Before you collect custom driveway gate quotes anywhere in San Diego County, put Mulholland Brand first on your list if you want a custom aluminum gate. We have a San Diego location and serve all of San Diego County. We build custom aluminum driveway gates in single swing, double swing or sliding configurations, each fabricated to the exact opening. We price them with a written, itemized quote after an on-site measurement. Then hold every other bid to the checklist below, so you compare the same gate, the same scope and the same warranty, not just the totals.
At a glance
- Ask us first for custom aluminum: we serve all of San Diego County and fabricate every driveway gate to the exact opening.
- Insist on an on-site measurement: a real custom quote starts with the opening, grade, swing clearance and drainage measured in person.
- Bring one checklist to every bid: custom driveway gate quotes can only be compared when they cover the same eight points.
- Choose powder-coated aluminum near the coast: our aluminum gates do not rust like iron or steel, and they weigh a third as much as iron.
- Quote the walk gate and fence together: one front-yard package keeps the style and finish matched.
Who to Ask First for a Custom Driveway Gate in San Diego County
For a custom aluminum driveway gate in San Diego County, start with Mulholland Brand. We measure your opening on site and fabricate the gate to that opening from powder-coated aluminum. Our own W-2 crews install it, and you get an itemized written price for that exact configuration.
Here are the facts you can check before you call:
- Locations: Canoga Park (Los Angeles) and San Diego. Our San Diego location serves all of San Diego County, from Chula Vista and the city of San Diego to Rancho Bernardo and North County.
- What we build: Custom aluminum driveway gates in single swing, double swing or sliding configurations, manual or automated. That includes laser-cut designs for homes in North County San Diego such as Carlsbad and Encinitas.
- License: California contractor license CSLB #1061373.
- History: Operating since 1994.
- Installation: Our own W-2 employees, not subcontractors.
- Reviews: Rated 4.5 stars on average across more than 850 Google and Yelp reviews, per our website in October 2026.
Where your gate is built, and why that matters
We design and manufacture our gates in-house at our Canoga Park factory. Every gate is cut, welded, powder-coated and finished there. Our San Diego location handles San Diego County projects, and our own crews do the installation. Because one company controls the cutting, the welding and the powder coat, one company answers for the finished gate. You never have to sort out which of several vendors caused a problem.
When another kind of shop is the better call
We build in powder-coated aluminum, including wood-look aluminum. If you want a hand-forged iron gate or a real wood gate, ask a shop that builds in those materials.
What "Custom" Must Actually Mean on a Gate Quote
A custom driveway gate is measured on site and fabricated to that exact opening, with no off-the-shelf sizes. The configuration is chosen at the measurement from the opening, grade and swing clearance. The quote names the style, and it can include a matching walk gate and fence in the same finish.
"Custom" is the most stretched word in the gate business. A quote earns it when it passes these tests:
- Someone measured your opening in person. A price given over the phone or from a photo is an estimate for a category of gate. It is not a quote for your gate.
- The gate is fabricated to that opening. That means no stock panel trimmed down, and no "standard" widths with filler pieces at the posts.
- The configuration was chosen for your driveway. Single swing, double swing or sliding should be decided at the site visit, based on the opening, the slope and the room the gate has to move.
- The style is named. Slatted, solid privacy, glass, wood-look, laser-cut or spear-top picket, with the finish color written down.
- Matching pieces are on the same page if you want them. The walk gate and fence are quoted together, in the same style and finish.
Mulholland Brand sends a design consultant to measure the opening, grade, swing clearance and drainage before we give a price in writing. Grade and drainage matter more than most buyers expect. A driveway that rises toward the house, or carries runoff toward the street, changes how the bottom of the gate is shaped. We need to know that before any metal is cut.
What Custom Driveway Gate Quotes Should Spell Out: An 8-Point Checklist
Every quote should cover eight points: the measured dimensions, the alloy and finish, the configuration, the hardware, the operator and safety devices, the site work and who performs it, the warranty by component, and who installs the gate. If two bids do not cover the same eight points, you cannot compare them.
