Swing gates, when the site has the room to use them
The simplest mechanism on a commercial site, and the cheapest to install — provided the drive is level and there is clear arc for the leaf to travel into.
- Typical opening
- 10–24 ft
- Leaf weight
- to 1,200 lb
- Arc required
- Full leaf length
How it works on a commercial site
A swing gate has fewer moving parts than anything else we install, which is exactly why it lasts when the site suits it. Two hinges, two posts, an operator arm on each leaf.
What kills swing gates is grade. If the drive rises even slightly into the property, the leaf grounds out before it reaches full open, and the operator spends its life fighting the hinge. We shoot the grade at the survey. If the fall is wrong, we will point you at a slide or a vertical pivot instead of selling you a gate that will be back on our service list inside two years.
- Fewest moving parts of any powered gate
- Lowest install cost where the site allows it
- Bi-parting halves the arc each leaf needs
- Grade shot at survey before the type is confirmed
- Hinge posts on engineered footings, not set by eye
Typical working range
| Clear opening | 10 ft to 24 ft; wider openings bi-parting |
|---|---|
| Leaf weight | Up to roughly 1,200 lb per leaf |
| Swing arc | Clear and level for the full length of each leaf |
| Grade tolerance | Drive must fall away from, or run level with, the arc |
| Infill | Ornamental picket, welded mesh, louvered or solid privacy |
| Operator type | Linear arm, articulated arm, or underground |
| Operator class | UL 325 Class III or Class IV |
| Frost footings | Below 48 in. in most of our service area |
Bi-parting is usually the right answer above about 16 ft — two shorter leaves need half the arc and put far less load on each hinge than one long one.
Common questions
Our drive slopes uphill. Can we still have a swing gate?
Usually not, at least not one that swings inward. The leaf will ground out before full open. Options are swinging the other way if the arc is clear, regrading, or moving to a slide or vertical pivot gate. We shoot the grade at the survey and tell you which.
What is the difference between linear, articulated, and underground operators?
Linear arms are the workhorse and easiest to service. Articulated arms suit posts set well back from the hinge. Underground operators are the cleanest looking and the most expensive to service later. We pick on geometry and duty, not on looks alone.
Can a swing gate open automatically for fire and EMS?
Yes. We fit Knox box override, strobe detection, or a dedicated emergency input, depending on what your local fire department specifies. Ask us to confirm with them before the scope is finalised.
Need a gate that holds up to commercial duty?
We survey the opening, size the operator to the leaf, and hand you a written scope you can put out to bid.
Request a site survey
Send the opening width, the traffic it sees, and what the site has to do. Prefer to talk now? Ring (617) 501-7139 and you’ll reach a person, not a phone tree.
- No cost, no obligation, no pressure
- Written scope you can put out to bid or hand to a GC
- Most replies inside one business day