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Add Curb Appeal and Security to Your Driveway Entrance
Admin • Jun 17, 2019
Your driveway is an important transition area between the road and your yard. You pass through the driveway every day when you leave and return home. What's more, guests often arrive via the driveway. Of course, so too can unwanted guests. Below are some ideas for increasing both beauty and security with your driveway entrance.
Add a Gate
The first step to adding security to your driveway is with a gate. You have three main styles of gates to choose from. The first features a single panel and a hinge attachment, so the gate swings open. These gates come up to 16 feet wide, which is the amount of clearance they need on the inside.
The second style features two panels that meet in the middle and latch together. Because of the hinge attachment to the posts, they, too, swing open. They come up to 32 feet wide, but their configuration means they only need half their width worth of clearance.
The third style is the sliding gate, which can also come in the extra-wide size. Sliding gates operate on a set of rollers in a track, so they slide open and closed. Such a gate doesn't require any driveway clearance, but you must have a flat space along the fenceline for when the gate opens.
Select a Gate Style
When you choose your driveway gate, you'll also need to choose material and design.
For material, your two main options are wood and metal. Both materials are secure and sturdy. The main difference is that wood tends to be more rustic, while metal is classic. Likewise, wooden panels are usually closed, while metal gates are more open. Metal options include steel, iron, and aluminum.
Concerning design, you usually choose what shape you want the top. Flat-topped and arched-top gates are the most common. Flat-top gates are the more utilitarian of the two. With arched gates, the top can be smooth, or it can feature finials extending above the rail.
Your best bet is to evaluate the façade of your house and the attached fence, and choose a complementary gate.
Choose Between Columns and Posts
Your driveway gate can attach to either a post or a column. The post is the simpler of the two attachment types. The contractors will use the same style of posts as for the rest of the fencing. You might choose a fancier post cap, but you can also keep it the same as with the rest of the fence.
Columns convey a grander entrance. With this style of attachment, the contractors install rebar for stability and construct the columns around the metal. Usually, they construct a concrete core and attach the desired veneer to the surface. You can choose natural stone, brick, or stucco.
Install a Gate Opener
Typically, homeowners have gate operators installed so they don't have to get out of their cars to open it. You have three choices for power source - electrical, solar panels, and batteries. If you'll operate the gate frequently, consider the electrical power source.
The other main option for your gate opener is how it's accessed.
- Remote entry: operates similar to a garage door opener
- Card entry: grants access by scanning a card
- Code entry: grants access by inputting a code on the keypad
- Telephone entry: requires a call from a specific number
Some models of door operators can also be synced to your smartphone.
Update the Apron
Finally, if you want to truly add curb appeal to your driveway entrance, don't forget about that swath of pavement where the driveway meets the road - the apron. This apron is where the driveway widens to allow cars access without driving on your landscaping.
The driveway apron can be a tidy version of the rest of the driveway, or you can make it more decorative. Many homeowners choose complementary materials or colors for the apron. For instance, you can update a plain concrete driveway with a brick apron.
Make over your driveway entrance to make it more functional and attractive. Central California Ornamental Iron
can provide the gates and openers for your updated entrance.
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