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Gates mark the character of a house, of any building in that case. And, they
come in all shapes and sizes. Arched gateways, carved gates, gates with pillars, gates without pillars... the list is endless.
Gates have gone through considerable transformation. Earlier, gates were non-existent for the majority of the population here. Only the rich and members of the aristocracy could flaunt gateways to their residences.
For the ordinary folk, it is a simple structure made of bamboo and wood. The simple wooden or bamboo gates of the commoners began to change appearance to keep pace with changing social status. Iron gates started appearing.
Gates have become the distinctive aspect of individual households. They also became objects to display the pomp of the owner. There are people who spend the amount of money needed to build a 1,500-square feet house for a gate.
Cast iron gates are more popular these days. Cast iron gates with a width of 12 feet to 24 feet are available. Wood is the other alternative for the high-end customers. Wooden gates naturally need an overhead covering to keep corroding agents like rain and sun. The ancient symbol of status is making a comeback these days. Among the available kinds of timber, teak is said to the best.
When choosing teak gates, utmost care is to be given while choosing the appropriate piece of wood. The teak should be dry and seasoned. It will need a thickness of 1.25 inches.
Galvanised iron (GI) pipes and mild steel (MS) pipes are other options for gates. Gates made of iron pipes cost between Tk..16,000 and Tk.80,000. Iron gates, covered with aluminium check sheets, are also used for the gates. The sheets ensure total privacy to the household. The aluminium sheets are better than GI sheets. A three-coat painting can increase the life span of the gates considerably.
There are also aluminium and stainless steel pipes. A combination of both stainless steel and cast iron pipes are used which are highly expensive.
Though a large number of designs are available readymade in the market, sometimes architects design luxury gates and get them cast independently.
This will result in cost escalation, but will make you the proud owner of a `designer gateway.' These days, security systems are also installed on the gate, such as instant alarms, door phones with camera and answering machine.
Luxury gates can often be automated, with remote-controlled operations so as to enable the owner to enter without ever having to get out of the car for opening the gates or wait for someone to open the doors.
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