When a gate is several years old or because the owner had not considered the benefits of motorization at the time of installation, the question may arise. Is this possible in all cases and is it possible to do it yourself?
It is in principle possible to install a motorization system on all pre-existing gates. But that requires expert advice. It is not enough, in fact, to buy a motorization kit in a DIY store. The motor must be suitable for the material and the opening of the gate.
It is possible to choose gates in different materials, depending on your taste in decoration. It is increasingly common to coordinate the exterior decoration with that found inside.
However, the materials on the outside are exposed to the weather. It is therefore necessary to think about the maintenance that will have to be carried out on a regular basis, if you opt for wood or steel. For the first, a stain can be a good way to protect the wood. But it has to be done every two years. For the second, the rain, again is an enemy and predisposes the gate to rust; which will eventually damage it.
Finally, there are PVC and aluminum. Each has its advantages and its shortcomings. But we can praise the absence of maintenance and the fact that they are both light. This plays an important role for motorization.
Wood or steel are relatively heavy materials; which implies a more powerful motorization to open the two leaves (in the case of a swing gate) or to slide the single leaf, in the case of a sliding or self-supporting gate.
This is all the more true when the portal is large. Some custom-made gates can indeed be 5 meters long.
Having opted for an aluminum gate, for example, is a good way to save money on motorization; because it will not need to be very powerful, if the gate is of standard size.
In case of doubt, but also to install the system, it is always best to respect the opinion and experience of a professional gate. It should not be forgotten that a motorization; and therefore the presence of a motor; requires an electrical connection. It is therefore a job that cannot be improvised and must respect certain standards.
If possible, it is always preferable to install the motorization at the same time as the gate. Going to a professional for these two works guarantees that you will find the best material, to have the sliding gate installed in the best conditions so that it opens perfectly for years.
The motorization, which we welcome especially in rainy weather, completes the whole and brings a little more luxury which it is difficult, subsequently, to do without...
