Gates
The first thing anybody sees. Make it worth looking at.
Your driveway gate sets the tone for the whole property. We build them custom — cedar over a welded steel frame, wrought iron, or a mix — sized to your opening and your driveway's slope instead of whatever fit on the truck.
Single swing, double-drive, cantilever slide: the right answer depends on how much room you have to swing, how the drive pitches, and how the mail carrier and trash truck use the space. We walk it with you before anybody starts cutting steel.
Every driveway gate leaves our shop with a fully welded frame, adjustable heavy-duty hinges, and hardware rated well past the gate's weight. Slats get screwed, not nailed — nails back out with every hot-cold cycle and DFW gives us plenty of those.
A gate that drags in November was probably laid out in July. We check the fall across the opening and set the swing or slide path so it clears year-round, mud season included.
Board-on-board privacy, horizontal slat modern, ranch entry with a top rail, or iron scroll — we'll sketch options that fit the elevation and the neighborhood, HOA rules included.
We run this service in every one of these cities and the towns between them.
Driveway gates control vehicle access while defining the entrance to your property. The right gate depends on driveway width, slope, available opening space, material weight, and whether you want manual or automatic operation. Swing gates need clear travel space; sliding gates need room beside the driveway.
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Morrison Gate & Fence serves the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. For a new driveway gate or a replacement, start with the entrance layout and support requirements, then choose a design that fits the property.
Neither layout suits every driveway. A swing gate rotates on hinges, while a sliding gate travels sideways along the fence line. Compare the entire travel path, not just the opening between posts.
| Single swing | There is enough clear space for one leaf to open | Leaf weight, hinge-post support, vehicle setback, and the swing arc |Double swing | Two shorter leaves suit the opening better than one long leaf | Center alignment, stops, latching, and clearance for both leaves
A sliding gate does not automatically solve a sloped-driveway problem. Its supporting structure and travel line still need evaluation. A double-swing arrangement shortens each leaf, but both leaves still need unobstructed opening space.
Measure the clear opening vehicles actually need, rather than assuming the existing fence opening is sufficient. Consider turning movements, mirrors, trailers, and other vehicles that regularly use the entrance.
Grade matters throughout the gate’s travel. A swing leaf can clear the pavement when closed and strike an uphill section as it opens. Setting it higher may create an unwanted gap beneath the closed gate, so clearance and access control need to be considered together.
Useful site checks include:
For a broader explanation of fitting a gate to its opening, see our gate installation service. Final dimensions should follow a site assessment, not a generic gate-size recommendation.
A driveway gate is a moving structure. Its frame, infill, hinges, posts, and connections must work together under repeated use.
Welded steel tube frames and metal pickets are common construction choices. Aluminum offers lower material weight, while wood infill creates a more screened appearance. The finished gate’s weight depends on its dimensions and construction, not just the material name.
Solid or closely spaced infill also catches more wind than an open-picket design. That affects the demands placed on supports and, where fitted, an operator. Choose the privacy level alongside the structural design rather than treating infill as decoration added at the end.
Important components include:
Coatings protect metal, but joints, welds, and damaged finish areas still need inspection and maintenance.
Manual operation can make sense when access is occasional and getting out of the vehicle is practical. Automatic operation may be more convenient for frequent use, but it adds electrical equipment, controls, safety devices, and maintenance needs.
An operator must suit the gate’s type, dimensions, weight, and expected use. It should not be used to force a binding or sagging gate through its travel. The gate needs to move correctly before automation is considered.
For powered operation, discuss the power source, manual release, access controls, and appropriate entrapment protection. Photoelectric sensors and sensing edges are examples of protective devices; the required arrangement depends on the operator and installation. Also consider how pedestrians will enter without walking through a moving vehicle gate.
Dragging does not necessarily mean the whole gate needs replacement. The cause may be worn hinges, loose connections, post movement, frame distortion, or a changed pavement level.
| Hinge wear or loose hardware | The frame and supports remain sound | Connection points are extensively damaged |Leaning support post | The support can be corrected without replacing a sound leaf | Support failure has also damaged the gate |Rust or frame damage | Deterioration is localized and structurally repairable | Widespread deterioration compromises the structure
Avoid treating every dragging gate as a hinge-adjustment problem. Raising the leaf without finding the cause can leave the underlying failure in place.
Our guide to heavy metal driveway gates that sag or drag on the ground explains what to look for before deciding on a repair.
Share photos of the entrance from both sides, an approximate opening width, and whether an existing gate is being retained or removed. Include any slope, dragging, latch, or post issues you have noticed.
Explain whether your priority is vehicle access, privacy, appearance, or convenient operation. If automation is under consideration, mention any known power source near the entrance without assuming it is suitable.
Ask the estimate to identify the gate configuration, frame and infill materials, support work, hardware, finish, and any automation components. Clear scope makes comparisons more useful than comparing a single total without knowing what each proposal includes.
There is no single width that suits every driveway. The opening needs to accommodate the vehicles using it and their approach angle. Posts, hinges, and other hardware can reduce usable clearance. Measure the entrance and consider turning space before choosing a gate size or ordering a replacement.
Sometimes, but the slope must be checked through the full swing arc. A gate that clears the driveway when closed may hit pavement as it opens. Depending on the site, a different opening direction, layout, or sliding arrangement may be more practical than simply increasing the bottom gap.
Possibly, if the gate and supports are sound and it moves freely. An operator does not correct sagging, binding, or weak posts. Assessment should cover gate weight, travel, power, controls, manual release, and entrapment protection before selecting equipment or deciding whether structural repairs are needed first.
Check for loose hardware, changing ground clearance, latch misalignment, corrosion, and debris in the travel path. Follow the hardware manufacturer’s lubrication instructions rather than greasing every component. For automatic gates, follow the operator’s maintenance and safety-testing instructions. Stop using a gate that moves unpredictably or has visibly failing supports.
To discuss a driveway gate installation, replacement, or repair in DFW, call Morrison Gate & Fence at [(469) 654-7729](tel:+14696547729) and request an estimate.