Free on-site gate assessment - hinges, posts, and your LiftMaster or Nice gate operator checked before anything is quoted
The assessment is free and the quote is the invoice.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterTrusted Gate Installation for Encino Homeowners
A new gate in Encino typically runs from $2,800 to $9,500 installed, depending on material, width, automation, and whether we’re building onto existing posts or starting from scratch in the driveway. Most installations take one to two days once materials are in hand, and we always give you a written price before any concrete gets poured or any steel gets cut. This is Hal Gatewood’s work since 2001, and you can call him at (350) 247-4763 and talk to a live person about your gate right now.
We install driveway gates, pedestrian gates, sliding and swing gates, double gates, and security gates across Encino and the rest of the San Fernando Valley. If another company looked at your property and told you the whole thing has to go, get a second opinion from us first. Hal has a habit of finding the actual problem, welding on site, and saving people thousands when everybody else wanted to sell a replacement. That’s the reason we’ve been at this for more than 29 years with the name still on the shop.
The 90-Day Done Right Promise is stamped in writing on every installation. If it’s not done right, we make it right, one call brings Hal back. No runaround, no fine print.
What Our Gate Installation Service Includes
Every gate installation starts with the post and ends with the closing gap. We handle the whole job: concrete, steel, hardware, automation, safety edges, and the final adjustment. You won’t have to coordinate three different companies.
Driveway Gate Installation
A driveway gate is the main entry point for vehicles, and it takes more abuse than any other gate on the property. In Encino, where driveways run from tight hillside cuts to wide flat frontages south of Ventura Boulevard, the hinge loads and post foundations shift depending on soil and slope. We set posts in concrete below the frost line, hang the gate so it clears evenly, and match the hardware to the weight of the panel. If you’re adding an opener, we run the power and set the safety eyes so the gate reverses when it should.
Pedestrian Gate Installation
A pedestrian gate is the smaller walk-through gate beside the driveway or along a side yard. It needs to swing without dragging, latch securely, and hold up to years of kids, mail carriers, and the occasional dog leaning on it. We build and hang these to match the driveway gate, using the same materials and finish. If the post leans a half inch, we fix the post before we hang the panel, because a gate sags in the hinge post, not in the middle.
Sliding Gate Installation
A sliding gate travels on rollers along a track, which makes it the right choice for driveways that slope up or where there’s no room for the gate to swing inward. We set the cantilever or track system on a level foundation and adjust the rollers so the gate moves without grinding. In Encino, sliding gates are common on properties built into hillsides where swing clearance is limited. We handle the full install including the motor mount, rack, and limit switches.
Swing Gate Installation
Swing gates work on hinges and open like a door, either single leaf or double leaf. They’re quieter than sliders and usually less expensive to automate, but they need a flat enough driveway and enough room for the arc of the panel. We size the hinges to the gate’s weight, set the posts deep, and check the gap so the gate doesn’t bind in wet weather. On a double swing, we adjust the center so both leaves meet without chattering.
Double Gate Installation
A double gate is two leaves meeting in the middle, used for wide driveways where a single panel would be too heavy or too wide to swing. The hard part is the center adjustment, especially when the driveway isn’t perfectly level side to side. We build each leaf to match, set both posts square, and test the closing by hand before any opener is attached. If you’re planning an automated double gate, we factor in the operator’s torque rating and the backup battery location.
Security Gate Installation
A security gate is built to stop more than the neighbor’s cat, which means heavier steel, better locks, and often integration with an intercom or access control keypad. In Encino, homeowners install security gates for peace of mind on long driveways and for properties that sit back off the street. We build to the security level you actually need, not the most expensive thing we can sell. That includes tamper-resistant hinges, anti-lift brackets, and a lock that holds against prying.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service for Gate Installation
We’re certified to install and service nine major gate brands, and we stock OEM parts for the ones we see most often in Encino. Viking and Ghost Controls are two of the most common openers we install on heavy driveway gates. Viking builds industrial-grade hydraulic operators that hold up on big steel gates, and we’ve set enough of them to know the bleed-valve adjustment matters more than any amount of horsepower on the label. Ghost Controls makes a solid residential line of swing and slide operators that we’ve installed on dozens of Encino driveways. Their battery backup options work well here, where power outages hit the hills during fire season.
