Driveway gates, Metro Vancouver
Custom swing and slide driveway gates for Metro Vancouver homes. Fabricated, automated, and installed by our C.W.B. certified shop in Burnaby. Every project engineered for wind loads, site conditions, and BC electrical code.
What we build
A driveway gate is a metalwork project, an electrical project, a civil project, and a site-specific design exercise. We handle all of it from our Burnaby shop.
Every custom driveway gate we build starts with the same three questions: what does the geometry of the driveway allow, what are the wind and soil conditions, and what does the owner want the gate to look like? Those three answers shape everything else, swing vs slide, single or double leaf, automation specification, footing design, and finish selection.
We fabricate custom driveway gates at our Burnaby shop for residential properties across Metro Vancouver. Burnaby, Vancouver, the North Shore, Coquitlam, West Vancouver, and the Sea-to-Sky corridor, every installation is tailored to the specific driveway. We handle fabrication in-house (C.W.B. certified welding for structural elements), coordinate automation with gate operator specialists, and deliver a fully functioning gate including electrical connection, safety sensors, and smart access integration.
For property owners considering a driveway gate for the first time, our initial conversation usually focuses on the options that match their driveway geometry. Many homeowners come in expecting a specific style and learn that their site supports something different, a slide gate instead of a swing, a single gate instead of a double, or a manual operator instead of fully automated. We help work through those decisions before any fabrication starts.
Gate types we fabricate
Automation and access
A powered gate is an electrical system as much as it is a metal project. We specify and commission operators that match your use case and meet BC code requirements.
Operators
For swing gates, we install linear arm (ram) operators for standard residential applications and underground hydraulic operators for premium estate gates. For slide gates, rack-drive operators are the standard residential choice. Every operator is sized for the gate leaf weight and wind load of the specific site.
Safety sensors
Every automated gate we install includes the primary and secondary entrapment sensors required by UL 325, typically photo eyes and safety edges on both directions of travel. The operator must reverse on obstruction within 2 seconds. Technical Safety BC verifies these during inspection.
Smart access
Basic keypad and fob access is standard. Upgrades include cellular entry (remote code issuance for deliveries), video intercom integration, camera systems, and app control. We coordinate smart access integration with low-voltage contractors and can recommend providers based on your house's existing systems.
Scope tiers
Scope tiers for the configurations we build most often, every gate is priced per project. [Request a quote](/request-a-quote/) for your scope.
Manual swing gate, 10 ft opening, welded steel, powder coat: the entry-level custom gate. Standard posts, powder coat finish, no automation. Appropriate for secondary driveways, side-yard gates, or budget-conscious primary installations.
Automated swing gate, 10 to 12 ft opening, mid-tier operator, keypad entry: our most common residential spec. Double swing gate, powder-coated steel, linear arm operator, photo eyes, and keypad entry. Includes standard safety sensors and an owner-side remote.
Automated cantilever slide gate, 14 ft opening, rack-drive operator: the standard slide gate spec for urban properties where swing clearance is not available. Smart access add-ons optional.
Estate swing gate, 16 ft+ opening, premium operator, camera, intercom: forged detail, duplex finish, underground hydraulic operator, integrated camera and intercom. The premium residential spec for custom homes and heritage properties.
Heritage restoration with automation retrofit: for Shaughnessy, Kerrisdale, and West End heritage properties where the original ornamental gate needs to be restored and brought up to current automation and safety standards.
For a detailed breakdown of the swing vs slide decision, see our driveway gates guide.
What we need to quote your project
For an accurate custom driveway gate quote, we need:
With those details we can typically provide an initial budget range within 2 to 3 business days, and a full fixed-price quote after a site visit.
The process
Custom gate projects move through a specific sequence. Here is what to expect on a typical residential project.
1. Site visit and measurement. We visit the driveway, measure exact dimensions, check existing conditions (fence, pillars, power availability), and discuss design options. Free for Metro Vancouver residential projects.
