How trackless cantilever sliding gates work
A cantilever sliding gate suspends the entire gate leaf 70mm to 90mm above the driveway with zero ground wheels. Two multi-wheel roller carriages are bolted to a concrete foundation pad behind one pier, and an inverted C-profile monorail welded along the bottom of the gate slides over those carriages using a 33%–40% counterbalance tail.
The four mechanical components that hold a 300 kg gate dead level across a 4.5-metre entrance without touching the ground.
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Calculate your cantilever gate cost and run-back space
Pick the gate material, your entrance width and whether you need a concrete counterbalance pad poured behind the pier.
Estimated fitted price
€3,800 to €5,600 fitted
Gate & carriages: €3,800–€5,600
Guide price for an electric galvanised steel cantilever sliding gate (with composite, timber or railed infill). Because a trackless cantilever gate hangs suspended 70mm–90mm above the driveway with a 35% counterbalance tail, allow 4.2m to 5.4m of straight side run-back behind your pier. No ground rail or trench is needed across the driveway opening.
Book a local site survey & quoteThe four parts of a bottom-hung cantilever system
| Component | Where it sits | What job it does |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Enclosed bottom monorail beam | Welded along the full bottom length of the gate leaf (opening + tail) | Cold-formed C-channel (e.g. 75×65mm, 95×85mm or 140×125mm) with a narrow bottom slot that encloses the rollers away from rain, snow and stones |
| 2. Twin 8-wheel roller carriages | Bolted to the concrete counterbalance pad behind the opening pier | Front carriage takes the downward weight of the cantilevered nose; rear carriage resists the upward levering force of the tail |
| 3. The 33%–40% counterbalance tail | Extends behind the pier inside the boundary wall | Keeps the rear carriage engaged inside the monorail beam when the gate is fully extended across the driveway |
| 4. Leading-edge nose wheel & catch shoe | Mounted on the nose of the gate and on the receiving catch pier | As the gate closes, the nose wheel rides up into the steel catch shoe, relieving all cantilever load while the gate is shut |
Why the gate is only under cantilever load for 18 seconds at a time
A common worry is whether a long steel gate will sag over the years from hanging in mid-air. In practice, a cantilever gate is only unsupported while it is actually moving (about 16 to 20 seconds per opening).
The moment the gate reaches the closed position, a tapered nylon/steel nose wheel on the leading tip rolls smoothly up a ramp into a heavy steel end-catch shoe bolted to the receiving pier. When the gate is fully open, it rests balanced directly over the two carriages. That means for 99% of the day and night, the gate is supported at both ends — eliminating long-term droop and locking the nose against wind and prying.
Keeping the gate vertical: upper nylon guide rollers
While the bottom carriages carry 100% of the vertical weight, an upper guide bracket with twin adjustable nylon rollers is bolted to the back of the main pier near the top rail of the gate. The top rail glides between these smooth nylon rollers, holding the leaf plumb against Atlantic crosswinds without marking the powder-coat finish.
What a cantilever sliding gate costs in Ireland
Our price guide for manual, electric steel, aluminium and commercial trackless cantilever gates, counterbalance pads and access control.
| Job | Typical cost | What moves the price |
|---|---|---|
| Manual steel cantilever sliding gate, fitted | €2,800 to €4,200 | Hot-dip galvanised steel frame with enclosed bottom monorail, twin 8-wheel roller carriages & catch post |
| Electric steel cantilever sliding gate (domestic), fitted | €3,800 to €6,800 | Galvanised steel leaf + 35% counterbalance tail, twin carriages, rack motor, safety edges, beams & 2 remotes |
| Electric powder-coated aluminium cantilever gate, fitted | €4,800 to €8,500 | Lightweight rust-proof marine-grade aluminium frame, monorail channel, carriages, motor & EN 12453 safety |
| Commercial wide-span cantilever gate (5m to 9m clear opening) | €5,500 to €12,000 | Heavy-duty box frame & structural monorail track, 3-phase or intensive 24V motor, safety edges & beams |
| Reinforced concrete counterbalance pad & anchors | €600 to €2,000 | Excavated C30/35 concrete block poured behind one pier only — no trenching across the driveway surface |
| GSM mobile opener, wireless keypad or video intercom | €400 to €1,500 | Ring-to-open SIM module, backlit entry keypad, or smartphone app video intercom |
| Armoured SWA power cable run from house | €200 to €600 | Dedicated 230V supply in underground ducting to the motor plinth behind the pier |
Real examples and installation detail
Get a cantilever gate price for your entrance
Pick the gate specification, your driveway surface and your county. Your enquiry goes to one vetted cantilever gate fabricator and installer covering your county to check your opening and side run-back.
Questions homeowners ask
Can leaves, snow or gravel get inside the cantilever track?
No. Unlike a ground track that faces upwards, the cantilever monorail channel is welded upside-down to the bottom of the gate with only a narrow slot along its underside for the carriage necks — so rain, leaves, ice and gravel cannot fall into the rolling path.
How much ground clearance is left underneath a cantilever gate?
Installers normally set the bottom of the monorail 70mm to 100mm above the highest point of the driveway opening, giving plenty of clearance over loose stones, speed ramps or road crowns while remaining low enough to keep dogs inside.
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Price & Specification Guides
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