Custom Driveway Gates
by JDR Metal Art
Forging legacies for America’s finest estates since 2011.
Finding the perfect custom driveway gates to match your property can be stressful.
We work hand-in-hand with you (or your contractor) to make the custom driveway gate creation experience a whole lot easier, more predictable, less stressful & much more enjoyable.
Custom Driveway Gate Design Styles:
We already have hundreds of beautiful custom driveway gates designs for you to choose from and customize in your own unique way, with a wide array of eye-catching American design themes such as wrought iron & ranch driveway gates, horse-themed driveway gates, tree-themed driveway gates & wildlife-themed driveway gates.
If you can’t find a custom driveway gate you totally love on our website then we will create a custom gate design especially for you from scratch!
1. Traditional & Ranch Style Gates:
Ranch gates with wrought iron, traditional & ranch style driveway gate designs. These custom driveway gates are typically designed primarily for a more bold yet reserved security statement that says “Keep Out”. Often times they need to serve the dual purpose of keeping livestock or pets from escaping the property. We frequently make our ranch gate designs with this specifically in mind. They don’t have to be flashy, but can incorporate wrought iron elements such as the entry gate design below.
A dual-swing aluminum estate gate featuring a custom sailfish medallion. Powder-coated to withstand coastal weather and salt spray.
Picket styles are also a popular option for traditional or ranch driveway gates, offering both security and a classic aesthetic that complements various architectural designs. They can also incorporate plasma cut designs when required, whether it’s a ranch brand, cutting horse design, or something more ornate and decorative.
2. Wildlife Gate Designs:
We also make wildlife metal art themed driveway gates. Here’s a 20′ American Flag themed custom driveway gate with deer, turkeys and ducks for a hunting retreat in Iowa.
These wildlife gates create a unique entryway to your property, combining personalized design with enhanced curb appeal.
3. Horse & Equine Gate Designs That Secure Your Farm Driveway Entrance:
Horse and equine gate designs are crafted not only for durability and security but also to complement the overall aesthetic of your farm or ranch, ensuring a cohesive and attractive property appearance. From classic wooden gates to modern metal options, these designs can be tailored to suit your specific needs and style preferences.
Which Custom Driveway Gates Designs Would Capture the Spirit of Your Horse Ranch?
JDR Metal Art makes equine themed driveway gates for residences, small farms and large horse facilities nationwide. Here’s one of our long-time favorites; a plasma cut German Shepherd & horse themed driveway gate design for Military Mutts Ranch in California:
We can blend whatever is uniquely yours into a custom driveway gate that is, well, uniquely yours. Each gate can be fully customized to match the unique requirements and preferences of your horse ranch. We love working with all different breeds and types of animals!
4. Tree Gate Designs:
We offer a wide variety of tree themed custom driveway gate designs, including classic, modern, and custom options to suit any landscape. Each tree gate is built with exceptional construction quality and expert craftsmanship, ensuring durability and a beautiful finish.
Custom Driveway Gate Solutions: From Tree Gate Designs to Full Entrances
JDR Metal Art makes a wide assortment of tree themed driveway gates, typically for private residences and estates. Oak trees, maple trees, willow trees, trees of life, etc. Need a driveway overhead arch with your custom driveway gates? We do those, too, such as for this one for a 12′ entry gate located in Ball Ground, a small town on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia. We also build custom driveway gates for clients in other areas in the metro area such as Marietta, Milton, Buckhead, Alpharetta, and Cumming.
Custom Driveway Gates Made From Steel
We most commonly create steel driveway gates because they are so strong and durable. Much like its precursor iron, steel is more susceptible to corrosion than aluminum when exposed to moisture and oxygen.
Custom Driveway Gates Made from Aluminum
When the situation calls for it, we also build custom aluminum driveway gates. Aluminum gates are a good choice for those who need a lighter gate or heightened corrosion resistance. Aluminum is less than half the weight of steel and has a very high strength to weight ratio. Although aluminum doesn’t actually “rust” it will still corrode in the form of “white rust” when not properly coated.
Custom Driveway Gates Made from Wrought Iron
We also build custom driveway gates with wrought iron themes. These are typically very heavy gates that require a large gate opener, thus adding expense to the project. They are typical driveway gate installations for businesses and typically urban residences needing heightened security.
HOW IT WORKS:
- Consultation: Share your custom driveway gate vision—what style, size, and features excite you?
- Design: We sketch and refine until it’s perfect, incorporating your ideas.
- Fabrication: Hand-built from aluminum or steel in our shop for precision and quality.
