Custom Railing / San Ramon & Tri-Valley
Custom Gates in San Ramon, CA
Driveway, entry, side-yard and pool gates fabricated in our shop to fit your opening, match your railings and swing true for years. Free on-site estimates.
- Licensed & InsuredEvery job
- In-Shop FabricationBuilt to measure
- Free On-Site EstimatesWritten ranges
Custom Gates in San Ramon, Made to Match Your Home
We build custom gates in San Ramon for driveways, front walks, side yards and pools, fabricated in our shop to fit your opening and match the railings already on your house. A gate gets more use than any railing, so we build the frame, hinges and posts to stay square long after a kit gate starts to sag and drag.
Choose ornamental iron, powder-coated steel or aluminum, with pickets, scrolls, flat bar, horizontal slats or a pattern copied from your stair or balcony rail. Call (925) 438-6219 to set up a free visit.
Gates We Design and Build
- Driveway gates: swing pairs, single leaves or sliding
- Entry and pedestrian gates for front walks and courtyards
- Side-yard gates that replace warped wood gates with steel that stays square
- Pool gates with self-closing hinges and self-latching hardware
- Estate gates with arched tops, finials and scrollwork
- Posts, footings, hinges, latches and lock hardware
- Frames reinforced for a gate operator now or later
Signs It Is Time for a New Gate
- The gate sags and drags on the ground or needs a lift to latch
- Hinges or the hinge post are rusted, cracked or pulling loose
- A pool gate no longer swings shut and latches on its own
- Wood gates have warped, split or twisted out of square
- You want to add an automatic opener but the frame is too light
- The gate no longer matches a new railing or remodel
A sagging iron gate can sometimes be re-hung or re-welded; our railing and gate repair service will tell you if that will last.
Gate Types Compared
| Gate type | Common materials | What matters most |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway swing gate | Steel, ornamental iron, aluminum | Swing clearance on sloped driveways, hinge post footing |
| Sliding driveway gate | Steel, aluminum | Side space for the gate to roll, level track |
| Entry or pedestrian gate | Ornamental iron, steel | Matching the house and railings, lock hardware |
| Side-yard gate | Powder-coated steel, aluminum | Staying square, latch from both sides |
| Pool gate | Steel, aluminum | Self-closing, self-latching, opens away from the pool |
Aluminum is lighter and will not rust; steel suits larger estate gates and is finished like our wrought iron railings.
Pool Gate and Gate Code Compliance
Pool gates. California's Swimming Pool Safety Act requires drowning-prevention measures when a pool is built or remodeled at a home, and an enclosure is one of the accepted options. For gates in a pool barrier, the core expectations are consistent: the gate opens away from the pool, closes on its own from any open position, latches on its own, and puts the latch release high enough that a small child cannot reach it. Barrier height, bottom clearance and opening sizes also apply. Your building department confirms the exact numbers, and our pool gate and fence code guide explains them.
Automated gates. Gate operators should be listed to the UL 325 safety standard with entrapment protection such as photo eyes or edge sensors. Some fire districts also want emergency access for automated driveway gates, which we confirm before install.
Zoning and HOAs. Local zoning sets front-yard gate heights, and many HOAs require architectural review.
Our Custom Gate Process
Measure & design
We measure the opening, slope and posts and sketch matching styles.
Drawings & approvals
Shop drawings show size, pattern, swing and hardware for you or your HOA.
Fabrication
The frame is welded square and braced so it stays that way under daily use.
Finishing
Zinc primer or galvanizing under oven-cured powder coat.
Installation
Posts are set in footings, the gate is hung, and swing and latch are adjusted.
Testing
Pool gates are tested for self-closing and latching from several open positions before we leave.
Built for San Ramon Valley Conditions
Estate properties in Blackhawk, Diablo and Alamo often call for wide, arched driveway gates and matching walk gates set between stone or stucco columns. Many of those driveways climb from the street, so we check slope across the full swing and switch to a slider or split pair when a leaf will not clear.
Long, dry summers chalk cheap paint, so we use oven-cured powder coat over zinc primer. Where a wood fence meets the house, fire agencies recommend a noncombustible section; a steel gate at that joint helps keep flame from running along the fence. Parts of Danville and the Alamo hills fall in mapped fire hazard zones; check yours on the State Fire Marshal's map viewer.
