01905 905 503
james@wearecapitan.co.uk
Aluminium driveway gates are light, rust-proof and need almost no upkeep — which is why they’ve become the most popular choice for bespoke electric gates. Every gate we make is designed, built and automated in-house, made to measure for your entrance, and takes 6–12 weeks from first enquiry to handover. This guide to aluminium driveway gates covers what’s worth weighing up before you choose — and we’ll gladly geek-out all day on the finer details with you.
See our aluminium driveway gate range — every gate designed, built and automated in-house at our Droitwich workshop.
Firstly, why aluminium gates?
Stylish. Safe. Strong.
Aluminium gates provide bucket loads of kerb appeal and sought-after stylishness — and they greatly increase safety and security for you and your family. They’re exceptionally hard-wearing, highly unlikely to be damaged by weather, and they don’t rust or go brittle like many other metals. They’re damn strong too: a deterrent for intruders (and mothers-in-law), great at keeping the smaller members of your home in and away from the road, and good news for the cars parked behind them.
Aluminium vs steel, composite and wood — an honest comparison
We build driveway gates in all four materials, so we’ve no reason to oversell any one of them. Here’s how they genuinely compare:
| Aluminium | Steel | Composite | Wood | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | Light — easy on motors and hinges | Heaviest of the four | Mid-weight | Mid-to-heavy, varies by timber |
| Rust & rot | Doesn’t rust | Protected by its finish — needs that finish maintained | Doesn’t rot | Needs treatment to keep rot away |
| Upkeep | An occasional wash | Check and touch up the finish | An occasional wash | Re-treat or re-stain over the years |
| The look | Contemporary slats or traditional styles, powder-coated to any colour | Classic wrought-iron looks and maximum-security designs | Timber looks without the timber upkeep | The real thing — natural warmth nothing else quite matches |
| More | Aluminium gates | Steel gates | Composite gates | Wooden gates |
How much do aluminium driveway gates cost?
Spending. Suitability. Style.
Honest answer: every gate we make is bespoke — designed for your entrance, built and wired in our workshop, and installed by the same team — so there’s no price list. What moves the price of a project is mostly:
- Size and configuration — single or double, and the width of your entrance
- Swing or sliding — sliding gates need a track or cantilever but suit drives where a swing arc won’t fit
- Automation and access — how you’ll open it: remotes, keypads, intercoms
- Groundworks — pillars, walls and power runs if your entrance needs them
- Finish — powder-coating in the colour that suits your property
The good news for the years after: aluminium is about as low-maintenance as gates get, so you won’t be forking out on repairs or repainting. And we always start with a free survey — we’ll go through every option with you, with no pressure to commit. That’s when our 40+ years of experience really comes in handy.
How long does an aluminium driveway gate take to install?
Timings. Technicalities. Tradesmanship.
From first enquiry to handover, most projects take 6–12 weeks. We manage the whole journey in-house: the survey, the design and quote (with computer-generated images so you can see your gate before it exists), then the build — metalwork, electronics and finish, all under one roof at our Droitwich workshop — and finally the installation itself, which is typically days on site, not weeks. One team, start to finish; we’re confident it’s the quickest and most effective way to install a bespoke gate.
Is my driveway too small or too steep for aluminium gates?
Almost certainly not. Every gate is made to your exact measurements, so if you’re short on space we can design a single gate — or a space-saving sliding gate, which runs along your boundary instead of swinging across the drive. Sliding is usually the answer for short, narrow or sloping driveways.
Recent aluminium projects near you
Seeing is deciding. Two recent aluminium installations from around Worcestershire and the West Midlands:
FAQs
Do aluminium gates rust or need repainting?
No. Aluminium doesn’t rust, and the powder-coated finish means no repainting — an occasional wash is genuinely all the upkeep an aluminium gate needs.
Can you make my existing gates electric?
Totally possible, but we’d need to come and take a look — a quick survey tells us whether your gates and posts are suitable for automation, and what access options (remote, keypad, intercom) would work best.
I need pillars too — who can install these?
We will install everything; we are experienced in property renovation and can provide a complete service from start to finish.
What if I need a brick wall or a new driveway — will you do that too?
Absolutely. We love any size project. We’re experts in frontal renovation and gate installation and always suggest what we think is best, share our ideas with you, and most importantly, listen carefully to your requirements. If you have a narrow driveway or a small space and you’re looking for solutions, drop us a line or complete our enquiry form and we’ll get back to you ASAP (we respond to most enquiries within 24 hours).
I don’t know if I want aluminium gates or wooden gates — how can I decide?
Don’t worry! The comparison table above is a good start — wooden gates win on natural warmth, aluminium wins on upkeep. Then we can measure up and provide a quote with computer-generated images of both options at your actual entrance, to help you choose.
Thinking of adding a little extra security to your property — or you just want your house to look much nicer than your neighbour’s? We’re Gate Safe accredited and we’ve completed installations across Worcestershire and the West Midlands. Browse the aluminium range, or give us a call to book a free survey.