Frequently Asked Questions

Gates

How much it cost to have a gate installed?

We will need more specific information in order to answer that. Do you mean you already have a gate, and it only needs installing? We won’t need much more information from you to answer that question, but we will need to know a little more! Please fill out this form and we will get back to you quickly.

Why isn’t white color recommended for iron work?

Black and brown are the most frequently chosen colors. Why? Underneath the paint, there is generally some oxidization (rusting) occurring. Regular, proper maintenance will mitigate this, but it still occurs. This oxidation is usually seen at the weld points. Darker colors will make this virtually unnoticeable.

If your gate is made with galvanized iron, you can put it through a special powder coating paint process that won’t oxidize. This process typically increases the cost of iron gates by about 25% or higher. Then you can paint any color you like without a concern for the rust leaking through the paint.

In finishing a gate, preparation of the metal and the undercoat to the paint are of vital importance.  After that is accomplished, then our next order of importance is the quality of the final coats of paint.

What colors are best for iron gates?

You’ll find that most iron gates are painted black or brown? Why? Even the best-protected and regularly maintained iron is going to rust a bit, usually at the metal weldings. Rust will have a tendency to “bleed” into your paint and not look nice, unless it is brown or black.

That being said, you can have your iron gate painted any color you like. Just realize that lighter colors will require more frequent maintenance.

You can have your gate made with galvanized iron and given a special powder coating paint process. This prohibits rust. The trade off is that it is more expensive: you should figure an approximate 25% increase in cost.

Other than that, there are no “best” colors, other than the color you choose, or that you work out with your designer or family as best for you. Important factors are the 1) preparation of the metal for the finishing and 2) the undercoat to the paint.  After that is accomplished, then our next order of importance is the 3) quality of the final coats of paint.

Do you install entry gates?

Yes, we design fabricate and install entry gates. To answer all your questions, give us a call at 1-800-562-5770 orfill out this gate survey. We will study your questions and call you.

We are a community of 4 homes that like to share a gate. What will it cost?

The actual cost of a driveway gate can vary considerably based on local material and labor costs, the complexity of the installation, and other factors. To receive the most accurate driveway gate installation prices, fill out the form provided to receive quotes from prescreened security gate contractors in your area.

In general, you can expect to pay approximately $2,000 to $12,000 to install a driveway gate. A single panel gate costs around $1,500 to $3,000, while a dual panel gate costs roughly $2,000 to $4,000. Automating a gate might cost an additional $750 to $5,000 or more depending on the size and style of the gate. Additional components include keypads (about $100 to $300), remote controls (about $25 to $75), intercoms (about $500 to $2,500), sensors (about $150 to $300), and camera systems (about $1,000 to $2,000). Installation of a driveway security gate might cost an additional $500 to $2,000 or more.

Are you servicing Ventura county?

We like to say “yes” to all requests for help. We have helped many with their gate projects in Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside and other neighboring counties. Over a greater distance, we can still get the job done economically with proper planning. The best way to get started is to call us, or fill out our gate survey so that we are supplied with accurate information. We’ll get right back to you!

What type of motors are best installed on a gate?

There are many type of motors with many different prices. A residential gate for a narrow driveway to a residential home will require a less rugged and less costly motor than a wide gate for a condominium garage or parking lot, as an example. Once we have determined the size, weight and frequency of use of your gate, we can rapidly and accurately estimate the motor you will need and tell you it’s cost.

Can you help me with planning my gate?

es. We are happy to help you with your planning. Getting the plan right also has everything to do with preparing your budget as well. There are so many things to take into account! The very basic planning takes into account, minimally, the following:

  • purpose of the gate: what is the main reason you want one?
  • the “environment” of the gate. Is it to be installed in a “hilly terrain” or on rather flat land? How difficult is the area to access?
  • the material of the gate. Iron, wood, stainless steel, glass, or a composite material?
  • the design of the gate.
  • your budget
  • safety features and “extras” (intercom, remote access, security cameras, lighting, etc.)

We’re happy to sit down with you and plan your gate. Depending on the size of your job and complexity (and how hot the coffee and tasty the pastries are we bring to the talk), you can expect a gate planning meeting to last between two and four hours.

You don’t want to get an estimate without a good planning session beforehand. Such “estimates” would be more properly called “wild guesses” and will leave you upset and with a gate that does not meet your expectations.

Call us at 1-800-562-5770, or better still, complete this gate survey. We’ll be informed when you finish the survey and will call you to make an appointment.

What is the cost for a small pedestrian gate?

That can vary considerably based on local material and labor costs, the complexity of the installation, and other factors. To receive the most accurate driveway gate installation prices, fill out this form.

