Sliding gate track
Texas soil
The abundance of clay soil in Texas is one of the primary reasons our homeowners experience extensive foundation issues. The reason for this is that clay behaves like a sponge, expanding and contracting rapidly in response to changes in moisture.
When soil with a high clay content absorbs rainwater, it expands and puts pressure on the foundation of a house. This can cause foundational cracks and expose the foundation to sinking water, wreaking havoc on basements, floors, and plumbing.
Seasons of excessive heat, dryness, and drought, on the other hand, cause clay-rich soil to contract. This contraction may result in a gap between the foundation wall and the surrounding landscape, allowing water to collect and settle.
Another distinguishing feature of clay soil is that it expands unevenly, which means that two opposing sides of your home's foundation may move and change in completely different ways. This is why it is critical to understand how to properly care for your soil and spot signs of foundational damage early on.
What effect does Texas soil have on our sliding gate track base?
A track is required for the wheels as the gate opens and closes. Otherwise, the gate would become out of square and jam, making it impossible to open and close. The gate track is made of angle steel that has been welded to a flat-plate steel that the wheels run along.
Our sliding gate opens and closes frequently as the seasons change, putting a lot of pressure on the track base and pushing it towards the ground, causing the gate to sag and potentially causing future problems with the gate.
The sliding gate track has two foundations: concrete and piers.
concrete base
The sliding gate concrete base is a concrete slab on which the track is laid and is attached by concrete anchors. It is usually 4 inches deep and 8-10 inches wide, and the size of the gate determines how long the concrete base will be.
Sliding gate track concrete base is a great long-term solution because it provides proper support for your track and prevents sagging.
Piers base
A more affordable option for your gate is a pier base. Typically, the base is made of 2x2 or 3x3 metal tubes that run along the track. These tubes are connected to metal "legs" that are made of 2x2 metal tubes 1 foot long. The distance between the legs varies depending on the size of the gate and is usually 2 feet.
The primary drawback of piers bases is their sinking track over time. Moreover, soil and moisture that come into contact with the track will eventually cause it to corrode and deteriorate.
