The Truth About composite Gates!
Are All Composite Gates the Same? Here’s What You Need to Know Before Buying
In short, no! When it comes to composite gates, there’s a wide variation in quality across the market, and understanding these differences is crucial before making a purchase. One key thing to know about composite gates is that there’s no regulatory body overseeing their manufacturing process. This lack of oversight gives manufacturers significant freedom in how they approach structural integrity, preparation, and finishing of your gates. While this can lead to innovation, it also means the quality of design and construction often depends on the individual metal fabricator’s experience and skills—which can vary greatly.
At Charged Services, we’ve seen firsthand the impact of poor design when we’re called to repair composite gates for customers in Essex and beyond. Many issues stem from subpar construction that isn’t immediately noticeable upon installation but becomes evident shortly after use. For example, inadequate frame reinforcement can cause gates to warp over time, while improper sealing may lead to water ingress, damaging the composite material. These problems not only affect the gate’s appearance but also its functionality and longevity, leaving homeowners frustrated and facing unexpected repair costs.
To avoid these pitfalls, it’s essential to choose a trusted provider with a proven track record in composite gate installation. Look for companies that prioritize robust design, use high-quality materials, and offer transparent insights into their manufacturing process. At Charged Services, we take pride in crafting durable, aesthetically pleasing composite gates that stand the test of time, ensuring your investment enhances both security and curb appeal.
Don’t risk a poorly made composite gate—contact us today for expert advice and a free consultation on your composite gate project.
What is the difference in Composite Gate materials?
What is the Difference in Composite Gate Materials?
Composite gates are typically constructed using a steel frame with a square or rectangular open section, ideally reinforced with supporting cross braces (cheaper gates often lack these). These frames are then infilled with composite boards, which provide the aesthetic and functional finish of the gate.
Are All Steel Frames the Same?
Not at all! Understanding the steel preparation process is key when choosing composite gates. A critical question to ask is whether your fabricator has the capability to properly prepare the steel in-house, or if they need to transport the gates to specialist facilities for proper treatment. This distinction often explains the significant price difference between contractors offering composite gates.
When steel is purchased for fabrication, it arrives coated with oil to prevent rust and oxidation during storage. This protective barrier is essential, as steel that begins corroding before fabrication is unsuitable for use. Many fabricators store materials for weeks or months, relying on this oil to keep the steel in good condition until it’s ready for manufacturing.
During the fabrication of composite gates, the steel surface must be ground or linished to expose clean metal, ensuring a high-quality, full-penetration weld. However, this process removes the protective oil, leaving the steel vulnerable to corrosion. While this isn’t an issue during fabrication, it becomes critical in the next steps.
Why Design and Preparation Matter
The design of the gate’s frame is crucial, especially since composite gates are exposed to the elements 365 days a year. In the UK, where rain is frequent, water management is a key concern. Rainwater hits the composite boards, soaks into the material, and drains into the frame’s edges. Many manufacturers use stitch-welded flat bars to support the boards, creating areas where water can collect. If the frame isn’t properly prepared, this trapped water leads to rust and rapid deterioration.
A common issue with budget composite gates is the appearance of rusty water stains dripping from the front, followed by bubbling and peeling paint. This is often due to improper preparation and construction, and unfortunately, the damage is typically irreparable.
The Right Way to Finish Composite Gates
Many budget fabricators take shortcuts by grinding, welding, wiping down, priming, and painting the gate frames. While this may seem sufficient, it doesn’t address the oil residue on the steel. Simply wiping the steel with alcohol or rubbing it down won’t remove the ingrained oils. The only effective method is sandblasting and chemical dipping, which requires specialist facilities not typically available in small workshops. Without this part of the process it is impossible for the paint to be bonded fully to the surface of the metal and this is where corrosion of the metal underneath the paint starts immediately and it does not take long, in a matter of weeks and months the corrosion can be beyond repair and the gate is well on its way to failure soon after it was installed.
For long-lasting composite gates, the frames should be sandblasted, chemically cleaned, and then either galvanised or zinc-treated before being polymer powder-coated. This process ensures maximum durability and corrosion resistance. However, it involves additional time, cost, and transportation to specialist centres, which many smaller fabricators avoid.
Cost vs. Longevity: What to Expect
The cost of galvanising and powder-coating a composite gate can be significant—often equivalent to the cost of the raw materials themselves. For example, if a basic composite gate costs £2,000–£3,000, galvanising and powder-coating could increase the price to £4,000–£6,000. This makes your overall project more expensive upfront, but the investment pays off in the long run.
A galvanised and powder-coated composite gate can last 20–30 years, compared to just 5–10 years for a primed and painted gate. Over its lifetime, this durability can save you 2–3 times the total cost of replacing or repairing a cheaper gate, making it a smart choice for your electric gate project.
Ready to invest in a high-quality composite gate that lasts? Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how we can enhance your property’s security and style.
Why Choose Charged Services for Your Composite Gates?
At Charged Services, we design and build composite gates of the highest quality, ensuring durability, safety, and aesthetic appeal for your property. When comparing quotes for composite gates, you might notice that we’re rarely the cheapest option. That’s because we never compromise on quality to cut costs. Instead, we focus on delivering gates that meet industry-recognized standards, using specialist suppliers for each stage of the manufacturing process. Every gate we install comes with our comprehensive warranty, giving you peace of mind that your investment is protected.
