If you want electric gates but don't want to see the motors, underground automation is the answer. The motor sits in a steel foundation box buried under each gate, right at the hinge. All you see is the gate opening and closing on its own.
Underground gate automation is priced after a free site survey, because the groundwork varies so much from one driveway to the next.
How it works
A foundation box is set into concrete in the ground beneath the hinge of each gate. The motor sits inside, and the gate sits on top of it, attached through a lever. When the motor turns, the gate turns with it. The box has a lid that sits flush with the driveway.
Underground Gate Automation in Carlisle: Out of Sight
Underground motors sit in foundation boxes buried beneath each gate leaf, so there's nothing on the posts or gates to spoil the look. That makes them a popular choice for period homes in Stanwix and around the city, and for ornate wrought iron gates where you want the metalwork to be the star.
The motor turns the gate from below through a pivot, giving a clean, smooth swing. Because there are no arms on the gates, there's also less to snag, knock or vandalise.
Installing Underground Electric Gate Motors Properly
Underground automation is only as good as the groundwork. The foundation boxes have to be set level, bedded in concrete and properly drained, because a box that fills with water will damage the motor sooner or later. Cumbrian rain makes that drainage especially important.
We plan the drainage and cable runs carefully, fit CAME underground motors sized to the gates, and force test the finished system to BS EN 12453. Because every driveway is different, underground automation is priced after a free site survey.
Why choose underground motors?
- Clean look. Nothing on the gates or posts – perfect for good-looking gates or listed and period properties.
- Harder to tamper with. The mechanism is out of reach.
- Works with slim posts. The motor doesn't need a large post to mount on.
The things to get right
Underground motors are only as good as the installation. The large one in Cumbria is water. A foundation box that fills with water will kill a motor, so every box I fit has proper drainage – into a soakaway or a drain, depending on the ground.
The other things I check:
- the gate is strong and properly balanced, since the motor carries it
- the driveway surface and the ground conditions
- how far the cables need to run back to the control box
Underground vs overground
| Underground | Overground | |
|---|---|---|
| Looks | Hidden | Visible arms on the gates |
| Price | on survey – more groundwork | on survey – usually lower |
| Installation | Groundwork needed | Quicker to fit |
| Servicing | A bit more involved | Easy access |
More in comparing gate motor types or see overground gate automation.
The kit I use
I fit CAME underground motors on domestic and commercial gates, including heavy-duty motors for heavy gates. See hydraulic gate automation.
Fitted safely
As with any powered gate, I fit the right safety devices and force test every installation to BS EN 12453. Underground motors still have a manual release – normally a key in the foundation box lid.
Get a price
Call or WhatsApp Adrian on 07854 037752, or drop me a message.
Questions people ask me
How much are underground gate motors?
That depends on the gates, the groundwork and the cable runs, so I price them after a free site survey.
Do underground motors flood?
Not if the foundation boxes are properly drained, which is part of every installation I do.
Can underground motors be fitted to existing gates?
Often, yes, if the gates are strong and the hinge positions suit. I'll check on site.