A driveway gate adds privacy, security and a real sense of arrival, but the right type depends on your space and your slope. A swing gate needs room to open; a sliding gate needs room to the side. Get that wrong and the gate fights the driveway every day.
We look at the approach, the grade and where the gate will sit before recommending swing or slide, then build it in wood, steel or aluminum to match your fence and set the posts to carry a heavy gate.
Swing or Slide?
- Swing gates suit level or gently sloped drives with room to open inward or outward.
- Sliding and cantilever gates suit tight or uphill drives where a swing would hit the grade.
- Both can be automated later, so we pre-plan the opener and power.
Built for Automation
Even if you do not automate now, it costs little to plan for it — running a conduit, sizing the posts and choosing a gate the opener can handle. We build driveway gates so adding an operator later is a simple upgrade, not a rebuild.
Materials, Privacy and Curb Appeal
A driveway gate is the first thing people see, so the material does double duty — security and first impression. Wood and composite give a solid, private look that matches a fence; ornamental steel and aluminum give an open, stately entry that still frames the view. Heavier gates need posts and footings sized to carry the swing or the slide track, which is why we plan the gate and its posts together rather than hanging a big gate on a standard fence post. We also detail the bottom clearance so the gate clears the driveway through our wet, leafy months without dragging.
Why Choose Us for Driveway Gates
A driveway gate carries real weight and swings or slides every day, so the posts and hardware have to be built for it — not a fence gate scaled up. We have installed driveway gates across the Lakewood area since 2017 as a registered Washington contractor (L&I #CREATEL809CL), insured and bonded, rated 4.6★ on Google. We read the slope and the approach, recommend swing or slide honestly, and build it ready for automation so adding an opener later is a simple upgrade.
Get a Free On-Site Fence Estimate
Talk to a local Lakewood fence pro. We'll look at your line, your soil and your gates—then quote it in writing.
- Insured & Bonded
- WA L&I #CREATEL809CL
- 4.6★ on Google (51 reviews)
- Free Estimates
- Serving Lakewood since 2017
Driveway Gates FAQs
- A sliding or cantilever gate usually wins on a driveway that rises from the street, because a swing gate can jam on the grade as it opens. On level or gently sloped drives with room to open, a swing gate works fine.