Terms & Conditions
We use WorldPay as our payments provider:
1.General
Gates & Automation Direct is owned and operated by Gates Scotland LTD, of Gates Scotland Ltd, Unit 4, Block 17, South Avenue, Blantyre Ind Est, G72 0XB,
If you have any comments or complaints about our website, staff or products please contact us on info@gatesandautomationdirect.co.uk or on 0800 123 4567/01698 629119.
Gates Scotland LTD reserves the right to change these terms and conditions without prior notice. It is up to the customer to check these terms and conditions, or for any variations to these terms and conditions prior to placing an order.
2.Orders
The majority of our products are custom made. All orders are subject to these terms and conditions. If you are unsure of any aspects of our terms and conditions please contact us on the details above.
All orders are accepted on the sizes & details you provide us. Whilst we can help advise on best design & other factors, ultimately the customer is responsible for the final sizes. We will ensure that our gates & products are manufactured to the sizes you specify, however, if these are the wrong sizes for your property we accept no liability.
All custom made orders are non-returnable.
All of our prices displayed on our website are in pounds sterling and include VAT at 20%.
Gates & Automation Direct reserves the right to change the advertised price before you place an order.
We do not charge any extra for processing debit or credit card payments.
All orders are accepted on the basis that the customer has read these terms and conditions.
3.Lead Times
Standard products held in stock (for example Gate locks, automation kits, gates accessories) will be dispatched within 2 working days from order completion.
Custom/bespoke orders will take substantially longer. We aim to give our customers an indicative lead time when they place an order (product specification determines lead time). However, we do not guarantee delivery dates/lead times unless it is explicitly provided in writing. There are many factors in the process that are outwith our control. If customers require to know lead times prior to ordering please contact us.
For custom orders our typical lead times range from 8 to 10 weeks. However, in the unlikely event of exceptional circumstances, some orders may take longer than 10 weeks.
If you require your product ASAP please contact us and we may be able to arrange a priority fabrication slot. This may incur additional, pre agreed fees.
Our lead times vary for several reasons:
Time of year – our business is seasonal and during Summer months we can be busier.
Galvanizing & powder coating process can take from 1 – 3 weeks depending on current workload.
Finishing times vary as some products take longer between coats.
4.Installation
We accept no liability for incorrectly installed products.
Gate Automation Safety Information Disclaimer:
It is important to ensure any automated gates commissioned are correctly set up and have adequate safety to avoid injury. The person/company installing the automation and commissioning the setup is responsible for the final sign off of gate safety.
Although we are the manufacturer, it is not possible for us to determine and ensure adequate safety as each setup is site & operation dependent.
This means the safety required depends on the site conditions (levels, surrounding objects, method of controlling gates etc).
There are multiple factors which should be considered:
– Crush zones (typically when a gate opens onto a solid object)
– Shear zones (typically when a gate slides across another object where an arm or similar can be trapped)
– Draw in zones (typically when a gate slides across a fixed object where the gap is large enough to ‘draw’ in an object of body part)
– Pinch Points/Trap Points (typically around hinges or where gaps change in size, which allow fingers to be crushed)
– Vehicle collision potential (typically when a vehicle parks too close to the gates, and is inside the swing path)
– Force testing if required (to assess how much force a gate exerts on any of the above danger zones)
Also, there are multiple ways of controlling gates. For example, hold to run/operate and fully automatic mode. The person installing the gate automation will be able to advise and assess, if required, what additional safety is recommended to install.
5.Cancellations & Returns
Any standard items orders may be cancelled up until the point of dispatch. If you wish to cancel your order you must do this in writing to info@gatesandautomationdirect.co.uk prior to us dispatching your order.
If you purchase & receive a standard item from our website, you have a period of 14 days to return your item (return postage to be covered by customer).
Products must be returned in original packaging, unopened, un-damaged & resalable as new.
Items which have been opened, installed or attempted to be installed are not eligible for return.
If you wish to return an item outside the 14 day period we may accept (at our discretion) this provided it meets the conditions above, however, we reserve the right to charge a restocking fee of up to 50% and at our discretion.