DoorKing and Elite show up often on commercial-style access systems and larger residential properties. DoorKing’s sliding operators are tough but unforgiving if the track isn’t perfectly level, so we spend extra time on the foundation before bolting anything down. Elite makes a strong line of solar-compatible operators that work well for gates set back from house power. Whether you already have a specific operator brand or you’re starting from zero, Hal can tell you what holds up on your street and what doesn’t.
Signs You Need Gate Installation Right Now
- The gate drags or scrapes the ground every time it opens. A gate that scrapes is telling you the hinge post has moved or the hinges have worn past their service life. Every scrape wears the panel, bends the hardware, and eventually torques the post until the whole gate sits crooked. On an automated gate, the opener motor starts pulling harder to compensate, which shortens its life too.
- The posts wobble or show cracks at the base. A post that moves at the base was set too shallow or the concrete has broken down. Show me the gate closing on its own and I’ll show you where it’s failing. A cracked post means the gate’s structural anchor is gone, and no amount of hinge adjustment will fix that. It’s a replacement, not a repair.
- The gate won’t stay open or closed without the opener holding it. If you have to press the remote twice just to keep the gate where you want it, the limit switches or the hinges are shot. On a swing gate, a failing hinge lets the panel drift until it clips a car bumper. On a sliding gate, drift means the gate creeps off the track. Both are warnings, not quirks.
- You’re propping the gate open with a rock or a bungee cord. The day you need a rock to keep your gate open is the day you’ve accepted a broken gate as normal. It’s not normal. It’s a hinge or track problem that’s getting worse every time the wind moves the panel. We see this constantly in Encino, and it’s usually a one-day fix, not a full replacement.
- The gate is so rusted or bent it won’t pass a visual check. Rust through the rails isn’t cosmetic, it’s structural. Once the steel loses its section thickness at the bottom rail or the hinge plate, the panel can drop onto a car or a person without warning. If you can see daylight through a rust hole or the gate has been hit and straightened before, it’s time for new steel.
Our Gate Installation Process - Step by Step
Here’s how it goes when you call Gatewood Fence & Gate for an installation. Same process every time, no surprises.
- 1
Call and talk to Hal. You call (350) 247-4763 and a live person answers. Hal asks about your property, what the gate needs to do, and what failed on the old one. If you have photos, he’ll look at them. If you have a written estimate from someone else, he’ll give it a free read and tell you if it’s honest.
- 2
Site visit and measurements. Hal or one of his background-checked crew shows up in the window promised, at a window that works for you. We measure the driveway, check the existing posts with a level and a probe, and look at the soil and slope. We also check where the power is and how far the opener will sit from the panel.
- 3
Written price, agreed before work starts. You get a written price for the whole job. The price is quoted and agreed before any work starts, and it doesn’t change at the door. If we find something unexpected underground, we stop and talk to you before spending a dollar more. That’s the only way we work.
- 4
Installation. We cut the old gate out if there is one, set the new posts in concrete, hang the panel, and level it. If your gate needs welding, we weld on site right in your driveway, so the gate never leaves your property. Then we install and program any opener, keypad, or safety edge, and test the closing across the full travel about twenty times.
- 5
Walkthrough and Done Right Promise. Before we leave, we walk the gate with you. We show you how it sounds, how the safety edge reverses, and what to watch for over the first month. Every job carries the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If it’s not done right, one call brings Hal back.
How Much Does Gate Installation Cost in Encino?
A pedestrian gate in Encino typically runs $1,200 to $3,800, a single driveway swing gate between $2,800 and $5,500, and a large automated sliding gate or double gate from $5,000 to $9,500 or more for heavy steel and a full operator package. For full Gate Installation pricing details, see our breakdown below. The spread comes from materials, gate width, whether we’re reusing existing posts, and what kind of automation you need. Aluminum costs more than steel up front but holds its finish longer. Wrought iron looks good but needs a primer and paint schedule to survive Encino’s dry heat and the occasional marine layer pushing through the Sepulveda Pass.
