Wooden Driveway Gates: Pros & Cons of Horizontal Designs

Wooden Driveway Gates Come in Many Forms

 Wooden driveway gates come in many shapes and sizes. One of the most popular varieties in recent years is horizontal driveway gates. Horizontal wooden driveway gates refers to driveway gates which are composed planks of wood on a metal frame, and oriented horizontally, instead of vertically. Here is an example of a horizontal wooden driveway gate:

As you can see from this example, the wooden planks are attached horizontally, as opposed to vertically, which is the traditional way gates are constructed.

This style of gate is beautiful; and like everything else, it comes with its very own list of pros and cons. 

Horizontal Wooden Driveway Gates: The Pros

There are many advantages to choosing a horizontal style of driveway gate. Some of these advantages may surprise you!

1. Noise Cancellation

One distinct advantage of horizontal wooden driveway gates is their noise cancelling ability. The solid wooden surface absorbs sounds that would pass through the open spaces between the wooden planks of a traditional style wooden gate. Horizontal wooden driveway gates act as a sound buffer, and can make a big difference in reducing the noise of passing cars and other outside sounds. Although they are not sound proof, they can reduce the noise from outside sources. 

2. Privacy

Horizontal wooden driveway gates also provide absolute privacy, unlike some other styles of gate. The majority of gates created in this style do not have spaces between the planks of wood; therefore, it is not possible to see through them. This can be particularly important to families which have children who play in the front yard, or have expensive cars or patio furniture which would otherwise be easily seen by strangers and passersby. This level of privacy is not exclusive to horizontal wooden driveway gates, but it is still an advantage of the style.

3. Resale Value

Horizontal Wooden driveway gates and fences are extremely popular currently, and the trend is not showing any signs of slowing. Where as a potential buyer may not notice or acknowledge a standard wooden fence, horizontal wooden driveway gates and fences leave an impression. Although they are rapidly growing in popularity, these fences are still unique enough to be considered an upgrade - one that can potentially raise the resale value of your house. People love the custom touch, and modern look of wooden driveway gates, and having one on your property can really make it stand out among competitors. These gates are considered a luxury item, and the investment into a horizontal wooden gate is often times returned when the house is sold. 

Horizontal Wooden Driveway Gates: The Cons

While we could sing the praises of horizontal wooden driveway gates all day, it is important to acknowledge the few disadvantages to choosing this style of gate for your home. 

1. Easier to Climb

While not all horizontal wooden driveway gates suffer from this problem, an easy to climb fence is the reality for homeowners whose fences either have spaces between the horizontal planks, or whose fences are constructed in a way that the wood planks create a surface that is not perfectly smooth. Some home owners have argued that a horizontal wooden fence offers ledges which can be easily scaled by pets, or intruders. Especially in the case of horizontal wooden fences with spaces between the planks, the fence can become more of a ladder than a fence. A way to get around this problem is to, firstly, hire a professional gate installer who can make sure that the fence is constructed to avoid this issue, and 2. Choose a fence style which doesn't include spaces between the planks of wood. 

2. Warping or Cupping

Another disadvantage of horizontal wooden driveway gates and fences is that they tend to be more susceptible to warping. In environments with high humidity or frequent rainfall, horizontal wooden fences are more likely to experience a warping of the wooden planks due to the excessive moisture.

Different ways wooden planks can warp

Regular maintenance, and using correct, high quality building materials are great ways to avoid this problem. Inferior fence building materials, such as wood which has not been pressure treated or waterproofed, are the number one cause of this potential problem. All wooden fences can warp due to humidity or moisture, and horizontal wooden fences are not exempt from this potential problem.

3. Initial Cost

While wood is still more economic to use for a fence or gate building material than its iron counterpart, horizontal wooden fences are more expensive than vertical wooden fences to build. This makes the initial cost higher, and also makes maintenance of the fence down the road come with a higher price tag. Many would argue that the expense is absolutely worth the benefits provided by this style of fencing; however, it can be argued that a disadvantage of horizontal wood driveway gates is that the initial expense can be much more than it would be with a standard installation of a vertical wood fence. 

Horizontal Wood Driveway Gates: The Verdict

Horizontal wooden driveway gates are beautiful, and offer a modern take on a classic style. The popularity of this type of fence construction is a testament to its perceived value. While some homeowners may argue that this is not the best style of fence, it is obvious by the rapid growth in popularity of horizontal wooden fences that they will continue to grow in popularity. Ultimately, the decision is yours!