A gate lock on a security gate does a lot of the work in a South African home: it is the first thing anyone has to get past at the front door, the patio slider or the yard gate. The common choice is a slam lock that locks as soon as the gate swings shut, but there are weld-on locks, sliding gate locks and padlock bolts too. Tell us about the gate and what is on it now, and local locksmiths and gate suppliers will quote you, free and with no obligation.
Types of gate lock
The main types of gate lock are:
- Slam locks: a spring latch that catches when the gate swings shut, opened with a key. Convenient, but easy to leave the key behind.
- Weld-on gate locks: a steel lock box welded to the gate with a matching keep on the frame, usually with a lever or cylinder lock inside.
- Sliding gate locks: hook or claw locks for trellis gates and sliding security gates in front of patio doors.
- Padlock bolts and hasps: for yard, farm and side gates, used with a good padlock.
- Magnetic gate locks: for pedestrian gates on intercoms or access control.
Choosing a security gate lock
Before you ask for quotes, check:
- The gate: hinged or sliding, steel or aluminium, and the width of the frame where the lock goes.
- Keyed both sides or one: a gate you lock from inside and out needs a double cylinder or lever lock.
- The cylinder or levers: a 5 lever lock or an anti-pick cylinder resists better than a cheap 2 lever.
- Keying: many people key the gate and the door behind it alike, so one key opens both.
On the coast, ask for a stainless or brass lock with a covered keyway.
Fitting, the gate lock mechanism and common mistakes
Welding a gate lock is a job for a locksmith or a steel fabricator with a welder on the bakkie. The box must sit square with the keep, or the bolt binds and the lock wears out early. Common mistakes:
- A slam lock on the only gate, with nobody carrying a key.
- Oiling the gate lock mechanism. Oil holds dust; use dry graphite or a dry PTFE lubricant.
- A strong lock on a weak gate or loose hinge pins that lift the gate off.
- A lock that cannot be opened quickly from inside in a fire.
What affects the price, and what to ask
The lock type, the box, welding and paint, and travel all count. Ask whether the price includes the keep, painting the weld, extra keys and taking away the old lock, and whether the locksmith can match your door keys.
What to include in your request
- Hinged or sliding gate, steel or aluminium
- What lock is on the gate now
- Keyed one side or both
- Whether it needs welding and painting
- Keyed alike with the door behind it
Gate Locks for different clients
- Homeowners: a slam lock on the front security gate keyed alike with the door behind it
- Complexes, estates and body corporates: weld-on locks on unit security gates and a padlock bolt on the refuse area gate
- Offices, shops and practices: a sliding gate lock on the shopfront trellis gate, locked from inside and out
- Landlords and letting agents: gate locks replaced between tenants so old keys stop opening the security gate
- Factories, warehouses and workshops: heavy padlock bolts and weld-on lock boxes on yard and loading bay gates
- Farms and smallholdings: padlock bolts on camp and yard gates, and a slam lock on the farmhouse security gate
- Schools, clinics, churches and hostels: gate locks on school and clinic gates, keyed into the site master key system
- Builders, shopfitters and contractors: steel fabricators and gate installers fitting lock boxes to new security gates
Frequently asked questions
How much does a gate lock cost?
Listed prices for security gate locks and slam lock kits run from about R130 to R765 per lock or kit, for the hardware alone. A basic lever gate lock is at the bottom of that range and a full slam lock kit with box and keep at the top. Welding, painting and the call-out are extra, so ask for them as separate lines.
Which gate lock is best for a security gate?
For a front security gate, many locksmiths fit a slam lock or a weld-on lock box with a good cylinder or 5 lever lock, keyed alike with the door behind it. For a sliding gate in front of a patio door, a hook or claw sliding gate lock is usual. The best choice depends on the gate and how you use it.
Can I fit a gate lock myself?
If the new lock bolts into the same holes as the old one, yes, with care. Most security gate locks are welded, though, and need a welder, the right keep and paint over the weld to stop rust. A locksmith with a welder can usually do a gate in an hour or two.
Do you supply gate locks?
No. We sell and fit nothing. We pass your request to independent locksmiths, gate suppliers and steel fabricators near you, and they quote you directly. Say what kind of gate it is, what lock is on it now and whether you want it keyed to match your door.
Gate Locks by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg