Frequently Asked Questions

Most repairs finish in two to four hours. A hinge replacement and adjustment on a residential gate in Santa Clara is usually a morning's work. Installing a new Linear operator with safety loops and keypad programming on a commercial gate in Sunnyvale might take most of a day. We schedule enough time so we're not rushing to the next job. We'll be there when we say, and we stay until it's done right.

We inspect the full system - gate, posts, hinges, operator, wiring, safety devices, and access controls. We show you what we found, explain your options, and give you a written price. With your go-ahead, we repair, test every function, and clean up. You sign off only when it swings true. In San Jose's older neighborhoods like Alum Rock, we often find previous repairs that need correcting - we fix those too, not just the symptom.

Yes. We work on every brand and every installer. We've inherited gates in Los Gatos that were "repaired" three times by three different companies, each leaving a new problem. We sort out the whole system, not just the latest failure. Our journeymen are trained to read what was done before and make it right.

For the estimate, yes - we need to show you the problem and get your approval. For the repair itself, you can provide access another way if you prefer. Many homeowners in Saratoga and Campbell give us gate codes or leave side gates unlocked. We treat your property like we'd treat our mother's - locked up, tidy, and with a note of what we did.

We work on FAAC, BFT, Linear, and Viking operators regularly. These are the brands we trust for San Jose's climate - hot, dry summers and occasional heavy rain that can stress electronics and mechanical components. We stock common parts for all four, which means faster repairs in Milpitas, Mountain View, and everywhere between. If you have a different brand, we can usually source parts or recommend a reliable replacement.

No. We use OEM or equivalent-grade parts - proper steel hinges, sealed bearings, weather-rated operators. A cheap hinge in San Jose's sun will fail in two years. We do this once, we do it Krafted right, and we stand behind it. That's the K.E.Y.S. code we've lived by since 1984.

Often yes. We maintain relationships with suppliers who stock discontinued components, and our fabrication shop can machine or weld parts that are no longer manufactured. We've kept gates running in East Foothills and Communications Hill that were installed in the 1970s. A century ago every town had an ironworks, and the gates it made are still swinging - we intend to keep that tradition alive in San Jose.

Yes. We're state-licensed contractors, insured and bonded, with proper CSLB classification for the welding, electrical, and mechanical work gate systems require. San Jose and Santa Clara County have specific requirements for automated gate safety - we know them and follow them. We pull permits when they're needed, especially for new operator installations or significant structural work. Ask to see our documentation - any reputable company will show you.

Properly maintained automated gates with functioning safety sensors, edge switches, and force settings rarely cause injury. If your gate lacks these protections or they're malfunctioning, you're exposed. We inspect and test every safety device during repair, and we won't return a gate to service that doesn't meet current safety standards. This isn't just our K.E.Y.S. code - it's liability protection for you. Documented maintenance from a licensed contractor matters if there's ever a claim.

Yes, for urgent situations - gate stuck open, stuck closed, or a safety hazard. We keep trucks stocked across Santa Clara County, so we can often reach San Jose, Campbell, or Santa Clara within a few hours. Same-day service depends on call volume and parts availability. For non-urgent repairs, we usually schedule within 24 to 48 hours. Call (866) 977-5773 and we'll tell you honestly what we can do today.

A gate that won't close and leaves your property exposed, a gate that won't open and traps your vehicle, exposed electrical components, or a gate that's physically unstable and could fall. In San Jose's hillside neighborhoods like Communications Hill, a failing gate on a slope is especially dangerous. We prioritize these calls. If it's after hours and truly urgent, call us - a person answers, not a machine.

From our San Jose base, we're typically in Cupertino or Mountain View within 45 minutes to an hour during business hours. Sunnyvale and Santa Clara are closer; Saratoga and Los Gatos take a bit longer depending on traffic on 85 or 17. We schedule by zone to keep our promises realistic. We'll be there when we say.

Every repair is covered by The Keystone Standard: 90 days, in writing, no arguing. If it fails because of our work or our parts, we come back and fix it. No paperwork battle, no "read the fine print." This applies to labor and parts we supply. Manufacturer warranties on operators run longer - typically two to five years - and we handle that paperwork for you. We've honored this guarantee since 1984, and we still will be in thirty years.

Call us anyway. We'll diagnose it honestly. Sometimes it's a new problem - a gate in Alum Rock that needed hinges in March might need an operator adjustment by October as the ground shifts in summer heat. If it's related to our previous repair, we often extend coverage as a matter of Standing behind it. Our goal is that you never think about your gate again, not that we squeeze every dollar from warranty fine print.

We guarantee a scheduled window - typically two hours - and we call if we're running late. Traffic on 101 or 880 can be unpredictable, so we don't promise exact minutes. What we do promise: we'll be there when we say, and if we can't make the window, you'll know before you wonder. That's Every time, the 400th job getting the care of the first.

A gate is the heaviest moving object on your property, with high-tension springs, powerful motors, and electrical components that can cause serious injury if mishandled. Our journeymen are trained in welding, electrical work, and automated gate safety standards. We're insured and bonded, we pull permits when required, and we stand behind our work with The Keystone Standard. A handyman might cost less today. We've been called to fix those repairs in San Jose, Milpitas, and Campbell more times than we can count. We do this once, done right.

Written by the team at Ironworks Gate Co., serving San Jose, Milpitas, Alum Rock, East Foothills, Santa Clara, Communications Hill, Campbell, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Mountain View, Saratoga, and Los Gatos since 1984.