How Electric Gate Installation Works

If you've never had electric gates fitted, it helps to know what to expect. Here's how a typical job runs with me, from the first phone call to handing you the remotes.

1. The first chat

You call or WhatsApp me. We talk about what you're after, and I'll normally ask for a few photos. If it's a quick question, I'll answer it there and then.

Our Electric Gate Installation Process in Carlisle

Every electric gate installation we carry out around Carlisle follows the same careful order. It starts with a conversation about how you use your drive, then a site visit where Adrian checks the opening, the posts or pillars, the ground and the route for power. Nothing is ordered until the plan makes sense for your property.

Once you're happy with the written quote, we book the work in and keep you posted on dates. Groundwork and cabling come first, then the gates and CAME motors go in, and the system is set up to suit the weight and size of your gates.

What Happens on Installation Day

On the day itself, we work tidily and keep the drive usable wherever we can. Motors are fixed, the control board is wired, and the safety devices are fitted in the right places for your entrance.

Before we leave, the gate is force tested to BS EN 12453 and we walk you through the remotes, the settings and the manual release. You receive the manuals and a Declaration of Conformity, and your new automatic gates are covered by our 3-year parts and labour warranty.

2. The site visit

I come out and look at:

• the opening, the posts or pillars and the space for the gates
• the slope of the driveway and the ground conditions
• where the power will come from and the cable route
• how the gate will be used, and by whom
• the road, the footpath and any planning issues

This is also when I work out what safety devices the gate will need.

3. Your quote

A clear, written price covering everything: gates (if needed), automation, groundwork, electrics, safety devices and testing. No hidden extras.

4. Groundwork

Depending on the job, this can include post foundations, foundation boxes for underground motors (with drainage), a plinth and track for a sliding gate, and trenches and ducts for cables. If you're having a new driveway laid, it's best to do this first.

5. Fitting

• gates hung on strong hinges and checked to swing or slide freely
• motors and control board fitted
• safety devices, warning light and access control installed
• cabling done to BS 7671

6. Setup and testing

The control board is programmed – travel limits, speeds, force settings and auto-close if you want it. Then I test every safety device and measure the closing forces with a calibrated force tester to check they meet BS EN 12453. See force testing.

7. Handover

I'll show you how everything works, including the manual release, and leave you:

• the user manuals and instructions
• the Declaration of Conformity (the gate is UKCA or CE marked)
• a record of the force test results
• your remotes, codes and fobs

How long does it take?

Automating existing gates is often done in a day or two. New gates with groundwork take longer, and made-to-measure gates have a lead time. I'll give you a timescale with your quote.

Call or WhatsApp Adrian on 07854 037752 to book a visit.

Questions people ask me