Site assessment
We look at the width and slope of the entrance, the ground conditions, existing posts or walls, where power can come from, drainage, and how you want the gates to open, so the design is right before anything is made.
East Sussex, West Sussex & Kent
Automatic Gate Installation in Sussex & Kent
Portara Automation installs complete electric and automatic driveway gates – from the first site visit and gate design through to posts, groundwork, cabling, motors, safety equipment and access control. One team takes care of the whole entrance, so everything is designed to work together.
Complete electric gate installations from one team
A new automatic gate is more than a gate and a motor. It needs the right gate for the opening, posts and foundations that can carry it, a safe cable route, automation that is properly matched to the gate’s size and weight, safety devices that protect people and vehicles, and access control that suits the way you use your drive.
When those parts come from different suppliers and trades, problems tend to fall into the gaps between them. Portara Automation designs, fabricates and installs gates as well as automating them, so we plan and deliver the whole installation ourselves. You have one point of contact from the first conversation to the day we hand over your remotes.
We’re based in East Sussex and install automatic gates for homes, farms, estates and businesses across East Sussex, West Sussex and Kent – from compact town driveways to long rural entrances.
What a complete gate installation includes
Every entrance is different, so each installation is planned around your site. A typical project covers the following.
Gate design and supply
We help you choose a style and material that suits the property and is suitable for automation, then supply gates made to fit your opening rather than a standard size that nearly fits. Where a standard timber gate suits the entrance, we can supply and install that too.
Bespoke fabrication
Where a project calls for it, we fabricate the gates, frames, brackets and fittings ourselves. See our bespoke driveway gates for more on design and fabrication.
Posts and groundwork
New steel or timber posts, concrete foundations, sliding gate foundations and tracks, and any associated groundwork needed to give the gates a solid, level base to work from.
Cabling and ducting
Ducting and cable runs between the control panel, motors, safety devices and access control, laid neatly and protected so the system stays reliable for years.
Automation equipment
Swing or sliding gate operators and a control panel matched to the gate’s size, weight and use. Read more about our gate automation options.
Safety equipment
Photocells, safety edges, obstacle detection and force settings chosen for your entrance, with warning lights where appropriate, so the gates stop and reverse when they should.
Access control
Remote controls, keypads, audio or video intercoms and GSM intercoms that let you open the gates from your phone – ideal for long drives where cabling to the house isn’t practical.
Commissioning and handover
We set up limits, speeds and force, test every safety device, and then show you how the system works, how to use the manual release and how to look after it.
Swing gates and sliding gates
We install both swing and sliding automatic gates, and we’ll recommend the type that suits your entrance rather than the one that’s easiest to fit.
Automatic swing gates
Single or double swing gates are the classic choice for driveways. Depending on the posts, the opening and the look you want, they can be automated with ram-arm (linear) operators, articulated-arm operators or concealed underground motors. Swing gates generally need a reasonably level drive and enough room for the leaves to open fully.
Automatic sliding gates
A sliding gate runs along a track or ground rail to one side of the opening. It’s often the better option where the drive slopes up behind the gate, where the drive is short, or where cars park close to the entrance. It does need clear space alongside the opening for the gate to slide into, and a properly built foundation for the track and motor.
Gate materials for automatic installations
The right material depends on the look you want, the level of privacy, the size of the opening and how much maintenance you’re happy with. We’ll talk you through the trade-offs.
Steel and steel/composite
A steel frame gives strength and rigidity, which is ideal for wide or heavy automated gates. Clad with composite boards, it creates a smart, solid, low-maintenance gate that offers privacy without the upkeep of timber.
Aluminium
Aluminium gates are lightweight and don’t rust, which makes them kind to automation and a good choice for wide openings, contemporary designs and coastal locations.
Timber
Hardwood gates, from traditional five-bar designs to solid boarded gates, suit rural and period properties. They’re heavier than they look, so we size the hinges, posts and automation to match.
Looking for something made to measure? See our bespoke driveway gates, or browse gate designs we’ve completed.
Planning new electric gates?
Send us a few photos of your entrance and driveway over WhatsApp and we’ll give you honest advice on what will work, along with an idea of cost before we visit.
