Privacy without the fortress look
Board-on-board and horizontal cedar give full privacy while still looking like something you'd want to pull up to. Add a lattice or slat topper if you want height without heaviness.
Gates
Residential Gates
For the house, the yard, the pool, and the pup.
Most of what we build is residential, and homeowners care about different things than property managers do: curb appeal, privacy from the neighbor's second story, keeping the dog in, and not hearing a rattle every time the wind picks up off the prairie.
We handle the whole property — driveway entry, matching side gates, pool gate to code, all stained the same so it reads as one job instead of three.
Dogs, kids, and gaps
We tighten picket spacing, close the gap under the gate, and pick latches small hands can't work. Cheap to do at build time, expensive to fix later.
One crew, one finish
Same crew builds the gates and the fence, same stain batch, same day. That's why the color matches.
Straight answers
- How tall can my fence and gate be?
- Most DFW cities allow six feet in the back and side yards, with front-yard limits lower. We check your city and HOA before we build.
- Will a wood gate sag?
- Not on a welded steel frame with proper hinges. That's exactly what the frame is for.
- Can you match my existing fence?
- Yes, including picket profile and stain color. Bring us a board if you have a spare.
Residential Gates across the DFW metroplex
We run this service in every one of these cities and the towns between them.
Related services
Residential gate installation adds a controlled entry point to a driveway, side yard, or fenced enclosure. The right design depends on the opening width, ground slope, available clearance, and whether you need pedestrian or vehicle access. Compare swing and sliding layouts first, then choose materials, latches, and any automatic access equipment.
Home / Residential Gates
What type of residential gate fits my property?
Start with how the opening will be used. A side-yard gate needs comfortable walking access and reliable latching. A driveway gate must accommodate vehicles, turning movements, and enough room to wait while it opens. An equipment-access gate may need a wider opening than everyday foot traffic requires.
Consider what must pass through the opening: trash bins, lawn equipment, bicycles, or trailers. Measure the clear passage between posts, not just the gate panel. Hinges, stops, and latches can reduce usable space.
Morrison Gate & Fence serves the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Discuss the opening’s purpose before choosing a design so the layout addresses daily access as well as appearance.
Should I choose a swing gate or a sliding gate?
A swing gate travels through an arc. A sliding gate moves sideways along the fence line. Neither layout fits every driveway; clearance and grade often decide which is practical.
LayoutWhen it may fitWhat needs checking
| Single swing | An opening with enough clear space for one leaf | Swing radius, slope, post support, and parked vehicles |Double swing | An opening where two shorter leaves suit the layout | Center alignment, stops, latching, and support for both leaves
SlidingAn opening with limited swing clearance and sufficient side spaceRunback space, rollers or track, drainage, and the full travel path
A double gate reduces each leaf’s swing radius compared with one full-width leaf, but both sides still need unobstructed travel. Sliding systems need room beyond the opening; cantilever designs also require space for their counterbalance section.
If sideways travel looks more practical, review sliding gate options before settling on a driveway layout.
Which materials work for residential gates?
Choose the frame and infill together. The frame carries the load; the infill determines much of the privacy, appearance, and wind exposure.
- Wood infill: Provides a solid visual screen and can coordinate with a wood fence. Board movement, moisture, and finish maintenance need consideration.
- Steel: Provides rigidity for gate frames and picket designs. Welds, fasteners, and damaged coatings need attention to limit corrosion.
- Aluminum: Weighs less than steel for comparable components and does not rust like steel. Frame dimensions, connections, and hardware still need to suit the opening.
A solid privacy gate catches more wind than an open-picket design. That affects the loads on posts, hinges, and automatic equipment. Material choice should account for exposure and support, not appearance alone.
For a coordinated fence line, compare board spacing, picket profiles, frame proportions, and finish samples rather than relying only on a color name.
What measurements and hardware need checking before installation?
A useful site assessment covers the whole gate path, not just the gap in the fence.
- Opening and approach: Record the clear width, intended gate height, vehicle approach, and space for turning.
- Ground conditions: Check slope, drainage, and changes in elevation through the gate’s travel.
- Support: Evaluate existing posts, foundations, attachment points, and surrounding fence condition.
- Hardware: Match hinges, rollers, latches, stops, and drop rods to the gate’s weight and use.
- Access equipment: Identify power needs, control locations, and manual release access if automation is planned.
For children and pets, review gaps beneath the gate, beside the posts, and between moving leaves. Uneven ground can make those gaps change as the gate moves. No gate should be treated as a substitute for supervision.
Before work begins, confirm property boundaries and any applicable approval requirements. Underground utilities also need to be identified before digging.
Should I repair my residential gate or replace it?
Dragging or poor latching does not automatically mean the entire gate needs replacement. The cause may be worn hardware, a leaning post, or a distorted frame. Fixing only the latch will not resolve movement in the supporting post.
ConditionRepair may make sense whenReplacement may make sense when
| Gate drags | Hardware is worn but the frame and support remain sound | The frame is badly distorted or deteriorated |Latch misses | Alignment can be corrected and held | Ongoing structural movement prevents reliable closure |Wood is damaged | Individual boards can be replaced on a sound frame | Widespread decay affects the frame or connections
Access is awkwardHardware or controls can address the problemThe opening or travel layout no longer suits its use
An automatic operator should not be used to force a binding gate through its travel. Correct the mechanical problem first.
Is a manual or automatic residential gate right for me?
Manual operation can suit a pedestrian opening or a driveway used infrequently. It avoids powered equipment but requires someone to open, secure, and close the gate each time.
Automatic operation can make regular vehicle access easier. It also adds an operator, controls, electrical requirements, and safety equipment that need maintenance. Keypads, remotes, and other access devices should be selected around who needs entry and how visitors will enter.
Entrapment protection must address the installed layout. Photoelectric sensors and sensing edges serve different purposes; their selection and placement should follow the operator manufacturer’s instructions and applicable safety requirements. Plan for manual release and discuss operation during a power outage.
How much does residential gate installation cost?
Cost depends on the gate’s size, material, frame, support posts, hardware, and site conditions. Automatic operation adds equipment and may require electrical work. Ask for an estimate that separates the gate structure from access equipment and identifies any removal, foundation work, or finish work included.
Can an existing residential gate be automated?
An existing gate may be suitable for automation if its frame, posts, hinges or rollers, and travel path are sound. It should move freely before an operator is added. The assessment also needs to address electrical supply, gate weight, duty requirements, and protection against entrapment hazards.
What type of gate works on a sloped driveway?
The answer depends on where the driveway rises and how much space is available beside the opening. A swing gate can strike rising pavement along its travel arc. A sliding layout may avoid that conflict, but its support system, travel path, and ground conditions still need evaluation.
How should I maintain a residential gate?
Keep the travel path clear and check for loose fasteners, latch misalignment, corrosion, and worn hinges or rollers. Maintain wood finishes and repair damaged metal coatings as appropriate for the material. Follow the hardware and operator manufacturers’ instructions, and have binding or unreliable safety devices inspected before continued use.
Request a residential gate estimate: Call Morrison Gate & Fence at (469) 654-7729 to discuss your Dallas-Fort Worth property, existing gate conditions, and access needs.