2026-08-06 · 6 min
Swing or sliding: choosing an aluminum courtyard gate
The leaf, the track, and the drive decide the gate. A rendering does not. Here is what to measure before you ask for a factory drawing.
Courtyard gates fail in the opening, not in the ornament. A swing leaf needs room to arc. A sliding leaf needs a straight run and a track that the drive can live with. Pick that before you pick a pattern.
Measure the opening and the parking of the leaf
For a swing gate, measure the opening and the swing back onto the drive or into the court. Two leaves meet in the middle and need a stop. For a sliding gate, measure the opening plus the parking length beside it. A 4 m opening does not fit in a 4 m wall.
Electric sliding gates are a different model from a manual swing leaf. The motor, the rack, and the photocells are part of the product, not accessories to invent after installation.
Send CAD, not only a photograph
We build entrance and courtyard gates from CAD and from site sizes. A photo of a gate you like is a style reference. The widths, the infill, and the lock side still have to be drawn.
Gate models named on our ICR verification follow EN 1090. Sliding architectural doors are a separate category and are not automatically on that certificate. Ask before you copy a gate clause onto a door schedule.