Pillar service · Design, fabrication, automation
Electric gates in Guildford, built and automated to estate standard
Guildford Gates designs, fabricates and installs bespoke electric gates across Guildford and Surrey — swing, sliding and cantilever systems in wrought iron, steel or aluminium, automated with CAME, BFT or Nice motors and force-tested to BS EN 12453. A typical automated pair, installed, runs £6,500–£18,000 depending on span, material and access control.
What is included in a full electric gate installation
A complete installation covers far more than hanging gates on posts. Ours includes site survey and threshold levelling assessment, gate design and fabrication, groundworks (post foundations, cable ducting, loop cutting where needed), motor and control board installation, safety edges and photocells, force testing with a calibrated meter, access control commissioning and a handover pack with test certificates.
The single most common corner cut by cheaper installers is the groundwork — shallow post foundations and surface-run cabling. Both fail within two to three winters on Surrey clay, which heaves and settles with moisture. We dig to the depth the soil requires, not a standard figure.
The three systems we install
- Swing gates — the classic double-leaf arrangement. Best where the drive rises away from the gate line or space inside the boundary is generous. Swing gate detail →
- Sliding gates — one leaf tracking sideways along the boundary. The answer for short or steeply rising drives. Sliding gate detail →
- Cantilever gates — sliding without a ground track, ideal over gravel or uneven thresholds. Cantilever detail →
How we decide which system suits your driveway
We assess five variables on survey, in this order, because each one can eliminate options before cost is even discussed:
- Fall of the drive. A drive rising more than about 70mm across the swing arc rules out standard swing gates without rising hinges — usually pushing us to sliding or cantilever.
- Run-off space. A sliding gate needs clear boundary length of the opening width plus roughly 500mm (more for cantilever counterbalance). No run-off means swing gates or a telescopic slider.
- Wind exposure. Solid or boarded gates on exposed plots need larger motors and heavier hinges; we size from leaf area, not just weight.
- Power availability. A 230V feed to the gate line is ideal. Long cable runs get costed honestly; solar automation is viable for low-cycle rural entrances.
- Entrapment zones. Walls, piers and planting near the swing arc dictate where safety edges and photocells must go under BS EN 12453.
Automation brands: what we fit and why
We are deliberately multi-brand. Single-brand installers spec what they stock, not what the gate needs.
| Brand | Core strength | Where we specify it | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAME | Underground & articulated swing kits | Heavy iron pairs, discreet automation | Excellent UK parts availability |
| BFT | High-duty-cycle sliders, hydraulic rams | Long or heavy sliding gates, shared drives | Strong hydraulic range |
| Nice | Compact 24V electromechanical | Standard residential pairs, battery backup | Best app/remote ecosystem |
| FAAC | Hydraulic swing & commercial operators | Estate entrances, high wind loads | Renowned longevity |
Every motor we fit runs on a 24V or hydraulic platform with obstacle detection, and we always install battery backup or a manual release so a power cut never locks you in or out.
Realistic pricing for electric gates in Guildford
Guide figures below are supply-and-install, including automation, safety equipment and commissioning. Full breakdowns are on our electric gate cost page.
| Project | Installed price | Lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium pair, 3.5m, automated | £6,500 – £9,500 | 4–6 weeks |
| Bespoke wrought iron pair, 3.5–4m, automated | £9,500 – £16,000 | 6–10 weeks |
| Sliding gate, 4–5m, steel or aluminium | £8,500 – £15,000 | 6–8 weeks |
| Estate entrance with piers, intercom & underground motors | £18,000 – £40,000+ | 10–14 weeks |
Beware quotes materially below these ranges: they almost always omit groundworks, safety edges or force testing — the items that make a gate legal and durable rather than merely present.
Common mistakes we correct on other installers' gates
- No force testing. An automated gate is machinery under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations; it must be force-tested and CE/UKCA marked. Most aren't. Read the standard →
- Undersized motors sized on gate weight alone, ignoring wind loading on boarded gates.
- Hinges welded, not greased and serviceable — a £30 saving that becomes a £600 repair.
- Photocells only, no safety edges on gates with crushing zones against piers.
- Intercom cabling in the same duct as mains, inducing hum and false triggering.
If you've inherited a problem installation, our repair service starts with a safety audit rather than a parts sale.
Free site survey & fixed quotation
Get a precise price for electric gates
Tell us the opening width, whether power is nearby and the style you have in mind. We measure on site, confirm a fixed price in writing, and never sell door-to-door.
Prefer to talk? Call 01483 000 000.
Frequently asked questions
How long does an electric gate installation take?
Groundworks and posts are typically one to two days, gate hanging and automation another two to three. Bespoke fabrication adds six to ten weeks of lead time before installation begins.
Do electric gates need planning permission in Guildford?
Usually not, unless the gates exceed 1m in height adjacent to a highway or 2m elsewhere, the property is listed, or you're in a conservation area. Our planning guide covers the specifics.
Can you automate my existing gates?
Often, yes. We assess hinge condition, leaf weight, post integrity and safe entrapment zones first. Around one in five existing pairs needs remedial work before automation is safe. See gate automation.
What happens in a power cut?
Every system we install has either battery backup (24V systems) or an external manual release key, so the gates can always be opened.
How often do electric gates need servicing?
Annually for residential gates, six-monthly for shared or high-use entrances. Servicing keeps force limits within BS EN 12453 and protects motor warranties. See servicing.