How do you know what wood to use for my gate?

This breaks down to durability, appearance and cost.

 

Appearance, surprisingly enough, may be the least important of these. Obviously, if the gate is to be painted, the natural appearance of the wood will be covered. But, if you were considering a natural look, our finishing technicians can give a “faux finish”. As an example, a cedar gate and fence can be finished to appear to be cherry wood.

 

So, durability and cost are the most important factors.

 

Redwood and pine make up 80 percent of the wood purchased and used to build gates and fences.

 

Redwood is a good choice because it can be used in its natural form without any treatment done to the wood. Redwood also warps less than other woods when exposed to the elements. Many people find redwood to have an aesthetically pleasing look and pleasant scent.

 

Pine wood is another common and good choice when building a gate or fence because it is also very durable as well as cheaper than cedar wood. If treated properly pine can last up to ten times longer than cedar wood. However, one of the disadvantages of treated wood is that it can warp or crack more easily than untreated wood.

 

Cypress wood is another suitable choice when selecting the wood for your fence. It is a very good substitute for cedar wood because it is very similar. It is insect resistant and can be stained just like cedar. The price should not vary much from the cost of cedar wood.

Prices of these woods varies seasonally and by area. But, none of these are considered “exotic” or rare, and are, generally speaking, at the lower end of the price spectrum.

There’s a lot that can be learned about wood. This article will not teach you everything, but it will give you helpful information as a layman.

Here is a gallery of our wood gates.

When we meet with you, we will discuss these things in detail.

Make an appointment to get a free estimate.

What do you do differently for hill side property that other companies are not doing?

In building on hilly terrain, the key word is “Understanding”. There are several things that need to be fully understood. The first is to fully understand what the customer wants for a gate and fence solution, and where is this wanted for the property.  We have to see this with our eyes. The next thing to understand the exact terrain that the customer wants us to build on. We need to know what the ground is throughout all that area; is it primarily soil, clay, bedrock; how stable unstable is the ground we will be building the project on?

We also need to understand any limitations to the accessibility of the area, for workers and for machinery.

We need to understand fully the varying heights of the land. We do this with surveying equipment.

All these things factor into how the gate will be designed, fabricated and installed.

There are lots of problems that are encountered in building a gate on hillside property. They are solved with clear understanding, and the sort of mathematics that an engineer would use.

Call us at 1 (800) 562-5770. For the best experience in customer service, inform us fully of the exact nature of your situation byfilling out this form.  We will call you shortly thereafter to talk with you and answer all your questions.

Why do gates sag?

Gates can sag, droop, or be difficult to close for a variety of reasons. The most common is that the gate posts are not footed into the ground sufficiently. Another leading cause is worn out or loose hinges. But there are other reasons as well. Sagging gates are a security problem that should be handled immediately. Aside from being difficult to use and unattractive, they communicate to your neighbors and passersby (including burglars) that the householder is inattentive to property security. Call us at 1 (800) 562-5770. For the best experience in customer service, inform us fully of the exact nature of your situation by filling out this form.  We will call you shortly thereafter to talk with you and answer all your questions.

I am looking for gate that opens vertically. Do you sell such a thing?

Yes we do. Here are some pictures of an installation: http://gateslosangeles.com/vertical-gates.html If you want a gate that is more like the one in this video, please let us know.

Feel free to call Avi at 818.266.6930 to discuss this. Feel free to also complete this survey. This is a lot of information that we can work with to better understand your project.

Do you design stainless steel gates?

Yes, stainless steel gates are one of our specialties. Here is a gallery of some of our installations.

How often should I get my gate serviced?

Depending on frequency of use and climate, a gate should have a full inspection and servicing every 6 months to a year. If it has been longer than a year since you have had an inspection and your gate still seems to be working well, you should still get it inspected now. Your gate may be needing repairs now and you might not be aware of it till it breaks more thoroughly. That’s always more expensive.

What are the benefits of a gate?

Safety. Kids and pets are afforded a play and social area, and are prevented from running to the street. Anyone you don’t know or want to keep out, is kept out. You are given more privacy. With gates, fences and landscaping, people from the street can not see into your house.

Burglars are less likely to attempt a break-in to a gated home. It’s more difficult to begin with, and they recognize that people who have gated homes are generally more “security conscious” than those who do not have gated property: there’s likelihood that other safety measures may be in place for the invader.

Solicitors are becoming a bigger problem. Some burglars pose as solicitors to approach a home. When no one responds, they reason that no one is there to prevent them. When someone is home, they can take advantage of this to get you to open the door, overwhelm you and invade your home. At other times these criminals are able to just find a window to look through to see the value of the things in your home.

