Both types of gate consist of a single leaf and open and close horizontally across the opening. A sliding gate has a length of toothed racking along the bottom of the gate which slots in to the motor which works as a gear mechanism to power the gate in either direction. The single motor is placed to one side of the gate and is a neat and tidy solution. Grooved wheels are positioned under the gate at intervals (hidden for the most part in a steel box section) which run along a track to keep the gate travelling in the correct direction. Groundwork is required to lay grooved tracking across your driveway. A cantilever gate is suspended above the driveway by creating an overhang at the end with the motor. A concrete pad is set in to the ground at the side of the gate, the motor is attached here and is the only groundworks required for installation. The size of the pad will be calculated based upon the weight and width of your gate. The motor powers from one end and a heavy duty cantilever carriage (hidden from view in box section beneath the gate) allow the gate to move accurately across. The physical design of a cantilever gate is different to a normal sliding gate to accommodate an overhang for the cantilever – again, this is calculated by the weight and width of your original gate design. For this reason, you cannot retro-fit a cantilever system to an original sliding gate. Once installed, the concrete is easily distinguishable and your gate will just hover above your driveway as it opens and closes. Altogether, it’s a quieter and more graceful solution to a sliding gate.