Bespoke Aluminium Farm-Style Swing Gates with Custom Gradient Design
When the owners of this beautiful residential property in Fleet, Hampshire first contacted us at Fraser Gates, they had a clear vision in mind. Their home had recently undergone an extensive external renovation, including a newly landscaped driveway, garden and decking overlooking Basingstoke Canal. The final piece of the puzzle was to install a set of gates that would complement the property’s refreshed look, while delivering the long-term reliability and daily convenience they needed.
Although many of our clients come to us initially focused on security, this brief was slightly different. The priority here was to create a traditional, warm, farm-style appearance that felt completely at home in the rural setting. But just as important was ensuring that the system would stand up to everyday use without the high maintenance demands that often come with timber gates. They didn’t want to compromise on appearance, but equally didn’t want to be treating or repairing wooden gates every few years.
This was a perfect project to demonstrate how we can blend timeless aesthetics with modern technology to create automatic gates Hampshire homeowners can rely on. By combining classic design with a robust, low-maintenance system, we were able to deliver gates that not only enhance the property’s character, but also offer the ease and durability that make daily life simpler.
Early Planning and Coordination
Starting with the Property and Setting
The property itself occupies a lovely position, with the Basingstoke Canal forming a scenic backdrop to the rear garden. The front driveway, which was recently upgraded as part of the external works, presented itself as a clean canvas for the new gates. However, as is often the case, the site had some quirks that required careful planning from the outset.
The driveway had a noticeable slope running across it, along with limited depth between the entrance and where cars would typically park. These two factors meant we had to approach both the gate design and the automation system in a very considered way. As always, early discussions with the client allowed us to gather the information we needed before any design decisions were locked in.
Understanding the Client’s Vision
The client was drawn to the appearance of classic hardwood farm-style gates. However, they were understandably concerned about the ongoing maintenance that real timber would require, especially in an exposed outdoor setting. Paint and stain maintenance, warping, and weathering were all potential future headaches they wanted to avoid. What they needed was a solution that provided the charm and warmth of timber, with the durability and minimal upkeep of a more modern material.
At Fraser Gates, we regularly help clients across Hampshire find this balance, and we knew from experience that aluminium gates would be an ideal fit here. By using aluminium, we could replicate the exact visual style they wanted, while providing the long-term reliability they were hoping for. This approach is becoming increasingly popular as more homeowners seek electric gates in Hampshire that combine appearance with practicality.
Design and Material Specification
Choosing Aluminium for Long-Term Performance
We recommended a hardwood-effect aluminium gate, finished in a Savannah Oak powder-coat. This finish provides a highly convincing timber appearance, with realistic grain detail and rich colour, but with none of the vulnerability of real wood. Aluminium is naturally weather-resistant, won’t warp, crack or rot, and requires virtually no maintenance beyond an occasional clean. For many residential properties looking for automatic gates in Hampshire, this material gives clients the best of both worlds.
Designing for the Driveway’s Gradient
The slope of the driveway presented one of the biggest technical challenges on this project. A standard gate with a flat bottom rail would either leave a large, unsightly gap at one end or risk catching on the ground during operation. To address this, we designed the bottom edge of the gates with a custom-angled profile that perfectly followed the driveway’s slope. This allowed the gates to sit evenly when closed while ensuring smooth, safe swing operation throughout their travel range.
⅓ & ⅔ Gate Leaf Configuration
Another unique aspect of this project was the decision to use a ⅓ & ⅔ split configuration for the gate leaves. A traditional 50/50 split wouldn’t have worked comfortably here, due to the shallow depth of the driveway and the limited swing clearance available. The smaller right-hand leaf allows for easy pedestrian access and minimises how far the gate swings into the driveway. The larger left-hand leaf opens fully when vehicle access is required. This design not only improved functionality but also contributed to the balanced visual proportions of the entrance when the gates are closed.
Avoiding Central Obstructions
A key part of the design was keeping the driveway entrance as open and uncluttered as possible. Installing a central post to house safety sensors would have interrupted the clean lines and reduced manoeuvring space. Instead, we designed the system with a single offset photocell, positioned discreetly to maintain full safety compliance without obstructing the entrance.
Automation and Safety Systems
Smooth, Reliable Automation
To power the gates, we installed underground brushless motors, which are well-suited for residential electric gates in Hampshire. These motors offer smooth, quiet operation, excellent reliability, and long service life, even in challenging conditions. Their underground positioning also means they’re discreet, keeping the visual impact minimal while protecting the automation equipment from the elements.
Full Safety Integration
As with all of our automatic gates in Hampshire, safety was built into every part of the design. In addition to the photocell, we installed safety edges on the gate leaves themselves, ensuring that the system would stop immediately if any obstruction was detected during operation. This combination of photocell and safety edges allowed us to meet the required safety standards while still keeping the design clean and unobtrusive.