How an automatic gate installation works
- Initial conversation. Call or WhatsApp us with photos of your entrance and tell us what you have in mind – style, material, swing or sliding, and how you’d like to open the gates.
- Site assessment. We visit to measure up and check levels, ground conditions, posts, power and cable routes, and any constraints such as a slope or a nearby footpath.
- Design and quotation. You receive a clear quote covering the gates, posts, groundwork, cabling, automation, safety equipment and access control, with options explained in plain English.
- Fabrication and preparation. Gates are fabricated or ordered to suit your opening, while we schedule the groundwork.
- Groundwork and installation. Posts and foundations go in, ducting and cables are laid, and the gates are hung and aligned so they move freely before any motor is fitted.
- Automation, commissioning and handover. We fit and set up the operators, control panel, safety devices and access control, test everything thoroughly and show you how it all works.
Safety comes as standard
An automated gate is heavy and powerful, so safety is designed in from the start rather than added at the end. We consider how the entrance is used – by cars, pedestrians, children, pets and delivery drivers – and choose safety devices to suit. That typically means photocells across the opening, safety edges where there’s a risk of trapping, correctly set force and obstacle detection, and a manual release you know how to use. We commission and test the system in line with current guidance for powered gates before we hand it over.
Already have gates, or need a repair?
If your existing gates are in good condition, you may not need new ones. We can assess whether they’re suitable for automating existing driveway gates, which is often a more economical route. And if your current electric gates have stopped working, our electric gate repairs service covers fault finding, motors, control panels, safety equipment and access control – including systems we didn’t install.
Automatic gates across East Sussex, West Sussex and Kent
We’re based in East Sussex, where much of our installation work takes place, from Uckfield, Crowborough and Heathfield to Lewes, Hailsham and Eastbourne, and we travel throughout West Sussex and Kent for suitable projects. See the areas we cover, or just ask if you’re not sure whether we can help at your location.
Automatic gate installation FAQs
How much does an automatic gate installation cost?
It depends on the width of the entrance, the type and material of the gate, whether it swings or slides, the groundwork and cabling involved and the access control you want. A simple automated swing gate on existing sound posts costs far less than a bespoke sliding gate with new foundations and a long cable run. We give a clear, itemised quote once we have seen the site, and photos sent over WhatsApp let us give you an early idea first.
How long does it take to install electric gates?
The overall timescale depends mainly on whether the gates are being fabricated to order and how much groundwork is needed. Concrete for posts and sliding gate foundations needs time to cure before the gates are hung and automated. We give you a realistic programme with your quote and keep you updated as the job progresses.
Should I choose swing gates or a sliding gate?
Swing gates suit entrances with a fairly level drive and enough room for the leaves to open. A sliding gate is often better where the drive slopes up behind the gate, where it is short, or where cars park close to the entrance, but it needs clear space alongside the opening for the gate to run back into. We assess both options on site and recommend the one that suits your entrance.
Do I need planning permission for electric gates?
In England, gates up to 1 metre high next to a road used by vehicles, or up to 2 metres elsewhere, are often permitted development, but listed buildings, conservation areas, new accesses and some other situations are different. Gates should also not open outwards over a pavement or road. We can talk through what is likely to apply, but you should confirm with your local planning authority before work starts.
What power supply do electric gates need?
Most gate automation needs a suitable mains supply near the gate to feed the control panel, plus cabling between the controls, motors, safety devices and any intercom or keypad. We look at where power can be brought from and the best cable route during the site assessment, and include the ducting and cabling in our quote.
What happens to automatic gates in a power cut?
Every system we install has a manual release so the gates can be opened by hand, and we show you how to use it at handover. Battery backup is available for many systems if you need the gates to keep working during a power cut.
Do you install gates in West Sussex and Kent as well as East Sussex?
Yes. We are based in East Sussex and install gates throughout East Sussex, West Sussex and Kent. If you are not sure whether we cover your location, send us a message with your town or postcode.
Request a quote for automatic gates
Call, WhatsApp or email Portara Automation to talk through your new gates. Photos of the entrance, the driveway behind it and any existing posts help us give you useful advice straight away.
Phone07417 421174
WhatsApp07417 421174
Related services
Find out more about our other gate services.