Composite vs Timber vs Metal Gates

See it first

See a composite gate on your own opening

Upload a photo of the side passage, garden entrance or driveway, pick the gate, the boards and the frame, and see it in about a minute. Your request goes to one gate installer who covers your county.

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Take or upload a photo of the openingThe side passage, garden entrance or driveway, square on, in daylight.

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Side by side

Three materials compared

	Composite	Timber	Steel or iron
Upkeep	A wash now and then	Stain or oil every 1–2 years	Touch up the coating
Rot and rust	Boards don't rot; aluminium frames don't rust	Rots if left wet	Rusts where the coating breaks
Privacy	Solid boards, full privacy	Close-boarded, full privacy	Usually open bars
Weight and wind	Solid boards catch the wind	Heavy when solid	Heavy, open to the wind
Looks	Wood look, modern lines	Traditional	Bars, scrolls, arched tops

Timber wins on price on the day and on looks for a traditional house. Composite wins over the years: no stain, no oil, no rot at the bottom rail. Steel and iron win on strength and on the open, barred look, and lose to rust where the coating is chipped.

Near the sea, choose an aluminium frame: salt air finds every chip in steel. On a windy, open site, remember a solid composite or timber gate catches the wind where an open metal gate doesn't.

Gate types

More on composite gates

Every gate is measured and priced by the installer.

€400–€500a kit, gate onlyComposite side gatesFor the passage beside the house: privacy and a lock. Made to measure €1,350–€1,550.Side gates →€600–€950a 3–3.5 m pair, gate onlyComposite driveway gatesA pair of swing gates across the drive, by hand or electric.Driveway gates →4 coloursin our visualiserColours and finishesStone grey, anthracite, oak and teak effect, on a black or grey frame.Colours →1.2 mthe Class 5 limit for a front fenceComposite fencing and gatesA gate that matches the fence panels beside it.Fencing and gates →€900–€1,1003.5–4 m, gate onlyComposite sliding gatesFor wide openings, slopes and cars parked close inside.Sliding gates →€2,500–€3,500electric swing, fittedElectric composite gatesA motor, photo beams and a manual release, sized for solid boards.Electric gates →

Counties

Composite gates in every county

One installer per county. Pick yours for local prices, homes and the council.

Questions

Questions we get asked

Is composite better than timber for a gate?

Composite needs the least upkeep: no painting or staining, and the aluminium frame doesn't rust. Timber is cheaper to buy but needs treating every year or two. Steel is strongest but rusts where the coating is broken.

Do composite gates rot?

The boards don't rot or splinter. Hang the gate so it isn't sitting in water, as with any gate.

Are composite gates more expensive than timber?

Usually more than a ready-made timber gate, less over the years because there's no staining. A composite side gate kit is €400–€500.

Which is best near the sea?

Composite boards on an aluminium frame: neither rusts in salty air.