How to make and install sliding gates with your own hands - secrets and installation pitfalls, step-by-step guide

Sliding gates are an alternative to classic swing gates.The structure consists of guides, a shield, a frame, rollers, and an electric drive (an optional element). There are a lot of details, but making sliding gates with your own hands is not a problem if you know the basic nuances. The sliding mechanism has several advantages - safety, simple control system, convenient automation.

Design and principle of operation of sliding gates

The design got its name from the method of opening. The gate leaf moves along the fence, that is, in the plane of the gate opening, thereby taking up less space.

There are three types of sliding gate devices:

• rail;
• hanging;
• console

In the design of sliding gates on a rail, there are rollers located at the bottom.The entire structure rests on them, and with their help the canvas moves. The roller support goes on a rail laid in the road surface. The gate is held in the upper part by a bracket on which side rollers are attached.

The rollback of such gates is equal to the width of the opening.

Design disadvantages:

• the rail is located across the entire width of the passage;
• the latter is constantly clogged with dirt, and in winter with snow and ice, which is fraught with problems with opening the gate. Therefore, the rail must be cleaned periodically. You can install a heating cable, which solves the icing problem, but this increases installation costs, plus additional energy costs.

The design of the latter includes an upper beam along which the gate moves on rollers. It is this that limits the height of the passage. Although it is possible to install a gate with a removable top beam. But this complicates the design and reduces its reliability. A removable beam also means an increase in financial costs. The width of the gate is equal to the length of the rollback.

Retractable gates of the third type are used more often than others today. It's all about the roller supports, which are located outside the opening area, and it is not limited by anything. The design uses the same bracket as in the first version.

Sliding gates of this type are 1.5 times longer than the width of the opening. The additional part acts as a counterweight to the main structure and has a trapezoid or triangle configuration. It increases the space for the gate to move. A more powerful foundation is built under this variety.

Read also: How to make a garage door with your own hands: diagrams and step-by-step instructions.

Two more elements are added to the device of cantilever sliding gates - upper and lower catchers.They keep the canvas in balance when it is closed. The elements are located on the opposite pillar of the gateway. In this case, in the lower catcher there is a shelf on which the console rests when closed.

Design Features

To create a drawing, two parameters are used: the width of the opening and the height of the sliding gate. The latter is important purely for operational quality if suspended models are manufactured. In other cases The size is selected taking into account the external design appearance.

In the future, we will consider the cantilever version, as it is often used in private housing construction.

Drawings for manufacturing

Sliding gate drawings should be approached from the standpoint of simplicity of design. It has two important elements:

• cantilever beam;
• two roller bearings.

The first rests on the second and moves along their location. The gate itself is attached on top of the beam, usually using electric welding. The rollers are installed outside the opening.

Both of these elements are finished products. They can be purchased at a hardware store. Depending on the weight of the gate itself, consoles and rollers of different sections and sizes are sold. Although we must pay tribute to the craftsmen who offer consoles and roller carriages manufactured with your own hands.

The cantilever door leaf is a frame covered with some flat material. Today, corrugated sheets are often used. We have a detailed article about how to make a gate with your own hands from corrugated sheets. Previously, they were sheathed with boards or metal sheets. One of the popular options is a frame with forged steel decorative elements. It is this that reduces such an indicator as the windage of the gate, which affects reliability.That is, the smaller the windage, the higher the reliability.

To make the frame, profiled pipes of different sections are used: external ones with a large cross-section, for internal filling with a smaller one.

You can make sliding gates with your own hands according to the ready-made drawings given below. They can be taken as a basis, taking into account the dimensions of the structure.

Diagrams of cantilever sliding gates are understandable to a person who does not even have a special technical education. The main thing is to correctly take the required measurements, which will be needed in calculating the dimensions of the gate structure.

Height and width data

First of all, the width of the gate is determined, which depends on the width of the opening, that is, on the distance between the entrance pillars. The last parameter is calculated taking into account the width of the car (the distance between the side-view mirrors). And to this size 30-50 cm is added on each side.

The gate itself must be made 10 cm larger on each side so that it covers not only the opening, but also part of the pillars. This way you can ensure that when looking at the structure from the side, there are no gaps between it and the pillars.

