Get peace of mind with a remote control gate

It's a quirk of human nature that we allow ourselves to fall into routines. If we start leaving the gates at the front of our houses open to save time and effort each time we drive through them, then chances are this behaviour will become habit. And before we know it, we're leaving the gates open all the time.

"People can be quite lazy," says Michael Polites of Ripples Remote Access. "They'll start off closing the gate every time, then they'll start doing it less and less often, until eventually it's open the whole time. Then the only time they close it is when they go away, which becomes a sure sign to potential thieves that no one is home."

Over 20 years Michael has installed hundreds of motorised, remote-control gates for people who recognise that such a measure will increase security in their homes. The gates can only ever be part of a wider home security strategy, but they are a vital component in keeping the contents of the home safe.

Including the children. If parents have to get out of their car to open the gate manually, then they run the risk of their children getting out of the car and possibly running onto the road.

"A remote-control gate gives parents that sense of security and added safety for their children," says Michael. "With a remote-controlled gate, by the time the kids get out of the car they're safely behind the gates and inside the grounds of the house."  

The two main types of remote control gate are sliding gates and swinging gates. Sliding gates slide along runners on the inside of the fence, while swinging gates, as their name suggests, swing open. What type you choose will depend on the specifics of your property. Is there a sloping driveway? If so, then a sliding gate will probably suit you better. If you've got quite a narrow entrance, with no room for the sliding gate to run, then a swing gate will be more appropriate.

Since the motorised mechanism controlling the movement of the gate will be used frequently, it pays to buy good-quality products.