Choosing gate opening direction is not a matter of personal preferences anymore. Sometimes safety and legal issues force selecting one option over another.

Opening gates towards the public pavement creates serious obstruction hazards. Pedestrians passing your gate should face swinging panels right in front of them. People with limited mobility in wheelchairs or those walking with a baby pushchair will find such gates especially dangerous.

For this reason, many local authorities prohibit outward swinging gates near highways.

Safety considerations sometimes include emergency access needs. Fire brigade and ambulances may need to access your property via special gates opening certain way. Check local regulations to understand your obligations regarding this issue.

Garden Gates Special Requirements

                                                                                                       

If your gate opens to the driveway, consider some special aspects associated with this type of gates.

Depending on angles of approaching road or driveway gates should be installed in a manner allowing vehicles to approach and go through smoothly without complicated maneuvers. Opening outward to driveways creating sharp angles is especially problematic.

Integrating Gate into Garden Landscape

                                                                                                       

In addition to the discussed issues, gates' opening direction is important factor in landscaping garden layout.

Relation between Swinging Arcs and Paths

Your gate arcs should avoid colliding with existing or planned garden pathways.

When choosing inward swinging arc, you can safely position your gates close to entry points. Outward gates should be properly positioned to ensure gate arc doesn't obstruct your path.

Planting Considerations

As you know, gates open along defined arcs of certain size. While designing gate orientation, you should remember this aspect when selecting spots for planting various flowers.

Our Manor and Saxon gates designs are characterised by ornamental scrollwork. We should warn you about placing such gates in places where the arc can collide with planted trees or bushes.

Firstly, calculate the size of arc for chosen gates model. Secondly, mark it on the plan to check possible intersections with planted objects. Avoid placing high bushes or perennials on these areas since they will constantly be affected by gate movements.

Some of our customers decide to use this area to plant low lavender or santolina which can be gently pressed by gate arcs as long as there are not many attempts to open gate fully.

Furniture and Hardscape Positioning

                                                                                                           

While designing your garden layout, do not forget that gates affect furniture positioning.

For example, your idea to place benches in front garden turns out to be bad choice once it intersects with the arc of swinging gate.

Hardscaping garden with permanent elements such as planters or decorative walls is a common mistake that often causes problems with gate opening. Once installed in swing path, it cannot be moved without changing gate orientation. Such solution is costly and inconvenient.

Practical Aspects of Operation

                                                                                                           

Swing direction affects your everyday life when using gates. You should consider it seriously before deciding what direction is better for each particular case.

Interaction with Objects

When opening the gate with something in hands or arms, you will definitely notice difficulties depending on gates opening direction.

Inward gates tend to be easier to open when carrying some loads or walking with kids. They can be pushed and operated without changing direction.

On the contrary, outward opening gates force us stepping backwards or turning sides to operate them.

Left-hand or Right-hand Option

If gates are used daily by one of household members, it is advisable to choose option depending on dominant hand. This aspect may seem insignificant but when you need to open a gate thousand times a year, you will notice difference.

Effect of Weather Conditions

                                                                                                         

Wind plays crucial role when opening a gate since it makes operation easier or more difficult depending on its direction.

Prevailing south-westerlies in British environment have to be taken into account during gates installation process. Wind forces prevent gate operation and make users struggling with gate's weight.

Security Issues

Although outward swing is considered to be more advantageous, it has almost no effect on overall security of your gates.

Pressure applied on them from the street side helps to prevent breaking but makes gates vulnerable to vandalism from the inside.

Inward opening gates allow installing security hardware from private side and make access harder. This option wins in terms of practicality and safety of your gates' equipment.

How to Make Right Choice

                                                                                                            

Many factors have to be considered while choosing opening direction for gates. Check your obligations to local authorities in terms of emergency access and other aspects. Define how your gates will be used by you and your family. Estimate available resources and existing constraints in your garden.

Conclusion

At Wrought Iron Gates Direct, we recommend taking several minutes to decide gate direction before purchasing. You can enjoy our products, Classic or Warwick collection of wrought iron gates. They work perfectly as long as their opening direction is suitable for each particular case.