A Double-Swing Driveway Gate in Park West

Published July 1, 2026

A homeowner off Park West Boulevard wanted a driveway gate that looked custom without fighting the salt air for the next decade. Here is how the project came together, start to finish, and what we learned along the way that applies to almost any driveway gate in Mount Pleasant.

Reading the Opening First

Before any steel was cut, we measured the full opening, the driveway slope, and the swing arc on both sides. A double-swing gate needs clear room for each leaf to open, and the grade near the 29466 line had just enough fall that we adjusted the hinge height so the leaves would not scrape at the center. Getting this right on paper saved a return trip later.

Setting Posts That Will Not Move

The gate is only as steady as its footings. We dug below grade and poured concrete around galvanized Schedule 40 posts, sized for the span and the coastal wind load that rolls in off the harbor. A driveway gate this wide puts real leverage on the hinge post, so we oversized it on purpose rather than trusting a thin tube.

Fabrication and Finish

We welded the frames in the shop from mild steel tubing, then sandblasted, primed with a zinc-rich inhibitor, and powder-coated the whole gate in a satin black. That layered finish is the difference between a gate that still looks new next summer and one that shows rust bleed at the welds. If you are weighing iron against aluminum for your own drive, our page on driveway and entry gates walks through how we match the material to the exposure.

Leaving It Operator-Ready

The owner is not automating yet, but they might, so we built the gate to take a swing operator down the road. The posts, hinges, and frame are already sized for it, which means adding a motor later is a clean upgrade rather than a rebuild. When that day comes, everything on our automatic gate systems page applies with no wasted work.

The Handoff

We hung the leaves, trued the hinges, set the latch, and cycled the gate a dozen times before we called it done. Then we cleaned the concrete spoil off the driveway and walked the owner through the latch and the drop rod. That kind of finish is the whole point of hiring a local shop.

Thinking about a driveway gate for your own Mount Pleasant home? Call Thetaxpayers at (843) 844-5844 or contact us for a free on-site estimate.