The wind is blowing hard and weather alerts are piling up, and you are concerned about your outdoor installation? The question arises with every gale: is it safer to lock your entrance or leave it free? The answer primarily depends on your equipment’s wind resistance and its opening mechanism. A poor choice can lead to torn hinges, a burnt-out motor, or a deformed leaf. Here’s how to react to minimize damage.
Understanding the Effect of Wind Resistance on Your Joinery
The main danger during a storm is not so much the rain as the pressure exerted by gusts on the gate’s surface. This is known as the sail effect. If you own a solid gate, it acts like a wall against the wind. The force exerted can reach several hundred kilograms, severely testing the fixings, pillars, and motor arms.
Conversely, an openwork aluminum gate or a bar gate allows air to circulate. The resistance is lower, and the risk of mechanical failure drastically decreases. Your decision to open or close will therefore depend first on your model’s ability to let air flow through or not.
The Case of the Swing Gate: Open to Relieve Stress on Fixings
For a swing model, especially if it is solid or semi-solid, the recommendation is often to leave the gate open during violent windy episodes. In the closed position, the leaves are subjected to frontal pressure that can twist the hinges or crack the masonry of the pillars.
If you decide to open it, it is imperative to block it firmly. Do not leave it free to move: changing gusts could cause it to slam violently. Use ground stops and ensure that the gate stops are in perfect condition to keep the leaves pressed against the walls or fence.
Sliding Gate: Security in the Closed Position
The logic often reverses for sliding gates. By design, they are guided by a ground rail and an upper guide. Leaving them open exposes the leaf to a risk of derailment if the wind rushes in laterally.
It is generally preferable to keep a sliding gate closed. Locked in its reception strike, it is held at two points (motor/guide post side and reception side), which stiffens the entire structure against wind assaults. Simply ensure that the rail is clean and that nothing prevents complete closure.
Protecting Your Motorization by Disengaging the System
If your gate is electric, the motor is the first fuse to blow in case of excessive resistance. Internal gears or articulated arms are not designed to counteract the force of a major storm. To avoid burning out your motor or twisting the actuators, it is crucial to disengage the motorization.
Switch to manual mode before bad weather arrives. This disconnects the mechanism from the leaf. The gate can move slightly (if properly secured) without straining the mechanics. This is an essential step to preserve the lifespan of your Districlos automation or other brand.
How to Effectively Secure an Open Gate?
If you opt for opening, simply pushing it is not enough. A reverse gust could violently slam it against your car or a passerby. You must strap the leaves.
Here’s how to secure your installation:
- Use robust ratchet straps or marine ropes.
- Attach the leaf to a solid fixed point (fence post, sturdy tree, sealing ring).
- Check that there is no play: the gate must not “flap” even a few centimeters.
Choosing the Right Model for Windy Areas
If you live in an exposed region like the coast or the Rhône Valley, the design choice is strategic. Forget about 100% opaque, tall models if you don’t have reinforced concrete walls. Opt for louvered or semi-openwork models.
These modern designs allow you to maintain your privacy while letting air pass through the structure. Experts like Districlos often recommend aluminum for these areas: it is a material that offers an excellent compromise between rigidity and lightness, less prone to salt corrosion than steel if properly powder-coated.
Expert in fencing, gates, and outdoor landscaping since 2019.
Holds a Master’s degree in Digital Marketing – SEO, UX/UI.
View LinkedIn profile
