A gate gets used every day and sits out in sun, monsoon rain and, near the coast, salty air. The usual complaints are a gate that has dropped, wheels that grind, a latch that no longer lines up, and rust starting at the welds. Most of that has little to do with the design you picked. It comes from not looking properly at the site before building.
When Rong walks your frontage he checks whether the ground slopes or is still settling, whether the existing posts are concrete and strong enough to carry the leaf, whether there is enough run along the fence for a sliding gate to park, which way cars come in, and whether rainwater or sand washes across the entrance and into a track.
Common mistakes: a big, heavy gate hung on wheels or hinges that can't take the weight, a track laid on ground that hasn't finished settling, or a swing gate that hits the car parked inside. For a holiday home left empty for months, a gate that closes and locks properly matters more than the pattern.
If you have a design in mind, send it on LINE with a wide photo of your frontage, both posts, the ground in front of the gate and a rough width. Rong will tell you what is realistic. You can choose a full contract or labour-only, and every job comes with an itemised quotation.
- Jobs start from
- 10,000 THB
- Team experience
- 30+ years
- Site survey
- Free
- Steel grade
- Your choice
Designs and options
Sliding gate on a ground track
The most common choice where there is room along the fence for the gate to slide into. The track has to be level on firm ground and swept regularly. If sand or soil washes across your entrance every time it rains, it will start to stick sooner.
Trackless (cantilever or top-hung) sliding gate
No ground track for stones and sand to jam. The trade-off is a heavier supporting frame and a higher cost, and not every entrance has the posts or space for it. Rong has to see the site before saying yes.
Double or single swing gate
Suits entrances with no side space for a slider. You need clear, level ground for the gate to swing over and posts that can carry the weight. A very wide single leaf tends to drop, so Rong will usually suggest splitting it into a pair.
Pedestrian gate
A small side gate for people, so you don't open the main gate every time you walk out. Handy for staff, guests and deliveries, and it means less wear on the main gate's wheels and track.
Matching steel fence panels
Fence runs built to match the gate. Open styles let the breeze through; solid ones give more privacy from the road. A long solid fence catches a lot of wind, so the posts and footings need to be stronger to match.
Materials: the honest pros and cons
Painted box-section steel
Near the sea: depends on specPros
- Most affordable, and works for most designs
- Easy to repair and repaint
Worth knowing
- Every weld and hidden inside face must be primed, not just what you can see
- Chips need touching up from time to time
Near the sea the rust protection matters more than the pattern. You choose the steel grade, section size and rust-protection system; Rong explains the pros and cons first and writes your choice into the quotation.
Galvanised steel
Near the sea: depends on specPros
- Factory zinc coating against rust
- Copes with humidity better than plain black steel
Worth knowing
- Costs more than black steel
- Cutting and welding burns off the coating, so every joint must be touched up
A better bet than black steel for coastal homes, but if the welds aren't treated, rust starts there just the same.
Solid metal sheet infill
Near the sea: depends on specPros
- Full privacy from the road
- Simple to fix onto a steel frame
Worth knowing
- Catches the full force of the wind, so the gate is heavier and can rattle in storms
- Sheet edges and screw holes are where rust begins
On an exposed, windy frontage Rong may suggest leaving some gaps rather than closing the whole gate in.
Composite wood slats on a steel frame
Good near the seaPros
- Warm timber look without rot or termites
- The slats themselves do not rust
Worth knowing
- Costs more than plain steel
- Heavier gate, so wheels and hinges must be rated for it
The composite handles salt air well, but the steel frame and screws underneath still need proper rust protection.
How the price is worked out
Gates start from 10,000 THB, but there is no fixed price and we can't give a real figure in advance. It depends on the site, size, gate type and design, the wheels, track, hinges and locks, and steel prices at the time, which change constantly. Rong does a free site survey first, then writes an itemised quotation based on material prices at that time. Remote or boat-access areas such as Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi carry a travel fee, which is shown in the quotation before you agree to anything.
