Surrey Wrought Iron - Garden Gates

Over the years we have built up a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of gate installation and automation.

Our customers frequently ask us many of the same questions, and this is what we tell them!

What is the difference between galvanising with powder coating and zinc spray with powder coating?

We would normally recommend hot-dip galvanising because it is more resiliant and should last a lifetime, whereas zinc spray would only be expected to last 10-15 years.

Zinc spray is applied using a different technique to galvanising. Zinc spray is where the ironwork is manually sprayed with a protective coating. Galvanising is when the ironwork is dipped in a tank of zinc both resulting the protection of the ironwork against rust.

Once protected, the ironwork can then be powder coated in a colour of the customer's choosing.

Will I need planning permission?

You will need to apply for planning permission if you wish to erect or add to a fence, wall or gate and:

• It would be over 1 metre high and next to a highway used by vehicles (or the footpath of such a highway); or over 2 metres high elsewhere; or
• Your right to put up or alter fences, walls and gates is removed by an article 4 direction or a planning condition; or
• Your house is a listed building or in the curtilage of a listed building.
• The fence, wall or gate, or any other boundary involved, forms a boundary with a neighbouring listed building or its curtilage.

The service can be tailored to a client's specific needs, but most of our clients go for our acting as their agent, in which case the following is included:

• Site visit to confirm requirements and take measurements
• Contact the planning department of the council to register the application as an Agent
• Complete all required Forms and submit application fee
• Sourcing of block plans and location plans
• Preparation of plans and elevations as necessary, and submission to council planning office
• Deal with any questions and progress application to outcome

The budgetary cost of the service is £345.00 + VAT, plus the Council's application fee which is currently £150.00. Our architect will confirm the fee during his site visit.

The planning application/approval cycle can take up to eight weeks.

Do you advise on a plan for my environment and how much does it cost?

Do you sell wooden gates?

Yes. We have a supplier that produces quality wooden gates that we have been using for many years.

We can install and automate wooden gates just as we can with wrought iron ones.

do you offer brick piers?

Yes. We work with highly-skilled and trusted sub-contractors to build an entire perimeter to your property, including walls, railings, fencing, pillars and gates. We can also work with stone.

How often should my gate be serviced?

This depends on several factors.

Assuming they've been zinc galvanised, the paintwork on your manual gates should last for many years with little or no maintenance involved.

A spot of oil on the hinges every now and then should do the trick!

On most residential gates; if you have automation installed we recommend you have your gates serviced at least once a year. Think of this as the same as the MOT on your car.

Surrey Wrought Iron can advise you on this based on the type of automation, expected usage and the size / location of the gates. We also offer competitive
service contracts.

Can I put my electric gates into manual mode?

All CAME automation systems are self-locking, which makes them more secure.

They all come with a manual release key that can be used to open the gates in the event of a power cut.

If you lose your remote control or your release key, don't worry! Surrey Wrought Iron keep plenty in stock and we can get one out to you the following day.