When calculating the width, take into account how the car will enter the site. If the road ends at a gate, then the calculation remains unchanged. The same will happen when entering at an angle of 90º. If at a smaller angle, then the distance between the pillars must be increased.

It's all about reducing the gap between the car and the poles. And if the road is dirty or there is snow on it, then there is a high probability that the car will skid when sliding. A small gap may not save you from hitting a pole in this case. Therefore, in this case, the width of the opening must be further increased on each side by 10-20 cm.

Regarding the height of sliding gates - there is an opinion that this size should correspond to the height of the fence. From the outside, such a structure looks more aesthetically pleasing. Although everyone decides on this parameter independently. But the greater the height, the heavier the sliding gate itself, plus the higher the windage. Accordingly, the cost of the structure and the complexity of its assembly increases.

Counterweight calculation

As indicated above, the length of the counterweight is equal to half the width of the opening. If the sliding gates are not heavy (300-400 kg), then the length can be taken based on a third of the entrance width.

The same size can be used if the counterweight configuration is rectangular.

Calculation of the strength of fittings

The strength of the fittings is the main indicator that affects the service life of sliding gates.

The accessories include:

• two roller bearings;
• lower support beam;
• two catchers;
• a supporting bracket located on a pole at which the rollers are mounted.

Usually all this is sold as a set. Manufacturers offer different models of components, which differ from each other in the thickness of the material. The choice depends on the weight of the sliding gate.

When approaching the calculation of sliding gates, it is necessary to take into account not only the dimensions of the structure, but also the weight of the material from which it will be assembled.

General rules for choosing components and fittings depending on the weight of the gate

Sliding gates with different sizes mean, first of all, different weights of the product. It is based on the last parameter that components are selected that have different technical and operational characteristics. Below are the characteristics of fittings for different cantilever-type gates from the ALUTECH company.

1100-1500 kg

The heaviest gates, which are not installed on private plots.They are installed at production facilities.

Characteristics of accessories:

1. Rollers. Suggested overall dimensions: 190x480x175 mm. Roller diameter – 100 mm. Here it is taken into account that the first support will withstand a load of 3.4 tons, the second - 1.5 tons.
2. Bottom catcher made of steel 5 mm thick. Suggested dimensions: 188x153x100 mm.
3. The upper catcher is made of steel, 4 mm thick. The sizes are the same.
4. Support beam. Made of steel 5 mm thick. Height and width – 130x135 mm.

800-1000 kg

All the same sizes in order:

1. Rollers – 100x251x138.5 mm. Wheel diameter – 61 mm.
2. Bottom catcher – steel thickness 4 mm. Dimensions: 140x101x95 mm.
3. Upper catcher – thickness 3.5 mm.
4. Support beam – thickness 4.5 mm. Dimensions of height and width: 89x74.

600-700 kg

Characteristics of the fittings in the same order:

1. Rollers – 80x167x112 mm. Wheel diameter – 55 mm.
2. Bottom catcher – metal thickness 3.5 mm. Dimensions: 100x82x80 mm.
3. Upper catcher – thickness 3-3.5 mm.
4. Support beam – thickness 3.5-4 mm. Height, width: 70x60 mm.

300-500 kg

Characteristics of accessories:

1. Rollers – 178x90x117.8 mm. Wheel diameter - 43 mm.
2. The dimensions of the lower catcher are 100x96x67 mm. Metal thickness – 3 mm.
3. Upper catcher – thickness 3 mm.
4. Support beam – wall thickness 3.6 mm. Dimensions 60x55 mm.

The only thing you need to pay special attention to is the material from which the components are made. It should be high-strength steel, for example, grade S355.

Additional calculations

For the construction of foundations for cantilever sliding gates, three options are used. One is shaped like the letter “P”. That is, these are two buried pillars on which the concrete strip rests. And this entire structure must be monolithic and reinforced.In this case, the depth of laying the pillars should be greater than the depth of soil freezing.

This is a rather complex and time-consuming option, so in private housing construction they use either a buried strip or two free-standing pillars. In all three cases, a channel is placed on top of the foundation structure, which becomes a support or base for the sliding gate rollers. It is attached to a reinforcing grid, laid in the prepared formwork under the foundation. Fastening method: electric welding.

