Project # 8 from Worntorn- another driveway gate setup

[worntorn]

I built and installed this set of gates and posts for a customer awhile back.

I find driveway gates to be an interesting job to do, some metal fabrication & welding,some painting, some carpentry, lots of electrical with the motor drives, low voltage controls, security, lighting ,intercom and safety beams. The only part I don't do is the Masonry. I prepare and pour the base and let the Brickie have at it.

The worst thing about gate jobs is pricing them. A complete set like this including masonry and all the bells runs about $12,000 installed. This job required all wiring to run back 300 feet to the house in conduit, so there is a considerable cost involved in trenching plus electrical materials& labour just to get the necessary services to the gates.


I find that with automatic driveway gates I price about five jobs to get one. Most of the time I find out that people who want auto gates expect to pay about $2500 for everything, so it is a complete waste of time to even look at these jobs. Now I try to suss out the approximate budget before looking at the job. If the budget is $2500 and my bare cost without my labour is about 8,000, then it isn't going to happen!

Glen