Made to measure or bespoke orders cannot be cancelled after an order has been placed and paid for. However, we may offer a part refund at our own discretion, depending on the product ordered and specification. We have 1000’s of sizes & designs available so it is very unlikely we will be able to sell your custom made order at retail value.
All refunds will be paid as soon as we have received the goods back in the appropriate condition. There may be some time between us processing your delay and the refund reaching your credit/debit card or bank account.
All refunds will be made within 28 days maximum.
6.Warranty
Our 10 year warranty covers against rust* and faulty workmanship on all manufactured metal work**
Metal Gates & Rust –
We are proud to guarantee our workmanship which protects against manufacturing defects and Faulty Workmanship (for example, poor quality welds).
We guarantee our finishes (metalwork) will be rust free for a minimum of 10 years (as long as the customer has items galvanised).
We guarantee our powder coating finishes for 1 year, however, the powder coating’s actual lifespan is 15 to 20 years.
The reason for the guarantee being 1 year is for two reasons:
- If there were an issue (which is rare) with the coating it is obvious instantly – within days/weeks of install. Products will be replaced/retreated accordingly
- The product has a long lifespan, however, it is advised that the customer wipes down the metalwork with warm soapy water twice a year to remove any build up. We cannot guarantee a customer will carry out this task and cannot be held responsible
If your metal gate is galvanized you should experience many decades of use rust free. If the paint or powder coating is chipped/scratched you may wish to touch up the areas using metal paint.
If you damage/scratch the gate to the extent where the galvanized layer is removed then it is your responsibility to touch up the area. This can be done by rubbing down the area and using a galvanized spray (available online, from ourselves or from local DIY stores) on the area. Then, once dry, touch up with metal paint/spray paint. If you need assistance please contact us.
*We will not accept liability for small areas of rust which have appeared due to above conditions and it is the responsibility of the customer to use the FOC touch up paint supplied. We will not accept liability for areas which are left unprotected due to customer damage/chipping/scratching. Occasionally, due to the galvanizing process and possible surface contaminants, small areas of rust coloured staining can appear, particularly on gates that do not have powder coating, this is NOT rust and does not affect the performance of the steel, it is only cosmetic.
**We will not accept Liability for any damage that has been caused by improper use of the product or abuse. For example, gates allowed to slam in the wind, third party repairs or vandalism.
Working Parts (locks, Hinges, Gate keeps, Dropbolts etc) –
These are guaranteed for 1 year.
Gate Automation –
Our automation hardware (motors & control boards) is also covered by a 2 year parts only guarantee (subject to manufacturers terms and conditions).
Gate automation repair timescales are dependent on your individual contract.
What is not covered under the warranty –
Winds and storm damage (acts of god):
This is usually covered by the customers home insurance, similar to if your roof was damaged from a storm
We are happy to quote/repair for insurance work!
Abuse and vandalism:
For example gates left unsecured and allowed to continuously slam in the wind. Another example would be children jumping/swinging on gates causing high stress in the wrong areas. Damage caused by sports balls/toys would also not be covered.
Fading-
Over the years paint/powder coating may fade due to the UV rays from the sun. This is normal and cannot be prevented – it will simply require touching up. This usually takes many years (10 years+).
Composite Infills-
*Composite infills are a man made recycled product. Composite infill is weather resistant and durable and will provide many years free of maintenance. Composite products can fade over time with UV light and environmental conditions and can degrade if abused. Composite is not covered under the warranty.
As a relatively inexpensive material, these can be renewed when required due to the design of our frames. They can also be painted over with the correct coatings.
*Standard composite is now fixed using visible coach bolts through the board and gate frame.
Scratching/Chipping-
If you scratch or chip your gate it is easy to touch up – simply ask us how if you need advice!
Maintenance-
On our timber infill range it may be necessary to tighten the fixings/screws during the gates lifetime. This is because timber naturally expands and contracts due to the change in moisture content in the air. This puts pressure on the fixings which can loosen them over the years.
Simply use a manual pozi head screwdriver and hand tighten each fixing screw from the rear – no need to overtighten!
Working Parts/Moving Parts-
Due to the nature of our products you will have several working parts which will be ‘metal on metal’. Naturally, this causes friction and will give natural ‘wear and tear’. Wear and tear can be reduced by applying grease to the hinges and drop bolts, the application of grease is advised.