As for the dimensions of the foundation itself:

• laying depth is the depth of soil freezing in the area where the house is being built, plus 10-15 cm;
• length is equal to the length of the counterweight.

Width is more difficult. This parameter will depend on the width of the entrance opening. The larger the latter, the wider the foundation.

Restrictions on the installation of sliding gates

There are no special restrictions for the installation of sliding gates. Situations may simply arise that interfere with installation work. For example:

1. There is a tree growing on the rollback line of the structure that needs to be removed. The developer decides whether to sleep or not.
2. If there are overhead or underground communications in the gate area.
3. There is some kind of building located in the rollback zone. It could even be a neighbor's fence.
4. Non-straightness of the relief.

Manufacturing of cantilever sliding gates and installation stages

Step-by-step instructions for making and installing sliding gates with your own hands is the sequence of construction operations:

1. Determining the size of the gate taking into account the width of the passage.
2. Creating a canvas drawing. Determining its weight, taking into account the frame and cladding.
3. Selection and purchase of accessories.
4. Installation of support pillars.They can be metal, made of metal profiles or assembled from masonry materials: brick, concrete blocks, stone.
5. Construction of the foundation: marking, excavation, installation of a reinforced lattice with a channel welded to it, pouring concrete mortar.
6. Installation of fittings. Roller supports are attached to the channel even before it is connected to the reinforced frame and concrete is poured.
7. Installation of sliding gates.
8. Painting the structure.

Materials and tools

Here it is necessary to make a division according to the construction work being carried out. This is the assembly of the door leaf frame and the construction of the foundation. Therefore, for the first construction operation the following materials will be required:

1. Profiled pipes. One of the options - a section of 60x40x2 mm is used to assemble the frame. Section 40x20x2 mm for internal elements of the canvas.
2. Covering sliding gates: corrugated sheets, boards, steel sheets, etc.

To assemble the frame:

1. Welding machine.
2. A corner used to set the joint angles for connecting profile pipes.
3. Clamps for fixing frame elements.

To build a foundation for sliding gates, the following materials are needed:

1. Cement, crushed stone and sand for mixing concrete mortar.
2. Channel No. 20 for the base for the rollers. This is not the only option.
3. Steel reinforcement with a diameter of 10-12 mm for the reinforcing grid.

Tools for mixing concrete include shovels and a concrete mixer. For digging soil - shovels, crowbars.

There is one more element that will be required - mortgages. These are steel angles that are inserted into the brick or blockwork at the level of installation of the traps and support bracket. It is clear that if the pillars are steel pipes or other rolled metal, then there is no need to attach mortgages to them.The fittings themselves are directly attached by welding to metal surfaces.

Preparing parts for the recoil mechanism

At this stage it is necessary to prepare the support beam and rollers. Roller bearings are elements either ready-made or made by hand. They just need to be installed on a channel stand and welded to it. The distance between the rollers depends on two design parameters of sliding cantilever gates: weight, size.

Laying brick pillars

The supporting pillars for the gate can be made entirely of brick. But there is a safer option. To do this, a profile pipe or a regular one with a round cross-section is installed as a base, and then it is lined with brick. The embedded parts are also welded to the pipe.

Like all supporting structures, pillars are a load-bearing element. Therefore, a solid foundation of concrete of a grade not lower than M300 is poured under it. The optimal laying depth is below the soil freezing level.

Under each pillar:

• a well is dug;
• the bottom is covered with coarse sand in a layer of 10-15 cm, but it can also be replaced with fine-grained crushed stone;
• a reinforcing frame made of reinforcement with a diameter of 10-12 mm and a cross-section in the form of a triangle or square is inserted inside;
• Concrete is poured, which must then stand for 28 days to gain brand strength. After this time, the structure can be loaded.

It is at the stage of forming the reinforced frame that it is necessary to install a profile pipe in the pit, welding it to the frame. The pipe must be positioned strictly vertically.

Brick cladding is carried out using standard technology, as shown in the photo below. Here you can clearly see how the embedded parts are attached to the pipe.