Custom Gate Pricing Factors
| Gate project | Ballpark | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Side-yard or pedestrian gate | Often within the ~$700–$6,000 range of our ornamental iron projects | Width, pattern, hardware |
| Pool gate | Similar to a pedestrian gate, plus code hardware | Self-closing hinges and latch |
| Driveway gate | Typically several thousand dollars and up | Width, swing vs. slide, scrollwork, slope |
| Automation | Priced separately | Operator, power run, safety sensors |
Scrollwork, arched tops, new columns and HOA-specified finishes push estate gates higher; permits run about $50–$500. These are honest starting ranges; call (925) 438-6219 for a free on-site estimate.
Why Choose Us for Custom Gates
Gates that match your railings
Because we build railings and gates in the same shop, we can copy the picket spacing, scroll pattern, post caps and finish color from your balcony, stair or deck rail. A new gate looks like it was always part of the house instead of a catalog piece, which also helps when an HOA architectural committee compares the design to existing ironwork on the property.
Frames built for automation
A gate that will carry an opener needs a stiffer frame, a solid hinge post and a footing sized for the load. We build every driveway gate with that in mind, adding reinforced mounting points for operator brackets and room for safety sensors, so you can automate now or years later without rebuilding the gate. We coordinate with your gate operator installer on the details.
Pool gates tested before we leave
Every pool gate is hung, adjusted and tested in front of you. We open it from several positions and confirm it closes and latches on its own each time, the latch sits out of a small child's reach, and the gate swings away from the pool. If anything misses, we adjust it before calling the job done. We are licensed and insured, with C-23 ornamental metal craftsmanship.
Custom Gates Across the Tri-Valley
We build gates for homes throughout the region: Dougherty Valley and Twin Creeks in San Ramon, period-style iron for Old Town Danville, estate gates in Alamo, Blackhawk and Diablo, pool and side-yard gates in Dublin, HOA-reviewed driveway gates in Pleasanton, and courtyard gates in Walnut Creek.
Wrought Iron Railings
Deck & Balcony Railings
Aluminum Railings
Railing Repair & SB 721
Interior Stair RailingsPlanning an HOA submittal? Read our HOA approval guide. Learn about our shop or request a free custom gate estimate.
FAQ
Questions, Answered
Straight answers on cost, code, permits and materials. Still unsure? Call and ask.
Do pool gates in California have to be self-closing?
When a pool barrier is used to meet California's pool safety requirements, its gates must open away from the pool, close on their own and latch on their own, with the latch release placed out of a young child's reach. Your building department confirms exact heights and clearances. We test each pool gate we install from several open positions before we leave.
Can you build a gate that matches my existing iron railing?
Yes. We photograph and measure your railing during the site visit, then match picket size and spacing, scroll or collar details, post caps and finish color. Because we fabricate in our own shop, we are not limited to catalog patterns. If the existing railing is older and faded, we can re-coat it at the same time so both finishes match.
Can my driveway gate be automated later?
Yes, if it is built for it. We frame every driveway gate stiff enough to carry an operator, set a hinge post and footing sized for the load, and add mounting points for brackets and sensors. Automated gates should use a UL 325-listed operator with entrapment protection, and we coordinate with your operator installer on wiring and placement.
Do I need HOA approval for a new gate?
Many HOAs in San Ramon, Blackhawk, Diablo and Pleasanton require architectural review for gates and fences visible from the street. Check your CC&Rs or ask the management company before ordering. We provide drawings showing size, pattern and color, plus finish samples on request, so your submittal includes what most committees ask to see.
Should I choose a swing or sliding gate on a sloped driveway?
It depends on how the slope runs. A swing gate needs the ground across its arc to stay below the bottom of the gate, which steep uphill driveways often prevent. A sliding gate needs level side space to roll into. Split pairs with shorter leaves are another option. We measure the slope during the free visit and recommend what will actually work.
Free on-site estimate
Ready to get started?
San Ramon Custom Railing designs, fabricates and installs custom railings across San Ramon, CA and the Tri-Valley. Licensed and insured, drawings checked against California code, and permit and HOA paperwork handled for you.