A driveway gate is engineered around the opening — swing, sliding cantilever, V-track, bi-parting, or bi-fold — and every one starts with a site survey of opening, grade, soil, clearance, and utilities. On Orinda projects, Orinda properties are hillside more often than not — driveways climb, curve, and cross drainage; a swing arc that works on paper often collides with a retaining wall or a mature oak on-site.

Berkeley Hills fog cycles and steep decomposed-granite lots mean footings need drainage-first design and finishes must handle daily dew cycling without cupping. That's why every Orinda driveway gate we build begins with a site survey — we measure the opening, check soil and slope, identify utility lines, and confirm swing or slide clearance before a single drawing is issued.

Sapele mahogany, white oak, and hot-rolled or blackened steel are the three material families we build in most. The right combination depends on architecture, exposure, and whether the gate is automated — automation weights favor steel frames with hardwood infill.

Steep Orinda approaches often push us toward sliding or bi-fold configurations for automation rather than a wide swing that would foul the grade. We work throughout Orinda Downs, Sleepy Hollow, Glorietta, the Orinda Country Club area, and Ivy Drive. We ship from our Concord workshop, ~15 miles from Orinda, and installation on a custom driveway gate typically takes two to four days on site.