Pit marking and soil excavation

The foundation for the channel and roller supports is selected taking into account the bearing capacity of the soil. The simplest option is columnar. For this:

1. At least two holes are made with a garden drill with a diameter of 200 mm. It all depends on the length of the counterweight. Using a drill makes everything easier, faster and more convenient.
2. Reinforcing frames made of reinforcement are installed inside. The cross-section can be round, square or triangular.
3. A support channel is welded to the frames. Welding can be carried out before installing reinforcement structures.
4. Pouring concrete solution into wells.

It is more difficult to make a strip foundation for sliding gates. There will be a large amount of excavation work here.

Markings are made on the ground:

• pit length – length of the gate counterweight;
• the width depends on the length of the gate structure;
• depth - 10-15 cm below the soil freezing depth.

The soil is removed with the help of shovels, if we are talking about work done with our own hands.

Manufacturing of embedded structure

Typically, a strip foundation is reinforced with reinforcement structures in the form of two grids installed vertically and connected by lintels made of the same reinforcement as the entire frame. The size of the grid cells depends on the loads to which the foundation is subjected. The diameter of the fittings is 10-12 mm.

The embedded structure is assembled outside the foundation trench. A channel support is immediately welded to it. To strengthen it, several additional reinforcing bars can be welded to the latter.

Installation of the embedded element in the pit

There are two requirements here:

1. The entire embedded structure is installed so that the channel is pressed tightly against the support column.
2. The channel must be positioned strictly horizontally.

Electrical wiring for gate automation

If it is decided to automate sliding gates for ease of opening and closing, then even at the stage of foundation formation it is necessary to lay electrical wiring to the electric motor and automation system. To do this, use the cable that is included in the kit, or purchase it according to the recommendations of the manufacturer of the opening mechanism.

The wire must be placed in a protective tube - it can be plastic or metal. It is important here that moisture does not get inside. Therefore, the ends of the pipe are sealed.

The place of laying is the foundation. The pipe is attached to the reinforcement cage.

Pit concreting

For this stage of installation of sliding gates, a concrete solution of a grade not lower than M300 is used. Concrete begins to be poured after installing the embedded structure and aligning the channel horizontally: in the transverse and longitudinal directions simultaneously.

The mixture is poured with compaction using a deep vibrator to remove air that has entered the solution during the mixing process. Air bubbles reduce the strength of the concrete structure.

Welding

At this stage, roller carriages are welded to the support channel. The installation location of the latter is determined in advance. Welding is carried out along the entire perimeter, because the rollers are subject to heavy loads, especially bending.

It is important to correctly install the first roller near the support post. Usually this is 10 cm from the support along the channel.

Before starting welding, it is better to disassemble the roller carriage. It consists of two parts:

• support with adjusting bolts;
• rollers mounted on a metal stand.

First, the first one is welded to the channel support, then the second one is put on it, or rather on the bolts, pressing it with nuts.

Fixing the knurling end roller

This is a lower gate catcher on rollers, which is installed on a pole opposite the rollers. To do this, a support console is placed on the roller carriages. A catcher is mounted 10-15 cm above it. This is where the embedded part should be installed, inserted into the brickwork.

Fixation is done by electric welding.

Bracket Upper Guide Stop Fasteners

Everything here is the same as with the bottom element. Fastening is carried out to the mortgage by electric welding. The only thing is that welding is carried out spotwise in case something needs to be changed in the location of the catcher. This often happens when final adjustment of sliding gates is made using roller supports.

Making the sash

The sliding gate leaf consists of two parts: the leaf and the counterweight. The latter is not sewn up with finishing material, so it is assembled from one frame. The sash is sheathed, so it is a two-frame product.

The outer one is made of a profiled pipe of larger cross-section. It is a supporting structure. The internal one is assembled from a pipe of a smaller cross-section. It is to this that the gate trim is attached. Several cross members made of the same material will increase the rigidity of the structure, which is important during intensive use of the structure.

As soon as the canvas is ready, a support console is attached to it, or rather to its lower profile. Electric welding is also used here.

Painting and installation

After assembling the canvas:

• all welding joints are processed with a grinder or grinder;
• the structure is degreased;
• primer is applied;
• painted.

After the paint has dried, the gate is practically placed on the rollers, which should be inside the support beam.At the top, the frame is inserted into a support bracket, as shown in the photo below. Installing a sliding gate frame with your own hands is a simple process.

