Moving to a new part of Staffordshire, whether it is a terrace in Cannock, a village near the Chase or a newer estate on the edge of Stafford, often comes with a list of outdoor jobs. The previous owners took their garden gate with them, the garage door is past saving, or the drive needs closing off now there is a dog in the family. Made-to-order gates and doors are a good answer to all of these, but they work best when you plan them around the rhythm of a move.
Why made to order makes sense after moving
Off-the-shelf gates and doors come in standard sizes, and older or individual properties rarely have standard openings. A gate or door built to the exact measurements of your opening closes neatly, needs less trimming and usually looks more at home. It also means you can choose the style, timber and finish to match the house rather than settling for whatever is in stock.
When to start the process
There is little point ordering before you have the keys. You need to measure the openings yourself, see how the light and weather hit the front of the house, and understand how you use the space. A few weeks of living in the property is usually enough.
On the other hand, leaving it too long means living with an insecure side passage or a draughty garage through a whole winter. Many people find the sweet spot is once the essentials inside are unpacked and the household has settled into a routine.
A local maker on the A34
For anyone moving into the area, it helps to know there is a workshop nearby. A34 Timber Gates & Garage Doors is a family-run business on the A34 at Penkridge, between Stafford and Cannock, making timber gates and garage doors in Staffordshire to order. Its range covers driveway gates, side gates, garage doors including insulated designs, stable doors and Accoya products, and it delivers throughout the UK.
Its ordering process is straightforward. You contact the team by email or phone to talk through what you need, they send an email confirming the details so you can check everything is right, and a deposit secures the order before it goes into production. Full payment is taken on dispatch for collection or delivery, or once fitting is complete.
Supply and fit, or supply only?
Most makers offer both, and the right choice depends on your skills and the job:
- Supply and fit: worth it for driveway gates, heavy garage doors or anything that needs new posts or frames. A34’s fitting area includes Stafford, Cannock, Stoke, Leek, Stone, Lichfield, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Telford and the rest of Staffordshire and Shropshire.
- Supply only: a good option if you or a trusted local tradesperson are confident hanging a gate or door. It also suits people further afield who prefer to use their own installer.
If you think you might want automated driveway gates, A34 only offers automation when it supplies and fits the gates, so decide that before ordering.
Measuring tips for new homeowners
- For gates, measure from wall to wall or post to post; A34 deducts the space for posts and clearance itself.
- For garage doors, measure the width at the top, middle and bottom and the height at both sides and the centre.
- Note any slope in the ground, which affects how a gate or door opens.
- Take photographs of each opening to share when you get in touch.
Fitting the work around other jobs
If you are also relaying the drive, building a wall or landscaping, coordinate those trades with the gate or door installation. It is far easier to set new posts before a fresh driveway goes down than after.
Settling into a new home in Staffordshire takes time, and outdoor jobs can wait until you are ready. When you are, made-to-order gates and doors from a local workshop are a reliable way to make the property secure, private and properly finished.
