Process
How long does it take to build and install a custom gate?
Quick answer
For most custom gates in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, plan on roughly 4 to 10 weeks from your first consult to a finished install. Add about 1 to 3 weeks if the gate is automated, and more if a permit, inspection, or off-site galvanizing is involved. Exact timing depends on the design, size, finish, and your site, so the only firm number comes from a quote.
What are the stages, and how long does each take?
A custom gate is built in clear stages. Each one adds time, and a few can overlap. These are realistic ranges for a hand-built gate in the Arlington and DFW area; the exact figure depends on the design and the shop's current schedule.
Consult and measure (a few days to about a week): We visit the site, talk through the design, and take exact field measurements. Accurate measurements matter most on driveway gates, where slope, posts, and swing or slide clearance all affect the build.
Design and approval (about 1 to 2 weeks): We turn the idea into a drawing, confirm dimensions, material, and finish, and get your sign-off. Nothing is cut until the design is approved. A fully custom or ornamental design adds time here; a simpler panel design moves faster.
Fabrication (about 2 to 6 weeks): This is the hand work: cutting, welding, and assembly. Industry lead times for custom gates commonly run 6 to 10 weeks from deposit, and that figure usually folds in design and finishing as well. Size, complexity, and steel availability drive this stage.
Finishing (a few days to about 2 weeks): A durable finish is essential in the Texas sun and heat. In-house priming and painting is quick. If the gate is hot-dip galvanized or powder coated off-site for maximum corrosion resistance, that adds shipping time and shop turnaround on top.
Install (most of a day to a few days): Setting posts, hanging the gate, and final adjustment. Concrete footings for posts then need time to cure before the gate carries load and before automation is added, which can split the install across more than one visit.
How much extra time does automation add?
Adding an electric or automated operator extends the timeline beyond a manual gate. The gate itself can usually be built to be automation-ready, but the operator, wiring, and safety devices are their own phase.
The mechanical install of an opener is often quick, frequently within a day or two once the gate is hung. The delay is almost always the electrical work: a power source, conduit, and a dedicated circuit usually need to be run, and that work may need to be inspected before automation is energized.
Plan on roughly 1 to 3 extra weeks for automation overall once you account for coordinating power, running conduit, and any required inspection. Heavier gates, slide gates, and added features like keypads, cameras, or sensors take longer than a simple single-swing opener.
Automated vehicular gates in the US are governed by the UL 325 safety standard, which is referenced in the building, residential, and fire codes. Compliant entrapment-protection devices, such as photo-eyes and edge sensors, along with proper setup, are part of a correct automated install, and they are part of why the automation phase is not instant.
What can stretch the timeline in Arlington and DFW?
Permits and inspections: The City of Arlington generally requires a permit for a new fence, or when replacing 50 percent or more of an existing one, and permitting time is outside the shop's control. Height limits and corner-lot visibility rules can also affect the design before anything is built. Automation may also require an electrical permit and inspection. Rules change, so confirm current requirements with the City of Arlington Planning and Development Services before you plan around a date.
Design complexity: A clean, modern panel gate moves faster than an ornamental or fully bespoke design. The more custom the hand work, the more fabrication time it takes.
Finish choice: An in-house paint finish is fastest. Off-site hot-dip galvanizing or powder coating adds turnaround but buys you far better long-term protection against DFW heat, UV, and humidity. Hot-dip galvanizing in particular is widely recognized for decades-long corrosion resistance, often outlasting paint or powder coat in outdoor use.
Site conditions: Slope, soil, existing posts or columns, the swing-versus-slide decision, and gate weight all affect both fabrication and install. Footings also need curing time before a heavy gate or operator goes on.
Materials and scheduling: Steel availability and where your project falls in the shop's queue both move the date. Because we build one project at a time, by hand, the most accurate timeline comes from a quote for your specific gate. Call (214) 603-9142 or email support@cjmmetals.com to start.
NoteTimelines are general estimates and vary by design, size, finish, site conditions, and shop schedule. Permit and inspection requirements change. Confirm current fence and electrical permit rules with the City of Arlington Planning and Development Services before relying on a specific date, and request a quote for an exact timeline.