2. Design and quote. Based on the site visit, we produce a design sketch, operator specification, and fixed-price quote within one week. For complex sites we may provide two options (swing vs slide, or two different styles).
3. Engineering and permit coordination. For automated gates, we coordinate the electrical permit through Technical Safety BC and any building permit for the gate structure. This typically takes 1 to 3 weeks.
4. Footing installation. Reinforced concrete footings are poured at the gate post locations, typically 2 to 3 days of work on site. Footings cure for a minimum of 7 days before the gate can be installed.
5. Shop fabrication. Gate fabrication at our Burnaby shop runs in parallel with the footing schedule, typically 3 to 5 weeks for the gate leaves, posts, and all metalwork.
6. Electrical rough-in. Conduit and wiring runs from the house panel to the gate location, coordinated with a licensed electrician.
7. Installation and commissioning. Gate hanging, operator installation, safety sensor setup, and programming. Typically 2 to 3 days for a standard residential project, longer for complex or estate gates. Technical Safety BC inspection follows commissioning.
FAQs
Answers to the questions we hear most often from Metro Vancouver property owners planning driveway gate projects.
A fully custom residential driveway gate in Metro Vancouver is quoted per project based on width, automation, finish, and detailing. Manual swing gates sit at the baseline; automated swing and slide gates with mid-tier operators are the mid-range; premium estate gates with forged detail, duplex finishes, and integrated access control sit at the top end. [Request a quote](/request-a-quote/) for pricing on your gate.
Swing gates are cheaper and simpler but need clear space behind the gate line equal to the leaf length. Slide gates are the right choice for short driveways, uphill grades, or properties where swing clearance is not available. About 70% of our Metro Vancouver residential installs end up as swing gates because the driveway geometry allows it. Slide gates are more common on tight urban lots and short driveways in East Vancouver or Kitsilano.
For manual gates, usually no permit is required unless the gate posts involve structural footings above a certain size. For automatic gates, any hardwired gate operator in the City of Vancouver requires an electrical permit through Technical Safety BC, and the gate posts and operator pad usually require a building permit. Battery or solar operators without AC wiring sit in a grey area that should be confirmed with the municipality before installation.
A standard custom driveway gate in Metro Vancouver runs 6 to 10 weeks from approved drawings to functioning installation. That breaks down as roughly 1 week for shop drawings, 3 to 5 weeks for fabrication and finishing, 1 to 2 weeks for footings and electrical coordination, and 1 week for hanging and operator commissioning. Estate gates with custom detailing or imported operators can take 10 to 14 weeks.
Standard Metro Vancouver residential conditions require reinforced concrete footings 400 to 600 mm diameter and 1.2 m deep. Wind-exposed sites on the North Shore or Sea-to-Sky corridor need deeper footings (1.5 to 2 m) and wider diameters to resist lateral loads on tall gate leaves. Soft or expansive soils may require engineered footings with helical piles or widened pads. We specify footings based on site conditions during the design phase.
Any powered vehicular gate in BC must meet UL 325 entrapment protection standards. This requires primary and secondary entrapment sensors on each direction of travel, typically photo eyes and safety edges. The operator must reverse on obstruction within 2 seconds. These are enforced during Technical Safety BC inspections and must be installed correctly on every automated gate we deliver.
Yes, and smart access is becoming the standard on mid-range and premium automated gates. Common integrations include cellular-based access control (for remote entry), video intercoms (wired or wireless), camera systems at the gate for delivery verification, and app control for owner entry. Smart access features are quoted as an add-on to the base automation spec depending on which integrations you include.
Metro Vancouver rarely gets sustained cold or heavy snow at lower elevations, so gate operation is not typically affected. For Squamish and Whistler installations, we spec operators rated for lower temperatures and include heaters in the operator housing for sub-zero conditions. Slide gates need attention to the track or runway clearing during snow. Swing gates handle snow better than slide gates because the sweep path is above the ground.
Get in touch
Send us the driveway dimensions, your style preference, and any automation requirements. We will quote a custom gate fabricated, finished, and installed from our Burnaby shop.
