the gate wherever you are. Auto-close timers stop the gates being left open by accident.
How do I get out without pressing anything?
A free-exit sensor or an induction loop in the driveway detects your car and opens the gates. Loops are laid during groundworks, so decide before the trench is dug.
Do electric gates need servicing?
Yes, annually. Hinges, rollers and bearings checked, safety devices tested and closing force re-measured, typically £110 to £180. Coastal installations also benefit from a wash-down of the running gear.
Repairs
My gate opens then closes straight away. Why?
Nearly always the safety beams: a dirty lens, a spider web or a knocked bracket. One of the cheapest visits on the list.
Can gates installed by someone else be repaired?
Yes, and most call-outs are exactly that. Having the motor make and model to hand speeds up parts and saves money.
When is replacement the honest answer?
When the leaves have dropped, frames have opened at the joints or the posts move. Motors then keep failing because they are fighting the gate, and no amount of new boards fixes that.