My indicative prices for a custom sliding gate run from about A$3,600 to about A$5,850. Your final quote depends on the opening size, the room beside it, the slope, any steel frame and a motor. I build in Hastings and install across the Mornington Peninsula.
Written by Sam, owner and gate builder, Hastings.
I'm Sam. I plan, build and install wooden gates from my factory at Factory 3, 2 Sovereign Drive, Hastings. People often text me asking what a sliding gate costs before they ask anything else. That is a fair question, so here is how I price one, and what moves the number up or down.
How much does a sliding gate installation cost with me?
My published prices run from about A$3,600 to about A$5,850, depending on the style and how it is configured. These are indicative ranges, not fixed prices. Every sliding gate I make is built for one opening, so I quote once I have seen the site.
Where your gate sits in that range depends on its style, size and frame. You can see each of my gate styles and its bracing on my range page. You can also bring your own drawing or a photo, and I price that against the same factors. I give you one quote for the gate as specified, so you can see what you are paying for before I start.
What makes a sliding gate cost more or less?
Your quote is built from these parts. Each one can move the price up or down.
Size: the width and height of the opening
Style: how many pieces and how much detail
Wood selection: the species and boards used
Frame: a steel frame where one is needed
Site: the slope, ground conditions and access
Installation: typically 1 to 2 days on site
Automation: a motor and safety systems, if you want one
Size moves the price more than anything else. A wider opening needs a longer gate, more wood and more bracing (the angled or inset pieces that stop a gate sagging). A plain style such as Tubbarubba has a single compression brace and two centre rails. One Chain has boards that get thinner towards the centre to cut weight. More pieces and more detail mean more hours in my factory.
Some styles cannot be built safely in wood alone at a sliding gate's length. For those I make a custom steel frame that sits discreetly behind the gate. It is generally powder coated (a baked-on finish) so it blends in. The frame adds cost, but it lets you have the look you want.
Does my driveway suit a sliding gate?
A sliding gate suits a driveway with room along the fence line beside the opening. The gate runs across the opening on a track, so it needs somewhere to go when it is open. A swing gate opens on hinges instead, so it needs clear space in front for the leaves to swing.
When I visit, I look at the opening, the slope, the ground conditions and the access. A sliding gate needs no room to swing, which helps on a short driveway or one that slopes up towards the house. It does need a clear run beside the opening, and anything in that run changes the plan.
If a sliding gate is the right call, I tell you why. If a swing gate would work better on your block, I tell you that too, and price it instead. You can read more about sliding gates on my sliding gates page for Mount Martha. Both gate types can be made in any of my styles or your own.
Is a motor included in the price?
A motor is quoted on top of the gate, because the cost depends on the gate and the system you choose. I supply, install and service gate automation, including FAAC systems. That means the gate and the motor come from one supplier, and you have one person to call.
On a wooden gate with a steel frame, the frame gives the motor a strong fixing point. That matters on a sliding gate, because the motor drives the whole length of the gate every time it opens. Electrical work is carried out by appropriately qualified professionals where Victorian regulations require it.
If you are not sure about a motor yet, tell me at the first visit. I can include it in the quote so you can compare the price with and without one. My electric gates page explains how I fit motors to my gates. Motors need regular servicing, and I service the automation I install.
Why I build sliding gates the way I do
One of my earliest jobs was replacing a set of Hamptons-style gates in Mount Eliza. They were hardwood and only about ten years old, but they had badly deteriorated. As I cut through one joint, water poured out onto the floor. The traditional mortice and tenon joints (a tongue glued into a slot) had trapped water and rotted.
That job changed how I build. I set the bracing inside the gate, so the joints are pushed together rather than twisted. Where wood alone is not enough, I add a steel frame. Every cut surface is treated against rot. The gate is then primed and finished with at least two coats of quality exterior paint.
This is part of what you pay for. A sliding gate that keeps its shape runs straight on its track for longer. The full story is on my about page, and you can see finished gates in my gallery.
How long does a sliding gate take to install?
Installation typically takes 1 to 2 days, depending on how complex the job is and the site conditions. Before that, making the gate in my factory typically takes around 1 to 2 weeks. Here is how a job runs from first text to a working gate.
You text or call me on 0418 170 729, ideally with photos of the opening.
I visit to measure and look at the slope, ground and access.
We agree the style, and I check it for weight, span and bracing.
I send you a custom quote for that gate.
I build, treat, prime and paint the gate in Hastings, typically 1 to 2 weeks.
I install it, typically in 1 to 2 days, with any motor and safety systems.
You deal with me from the first visit to the final adjustment, not a salesperson and a subcontractor. Afterwards I can come back for alignment, damage repairs and motor servicing.
Questions people ask me about sliding gate costs
Is a sliding gate dearer than a swing gate?
It depends on your opening and style, so I price both when either could work. The size, the frame and the site set the cost far more than the way the gate opens.
Do you come out to measure before you quote?
Yes. Every quote starts with an on-site consultation where I look at the opening, the slope, the ground and the access. A sliding gate needs a clear run beside the opening, so I need to see it.
Can I bring my own drawing for a sliding gate?
Yes. Bring a drawing or a photo, choose one of my styles, or work with me on something new. I check it for weight, span and bracing, and suggest a steel frame if wood alone would sag.
Is there a warranty on a sliding gate?
Warranty follows the written terms supplied with your specific gate, hardware and automation system. Each part carries its own terms.
Which areas do you install in?
I work from Hastings and cover Mornington, Mount Eliza, Mount Martha, Frankston, Somers, Rye, Flinders, Sorrento, Red Hill and Melbourne's south-east. My factory in Hastings is my only location.
Get a price for your sliding gate
The quickest way to a real number is a text with a few photos. Text or call me on 0418 170 729. Send a photo of the opening, the run beside it and any gate you like the look of. I then book an on-site consultation and quote for your gate.
My factory hours are Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm. Appropriate business insurance is maintained for the work I do. You can also send your photos through my contact page.
Sam