Guide · Buying intelligence
How to choose a gate installer (and expose the ones to avoid)
A competent gate installer will show evidence of safety training, itemise safety equipment and force testing in the quote, provide a Declaration of Conformity at handover, and carry insurance they'll evidence. The twelve questions below separate professionals from the vans-and-a-website operations that dominate the industry — and yes, we answer all twelve ourselves further down.
The twelve questions, and what good answers sound like
- "Are your engineers gate-safety trained (e.g. Gate Safe / DHF)?" — Named accreditation, not "we're always careful".
- "Will you force-test with a calibrated meter and give me the readings?" — Yes, in the handover pack. Hesitation here ends the conversation.
- "Will I receive a Declaration of Conformity and UKCA/CE marking?" — Yes, automatically. This is law, not a premium extra.
- "Itemise the safety equipment" — photocell pairs, edges, their positions and why.
- "What are the post foundations, specifically?" — depth and spec reasoned from soil, not "standard concrete".
- "Who does the electrical work and under what certification?" — Part P-registered work, SWA in duct, certificate supplied.
- "Parts and labour warranty — how long, and what voids it?" — In writing, servicing conditions stated plainly.
- "What happens in a power cut?" — Battery backup or manual release, demonstrated at handover.
- "Can I see comparable local installations?" — Addresses or drive-past references, not just gallery photos.
- "Public liability insurance — how much, and can I see the certificate?" — £2m minimum, certificate produced without friction.
- "Who services the gates afterwards, and at what cost?" — A real answer with numbers; installers with no service operation quietly plan to disappear.
- "What deposit do you take, and when is the balance due?" — Staged payments tied to milestones; 50%+ up front from a young company is your money at risk.
Red flags in quotes, translated
| Red flag | What it actually means |
|---|---|
| A single round number, no line items | Scope is whatever they decide on the day — and safety kit is the first deletion |
| 'Fully compliant' with nothing itemised | Compliance is specific: edges, photocells, force tests, DoC. Vague claims mean none of it |
| No mention of groundworks or making good | A £700 surprise arriving as a variation |
| Price dramatically below the market | See the cost model: legitimate costs total what they total. Something is missing |
| Pressure to sign 'today's price' | Professionals' quotes hold for 30 days; urgency is a sales tactic, not a schedule |
| No physical address or landline heritage | Repair and warranty depend on them existing next year |
Comparing quotes like for like
Take the cheapest quote and add the missing lines at market rates — safety equipment (£450–£850), force testing and documentation (£250–£400), electrical certification, foundation depth, making good. The gap usually closes to nothing, and what remains is the difference in fabrication quality, which you can see: ask both companies what coating system they use (the answer should include the word "zinc") and what hinge they fit (a brand and bearing type, not "heavy duty"). And our own answers to all twelve questions are on our about page, in writing, because asking you to demand standards we don't publish ourselves would be absurd.
Free site survey & fixed quotation
Get a precise price for a properly specified quote
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
Should I get three quotes for electric gates?
Two or three well-specified quotes beat five vague ones. Use the twelve questions as the specification — installers who answer them properly are already the shortlist.
Is the cheapest gate quote ever the right choice?
Occasionally — when it's cheap because the company is efficient rather than because scope is missing. The line-item comparison above is how you tell the difference in ten minutes.
Do gate installers need a licence in the UK?
No licence exists, which is exactly the problem — anyone with a van can automate machinery. Accreditation (Gate Safe, DHF training), insurance and documentation are the voluntary signals that separate professionals.