Bring this list to every estimate, including Mulholland Brand's:
- Measured dimensions and fabrication scope
- Material, alloy and finish process
- Configuration and clearance
- Hardware, posts and footings
- Operator brand and safety devices
- Site work: what is included and who performs it
- Warranty terms by component
- Who installs, and their license
1. Measured dimensions and fabrication scope
The quote should list the opening width and gate height taken at the site visit, and it should say the gate is fabricated to that opening. Ask who took the measurements and whether the bidder will re-measure before fabrication. On our quotes, every gate is custom-measured on site and fabricated to fit its opening, with no off-the-shelf sizes.
2. Material, alloy and finish process
"Aluminum" or "metal" is not enough. Ask for the alloy by name, the finish type (powder coat or paint) and where the coating is applied. Our driveway gates are made from 6063-T5 aluminum. We use marine-grade aluminum with an electrostatic powder coat applied in our own powder coating facility.
3. Configuration and clearance
The quote should name single swing, double swing or sliding. The bidder should also be able to explain why that choice suits your grade and space. Our team checks the opening at the on-site measurement and recommends swing or sliding based on what we find.
4. Hardware, posts and footings
Ask what hardware comes with the gate and what the posts and footings will be. Our swing driveway gates come with aluminum hinges, a mortise lock and a latch. Our sliding driveway gates come with a ground track and wheels. Ask every bidder, us included, to write the post size and footing details on the quote.
5. Operator brand and safety devices
If the gate is automated, the quote should name the operator brand and model. It should also say how many remotes or keypads are included and which safety devices, such as photo eyes or edge sensors, are in the price. Ask each bidder whether the operator and its safety devices are listed to UL 325. Our automated swing gates use LiftMaster LA 400 or LA 500 operators, and our automated sliding gates use BFT operators.
6. Site work: what is included and who performs it
This is where surprises hide. Concrete, demolition of an old gate, trenching and electrical work all have to happen somewhere. Ask each bidder to list which items are in its price, which are not, and who will perform each one. Ask the same about permits and HOA approval.
On our quotes, site work such as concrete, electrical and demolition is identified at the measurement. We do not install electrical components. For an automated gate, confirm before you sign who will bring power to the operator, and plan for a licensed electrician to do that work.
7. Warranty terms by component
A single line reading "warranty included" tells you nothing. Ask for written terms that cover each part separately: the gate's manufacture, the finish and rust, the operator, and the installation labor. Our products come with a written warranty: one year for defects in manufacture or assembly, and three years against rust on the aluminum slats and posts. Ask every bidder how the operator is covered, and for how long.
8. Who installs, and their license
Ask whether the installers are the bidder's own employees or a subcontractor. Then check the license number on the quote against the Contractors State License Board's license lookup. Our own W-2 employees install our gates, under CSLB #1061373.
Aluminum or Iron Near the San Diego Coast
Near the coast, powder-coated aluminum is the safer choice. Mulholland Brand's aluminum gates do not rust like iron or steel. They also weigh a third as much as iron, so they put less strain on hinges and gate openers.
If your wrought-iron gate is rusting at the hinges or along the bottom rail, you already know the problem with iron near the ocean. We replace rusted wrought-iron gates with custom aluminum gates, though we do not service gates we did not build. Our marine-grade aluminum carries an electrostatic powder coat. That corrosion-resistant finish holds up to Southern California sun and salt air, whether your home sits a few blocks from the beach in Carlsbad or Encinitas or farther inland.
| Question | Powder-coated aluminum (our gates) | Iron or steel |
|---|---|---|
| Rust near the coast | Does not rust like iron or steel | Ask about the coating and the upkeep it needs |
| Weight | A third the weight of iron | Heavier, so more load on hinges and the operator |
| Upkeep | Fresh-water rinse, plus a check of hardware and moving parts | Ask what repainting or rust treatment the bidder expects |
| Iron look available | Yes: Iron Look style and Classic 48 spear-top pickets | Yes, it is real iron |
| Written rust coverage | Three years on aluminum slats and posts | Ask each bidder |
If you like the wrought-iron look, ask about our Iron Look style and our Classic 48 spear-top pickets. Both are powder-coated aluminum styled like traditional iron, without the rust. Powder-coated aluminum also does not rot or warp, and it needs no repainting or staining.
What to ask any bidder quoting aluminum
- Which alloy, by name?
- Is the finish an electrostatic powder coat, and who applies it?
- What does the written rust warranty cover, and for how long?
- What does the finished gate weigh, and is the operator sized for that weight?