For example, drop bolts/sliding bolts used regularly will, over time, wear away the powder coated coating. Again, these areas can be touched up by the customer, but because they are working parts the finish is not covered by any guarantee.
All Timber-
Timber is a natural product. We use quality timber and you will get many years of beautiful life from our gates. However, as timber is a natural product we cannot guarantee against any natural movement (expansion & contraction), splitting or colour changing/fading over time. We do our very best to give the timber as long a life as physically possible by using the best available stains and coatings (if you choose this option).
Timber rot/mould is not covered as it is beyond our control how a gate is maintained and subsequently looked after once delivered/installed. If you care for your timber properly over the years it will not be an issue!
It is up to the customer to maintain and take care of the timber upon delivery and transfer of ownership.
As timber is a natural product it will climatize when exposed to the elements. It can be unpredictable. It is the responsibility of the customer to give the timber any subsequent treatments required due to this climatization. As the wood ‘breathes’ it may expand/contract/pores open/close. This can result in a change in the finish from when you first received the gate/product. It is the responsibility of the customer to sand/rub down/remove loose flakes of coatings and recoat the affected areas.
As the timber expands and contracts it may reveal areas of untreated tongues/grooves. Should you wish to touch up the areas revealed, this can be done using the same coating and a small brush.
Aluminium Cladding/Infills-
Our aluminium gates are also covered by our 10 year guarantee. They do not rust/corrode giving you many years of maintenance free life.
The Finish On The Gates Moving/Working Parts-
Over a period of time it is possible that the moving parts (hinge pins, latches, sliding bolts etc) will wear down due to friction between the parts. This is completely normal and cannot be helped. It will not affect the functionality of the gate. You can ‘touch up’ areas using cans of galvanising spray/matching powder coat spray paint if you wish!
Powder coating is a very ‘tough’ coating and combined with the galvanised base layer there is simply no better protection for your gates.
Disclaimer – The finishes on moving/working parts, such as hinges, drop bolts, latches etc, are not covered by any guarantees as they will endure wear and tear. It is up to the customer to maintain these items over time – a simple touch up from year to year will help keep them in good condition.
By using our site & placing any subsequent orders you are legally bound by these terms & conditions.
7.Delivery
You must ensure you have received your goods before arranging an installer. We accept no liability for any subsequent losses caused from:
- Damage during transit
- Missed Deliveries
- Unforeseen delays, such as galvanizing process taking longer than stated (we will update you of any delays)
We will be happy to post our products across the UK, however, some areas will incur additional postage costs. All of our delivery prices are calculated per order and based on delivery address.
We reserve the right to make amendments to the quoted delivery price should there be an error with our website delivery calculator. Due to the large & heavy gates we are shipping prices can vary. If these circumstances occur with your order we will inform you of the changes and get your approval to proceed. If you do not wish to pay for the additional shipping charges we can cancel your order and refund 100% of your money. We will confirm shipping costs prior to placing your order into fabrication.
Upon delivery it is important to check your packages thoroughly for signs of damage/bumps/scrapes/drops etc.
We ensure that every gate/product is securely packaged and leaves us in a perfect condition.
Either:
REFUSE your delivery if noticeable shipping damage has occurred
OR
Take pictures immediately whilst the courier is on site (with photos of vehicle/registration), state DAMAGED DURING TRANSIT on the paperwork. DO NOT sign for the goods without raising these points if your parcel arrives with visible damage. It is difficult to claim the courier company for the damage if you sign for the parcel without taking evidence or stating the damage on the paperwork.
If your gate/product is damaged please do not install them before contacting us. We are under no obligation to refund money or replace items which have been installed.
If your gate/product has a fault or is unsatisfactory please call us & email us with photos and a description of the problem and we will be happy to help.
Please check your delivery prior to arranging an installer. You must check that all required parts are present that match your order. We accept no responsibility if you arrange an installer without checking you have all of your parts required for install.
However, in the unlikely event you have parts missing we are happy to re-send these immediately.
8.Use of Our Site, Images & Content
All of our designs, artwork, photos & content have been created by Gates & Automation Direct.
The contents of this site are protected by copyright laws. All rights + copyrights are owned by Gates & Automation Direct.