Frequently Asked Questions

Most residential gate repairs are completed in two to four hours on site. A straightforward opener swap or hinge replacement might take 90 minutes. More involved work, like rebuilding a dual-swing gate with new underground loops in Communications Hill, can stretch to a full day. We'll give you a realistic time frame with your estimate, and we don't leave until the gate swings true.

We start by testing every function of your system, opener, safety sensors, keypad, remote, and manual release. Then we explain what we found and what it will take to fix it, with a written estimate for your approval. Once you give us the go-ahead, we complete the repair, test everything again, and show you how it works. We leave your driveway cleaner than we found it.

We complete most repairs same day or next day, depending on when you call and what parts your system requires. Common items like Linear or FAAC gear kits, safety eyes, and control boards travel on our trucks. For specialty components, we source from our San Jose warehouse or overnight from the manufacturer. Call (866) 977-5773 and we'll tell you honestly what timeline to expect.

For initial service, yes, we need someone present to approve the estimate and grant access to the property. For follow-up adjustments or warranty callbacks, we can often coordinate with your schedule. Many homeowners in Santa Clara and Campbell leave a gate code after the first visit, which speeds things along. We'll work with whatever arrangement keeps your property secure.

We work on all major brands, with deep experience in FAAC, BFT, Linear, and Viking systems. These are the brands we see most often in San Jose's older estates and newer developments alike. We also service legacy brands that are no longer manufactured, finding compatible parts or fabricating solutions when necessary. If it opens a gate, we've probably fixed it.

Yes. Our San Jose shop maintains a stock of discontinued and hard-to-find components, and our journeymen are trained to fabricate brackets, weld broken castings, and adapt modern electronics to older mechanical systems. We've kept 1980s estate gates running in Saratoga and Los Gatos without replacing the entire assembly. A century ago every town had an ironworks, and the gates it made are still swinging. We intend to keep it that way.

We don't recommend it. The wrong voltage, duty rating, or mounting pattern can damage your gate or void what warranty remains. We source parts through authorized channels at trade pricing, and we stand behind every component we install under our Keystone Standard guarantee. If a part fails, you call us, not the manufacturer. That peace of mind is built into our pricing.

Every pro working under our name is required to hold the license and insurance their state requires. We carry general liability and workers' compensation coverage, and we verify credentials regularly. This protects your property and everyone on it. We've been serving San Jose since 2013, and we plan to be here another forty years. That only works if we do things right.

Most residential gate repairs, hinge replacement, opener troubleshooting, and sensor adjustment, do not require permits. If we're installing a new automatic gate system or modifying the supporting structure, San Jose's building department may need to review the plans. We handle permit research and applications as part of our process when they're needed. We'll tell you upfront if your job falls into that category.

Look for a written estimate, proof of insurance, and a guarantee you can hold in your hand. Ask how long they've been in your area, not just how long the brand has existed. Ask what happens if something goes wrong after the repair. Our Keystone Standard gives you 90 days in writing, no arguing. That's the difference between a company that plans to be in town in thirty years and one that isn't.

A gate stuck open after dark, a broken spring or cable that leaves your property exposed, or an opener that won't release and traps your vehicle inside, these are emergencies. In San Jose's hillside neighborhoods like East Foothills and Alum Rock, a malfunctioning gate can also create a fire access issue. Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call (866) 977-5773 and a live coordinator will assess the situation and get help moving.

Engage the manual release on your opener to free the gate, then secure it with a chain and padlock if possible. Do not attempt to force an automatic gate closed against a broken motor or bent track, the mechanism can bind and cause further damage or injury. Call us and we'll walk you through safe temporary measures while a technician is en route. We're here when you need us.

Yes. Our service area covers all of Santa Clara County, including Milpitas, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, and Mountain View. The same 24/7 availability applies throughout. When you call, a live coordinator answers and connects you with the nearest available technician. We don't promise impossible arrival times, but we do promise to move as fast as safely possible and to keep you informed.

Every repair we perform is covered by our Keystone Standard: 90 days, in writing, no arguing. If the same problem returns within that window, we come back and make it right at no charge. This applies to labor and parts we supply. We've honored this standard since 2013 because it's the only way we know to build the kind of trust that lasts generations.

It means if your gate isn't working the way it should after we've repaired it, you don't need to dig through paperwork or debate fine print. You call us, we come back, we fix it. No third-party claims, no runaround. That's the Standing Behind It in our K.E.Y.S. values code. We've been in San Jose long enough to know that a square deal is the only deal worth making.

Our warranty covers defects in our workmanship and the parts we install. It does not cover damage from vehicle impact, tree falls, flooding, or normal wear from extreme weather, such as the heavy rains that sometimes swell gate posts in low-lying parts of San Jose. If you're unsure whether a problem is covered, call us. We'll tell you straight and give you an honest assessment either way.

We offer scheduled maintenance visits that include lubrication, safety sensor testing, force adjustment, and wear inspection. While maintenance plans don't extend the Keystone Standard beyond 90 days on repairs, they do catch problems before they become emergencies. Many homeowners in Campbell and Los Gatos schedule annual tune-ups to protect their investment. Ask about our maintenance program when you call.

If your FAAC, BFT, Linear, or Viking opener is under manufacturer warranty, we'll help you determine what's covered and coordinate with the manufacturer when appropriate. Our labor to diagnose, remove, and reinstall warranty-replacement units is billed separately. We'll explain all of this before any work begins, so you can make an informed decision. No surprises on the bill.

Written by the team at Ironworks Gate Co. of San Jose, serving San Jose, Milpitas, Alum Rock, East Foothills, Santa Clara, Communications Hill, Campbell, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Mountain View, Saratoga, and Los Gatos since 2013.