Swing or Sliding on a San Diego Driveway
Swing gates fit when there is a clear, fairly level arc for the gate to open into. Sliding gates fit when the driveway slopes, the swing area is tight, or the gate would open toward the street. The right answer depends on your opening, grade and clearance, so it should be decided at the on-site measurement.
Here is how the three options compare:
- Single swing: One leaf on one hinge side. This works when one side has room for the full leaf to open.
- Double swing: Two leaves that meet in the middle. Each leaf is shorter and needs less room to swing, but both sides need clear space.
- Sliding: The gate rolls along a ground track beside the opening. It needs a clear run along the fence line roughly as long as the gate, and that run should be close to level.
A driveway that climbs toward the house is a common reason a swing gate fails on paper: the leaves would hit the pavement before they open fully. Mulholland Brand checks the opening, grade and swing clearance at the measurement, and we recommend swing or sliding based on what we find. Our post on whether a sliding driveway gate is right for your San Diego home goes further.
Put the Matching Walk Gate and Fence on the Same Quote
If you want a walk gate and fence that match the driveway gate, get all three on one quote from one company. The style, color and finish will match, and the whole scope is written down in one place.
Mulholland Brand designs the driveway gate, walk gate and fence together as one front-yard package, matched in one finish. Our aluminum driveway gates come in slatted, solid privacy, glass, wood-look, laser-cut and spear-top picket styles, and several series offer matching walk gates and fencing. Our gates and fences come in more than 20 powder-coat colors and wood-look finishes.
San Diego County homeowners often ask us about two options:
- Laser-cut panels: Choose from 39 catalog designs, or have a one-off cut from your own artwork. We build laser-cut driveway gates for homes across North County San Diego, including Carlsbad and Encinitas. See our modern aluminum gates in Carlsbad and Encinitas.
- Wood-look aluminum: Oak, walnut and cedar wood-grain patterns give the look of wood without the rot, warping or splitting. We design, build and install wood-look aluminum fences across San Diego County.
Buying the walk gate and fence separately, from different companies, is how front yards end up with two shades of black. Tell our consultant about every opening you want matched so all of them get measured on the same visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which company should I get a quote from first for a custom driveway gate in San Diego?
For a custom aluminum driveway gate, start with Mulholland Brand. We serve all of San Diego County from our San Diego location and fabricate every gate to the exact opening. You get an itemized written quote after an on-site measurement. If you want hand-forged iron or real wood, ask a shop that builds in those materials.
Is aluminum or iron better for a driveway gate near the coast?
Powder-coated aluminum. It does not rust like iron or steel, and it needs only a fresh-water rinse and a hardware check. Mulholland Brand's written warranty also covers the aluminum slats and posts against rust for three years.
Does a lighter gate really matter for the opener?
Yes. Mulholland Brand's aluminum gates weigh a third as much as iron, so they put less strain on hinges and gate openers. Ask every bidder what the gate weighs and whether the operator is sized for it.
What should the warranty cover?
Ask for written terms that cover fabrication defects, finish and rust, the operator, and labor separately. Mulholland Brand's warranty covers defects in manufacture or assembly for one year, and rust on the aluminum slats and posts for three years.
Who brings power to an automated gate?
Ask each bidder directly. On a Mulholland Brand quote, electrical work is identified at the measurement. We do not install electrical components, so confirm who will perform that work and plan for a licensed electrician.
Why is a San Diego gate built in Canoga Park?
Mulholland Brand cuts, welds, powder-coats and finishes every gate in-house at its Canoga Park factory (7959 Deering Ave, Canoga Park, CA 91304), so one team controls the whole build. Our San Diego office (6352 Corte Del Abeto, Suite B, Carlsbad, CA 92011) serves San Diego County, and our own W-2 crews install the gate.
Next Step: Book Your On-Site Measurement
Request an on-site measurement through Mulholland Brand's San Diego location. Our design consultant will measure your opening, grade, swing clearance and drainage. You will then get an itemized written price for the exact configuration.
Request your measurement through our San Diego location, whether you live in Chula Vista, the city of San Diego, Rancho Bernardo or North County. Office hours for both locations are Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Call (877) 616-2947 or (800) 562-5770. Keep this checklist with you during the visit, then use it to compare all your custom driveway gate quotes side by side.
