Frequently Asked Questions

We provide FREE, no obligation quotes. The first step is to call or email the office to book a time so we can meet on site, have a chat about your needs and take some measurements. From there we head away, write a quote tailored to you and email it to you.

As a general rule of thumb, from the date that the client pays their deposit to the day the work is completed is usually 6-8 weeks. For smaller jobs we can usually slip these in if short notice is ok with you. And for supply only work we can usually have these ready within 1-2 weeks or 2-3 weeks with powder coating. Check with the office team for the most up to date timeframes.

Yes! We work with both Steel and Aluminium. Both metals have their own set of desirable qualities. We can chat with you on site about these so that you can make the best choice for your situation.

Yes we can incorporate parts and panels that are wrought iron BUT we don't make fully wrought iron gates.

We install anywhere from Hanmer Springs, North Canterbury through to the Rakaia River. This includes Christchurch, West Melton, Darfield, Rolleston, Lincoln, Tai Tapu, Governors Bay and all those in between. If you are unsure if we can help, please give us a call.

We are happy to price for delivery to your shipping company's depot. We do require you to book your own shipping though.

We accept cash, bank deposit or eftpos at our office in Woodend. Credit cards can be used at the office but do incur credit card fees from the provider.

Yes, upon accepting a quote you will be invoiced a deposit of 50% of the accepted quote. This deposit is to begin purchasing your materials, confirm your place in our calendar and get work started in the workshop. The remainder is payable at completion/installation. We may also ask for progress payments if your job is completed in stages or over a longer time frame. For full details please see our Terms and Conditions on our website.

Powder Coating is a dry finishing process created by spraying a fine polymer powder charged with static electricity towards grounded metal providing an even and uniform coating. The metal is then placed in an oven where it is baked at a high temperature, melting the powder and creating a finish that is tougher than conventional paint and without runs.

When powder coating gates, pergolas and other steel or aluminium structures our provider uses the Dulux Powder Coat Range. There are hundreds of colours available but the Duralloy Solid Colour range is what we quote for as standard. Follow this link to see these colours: Dulux Duralloy® Powder Coat Range - Dulux Powder Coatings (duluxpowders.co.nz)

When choosing a gate it is important to consider several factors such as your budget, size of the area, style preference, the style of your home, accessories and your security needs. It is also important to consider the environment of where you live e.g. if you live close to the beach.

There are a lot of variables to this question and for this reason we perform a site measure to ensure we give accurate, fair pricing that incorporates everything required to provide the best final result for you. Gate size, materials requested, accessories chosen, design complexity and location all affect the final value. As a rough ball-park, for a small pedestrian gate you could be looking at $1,500-$3,000 for example. For a driveway gate with no automation you could be looking anywhere from $3,500-$6,000. Including automation could be around $8,000-$12,000. When comparing quotes between companies be sure to check that you're comparing the same quoted items. For example: is another companies quote cheaper because it does not include removal? Or includes removal but leaves you with a pile of spoil to dump? These types of variables can make a huge difference to your decision making process.

Automation adds convenience, safety and security to your property. An automatic gate eliminates the need to get out of your car in the rain, cold or darkness to manually open and close it. It acts as a strong deterrent to potential burglars given it's difficulty to get past. With a keypad or button remote you can operate your gate and control who else has access to your property. Add on to this an access control kit and you can operate your gate and control who has access right from your smartphone, anywhere in the world!

When automating a gate we have a wide range of options available depending on your property setup, the accessories you wish to use and how you wish to use your gate. If an electrician is required we have a local, trusted electrician that we work with to create less work for the client. Most commonly we use Low Voltage cables protected in UV stable conduit, hidden under ground or along fence-lines. These fall into the same category as garden lighting and therefore the majority can be completed by our trained technicians. If there is not currently an outdoor plug installed we use our local, trusted electrician to install a legally compliant outdoor plug. For properties where power sources are too far away or there are substantial accessories to power, we trench mains power or complete a solar setup with the final connection and compliance documents completed by our local trusted electrician.

Firstly, the old saying "you get what you pay for" rings VERY true when it comes to gate automation. When purchasing a premium automation brand you are purchasing a fantastic warranty, excellent technology and ongoing support. We regularly get called out to gate automation installations where cheaper brands were used and have failed. In these cases the original installer has disappeared, the brand is either not named or are uncontactable, not interested in honoring their warranty or do not make parts for repairs. This is a devastating situation for clients and breaks our hearts too. For this reason we only use brands with warranties that we can count on, who use cutting edge technology, who give ongoing support and who will continue to make parts for their motors well past the date that the motor technology is superseded.

Yes, absolutely. If you purchased your automation through Designer Gates or you have Centurion products installed then yes we can service these for you. Please call or email so we can book you in. If you didn't purchase through Designer Gates or don't have Centurion products installed we can assess whether we can help. Please call to discuss.

Automatic gate openers, intercoms and other electronic accessories should be serviced on a yearly basis by a technician from Designer Gates. Get in touch to make a booking. In between your yearly Designer Gates service; ensure that organic materials are kept clear from the equipment e.g. dirt, grass clippings, leaves etc as well as pests such as ants. Any damage to the equipment or unusual equipment operations must be inspected and repaired immediately. Give us a call and we can make sure it doesn't become problematic.

Clean dirt, grime, mould, or algae from all components at least every six months with a wet sponge and a mild household detergent in warm water (no solvents or water blasters) and rinse off. Once cleaned and dried, spray any chips or scratches with zinc spray or spray paint to match your powder coating.

We've already thought ahead on this topic and we install all of our automatic gates with a battery back up that stores a bank of energy for just this purpose. For most people with normal conservative use this gives around 3 days of use (or approx 10-20 openings) before needing to unlock the unit with your supplied key and switching to manual mode.

Yes, we do! Please see our standard rates below: Non-Urgent Call-Out: Monday-Friday 8am-3:30pm (visited within 2-5 days) $150+GST p/hr Same Day Emergency Call-Out: Monday-Friday 8am-3:30pm $220+GST p/hr After Hours, Weekend and Public Holiday Call-Out: (by availability) $300+GST p/hr