Automate the gate you already have
Most swing and sliding gates can be automated without replacing them. We start by checking the things that matter: gate weight and length, hinge or roller condition, whether the gate travels level, and where power can come from. Then we match an operator to the gate instead of forcing the gate to live with the wrong operator. You get a system sized for how often it actually opens, not a residential unit bolted onto a gate that cycles fifty times a day.
- Swing, sliding, and bi-parting gates
- Residential driveways and commercial entrances
- Trenching and low-voltage wiring handled by us
- Solar setups where running power is impractical
- Remotes, keypads, and app entry configured before we leave
Replacing an operator that has given up
If your opener grinds, stalls halfway, or only works when it feels like it, we can usually tell you fast whether it is worth fixing. We repair and replace LiftMaster, DoorKing, Nice/Apollo, FAAC, Viking, Linear, Chamberlain/Elite, Mighty Mule, and HySecurity operators, so you are not locked into one brand's answer. When a control board is fried or parts are discontinued, we swap in a new operator on your existing gate and reuse what still works, including posts, loops, and wiring where they are sound. Wet Oregon and Washington winters are hard on older units; a modern operator with a sealed board and battery backup handles them better.
Solar power, remotes, and smarter entry
No power at the gate is not a dealbreaker. For rural driveways and acreage around Clark County and the outer Portland metro, we install solar-charged operators sized for our gray winters: bigger panel, bigger battery, honest math on daily cycles. On the access side, we set up remotes, keypads, fobs, and phone-based entry, and we can add video intercoms like DoorBird or ButterflyMX so you see who is at the gate before it opens.
- Solar operators for gates far from a panel
- Battery backup so the gate works in an outage
- Remotes and in-car programming (HomeLink)
- Keypads, fobs, and app-based entry
- Video intercoms tied to the gate
Safety devices are not optional
Every operator we install meets UL 325, the safety standard for automated gates. That means monitored entrapment protection (photo eyes, contact edges, or both) placed where the gate could trap a person or a car, plus warning signage and proper gate screening. If your current gate has an operator but no working sensors, that is a real hazard and often the first thing we fix. We also service and replace EMX photo eyes, loops, and edge sensors on existing systems from any installer.
Brands we repair, brand by brand
Most repair calls start with a brand name and a symptom. Here are the five we see most around Portland and Vancouver, what tends to fail on each, and where parts stand. If yours isn't on this list, call anyway. We also service Viking, Linear, Chamberlain/Elite, and HySecurity.
- LiftMaster: the opener we see most on residential driveways, with commercial operators just as common at HOA and warehouse entrances. The usual failures are backup batteries that age out, worn gear kits, and control boards after a power surge. Parts support is strong, and we carry the common LiftMaster spares on the truck.
- DoorKing: a workhorse operator on commercial and multi-tenant entrances, often wired to a DoorKing telephone-entry panel of the same vintage. We most often replace limit switches, relays, and control boards, and we convert telephone entry that still expects a retired landline. DoorKing's parts support runs deep even on older models, so repair is usually a genuine option.
- Nice/Apollo: the usual pick for solar-powered openers on rural driveways and acreage. Common faults are batteries that quietly lose capacity, charge controllers, and control boards, and a dark winter exposes a weak battery bank first. We stock the routine replacements and size panels and batteries for Northwest light, not for the brochure.
- Mighty Mule: a DIY-grade opener we're asked to rescue more often than repair. Failures usually trace to an undersized unit on a heavy gate, worn actuator arms, or connections that didn't survive the rain. We fix what's worth fixing and say so plainly when the better answer is a heavier-duty opener.
- FAAC: hydraulic swing operators found on heavier ornamental gates and commercial drives. The hydraulics are long-lived; what ages is seals, fluid, and control electronics. Some parts take longer to source than domestic brands, and we tell you up front when a repair depends on one.
Frequently asked questions
How do you size a gate operator?
Four things drive it: gate weight, gate length, how many times a day it cycles, and the site itself, meaning slope, wind load on solid panels, and travel distance. A light residential swing gate needs a very different machine than a 30-foot commercial slider that opens every few minutes. Operators also carry UL 325 usage classes from residential through industrial, and installing the wrong class is the fastest way to burn one out. We measure and count cycles first, then recommend a model.
Can you add an opener to my existing gate, or do I need a new gate?
Usually yes, you can keep your gate. It needs to be structurally sound, swing or slide freely by hand, and travel reasonably level. An operator cannot fix a sagging gate or seized hinges. If the gate needs work first, we do that fabrication in-house rather than sending you to a second contractor. We will tell you honestly if the gate itself is past saving.
What safety devices does an automatic gate legally need?
UL 325 requires monitored entrapment protection in every zone where the gate could trap someone, typically photo eyes across the opening and contact edges on the gate itself. Since 2016, operators must actively monitor those devices; if a sensor fails or is unplugged, the gate stops running in automatic mode. Warning signs and screening to keep hands out of a sliding gate's mesh are part of the standard too. If your gate moves with no sensors on it, get that corrected before anything else.
Does solar actually work with Portland and Vancouver weather?
Yes, if it is sized for here and not for Arizona. Cloudy winters mean we spec a larger panel and more battery capacity than the operator's brochure suggests, and we are upfront about how many cycles a day the system supports. For a rural gate that opens a handful of times daily, solar is often cheaper than trenching hundreds of feet for power. For a busy commercial entrance, hardwired power is usually the right call.
My opener died. Repair it or replace it?
It comes down to age and parts. Brands like LiftMaster, DoorKing, FAAC, and Viking have good parts support, so a failed board, limit switch, or battery is often a straightforward repair. If the model is discontinued, the gear train is worn, or it predates monitored safety requirements, replacement usually costs less over the next five years than chasing repairs. We service all of these brands, so the recommendation is based on your unit, not on what we happen to sell.
What affects the cost of automating a gate?
The biggest factors are operator class (residential versus commercial duty), whether it is a swing, slide, or bi-parting setup, and how far power has to travel; trenching a long run is often the largest single line item. Safety devices, access control like keypads or video intercoms, and any repair work the gate needs before automation add from there. We quote after a site visit so the number reflects your gate, not an average.
Where we do this work
Across the Portland metro from our Tualatin HQ and across Clark County from our Vancouver hub. See every city we serve, or jump straight to Portland, Beaverton, Tigard, Vancouver, or Camas.