We frequently repair substandard gates across the Essex area, and it’s frustrating to see so many installation companies prioritize low prices over quality. In other industries, if manufacturers ignored British Standards or industry guidelines, the consequences would be significant—think of the risks in public spaces like roads or buildings. The same principle applies to composite gates. Poorly made gates can fail prematurely, posing safety hazards and leading to costly repairs.
Before committing to a composite gate purchase, ask yourself: Would you buy a car from a well-known brand with tested, certified vehicles that adhere to strict safety standards, or would you opt for a car built by an unknown manufacturer in a small Essex workshop just because it’s 30% cheaper? You just wouldn’t take the risk. Yet some gate manufacturers have been producing low-quality, potentially dangerous gate systems for over 20 years and will continue to do so because people are doing exactly that because they are being mis-sold. At Charged Services, we’re committed to breaking this cycle by offering high-quality composite gates that stand the test of time.
Ready to invest in a composite gate you can trust? Contact us today for a free consultation and see why we’re the preferred choice for composite gates in Essex.
Composite Gate Boards - Are They All the Same?
The simple answer is no.
At Charged Services, we’ve tested products from numerous suppliers and have a collection of samples showcasing the variety of composite gate boards available. The main differences in board types come down to the following:
Texture
Some boards have a plain, fibrous finish and are often only finished on one side. These are the cheapest options available, typically sold by Instagram-style fencing retailers at prices that seem too good to be true. While affordable, these boards lack the durability and aesthetic appeal of higher-quality alternatives.
Higher Recycled Wood Fibre Content
Composite boards with a higher recycled wood content often have rough, splintered surfaces, giving them a fibrous appearance. The main drawback of these boards is that they undermine the primary reason customers choose composite gates—to avoid the issues associated with wooden gates, such as poor weathering, expansion, warping, wood rot, moss, and mould. Since these composite boards contain real wood fibres, these natural occurrences cannot be entirely avoided. In fact, we advise customers that if you’re seeking a truly low-maintenance, long-lasting electric gate, you should consider aluminium gates instead. These can also have a varied high end design such as our stunning Kostum Aluminium Gates.
Embossed Composite Boards
High-end composite boards typically contain a lower wood content and a higher proportion of HDPE recycled plastics. The boards we recommend and use at Charged Services are capped and embossed with a plastic surface texture that replicates the look of wood planks. You can see the difference in these composite boards in the gallery at the top of this article. They offer a noticeably better appearance than cheaper boards and weather far more effectively over the years.
Cost Differences
The cost of these boards varies significantly, nearly doubling from the cheapest options at £8–10 + VAT per board to £17–19 per board for higher-end quality. For a 4-metre by 2-metre sliding gate, which may require 35–40 boards, this results in an immediate cost difference of over £500 in the manufacturing cost compared to a cheaper competitor’s quote.
Explore our gallery to see the difference in quality, and contact us today to discuss the best composite gate boards for your project.
What Sort of Composite Gate Can I Expect to Get for My Money?
The cost of a composite gate can vary depending on your location, as manufacturing and galvanising costs differ across the UK. Generally, the further north you go, commercial property prices and rent decrease significantly, meaning the cost of galvanising and manufacturing is lower due to reduced overheads.
In London, you can expect to pay roughly the following:
Supply Only of the Composite Sliding Gate Shown: £4,500 inc. VAT
Groundworks and Installation: £1,500 inc. VAT
Automation Installation and Commissioning: £2,500 inc. VAT
Safety Edges: £1,000 inc. VAT
Electrical Supply: £350 inc. VAT
Total: £9,850 inc. VAT
This will buy you up to a 3.5m wide x 2m tall sliding composite gate in an entry-level finish, using the cheaper composite board styles with a zinc-sprayed and powder-coated finish.
What Can You Expect to Pay on Top of This?
Galvanised and Polymer Powder-Coating: This can add roughly £2,000 to the cost but could make the difference in the gate lasting 30+ years instead of 5–10 years.
Entry Systems: Intercoms can vary greatly depending on the location of the gate relative to your property, connectivity available, and other factors. Cheaper intercom systems are generally around £1,200 installed with a composite gate installation, but some units are more expensive. Your property may require cabling and additional groundworks to install the system you want, which can escalate costs to £2,500+. Retrofitting these systems later can be even more expensive, so planning this at the initial stage of considering gates is key to achieving the best overall system.
Different Gate Types: A sliding rail gate may not be suitable for every situation. Swing gate options can be more expensive due to a more complex installation and additional automation equipment needed. A swing gate can cost around £1,500–£2,000 more than a basic sliding gate.
Cantilever Composite Gates: Depending on the size of the opening, as well as loose or sloping surfaces, a cantilever gate may be the right option for your property. These can be more expensive when specified correctly. While cheap components are available—and we often see poorly installed examples—a correctly specified and designed cantilever gate will add around £2,500 to the cost of a sliding rail composite gate, sometimes as much as £4,000 if high-end wheel sets are used.
Summary of Costs for High-Specification Composite Gates
Sliding Rail Composite Gate with Entry System and Premium-Quality Composite Boards: Approx. £14,900
Swing Composite Gate with Entry System and Premium-Quality Composite Boards: Approx. £16,900
Cantilever Sliding Gate (as Pictured Below) with Entry System, Premium Composite Boards, High-Specification Piccolo Wheel Sets for Heavy-Duty Gates, and Heavy-Duty Motor System: £18,900+
