Keeping Automation Out of Sight

There’s more than one way to power a gate. A lot of automated gates use motors mounted on the piers or arms that swing the gates, and those work perfectly well, but you can see them.

For this home, we used Roger Technology, below-ground operators. That means the motors that open and close the gates sit in housings buried in the ground beneath the hinge point, out of sight, rather than on show beside the gates. When the gates are closed, you would never know they were automated at all. For a customer who had just refurbished the property and cared about the finish, hidden operators were the natural choice.

Underground Monitors

Below-ground operators are a lovely fit when the look of the entrance matters as much as the function. Because there’s no visible motor or arm, the gates keep their clean, traditional lines, and the eye goes to the timber and the brickwork rather than the machinery.

That mattered here because the whole frontage had been thought through, with new brick piers, a fresh resin driveway, and a pair of solid Iroko gates. We’re really pleased with how it all came together, the gates setting off the piers and the resin drive rather than competing with them.

Iroko Hardwood

Iroko is one of our favourite timbers for gates, and it earned its place on a home like this. It’s a dense, durable hardwood with a warm golden-brown colour that deepens as it settles, and it stands up to the weather beautifully with a bit of care. On a refurbished property, a set of Iroko gates gives the entrance a solid, quality feel that matches the money and thought spent behind them.

Timber gates like these bring security, style and convenience together, secure because they close the drive off, easy to live with once automated, and good-looking in a way that suits an older or updated home. The matching brick piers give the motors a solid mounting and the gates a firm point to hang from.

The Long Run

Hidden motors are still motors, so they benefit from an occasional check to keep them running smoothly, and buried operators are built to cope with the conditions underground. We look after the gates we fit, and our servicing and repairs keep the automation, the hinges and the timber in good order year after year. On a home where the entrance has been finished to this standard, it’s worth keeping it that way.

The Result

The customer ended up with automatic gates that look entirely traditional and handmade, with the automation completely out of view. The gates open and close at the press of a control, the Iroko sits beautifully against the new brick piers and resin drive, and the whole entrance looks finished rather than fitted-out. It’s one of those jobs we’re proud to have our name on.

If you’d like automated hardwood gates in Danehill or anywhere nearby, with the motors kept discreetly out of sight, we’d love to design something around your home. Call us on 01825 705160, email info@sussexgateservices.co.uk, or fill out our contact form.

Can automated hardwood gates use hidden underground motors?

Yes. On these automated hardwood gates we used below-ground operators, motors set into housings buried beneath the hinges rather than mounted on the piers. The gates open and close as normal, with no visible machinery on show.

Are underground operators reliable outdoors?

Yes. Quality below-ground operators, like the Roger Technology units we used here, are made to work in buried housings and cope with the wet. Like any motor, an occasional service keeps them running their best.

Do hidden motors cost more than gate-mounted ones?

They can be a little more involved to install, because the housings are set into the ground. Many customers feel the tidy, motor-free look is well worth it, especially on a home where the finish matters. We’ll always talk you through the options and costs.

Automated Hardwood Gates in Danehill - built and installed by Sussex Gate Services

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