Choosing a security gate involves examining multiple factors to ensure you are making the correct decision for your business. Security gates are an investment and as such, you will want to double-check that you are getting the right gate at the right price.
If you want to choose a security gate for your premises, but don’t know where to start, here are some quick tips and comparisons to get you started.
1. Gates, Grilles and Shutters
Most quality gates and shutters companies sell a wide range of gates, shutters and grilles, making it difficult for customers to understand which will work best for their company premises.
The difference between gates and shutters is semantic: usually gates refer to doors covers while shutters refer to single window covers or shop front covers, but different businesses label their products in different ways. They are each different from grilles, a more lightweight grating option. Grilles are generally the most aesthetically pleasing option as they do not provide total cover or blackout: they are perfect if you want your shop windows to be on display for advertising purposes, but you want to ensure that thieves cannot smash their way inside.
Gates, shutters and grilles can come in a variety of sizes, be made of different materials, and have differing strengths and applications. The choice for you will depend on your security, price and aesthetic needs.
2. Electric vs. Manual Lift Gates
Gates, grilles and shutters are often heavy and cumbersome; that’s why many people prefer to have some kind of mechanism for opening and closing their shutters. Manual lift mechanisms are the cheaper option, but they also come with several drawbacks. The time it takes to lower or open manual shutters often gives opportunistic thieves a window in which they can strike. They also may not be suitable if you need heavier security, but will be a great option if you do not have a nearby power supply.
Electric gates, while more expensive, give you plenty of benefits: they can be quickly opened or closed, they can be locked with a code rather than a key, and they also have emergency backups that allow them to be closed even if your power goes out.
3. Need insulation?
Security gates, shutters and grilles obviously have one main aim in mind: security. However, gates and shutters can actually have many different purposes. For example, if you want to cut down on your energy bills, a great way to do this is to install insulated shutters that prevent heat from escaping from your business overnight. Insulation is also great if you want to reduce noise pollution or disturbance: some businesses like to have shutter doors internally so that rooms where, for example, heavy equipment is used can be self-contained and the noise cannot bother other people on the premises.
4. Prioritizing garage door security
If your business has one or more garages, then it is important to make sure that they are secure overnight — especially if cars are left on the premises overnight or the garages provide a route into your main building. Getting reinforced garage doors that are built with security in mind is important for any business, and most outfits that sell rollers and gates can also provide excellent security-minded garage doors.
5. Saving space with bi-fold doors
Bi fold doors are extremely popular in cities like New York that are short on sidewalk space, as they provide all the security benefits of gates and shutters while still being compact, smart and modern. If your business needs to save on space, or you want doors that are light, airy and yet still safety-minded, then bi fold doors might be the right option for you.
If you are looking for quality security gates in the New York area, why not try New York Gates? They have been outfitting businesses and homes in the city of New York for years, providing safety and quality at reasonable prices.