There is no fixed price. It depends on your site and on steel and material prices at the time. The site survey is free.
Included
- Measuring the opening and checking ground levels and existing posts
- Itemised written quotation
- Fabricating the gate with rust-protective primer and top coat
- Fitting the track, wheels, hinges and lock as agreed
- Adjusting the gate so it opens and closes smoothly before handover
Not included
- Materials, if you choose a labour-only contract
- Automatic gate motors, unless listed in the quotation
- Demolishing or repairing existing concrete posts and walls, unless listed in the quotation
- Pouring or levelling the driveway
How a job with us runs
- 1
Send photos on LINE
Photos plus a location pin. Rong tells you early if the idea is realistic.
- 2
Free site survey
He checks the walls, the ground and where the rain will go — the things photos can’t show.
- 3
Written, itemised quote
Full contract (labour + materials) or labour-only. Nothing hidden in a lump sum.
- 4
30% deposit, then work starts
Only once you have agreed the design and price. Payment is by cash bill, no VAT invoice.
- 5
Walk-through before handover
We check every point with you. 1-year warranty under the conditions in the quote.
How long it takes
It depends on the size and design of the gate, any extra fencing, and the state of the existing posts. Gates are usually fabricated first and then brought to site for fitting. If posts need strengthening or rebuilding, allow extra time. Rong gives a timeline after the survey and it goes in the quote.
1-year warranty: what it covers
One year, under the site-specific conditions written into your quotation.
Covered
- Installation of the track, wheels and hinges (workmanship)
- 1-year warranty under the site-specific conditions written in your quotation
Not covered
- Damage from vehicles hitting the gate or other heavy impact
- Anything the quotation does not list as covered
Steel Gates: questions we get asked
Sliding or swing gate: which is better?
Neither wins everywhere. If there is enough length along the fence for the gate to park, a slider takes up no driveway space. If there's no side room but a flat area inside, a swing gate fits better. If the driveway rises towards the house, a swing gate will scrape, so talk it through with Rong first.
My house is in Ao Nang near the beach. Will a steel gate rust quickly?
Yes, faster than inland. What helps is coated steel, thorough rust protection especially on welds and the bottom rail, and rinsing off salt with fresh water and touching up chips. No steel gate near the sea can simply be left alone.
My old gate has dropped and the wheels stick. Can you repair it?
Ask on LINE with photos of the gate, track, wheels and the base of the posts. If the frame is sound, new wheels or a re-levelled track may be enough. If rust has eaten into the bottom frame or the posts lean, repairs tend not to last and a new gate may be better value.
Can you fit an automatic gate motor?
Ask on LINE with photos of your entrance, as motors need confirming case by case. If you might add a motor later, tell Rong when the gate is being built so fixing points, wheels and track suit a motor. Otherwise the gate may need modifying afterwards.
I found a gate design online. Can you copy it?
Send it on LINE along with photos of your actual entrance. Some designs online use thin sections or posts that aren't strong enough for a gate your size, so Rong will adjust it where needed before quoting.
How does payment work? Do you issue a tax invoice?
We take a 30% deposit before work starts, and the balance is paid as set out in the quotation. You get a cash bill; we do not charge VAT and cannot issue a tax invoice, so if your company needs one, tell us at the start.
Read this before you build
Stopping Rust on Steel Near the Sea in Ao Nang, Klong Muang and Ko LantaWhy steel rusts fast in Ao Nang, Klong Muang and Ko Lanta, and how to choose steel, coatings and details that stop it. Plus a simple maintenance routine.
Hiring a Contractor in Krabi as a Foreigner: A Practical GuideA practical guide for foreigners hiring a contractor in Krabi: comparable quotes, deposits, cash bills vs VAT invoices, warranties and working in English.
Labour-Only vs Full Contract for Home Projects in ThailandLabour-only or full contract for a home project in Thailand? Who buys materials, where the savings are real, the risks, and how we handle both options.
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