Fences and Gates
An entrance to your oasis.
If you’re familiar with Nashville and the growth it has experienced in the past decade and beyond, you’re well aware of the transition to a more “urban” lifestyle in many of our popular neighborhoods. Homes in Melrose, 8th Avenue South, 12 South, Wedgewood-Houston, and Germantown don’t have the traditional gated driveway…unless of course you’re talking about a garage entry for an apartment complex or a security gate at a large condominium building. Those are certainly projects we can tackle and will discuss later on, but when you think of residential gates in Nashville, the most common visual that is conjured is likely the large metal gate that sits at the end of a driveway on large sprawling plot of beautiful land.
This kind of traditional gate you are more likely to see in Brentwood, Franklin, or Belle Meade. Don’t think your property is deserving of a private gate? Even if it is currently lined with a stone wall, brick, or split rail, we can still set up an automatic driveway gate that will fence off your property from animals and vehicles. In addition to increasing your curb appeal and adding a level of security, you may also be able to receive a reduction on your home insurance rate. Don’t have any fence right now? We’d be happy to talk to you about metal fencing options as well.
Driveway Gates
If you decide a custom driveway gate is right for you, we can build one that is fully welded into one piece as opposed to a cheaper version that bolts together. The biggest difference here is that the one-piece welded driveway gate won’t become loose and wobbly over time as the gate is operated with normal use. Imagine a heavy object that is constantly propelled into motion from a still position. As this happens repeatedly to a series of bars and rods that are attached, each piece is beginning to move at a slightly different time adding strain to the screws and slowly causing them to loosen. This type of gate will become rattily with continued use. A higher quality, single-piece gate will not sag and will fare better with consistent movement because everything swings together each time the gate is started. This is one of those age-old problems of trying to save money up front that can lead to spending more in the long run.
If you need a gate to cover your drive that will connect to a fence surrounding your property, we can match styles of an existing piece or build everything new. If you have a front or back porch on your home that you'd like to match to your fence, that's no problem either. Our handrails are custom designed and can be installed on your Nashville home at a time that is convenient for your.
Gate Styles and Decoration
There are two common styles of gates: ones that swing and ones that slide open. Although sliding gates are more common on industrial uses, depending upon space, a particular style may suit your property best. If security is not your primary concern, aluminum is much lighter and will create less of a strain on the motor. But if securing the premises is higher on your priority list, a steel gate is far more likely to remain in one piece after being struck by a vehicle. If aesthetic is your only concern, feel free to snap a photo of something that appeals to you or find an example online to share with us. We’re happy to match a fence style you like or work with you to design a unique creation.
Using a u-frame will help to ensure the gate will not sag over time. The “u” refers to the heavier posts that will line the left, right, and bottom of the gate serving as a support frame. This type of design will look more finished by alleviating the need for a diagonal support beam or loose poles along the bottom of the gate. The u-frame is not a stylistic element. Although it’s not the cheapest option, it is used for higher quality gates in both single piece and double piece styles.
Another advantage to a fully welded, one-piece gate is that the welds can be done from all sides. This allows the piece to hold up better against force from any direction. Welds make the whole unit sturdier by fusing the metal and much stronger than short screws tightened by a drill.
When speaking about life span, don’t forget that we use quality powder coating on our products. By using a powder coat instead of paint, the gate is far less likely to experience rust, peeling and chipping as it ages.
Gate Repair + Custom Builds
As a developer or building manager who needs a garage gate, security fence, or entry gate installed, updated, or repaired, we’d love to hear from you. These common features are not unique to Nashville as you know, they can be found all over the world. From ornate to modern looks, we can help you craft your vision and finish off your property. We do not work with mass assembled kits that get built on site piece by piece, rather we weld sections of a fence in our shop and deliver them to your site where we professionally install.
Many of the same rules that apply to driveway gates hold true for garage and entryway gates. Inexpensive options exist, but if a bargain is found for a gate at a residential development experiencing high traffic use, the construction will eventually fail and repairs will be needed. I’ve seen many complexes where a gate is opened because it no longer operates properly. This is a welcome sign for criminals who may be looking for a small grab or for an item as valuable as a car.
All of our gates and doors are custom made so you can count on them fitting properly and working as they are designed to. Many assembly-kit gates come in standard sizes which may be close to your need but not perfect. When this happens, corners have to be cut by modifying the gate or trying to fill a gap with extra hardware that wouldn’t be needed if the gate were designed to fit the space. This less-than-ideal installation can result in shorter life spans and easier breakage.
We don't use pre-fabricated kits, but rather we build each gate and door specifically for each custom project. While this may be a little more costly up front, you'll be saving in the long run because the quality and durability of our gates are made to last. Get it done right the first time by Nashville Custom Railing. Give us a call to discuss your project and we’ll be happy to talk through your ideas, concerns, and challenges to get you the best possible product.
