Driveway security gates can be beautiful as well as functional. I recently conducted an email interview with professional landscape designer, Paul Corsetti in which we discussed such gates, among other things. I had a chance to ask Paul about:
- Materials
- Enhancement through lighting
- Openers
A portion of the interview is contained in the following Q&A:
Q. What materials make for the best driveway security gates?
A. Steel or wrought iron are excellent choices. The structure is important in that it should not sag, or twist so that someone can displace it enough to slip through it. Can it hold back a car? That would have to be a very heavy security gate, and if you are thinking along those lines, you should have armed guards at your entrance! Also make sure that the design does not allow for a person to easily climb over it (meaning that they cannot get an easy foothold in the openings of the structure that would allow them to use it like a ladder). That is usually why you see spikes at the tip of the barrier to deter someone from climbing it. From then on, it goes into complementary measures to implement around the security gate, if you wanted more privacy for your property.
Q. Lighting is also important to use in conjunction with security gates. What types of security gate lighting options are there for customers to choose from?
A. One option for lighting is in-ground spot lights from the sides of the driveway. Another is to have an up-lighting set in the driveway to cast light on the security gate at night.
Q. What about security gate openers? Please discuss some of the choices. How do automatic gate openers work?
A. For openers, there are key entry systems in which you drive up to a box set beside the driveway at the level of your car window and use a key or pass card to do the opening. Another type of gate opener is a key pad used for entering a number code, set up in a similar way. Remote control operation is another gate opener system; it would work much like your garage door opener. Lots of systems have a voice box (speaker box) to communicate with guests. For added protection, you can have a camera at the security gate and view screen in your home, so you can see who is at the entry. It all depends on how private you want to be.
- Continue: Wrought Iron Gates
- Return to Driveway Gates index
Through 9 years of working in the trade along with achieving a degree and diploma in Landscape Architecture through Ryerson University, Paul has gained vast experience in the landscape industry. He is able to plan elements of design work with his years of experience spent as a professional gardener, a contractor and a stone sales rep. In co-ordination with “GardenStructure.com” and his design company “Hands In Nature, Landscape Designs”, Paul is able to bring this knowledge forward to his clients.
