With so many different types of wooden residential gates to choose from nowadays, it’s rather difficult to make a decision!
In most cases, you only need one set of gates for a driveway, and once you’ve made the choice, you will likely have those driveway gates in operation for the next decade. This is why it’s a decision that should not be rushed, but to give you some help making a selection, we’ve added some of the most important considerations below.
Era
The sheer amount of designs on the market today means it’s pretty easy to find something that’s modern, traditional, French, historic or artistic, so if you already have a particular design idea in mind, you’ll be off to a good starting point. Edwardian gates are still really popular here in the UK but they can actually work well with modern and traditional properties, so you don’t always have to think contemporary gates for new builds and classic gates for established homes.
What woods?
Many people believe that ‘softwoods’ aren’t as strong, durable and resistant as oak, but don’t let the name fall you. Softwoods such as redwood or red cedar are extremely popular and are some of the most cost-effective and durable wooden gates you can buy. Hardwood is also a good option and you, of course, can’t go wrong with oak, however, oak can be pricier and there are no guarantees that a solid oak fence will serve you better in the long run. When you’re browsing wooden gates for sale, whether that be online or in your local showroom, you’ll discover high quality, durable and dependable gates in both hardwood and softwood. You then just need to make a decision on style.
To paint or not to paint?
It’s a big decision right? When you decide to paint your driveway gate there’s really no going back, you’re almost committed from the very first coat. This is why you shouldn’t apply paint lightly. We recommend you first enjoy the gates as they are, with a wax or oil finish. If you really don’t like the way they look and you’re keen to add a touch of paint, whether that be a vibrant colour or a modern shade of grey, run a test sample first on an old piece of wood. If you’re still sure you want to go ahead go for it. If you’re wondering why we’re so reluctant to advise you jump straight tin and start painting, it’s because paint does flake, and you can often get a longer lifespan (whilst less maintenance work will be required) with a good quality oil or wax, plus don’t you just love the natural warmth that timber brings?
Price
Finally, you do of course need to think carefully about the price. You’ll see that prices do vary considerably, and there will be many reasons why, such as thickness, type of wood, size, hinges and opening operation. Just be sure to look at all the options so you can understand where and why the price fluctuations exist.