Driveway gates for Wicklow's sloping entrances
Wicklow entrances rarely sit on flat ground. A gate that swings beautifully at the road can be jammed against the driveway two metres in, and the solution has to be chosen before the gate is made.
Why slope is a problem for swinging gates
A swinging gate traces an arc. If the ground rises along that arc, the bottom of the leaf runs into it. Fitting the gate high enough to clear the highest point leaves an unsightly and insecure gap at the road.
The amount of fall matters more than the look of the drive. We measure levels across the full swing arc on survey, because eyeballing it is unreliable.
The four solutions
A sliding gate avoids the problem entirely, since it moves parallel to the ground rather than across it, and it is our usual recommendation on a noticeable slope. Rising hinges lift the leaf as it opens and cope with a modest rise. Raked gates, where the bottom rail follows the slope, work when the gate only ever opens one way. Regrading a section of driveway to create a level apron is sometimes the cleanest answer.
Each has a cost and an appearance implication, and we will lay them out rather than picking for you.
Wind on exposed sites
Wicklow entrances on high or coastal ground take serious wind. Solid infill gates become sails, and the load goes into the hinges, the posts and the piers. Open bar or partially open designs are far kinder to the hardware on exposed sites.
Where privacy is essential, the frame and hardware are upsized and the piers checked for the load rather than the design being left to fail slowly.
Finish for the climate
Hot dip galvanising with a powder coat is what we recommend across Wicklow, and particularly near the coast around Bray, Greystones and Wicklow town.
Send a photograph of the entrance taken from the road, plus one from inside looking out, and we will tell you which gate type suits before booking a survey.
Want this priced for your own job? Send us your drawings or a photo and we will come back with a fixed price, usually within one working day.
Common questions
Need this done properly? Talk to the workshop.
Send us drawings, a sketch or a site photo. We come back with a fixed price and a firm lead time, usually within one working day.