Adjusting the position of the roller bearings

After the installation of the sliding gates has been completed, it is necessary to adjust the roller carriages. It should be noted that the carriages are not welded to the supporting channel. They are secured with studs or bolts, which are welded to the support. Because after installing the gate, it is necessary to align it relative to the opening.

Four types of alignment are used:

1. By height. This makes it possible to install the structure above the road surface in the required parameters. If automatic gates are used, then this adjustment allows you to set the required gap between the gear of the electric drive mechanism and the rack.
2. Across. This allows for an installation in which a gap is maintained between the frame and the plane of the opening.
3. Along. The carriages are aligned on the same axis.
4. Horizontality in a plane that is perpendicular to the plane of the opening. This is the only way to guarantee the verticality of the gate.

Automation installation

The mechanism for automatically opening and closing sliding gates includes:

• electric drive with gear;
• rack;
• two limit switches that turn off the drive when the gate reaches one of the final positions;
• signal lamp.

An assembly frame is mounted under the drive next to the support rail. It is attached to it with four bolts. The toothed rack is welded to the side of the support beam along the entire length of the latter. This operation is performed with the gate open.

Next, two limit switches are installed. One at the edge of the gate works for opening, in the rear part at the front edge of the counterweight for closing.

Final stage

The finishing of the gate is carried out here. The most budget option for finishing material is corrugated sheeting. It is cut to length so that it completely covers the internal frame of the gate structure. The sheets are laid overlapping in one wave. Fastening is done using metal screws with a wide washer.

Instead of corrugated sheets, you can use boards, sandwich panels, and sheet iron.

Wicket in sliding gates

Installing a gate in a sliding gate is a tempting offer, but such a solution is associated with a number of unpleasant nuances:

1. It is inconvenient to enter such a gate. This is due to the height of the lower part of the frame, which you will have to step over. It is very inconvenient to drag a bicycle or cart through such a gate.
2. It is also a problem for a tall person to enter the gate opening; he will have to bend down a lot.
3. The cut out part reduces the rigidity of the gate structure.
4. Two types of handles are installed in the sliding gate gate: recessed, also hidden, or small. Both are not the most convenient option.

Therefore, it is better to install a gate located next to a sliding gate as a separate functional element.

Service

If manual opening sliding gates were made, that is, without automation and a drive, then periodic maintenance comes down to eliminating areas of metal corrosion and lubrication of rotating parts - rollers. These procedures will extend the life of the gate and ensure its smooth operation without distortion.

If an electric drive is added to the design, the number of preventive measures increases:

• cleaning the rack and gear from dirt;
• cleaning photocells and limit switches;
• voltage check.

Do not lubricate the rack and gear; they will quickly become covered with dirt.

Common Mistakes

Making cantilever sliding gates with your own hands is not difficult. But if you lose sight of some points, you can end up with a design that will not work correctly after some time.

Common mistakes:

1. The measurements were taken incorrectly, which affected the dimensions of the sliding gate.
2. The foundation for the roller carriages was poured incorrectly. Particular attention should be paid to the depth of placement. The shallow structure will begin to deform and shift during the process of soil heaving. This is a guarantee that the gate will not be able to move on the rollers.
3. If the counterweight was made short. Balance is an important indicator of the operation of sliding gates. If the weight of the canvas is not balanced, then the entire structure will “nod off.” This situation may affect the rollers, which will be subject to high bending loads.
4. The door leaf must be rigid. This is the only way to resist the deformations that the structure is subjected to under the influence of wind and loads. Therefore, stiffeners are an important element. Without them, gates cannot be made.
5. You cannot install rollers without an adjustment pad.
6. The cross-section of the support rail must correspond to the length of the gate and its weight. An incorrectly selected ratio will lead to deformation of the rail and rapid wear of the roller carriages.

The simplicity of the design of sliding gates conceals many nuances on which the quality of the product depends. By neglecting any of them, you can lose the money invested in the construction. After all, improper operation and operation leads to unpleasant moments that lead to breakdowns in the future.

What do you think, is the time-tested classic in the form of swing gates better, or sliding gates? Share your opinion in the comments. Save the article to bookmarks and share it on social networks.