- Powder Coating: Sandblasted & primed first. Thousands of Topcoat Colors available – Standard = 60% Gloss Black
- Delivery/Install: Delivered or shipped anywhere in the U.S. We work with installers nationwide.
- Satisfaction: Backed by our lifetime guarantee—durable, beautiful, and secure.
Ready to Transform Your Entrance with a Custom Driveway Gate? Start today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about designing, building, and installing your custom gate.
Sizing & Design
What size driveway gate do I need? We recommend the gate be at least 1-2 feet wider than your actual driveway to allow room for hinges and clearance.
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Minimum Recommendation: 12′ wide (avoids “close calls” with delivery drivers).
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Emergency Access: Some local jurisdictions require a 14′ opening for emergency vehicles.
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Measuring Tip: Measure from about a foot past the hard surface on one side to a foot past the other side.
Should I get a Single Swing or Dual Swing gate?
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Single Swing: Best for driveways up to 12′ wide. It requires only one opener and one post, making it more cost-effective.
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Dual Swing: Required for driveways wider than 16′. If you have a curved driveway, a dual swing might be necessary depending on where the hinge post sits.
Can you build wide gates? Yes. We build standard sizes (10′, 12′, 14′, 16′, 18′, 20′, 24′) and custom sizes down to the inch.
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Swing Gates: Up to 16-18′ wide for a single leaf (limited by opener strength).
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Slide Gates: We have built single slide gates as wide as 37′ and can go up to 40′+.
Swinging vs. Sliding: Which is better?
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Swinging Gates: Easier to install, cheaper to automate, and require less maintenance.
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Sliding Gates: Great if you have limited space for a gate to swing open, but they are more expensive to automate and require a “tail” (counterbalance) for support.
Materials & Quality
Which is better: Steel or Aluminum? It depends on your environment:
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Aluminum: Weighs 60% less than steel and is extremely corrosion resistant. It is the best choice for coastal areas or large gates where weight is a concern. Our aluminum gates use a minimum 3/16″ material thickness.
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Steel: Very strong and durable but heavier (approx. 250lbs for a 10′ panel). It requires careful maintenance to prevent rust. Our steel gates use a minimum 1/8″ thickness.
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Our Standard: All our metal is stamped “Made in USA.”
How heavy are the gates?
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Steel: Approx. 25 lbs per linear foot.
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Aluminum: Approx. 8.3 lbs per linear foot.
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Example: A 10′ steel panel weighs ~250lbs, while the same design in aluminum weighs just ~83lbs.
What about the posts? We don’t use thin fence posts. Our standard mounting posts are heavy-duty 4×4″ square tubing with a minimum 1/4″ wall thickness. We also fabricate 6×6, 8×8, and larger custom posts.
Installation & Openers
Can I install the gate myself? Yes. With proper planning, many of our clients install their own gates.
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No Welding Needed: Our system bolts directly to the post.
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The Process: Set the gate on wood blocks for clearance, bolt the hinges to the post, and set the post in concrete.
Do I need a permit?
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Rural Areas: Typically, no permit is needed.
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City/HOA: You may need a permit or approval. Always check with your local building department or HOA board before ordering.
How do I power my automatic gate?
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AC Power: Run a standard 110-volt (20 amp) line to the gate location. This charges the opener batteries.
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Solar Power: If you can’t run power, solar is a great option. You need at least 4 hours of direct sunlight per day. We recommend solar-ready openers like the LiftMaster LA 412 or LA 500.
Do gate openers work when the power goes out? Yes. Most modern openers run on a battery backup system (12v or 24v). A fully charged battery can typically cycle the gate ~300 times without power. We recommend replacing these batteries every 3-4 years.
Pricing & Process
How much does a custom driveway gate cost? Price depends heavily on design intricacy and material.
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Range: generally $400 – $1,000 per linear foot.
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Example: A 10′ custom panel typically falls between $4,000 and $10,000.
What is the payment schedule? We require a 50% down payment to begin fabrication (ordering materials, cutting the art). The remaining balance is due upon completion before shipping.
How long does it take to build? Our typical lead time is 6 to 10 weeks from the date of the deposit. Large or highly complex projects may take longer.
Do you charge for design work?
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Existing Designs: No charge. Choose from our 100+ templates.
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New Custom Art: For completely new concepts, we may require a design deposit (up to $1,500) depending on complexity.
Custom Driveway Gates in Action:
Photos can show you the design, but they can’t show you the engineering. Watch the video below to experience the smooth, heavy-duty operation of a JDR Metal Art custom driveway gate. This project features a large custom metal art oak tree with a wildlife theme, fully integrated with an LA500 automatic gate opener for seamless entry and exit, time after time.