What moves the price: post foundation work (especially on hillside lots), opener type and horsepower, access control (keypad, intercom, phone-based entry), and whether we need a trenched power run from the house. The way to avoid overpaying is to get a written line item quote and ask what’s included. Free estimates from us include every line item, the removal cost for the old gate, and the exact brand and model of every part we plan to install. No trip charge inside the county. And if you already have a written estimate from another company, Hal will give you his free second opinion. A $12,000 quote that includes a new post, a decent Viking operator, and a two-year-old opener you don’t need is the kind of thing we catch all the time. Call (350) 247-4763 and get the real number.
Gate Installation Near Encino - Our Service Area
We install gates all over Encino and the neighboring communities: Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Tarzana, Reseda, North Hollywood, West Hollywood, and up through the wider San Fernando Valley. We’ve done Gate Installation in Los Angeles and Gate Installation in Santa Monica for years, and we know the permit quirks and hillside conditions that change from block to block. If you’re in Encino proper or just a few miles out, Hal will be there in a reasonable window and the estimate is free. For a broader look at what we do, start at our home page. And for the full Encino service detail, this Gate Installation in Encino page covers it all.
Serving Encino, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Encino area and know this community well, offering Encino Gate Installation with local expertise. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Gate Installation in Encino
Gate installation is the full process of setting new gate posts in concrete, hanging a new gate panel, and adding any hardware or automation needed to make it open and close properly. At Gatewood Fence & Gate, we handle everything from the dirt work and concrete to the welding, wiring, and final adjustment in one visit. We don’t outsource the post setting to a landscaper or the opener to an electrician. It’s one company, one price, one person accountable for the whole job.
A typical single driveway gate takes one day to install, and a more involved automated double gate can take two days. Concrete needs time to cure before the gate gets its final adjustment, so we usually set posts and pour on day one, then hang and tune the panel the next day or a couple of days later. We’ll tell you the exact schedule in your written estimate before any work starts. Call (350) 247-4763 and Hal will give you a straight answer for your specific job.
In Encino, expect to pay between $2,800 and $9,500 for a full gate installation depending on size, material, and automation. A basic pedestrian gate runs at the low end, while a large automated sliding or double gate with access control is at the high end. The only way to know your number is to have the property measured. Our estimates are free, written, and include every line item, so you know exactly what you’re paying before we start. Call (350) 247-4763 for a free estimate.
Yes, we’re certified to install and service all four brands along with five others, and we stock OEM parts for the ones we see most in Encino. Hal has installed Viking hydraulic operators on heavy steel driveway gates, Ghost Controls residential openers on tight hillside lots, DoorKing slide operators on commercial-style systems, and Elite solar-compatible units on gates set back from house power. We match the opener to the gate’s actual weight and duty cycle. If you already own one of these brands, we’ll work with it; if not, Hal will tell you which one makes sense for your setup.
We answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and if your gate is down and your driveway is open to the street, we’ll treat it like the urgent problem it is. Installation work itself is scheduled and measured, but we’ll come look, give you a written price, and get the job booked fast. For emergency repairs on a failing gate, same-day response is available in Encino. The phone never goes to voicemail, it rings to a live person.
Every gate installation carries our 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If it’s not done right, we make it right, no runaround, no fine print. Beyond that, the brands we install carry their own manufacturer warranties on openers and operators, and we register those for you. Hal’s name is on the shop and on every job, and the shop is down the road. That’s the oldest accountability there is.
Clear the driveway and the area around the gate, move any vehicles that sit near the work zone, and put any small pets inside. We’ll handle the old gate removal, the concrete work, and the cleanup. Before we arrive, know where your breaker panel is in case we need to run power for an opener, and tell Hal if there’s an HOA or a specific finish you need to match. We’ll walk the whole job with you on site before the first tool comes out.
Schedule Your Gate Installation Service in Encino Today
If your gate is sagging, stuck, or flat out gone, don’t let it sit another month. Call (350) 247-4763 and talk to Hal or one of his crew, any hour, any day. The estimate is free, there’s no trip charge inside the county, and the price you’re quoted is the price you pay. That’s how we’ve operated since 2001, and it’s why neighbors in Encino keep passing our name along.
Written by Hal Gatewood, Owner at Gatewood Fence & Gate, serving Encino since 2001.