I build a wood swing gate in my Hastings factory in around 1 to 2 weeks. Installation then typically takes 1 to 2 days. My indicative style prices start from about A$3,600. Here is what happens at each step, from the site visit to the upkeep.
I'm Sam, the owner of Coastal. I style, build and hang every gate myself, so this is how the job runs when you book me.
What happens at the site visit?
The job starts with me standing in your driveway. I look at the opening, the slope, the ground, the access and the style of the house. I also ask how you use the entrance every day.
A swing gate opens on hinges like a door. That means it needs clear space for each leaf (one side of a pair of gates) to open. If a parked car, a garden bed or a rising driveway sits in that arc, I tell you on the day.
Sloping drives are common on the Peninsula, and they change how a swing gate is set up. I have built Hamptons-style gates for a sloping drive in Mount Eliza, and custom curved gates for another sloped drive. When you first text me on 0418 170 729, send a few photos of the opening. It helps me come prepared.
How do I stop a swing gate from sagging?
A swing gate hangs all its weight off one side, so bracing (the angled pieces that hold a gate square) matters more than anything. Before I quote, I check every style for weight, span and bracing.
A well styleed gate puts only pushing, pulling or sliding forces through a wood joint, never twisting ones. I learnt that early. One of my first jobs was replacing Hamptons-style hardwood gates in Mount Eliza that were only about ten years old. The mortice and tenon joints (a tongue glued into a slot) had trapped water. As I cut through one, water poured onto the floor.
Where a style asks more than solid wood can give, I build a discreet steel frame behind it. It is generally powder coated (a baked-on finish) to blend in, and it gives the hinges a solid fixing.
What does the build in Hastings involve?
Once we agree the style and you accept the quote, I build the gate at Factory 3, 2 Sovereign Drive, Hastings. That typically takes around 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the style. Every gate is made by hand from quality Australian wood. Past jobs include Blackbutt and Ironbark gates, both Australian hardwoods.
Before a gate leaves the factory, I treat every cut surface against rot. Then I prime it and finish it with at least two coats of quality exterior paint. If you would rather paint it yourself, I still treat and prime it first.
That way I know the wood is protected before it ever sees rain. You are not handed bare wood and told to paint or oil it when you get time. On the coast, a gate faces sun, wind and salty air, so this step is where a long life starts.
What happens on installation day?
Installation typically takes 1 to 2 days, depending on how complex the gate is and the site conditions. I bring the finished gate from Hastings and hang it myself.
The posts or pillars carry the full weight of the leaves, so they are part of my site check. In Flinders I hung new Blackbutt gates from the property's old pillars. I wasn't sure about those pillars at first, but once the gates were up they looked right at home.
I then adjust each leaf so it swings freely and closes properly. If you are adding a motor, it goes in at this stage too. Electrical work is carried out by appropriately qualified professionals where Victorian regulations require it. You deal with me from the first visit to the final adjustment, not a salesperson and a subcontractor.
Should a large swing gate be automated?
For a large or solid swing gate, my answer is usually yes. In medium to strong winds, a manual gate can become dangerous to you, to children and to the gate itself.
One solid slam can crack the joints of a gate, and that damage can be almost impossible to fix. A motor keeps the gate under control as it opens and closes. It also means you open it from the car instead of getting out in the rain.
I supply, install and service gate automation, including FAAC systems. On a gate with a steel frame, the frame gives the motor a strong attachment point. The motor is quoted to suit your gate, so it sits in the same quote.
My electric gates page explains the options. If you only want a manual gate for now, that is fine. I can look at adding a motor to a gate you already have.
What upkeep does a swing gate need?
A swing gate needs a check once a year, and a repaint about every eight to ten years. The yearly check covers hinge adjustment. On an automated gate it also covers a motor service and a clean of the control box. That catches small problems before they become big ones.
If you want a natural silvered look, do not leave the wood to grey off on its own. It takes some work to get that finish, unless you live right opposite the beach with a lot of salty wind.
I once replaced a set of gates and a side gate in Mount Eliza that had rotted out. They literally collapsed as I took them down. At eight to ten years, gates should need a clean and a fresh coat of paint, not replacing. I align, maintain and repair gates after installation, so you have one person to call.
What does a wood swing gate cost?
My indicative style prices run from about A$3,600 to about A$5,850, depending on style and configuration. The simplest styles sit near the bottom of that range and the most detailed sit near the top.
Indicative style price: about A$3,600 to about A$5,850
Build time in my Hastings factory: around 1 to 2 weeks
Installation on site: typically 1 to 2 days
Upkeep: a yearly check, and a repaint about every eight to ten years
Width matters most. A wider opening needs more wood and more bracing, and each leaf gets heavier. A steel frame, where a style needs one, adds to the cost. So do a steep or awkward site and a motor.
After the site visit, I quote against the exact gate you want, with installation and any motor in the same quote. You can see what you are paying for before I start. Every style and its price range is on my range page, and I also have a page on swing gates in Portsea.
Questions people ask me before a swing gate goes in
These are the questions I hear most often when I first look at an opening.
Can you build a swing gate to my own style?
Yes. Bring your own style or a photo, pick one of my styles, or work with me on something new. If a photo shows a gate that would drop in solid wood, I tell you and suggest a steel frame behind it.
Do you replace old or rotten gates?
Yes, and many of my jobs start that way. I look at why the old gate failed, then build the new one around that, so the same problem does not come back.
Is there a warranty?
Warranty follows the written terms supplied with your specific gate, its hardware and any motor. Each part carries its own terms, so I do not make one blanket promise.
Are you insured?
Yes. Appropriate business insurance is maintained for the work I do.
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-eastern suburbs. My Hastings factory is my only location.
To book a site visit, text or call me on 0418 170 729, Monday to Friday, 7am to 4pm. You can also send photos through my contact page. Look through finished gates in my gallery, or read how I got into wood gates.
Sam
Written by Sam, Owner of Coastal