Convenience Features for Daily Use
For easy day-to-day operation, we fitted internal and external push-to-exit buttons, allowing residents to open the gates quickly from inside the property or when leaving by vehicle. We also installed integrated downlights within the gateposts, providing subtle illumination of the entrance at night and enhancing the overall look of the property after dark.
Preparing for a Smooth Installation
Detailed Pre-Installation Survey
As with all of our projects, careful planning in advance made a huge difference to the smooth delivery of the installation. We carried out detailed measurements of the driveway gradient, swing paths, clearance requirements and cable routing long before any fabrication work began. This allowed us to produce highly accurate manufacturing drawings for the aluminium fabricators, ensuring the custom angled profiles were cut to the exact specifications the site demanded.
Fabrication Lead Times
Because of the fully bespoke nature of the gates — both in terms of the Savannah Oak powder coat and the custom angled profiles — fabrication lead time was slightly longer than for more standard gate designs. At the time of this project, fabrication required approximately 6 to 8 weeks. From initial design approval to final installation, the full project took approximately 11 weeks from start to finish.
The Installation Process
A Carefully Phased Installation
Once the fabrication phase was complete, we scheduled the installation to fit neatly alongside the client’s other external works. As always, our priority was to complete the work with minimal disruption to the newly landscaped driveway and surrounding areas. Because the groundwork had been carefully planned in advance, we were able to move through the installation smoothly and efficiently.
Setting the Gate Structure
We began by preparing the underground foundations for the brushless motor systems. These motors require precise positioning to ensure smooth and accurate gate movement, especially given the angled profile of the gates and the slope of the driveway. Once the motors were secured, we installed the gateposts and mounted the gate leaves, carefully aligning them to ensure even spacing and level closing along the entire length of the angled bottom edge.
Wiring and Automation Setup
With the gates physically in place, we ran all the wiring for power, control systems, and safety devices. As part of every electric gates Hampshire installation we carry out, we ensure that all wiring is fully concealed, weather-protected, and routed to allow for easy maintenance access in the future.
The underground brushless motors were then connected, and we programmed the control unit to calibrate swing speeds, stopping points, and force sensitivity. These fine adjustments are essential to ensure that the gates operate smoothly and quietly, while still responding immediately to any obstruction detected by the safety systems.
Fitting the Safety and Access Features
Once the main automation was set up, we installed the safety edges and positioned the single photocell. This photocell was carefully aligned to monitor the gate opening without requiring any central posts or additional obstructions in the driveway. Internal and external push-to-exit buttons were mounted, providing quick, convenient access for residents whether entering or leaving the property. Finally, we installed the integrated LED downlights, which added a subtle but highly effective lighting feature to the finished entrance.
Testing and Handover
Full System Testing
Before any handover, we always run a full set of operational and safety tests to ensure that the system performs exactly as it should. We tested multiple full open-and-close cycles, verified that the motors stopped and reversed safely when triggered by the safety edges and photocell, and checked that the manual override functions were working correctly.
Fine-Tuning for Daily Use
As with every automatic gates Hampshire project we complete, we spent time fine-tuning the gate speeds, hold-open times, and safety sensitivity to match the client’s preferences. Our goal is always to deliver a gate system that feels completely natural to use day-to-day: fast enough to avoid waiting around, but smooth and controlled for long-term reliability.
Client Demonstration and Handover
Once testing was complete, we carried out a full handover with the client, demonstrating each function in turn. We walked them through how to use the push-to-exit buttons, how the safety systems worked, and how to adjust lighting timers and settings as needed. As always, we provided a full set of documentation and were available to answer any follow-up questions once they had started using the system day-to-day.
The Finished Result
A Seamless, Elegant Entrance
The final result was exactly what the client had envisaged at the start of the project: a traditional farm-style gate that blended beautifully with the newly improved property, while operating with the quiet efficiency and ease of modern electric gates Hampshire homeowners increasingly expect. The Savannah Oak powder-coat finish gives the gates a warm, timber-like appearance that requires no ongoing treatment or staining, and the aluminium construction guarantees long-term structural integrity.
Smooth, Safe and Reliable Daily Operation
Thanks to the custom ⅓ & ⅔ configuration, the gates function perfectly for both pedestrian and vehicle access, even within the limited swing space of the driveway. The safety systems provide full peace of mind, ensuring that the gates respond immediately if anything enters the gate path during operation. And with the combination of underground brushless motors and fully integrated controls, daily use remains smooth, quiet, and entirely stress-free for the client.
Client Feedback
The client was kind enough to share some lovely feedback once the project was completed:
“Rory and his team did a splendid job on our aluminium gates! We certainly set him a challenge as our entrance was on a slope and we wanted 2 gates 1/3 and 2/3 to enable easier access, and it now looks amazing. Thank you.”
We always take pride in delivering projects that not only meet the technical brief but leave the client genuinely delighted with the result. For us, it’s never just about fitting gates — it’s about creating electric gates Hampshire homeowners can rely on and enjoy for many years to come.
Have plans for your own automatic gate in Hampshire? Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.