Smartphone Intercom

The usual routine with a gated driveway goes like this. Someone arrives, they buzz, and you either wander down to the gate or press a handset by the door. That works, but it ties you to the house.

For this home, we fitted an AES OPYN intercom, which does away with the handset on the wall. Instead, when a visitor presses the button at the gate, the system calls your smartphone through an app. You can see and speak to whoever’s there, and let them in with a tap, whether you’re in the kitchen, out at work, or picking the kids up.

What This Means

An intercom that calls your phone is one of those upgrades that earns its keep every day. You don’t have to be home to let someone in. A delivery driver turns up while you’re out, and you can still take the parcel by opening the gate from wherever you are. A family member arrives early, and you can let them wait in the drive rather than out on the road.

It also means you’re not wiring a screen or a handset into the house, which keeps the installation tidy and gives you one less thing fixed to the wall. The app simply sits on the phone you already carry.

Anthracite Aluminium

We finished these gates in anthracite grey aluminium, the same easy-going material and colour as several driveways we look after nearby. Aluminium doesn’t rust, so it copes with our damp South East winters without flaking or streaking, and the anthracite grey has a clean, modern look that sits well against brick and render alike.

The bell-top carries a gentle curve across the top of the gates, softening the entrance rather than squaring it off. Matched to an automated setup, you get security, style and convenience in one, which is the combination most of our customers are really after. If you like the sound of gates you never have to touch, our automated gate options are a good starting point, and our intercom entry system page runs through the ways you can let visitors in.

Living With Automated Gates

A common worry with automation is what happens when the power goes off, so it’s worth saying. Automated gates like these can be released by hand in a power cut, so you’re never shut in or shut out, and we show every customer how to do it before we leave.

Beyond that, there’s very little to think about. We recommend a service every so often to keep the motors and the intercom running sweetly, and if anything ever plays up, we are always happy to come and take a look at it.

The Result

The customer came away with an entrance that looks the part and a far easier way of living behind gates. Visitors get answered from a phone rather than a walk down the drive, the gates open and close on command, and the anthracite aluminium will keep its looks for years with barely any upkeep.

If you’d like automated aluminium gates in Maresfield or anywhere nearby, with an intercom that reaches you on your phone, we’re happy to talk it through and design something around your home. Call us on 01825 705160, email info@sussexgateservices.co.uk, or fill out our contact form whenever suits.

What happens to the intercom if I lose my phone?

The app can be set up on more than one phone, and a new handset can be added when you replace an old one. Because the system calls a phone rather than a fixed screen, you’re not tied to a single device.

Do automated gates work in a power cut?

Yes. There’s a manual release that lets you open the gates by hand if the power’s off, and we show you how it works during the handover so you’re never caught out.

Can you fit an app intercom to gates I already have?

Often, yes. If your existing automated gates are in good order, we can usually add a smartphone intercom to them. We’d pop out, take a look, and let you know what’s possible.

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Electric Aluminium Gates in East Sussex

The brief for this East Sussex installation covered a lot of ground – taller gates for improved security without touching the existing brick piers, remote access control via smartphone, and a solution for the constant stream of parcel deliveries.

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