There’s something quite unique about the appearance and ora of metal gates. It’s one of those decisions that should be obvious. “Just get a good one that looks nice, one that’s sturdy, and we’re good.” Except that if you walk up to a house with a metal gate that just doesn’t belong, you know it. It feels off, like wearing shoes that don’t quite fit.

Metal gates fall into that weird place between major decisions that actually make a difference and decisions that just don’t. They’re not so small that you can just get the cheapest one you can find, but they’re not so big that people lose any sleep over them. Except that if you get one wrong, you’ll be reminded of that mistake every single day for the rest of your life.

What Actually Matters (And What Doesn’t)

So let’s get to the meat of the issue. Most people think that the first thing you should consider is the cost, followed by the materials, followed by how secure you need the gate to be. Except that that’s not actually true. The first thing you should consider is actually a lot more basic: “What’s this gate actually going to be dealing with?”

A metal gate at a quiet industrial estate has a completely different set of needs from one at a busy shopping centre. Wind load, foot traffic, vehicular access, climate – all of these play a huge role in how good a metal gate actually is. I’ve seen beautiful wrought iron gates that were just useless because they were exposed to salt air. Six months later, they were a nightmare to maintain.

All of the practical considerations get ignored for the sake of looks, which is ironic since a rusty metal gate isn’t actually that pretty. Think about how often you need to access a certain place. A gate that needs to open fifty times a day needs to be a lot more robust than one that only needs to open twice a week. Automation needs to be considered, not just as a nice extra but as a necessity. Hinges need to be considered. The kind of latch you use needs to be considered.

Steel vs Aluminium: The Conversation Everyone Has

Needless to say, this discussion comes up on a regular basis, and quite frankly, both sides have some very good arguments. There’s something substantial about steel. There’s a certain weight to it that’s very comforting. Not to mention that it can withstand a fair degree of punishment. This would be an ideal choice if security were a big issue or if there’s a high likelihood of the gate being smashed.

The advantage of aluminium lies in the fact that it doesn’t rust. What this translates to is a whole lot less maintenance over the course of the gate’s lifespan. This would be especially pertinent to businesses that are located on the coast.

While steel may be more expensive in the long run, think about repainting and repairing an aluminium gate over the course of ten years.

There’s also the option of galvanised steel, which attempts to offer the best of both worlds. The zinc coating on the steel protects it from the elements, i.e., it doesn’t rust. However, this coating will eventually wear off on areas of high usage, and you’re back to square one.

The Installation Problem

The thing nobody ever tells you about gates is that you can’t just plant a metal gate in the ground and hope for the best. The foundation of the posts requires some work—concrete being the norm—and more of it than you think.

Wind load calculations are important considerations, especially for larger gates. A metal gate is essentially a large sail when subjected to strong winds, and considering British weather is like considering anything but… well, you get the idea. I’ve seen gates attached to posts which have actually bent them due to no thought being given to a proper winter gale.

And then, of course, there’s the issue of automation, which introduces its own level of complexity since the motor will require power, meaning you’ll either have to trench the cables in or install solar panels, both of which are more expensive than people want to admit. And then there’s the issue of maintenance access for the motor, as well as planning for the inevitable time when it will fail at the most inopportune time.

What You’re Actually Buying

When you take away the sales hype, the reality is that the metal gate is about control and image, at least in part. It’s about setting boundaries, controlling access, and making a statement about your business, whether you like it or not.

That statement, however, should not be about how you bought the cheapest thing available, nor should it be about how you spent a fortune on something utterly impractical. It should simply be about something that works, something that looks good, something that says, “We thought about this, at least well enough.” It should say, “We didn’t waste our money on something that doesn’t work, something that breaks the moment you turn it on.” The best approach, of course, is to stop worrying about the cost of the gate and start worrying about what you actually need, since the reality is that most businesses find they don’t actually need as much gate as they thought, but rather better quality gate than they thought they could afford.

And, come to think about it, that’s the best approach for most things in life that are actually worth buying.