Even when there is not a criminal intent, do you really want a stranger in your home, selling you things?

Gates add to the beauty and property value of a home, and make your property more attractive to buyers when you are ready to sell.

Proposals

Are you bidding on projects?

Yes. We bid, but we charge for our bid. Please read on to understand why.

We will only bid on projects after an extensive amount of planning is done. In our experience, our planning stage is more comprehensive than any other gate and fence contractor in Southern California.

Our planning involves every aspect of the job. In order to accomplish it, we need to sit down with you, with spreadsheets and price lists and work everything out. This can take anywhere from an hour or so to a few afternoons, depending on the size of the job, and how much preparatory work has to be done.

Getting a bid is accomplished in phases. At first we are very general in our planning. Once all has been decided in a general fashion, then we go to more specific information in each area, and then we can give you a proper bid.

After our planning, most people are satisfied that we are

We are happy to help you with your planning. Getting the plan right also has everything to do with preparing your budget as well. There are so many things to take into account! The very basic planning takes into account, minimally, the following:

  • purpose of the gate: what is the main reason  you want one?
  • the “environment” of the gate. Is it to be installed in a “hilly terrain” or on rather flat land? How difficult is the area to access?
  • the material of the gate. Iron, wood, stainless steel, glass, or a composite material?
  • the design of the gate.
  • your budget
  • safety features and “extras” (intercom, remote access, security cameras, lighting, etc.)

We’re happy to sit down with you and plan your gate. Depending on the size of your job and complexity (and how hot the coffee and tasty the pastries are we bring to the talk), you can expect a gate planning meeting to last between two and four hours.

You don’t want to get an estimate without a good planning session beforehand. Such “estimates” would be more properly called “wild guesses” and will leave you upset and with a gate that does not meet your expectations.

Call us at 1-800-562-5770, or better still, complete this gate survey. We’ll be informed when you finish the survey and will call you to make an appointment.

What is the cost to service a gate?

We do service calls for a cost of $145.00. This includes coming to your location with an equipped truck with qualified repairmen. In 80% of the cases, this is enough to resolve the situation when all that the gate needed was some adjustment and lubrication.

 

The biggest question regarding gate servicing cost, of course is “How extensive is the damage? The accurate answer to your question requires that we know what sort of trouble your gate is in. Please give us a call at 1-800-562-5770 or complete our gate survey. We’ll call you right back with answers.

Do you give free estimates?

Yes, we do!

Please fill out this form and we will get back with you as soon as possible.

Locations

How many locations do you have?

Our headquarters is in North Hollywood. We also have an office in Studio City and an office in Malibu. We have employees on call throughout Los Angeles, minutes away from any home or business in Los Angeles County.

How many locations do you have?

Our headquarters is in North Hollywood. We also have an office in Studio City and an office in Malibu. We have employees on call throughout Los Angeles, minutes away from any home or business in Los Angeles County.

Are you servicing Ventura county?

We like to say “yes” to all requests for help. We have helped many with their gate projects in Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside and other neighboring counties. Over a greater distance, we can still get the job done economically with proper planning. The best way to get started is to call us, or fill out our gate survey so that we are supplied with accurate information. We’ll get right back to you!

Access Systems

Do you repair Elite Access Systems?

Yes, we do.

Do you repair Elite Access Systems?

Yes, we do.

General

My gate is stuck! How soon can you be here?

Sounds like an emergency. Give us a call at 1-800-562-5770 and we will be there at your earliest convenience.

How soon can we talk?

We generally are able to have an opening conversation within a week after your initial contact. If there are emergency circumstances, we can arrange something immediately. Please fill out this form to get us all the information.

i have a small home and it seems like you do work for these nice homes. Are you guys also more expensive?

You’ll see lots of big houses on our site as they generally make the most impressive pictures!

But we can a lot of character – and protection – to a small home as well! And we can do it on a smaller budget. Please complete the form and we’ll talk with you and give you an estimate of the cost.

Security Doors

i have a small home and it seems like you do work for these nice homes. Are you guys also more expensive?

You’ll see lots of big houses on our site as they generally make the most impressive pictures!

But we can a lot of character – and protection – to a small home as well! And we can do it on a smaller budget. Please complete the form and we’ll talk with you and give you an estimate of the cost.

What is the cost of a security door installation?

We will be able to tell you once we have listened to you and understand your requirements. We will also will want to see your entrance(s) as well. We’d love it if you would do some shopping as well, even with the “big names”, e.g., Lowes and Home Depot. The likelihood is that we will come well under these prices for doors of the same – or better – quality.

home depot price comparison

Comments are closed.