LHV Garage Doors & Gates ensures that the best quality, strongest and sturdiest materials are used to fabricate our clients’ gates and fencing, that suits the clients’ site and situation. It is important to that the materials used are not too flimsy for the purpose it needs to serve, or to heavy and bulky, as this will lead to problems in the future.
All LHV gates and fencing, as well as all tracks, brackets, hinges, etc. are galvanised before installation.
Gates & Fencing can be fabricated with the following materials:
(see each section for further customisation options)
Steel Gates & Fencing
Steel gates and fencing can be arched, or squared off. The most cost effective and standard gate or fence that can be fabricated has a square tubing frame, square tubing inners, spaced 120mm apart, with a fleur de lis spike on top of the gate frame.
Standard Gate
- 1800mm high
50 x 50mm square tubing frame
19 x 19mm square tubing inners
Steel spikes on top of the frame
2 x 80mm wheels
Hot dip galvanising
Standard Steel Fence between Walls
- 32 x 32 square tubing top and bottom bars
- 19 x 19 square tubing inners
- Steel spikes on top
- Hot dip galvanising
Standard Steel Fence
- 1800mm high
- 32 x 32mm square tubing top and bottom bars
- 19 x 19mm square tubing inners
- Steel spikes on top
- 50 x 50mm square tubing posts to mount fence panels onto
- 76 x 76mm square tubing posts are used at the corners and ends of gates & fencing
- Hot dip galvanising
LHV uses steel spikes to weld onto the gates and fencing. Various styled spikes are available but do vary in price. Steel spikes will not break off like cast iron spikes easily do. The fleur di lis is the most common spike used.
Doggy bars can also be fabricated for all gates and fencing. Doggy bars are 10mm square bars that are usually about 800mm to a metre in length and are welded to the bottom of the gate and extend to the centre bar of the gate, in between each 19 x 19 inner. These are used to prevent small dogs, cats, etc. from existing or entering the gate or fence. A 38mm x 38mm square tubing bar is usually used for the centre bar.
Round bar or pipe can also be used as inners to fabricate any gates and fencing, but tubing will still be used to fabricate the gate or fence frames.
Sliding Gates
If possible a sliding gate option should always be installed, as opposed to swing gates, as swing gates have far more potential to cause problems. Sliding gates simply slide back and forth on a track, and a sliding gate motor is also a far more efficient, simple system in comparison to a swing gate motor automation.
80mm roller wheels are installed onto LHV sliding gates, as these are easy to replace down the line if necessary, and leave an 80mm clearance between the bottom of the gate and track. Any sliding gate no matter the size or weight should only ever have two wheels installed onto the gate, as if more wheels are added, it can cause the gate to slide in uneven positions.
The track, which is what the gate wheels roll on, must always be installed as straight and level as possible, as this is essential in the smooth running and maintenance of the gate, especially if automated.
LHV always galvanises all tracks that are fabricated and installed, to prolong the life of your track and prevent rapid corrosion from the sea air. LHV garage doors and gates fabricate gate tracks that are very stable and strong, as an angle is welded on top of a square tubing that forms a R.I.B. The track is then placed into a dug-out trench and steel pegs are hammered, at an angle, deep into the ground and welded to the track. The track is then concreted in. This process of fabrication and installation ensures that the track is exceptionally strong, will not sag or crack out from its concrete bed. This process also allows the client to be able to drive over the track on the same day of installation, as opposed to having to wait a day or two.
As the track can be installed in one day, the client will not be left with an open property that is a definite security risk. LHV installs and completes its gates in one day.
As security is the crucial point of gates and fencing, anti lift brackets are always fabricated and installed onto the gate to prevent thieves from easily entering or removing the gate.
Swing Gates
The client can either opt to install a single leaf swing gate or double leaf swing gates. If the opening where the gates need to be installed is wider than 3000mm, the client should definitely choose to have two swing gates installed as opposed to a single leaf swing gate system, if the client wants to automate the gates. This is due to the fact that swing gate motors should also only be installed onto gates no wider than 3000mm per leaf. A wider single leaf swing gate can however be installed if no motor is going to be installed onto the single swing gate.
LHV garage doors and gates fabricates its own hinges to weld onto swing gates, as opposed to using bullet hinges that will rust and seize in the Western Cape, due to the sea air.
Wooden Gates & Fencing
LHV gates can fabricate meranti gates and fencing, fastening the planks either on top or inside the galvanised steel frame, using either rivets or self driller screws. The client can choose whether to see the steel gate frame, wood fastened onto the inside of the frame, or not see the steel gate frame, wood fastened on top of the frame.
The meranti can simply be separate planks, with gaps between or the meranti can have tongue and groove v-joints, where each plank joins together. LHV Garage Doors and Gates sources the best quality meranti available from our various suppliers.
If the client requests meranti tongue and groove swing gates, it is not recommended to install automations as the wind cannot travel through the gate, which can cause the wind to shove the gates open or closed that can alter the limits on the motor and cause damage to the motor. If automations are going to be installed, wood cladded gates with at least a 20mm gap between each plank should be fabricated and installed.
All meranti gates and fencing will be coated with meranti seed oil, to protect the wood from all outside elements and will allow the wood to breathe, to prevent the meranti from rotting. No wood should be varnished or painted, as moisture can get into the wood but can’t escape, causing the wood to rot.
Other wood such as balau, massaranduba or treated pine can also be used to fabricate the gates, depending on the client’s budget and personal style.
Treated pine and balau do not need to be treated with an oil, but will fade to grey if unoiled.
Garage Door Panels Inside of Gates & Fencing
LHV gates can fabricate sliding, swing and pedestrian gates with either aluzinc or aluminium garage door panels inside of the steel frames. These gates offer the client full privacy and are very low maintenance, compared to oiled wood. Your gate can now match your garage doors.
Aluzinc
Aluzinc is mild steel, coated in an aluzinc mixture, 45% aluminium 55% zinc, the paint is then baked onto the steel, creating two layers of protection for the mild steel.
Aluzinc is highly recommended as the doors are light weight, very strong, do not fade and require almost no maintenance or up keep – if the door is dirty you can simply hose it down with water.
All aluzinc panels have a wood grain finish and come in 4 standard colours:
- White
- Charcoal
- Brown
- Bronze
Other colours are available at an extra charge, either powder coated or spray painted onto the door.
The wood grain finish is more forgiving with any small scratches that may occur on the panel, as they will not be easily visible. Aluzinc is available in horizontal slatted or raised and fielded (block) panels.
Aluminium
- Aluminium doors are also highly recommended as the doors are light weight, very strong and do not fade
- Tthe door panels require absolutely no maintenance or up keep
- Aluminium is the best product available on the market
All aluminium panels have a smooth finish and come in 3 standard colours;
- White
- Charcoal
- Bronze
Other colours are available at an extra charge, powder coated or spray painted onto the door.
Aluminium is only available in horizontal slatted, smooth finish panels.