T C Rowan designs, fabricates and installs bespoke driveway gates across Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties, from a single swing gate for a private home to paired estate gates and wide sliding gates for developments. Whether you call them metal driveway gates or steel driveway gates, we make them to measure rather than fitting a stock kit. We fabricate the steelwork in our own Banbury workshop and install it with our own team, so the firm that draws your gate is the firm that hangs it. For an exposed external gate that has to swing or slide reliably for decades, that single line of responsibility from drawing to final hinge is what keeps the gate square, the gaps even and the operation smooth.
Types of driveway gate we fabricate
The right gate depends on your opening, your ground levels and how you want to use the access. We fabricate all the common types in steel to your design.
- Swing gates (single or paired-leaf) for level openings with room for the leaves to swing clear. The traditional choice for most homes and estate entrances.
- Sliding gates (cantilever or tracked) for sloping driveways, tight openings where a swing arc will not fit, or wider commercial and farm entrances.
- Estate gates for longer driveways and period properties, where heavier sections and traditional detailing give the entrance presence.
- Bespoke gates to your own design or to match existing railings, fencing or a property’s character, including infill bar patterns, finials and matching pedestrian gates.
Driveway gates sit within our wider steel gates and railings work, so we can match a new gate to existing railings or fabricate the gate, railings and matching pedestrian gate as one coordinated package.
Automation-ready steel gate frames
If you want electric gates, the steelwork has to be built for it from the start. We fabricate automation-ready gate frames: the hinge posts, gate stops, ground clearances and pier or post fixings are sized and positioned so an automated operator can be fitted cleanly, whether that is an underground motor, a ram arm or a sliding-gate motor and rack.
To be clear on scope: we fabricate the steel gate and frame. The automation gear itself, the motors, control board, safety photocells, intercom and wiring, is usually supplied and installed by a dedicated gate-automation specialist or electrician. We coordinate the steel dimensions, weights and fixing positions with them so the operator they specify fits the gate we build, first time. If you would prefer to start with a manually operated gate and automate later, we can build in the provision now so the steelwork is ready when you are.
Finishes: galvanised and powder-coated
A driveway gate is fully exposed to the weather and moves every day, so the finish matters as much as the steel. We finish driveway gates to last.
- Hot-dip galvanising as the base protection, coating the steel inside and out for long-term corrosion resistance. This is the layer that does the real work of stopping rust on an external gate.
- Powder coating over the galvanising in your chosen colour, for a tough, even, low-maintenance finished surface. Galvanise-and-powder-coat together give the most durable result.
- Primer and paint systems where a traditional painted finish is preferred.
We confirm the finish specification with you before any steel is cut, so the colour and protection level are agreed up front rather than assumed.
From design to install: how it works
Every gate follows the same disciplined path, and it is why our gates arrive ready to hang rather than ready to adjust.
- Free site survey. We measure the real opening, check ground levels and gradient, and look at how the gate will be used (foot traffic, vehicle size, automation). Real dimensions, not assumed ones.
- Design and drawings. We produce a gate design and fabrication drawings, agree the type, infill pattern, finish and any automation provision, and sign it off with you before cutting steel.
- Fabrication. Cutting, forming, welding and finishing in our Banbury workshop by qualified, coded welders, then galvanising and powder coating to the agreed specification.
- Installation. Our own team installs the gate, hangs the leaves or sets the sliding track, and checks the operation. Where automation is being fitted, we coordinate with the automation specialist so the steelwork and the operator marry up on site.
Working with one firm from survey to installation closes the gaps where gate projects usually go wrong: openings measured wrong, posts set out of plumb, or a gate built too heavy for the operator someone else specified.
Quality and standards
T C Rowan is CE approved and works to BS EN 1090 execution standards, the recognised standard for structural and fabricated steelwork in the UK and Europe. Our welding is carried out by qualified, coded welders, we are fully insured, and material traceability is available on request. The same Banbury workshop and erection team that handle our structural projects fabricate and fit your gate, so a driveway gate gets the same standard of fabrication as a structural frame.
For security beyond the gate itself, our security steel fencing service covers the perimeter, so a driveway gate and a matched fence line can be designed and installed together.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make a driveway gate that works with electric automation?
Yes. We fabricate the steel gate and frame to be automation-ready, with the hinge posts, gate stops and pier or post fixings sized and positioned for an automated operator. We build the steelwork; the automation gear itself (motors, control board, safety photocells and wiring) is usually supplied and installed by a gate-automation specialist or electrician, and we coordinate the steel dimensions with them so the kit fits first time.
Should I choose a swing gate or a sliding gate for my driveway?
It depends on your space and ground. Swing gates suit level openings with room for the leaves to open inwards, and pair well with paired-leaf estate entrances. Sliding (cantilever or tracked) gates suit sloping driveways, tight spaces where a swing arc will not fit, or wider commercial openings. We assess your opening on a free site survey and recommend the type that suits your access, gradient and budget.
What finish stops a steel driveway gate from rusting?
For an exposed external gate we recommend hot-dip galvanising as the base layer, which coats the steel inside and out for long-term corrosion protection, followed by powder coating in your chosen colour for the finished look. Galvanise-and-powder-coat together give the most durable result; we confirm the finish specification with you before any steel is cut.
Do you cover my area for driveway gates?
From our Banbury base we cover Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, with larger projects taken on UK-wide. We design, fabricate and install your gate as one firm, so the team that draws the gate is the team that hangs it. Contact us for a free site survey and quote on your driveway gate.