Guide: Gates · approx. 4 min read
It's the first question on almost every gate enquiry: should it slide or swing? Both can be the right answer. It depends on the entrance, not on preference. Here's how we decide on site.
Five questions that decide it
1. Is there room for the gate to swing?
A swing gate needs a clear arc behind it (or in front of it) the full width of each leaf. If the drive is short, rises steeply behind the gate or opens straight onto a road, a swing gate is often ruled out immediately.
2. Is there room for it to slide?
A cantilever sliding gate needs clear, reasonably level space alongside the opening, roughly 1.5 times the opening width. A bi-parting pair halves the run-back needed on each side.
3. Does the ground slope?
A sliding gate travels above the ground, so a sloping drive is rarely a problem as long as the run-back is level. Swing gates on a slope need rising hinges or careful setting-out, or the leaves will hit the ground.
4. How busy is it, and what goes through?
For high-traffic, HGV or farm machinery entrances, a cantilever sliding gate is almost always the better choice. There's no track to clog or damage, fewer wearing parts, and the gate isn't swinging into the path of vehicles.
5. How exposed is it?
Swing gate leaves act like sails in strong wind, which strains hinges and motors. On exposed rural and coastal sites, sliding gates cope far better.
Quick comparison
| Cantilever sliding | Swing | |
|---|---|---|
| Space needed | Alongside the opening | In front of or behind the opening |
| Sloping drive | Handles well | Needs special hinges or setting-out |
| Wind | Unaffected | Leaves catch the wind |
| Heavy traffic | Ideal | More wear on hinges and motors |
| Traditional look | Available in five-bar style (EstateGuard EG95) | Classic field-gate look |
| Foundations | Larger base along the run-back | Post foundations (plus an underground crossbar on EstateGuard gates) |
Our rule of thumb
- Industrial, commercial, farm yards and busy entrances: sliding.
- Sloping drives and exposed sites: sliding.
- Level country drives with space, where looks come first: swing works well.
Our EstateGuard range comes in both styles with the same five-bar look, so you don't have to choose between practicality and appearance.
Still not sure?
Send us a couple of photos of the entrance and the opening width, and we'll tell you which will work best. Call 01371 831731 or get in touch.