We ensure that every single gate is a success at America’s Fence Store. All large cantilever gates longer than 65 feet with a mechanical splice are fully tested in our shop, which is not an easy task. Each gate is supported with a series of blocks and lifts to simulate what would happen once the gate is installed, as you can see in the video below. At the start of testing, a lift is placed at the nose of the gate and then the lift slowly lowers the nose until it is fully supported. At this point, the gate is cantilevered. The gate in the video is almost 100 feet long and 8 feet tall.
https://youtu.be/sf_YU4bazvg
This is where the rubber meets the road—or where the truck meets the track. Once the gate is cantilevered, it is checked for level throughout its length. The unique splice detail is checked for any lips or separation that could have occurred. Our engineering and fabrication recognize that even the slightest imperfection will cause a substantial disruption in the gate’s operation.
The unique engineering of these gates lies in the splice. Using almost 16 feet of ½ inch plate and over 32 of our ½ inch grade A hex bolts, the splice detail pulls the two pieces of the gate together and holds them securely, even when they are under immense pressure. What also makes them unique is their use of 5/16” cable for trussing. The heavy weight cable does not allow the gate to flex or bounce when fully cantilevered.
America’s Fence Store builds over 1000 gates each year, every one engineered with acombination of proven design materials and concepts.