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Which driveway bollard is best?
- Why buy a driveway bollard?
- Do driveway bollards work?
- Choosing the right bollard
- Telescopic driveway bollards
- Removable driveway bollards
- Stainless steel bollards
- Automatic bollards
Why buy a residential driveway bollard?
With so many options available it can be difficult to decide on which driveway bollard is best for protecting your home. Where do you start?
When it comes to driveway security finding the right option for you is key. So to help you we have put together this handy guide full of driveway security ideas including everything you need to know about the different kinds of driveway bollards you’ll find.
Already have an idea of which driveway security post is best for you? Make sure to read our 5 Top Tips Before Buying A Bollard.
Do driveway security posts work?
You may be asking yourself why you need a bollard for your driveway? Well, security bollards make an excellent deterrent against would-be thieves or vandals.
Driveway bollards can be used to protect your property and driveway from a multitude of crimes such as vehicle theft, ram-raid attacks on your garage, and unwanted vehicles parking or turning on your premises.
Criminals will usually avoid targeting properties with bollards, as the commotion and time delay caused by trying to break through a bollard greatly increases the chances of being caught.
For added security, all our driveway bollards come with Sold Secure locks installed. These are locks that have been tested to ensure they can withstand an attack for a certain time limit.
In fact, this added level of security is one of the reasons our bollards are recommended by insurers such as Aviva, Axa, and Allianz.
Compared to the value of a car, the cost of one or two driveway bollards is a very small investment for the peace of mind knowing that your car is protected.
Quick question: Where should bollards be placed?
We recommend bollards for driveways to be spaced 1.4-1.5 meters apart, centre to centre. A fixed point within an entrance is a helpful starting point such as a wall, hedge, planter, or fence post.
Choosing the right driveway bollard
The type of bollard you choose for your driveway depends on a few factors. Firstly, you need to establish the type of vehicle accessing the area.
Telescopic Driveway Bollards
If you are only accessing the area to park a couple of times a day, a retractable security bollard like our 101 670 Telescopic Bollard would be more than sufficient.
Telescopic bollards are easily raised and lowered into the ground by hand, making them the most popular option when it comes to driveway security.
Quick question: Are bollards heavy to lift?
If you’re concerned with the lifting weight of the bollard, you can purchase a bollard with an in-built lift-assist mechanism that reduces the bollard’s lifting weight by as much as 60% making operation possible by all.
One of our most popular models for residential properties is our 114 670 Telescopic Bollard which thanks to its lift assist mechanism has a lifting weight of just 6kg!
If the vehicle is high off the ground, you may benefit from a taller bollard like our 114 900 Telescopic Bollard which gives it higher visibility.
Decided that this type of bollard is perfect for your driveway? Take a look at our complete range of telescopic driveway bollards to find yourself a great deal.
Quick question: Can I put a bollard outside my house?
As long as it is on private property then yes you can install a bollard outside your house. It’s worth checking the ground conditions on your drive beforehand as they can impact installing a bollard on your drive.
Removable Driveway Bollards
Some properties have a high water table (the level at which the soil and gravel are completely saturated with water), in which case you will not be able to install fully telescopic bollards.
If security bollards are immersed in water for a long period of time, they will begin to rust. Lifting a bollard out of a water-filled outer casing will cause a ‘drag’ effect making lifting extremely difficult.
A solution for this type of situation is to install a removable bollard. These removable bollards still sit within an outer casing but instead of being fully retracted into the ground, the post lifts out completely so that it can be stored elsewhere.
It is also possible to purchase additional storage sockets to store removable bollards securely when not in use to prevent scratching and damage. Take a look at our wide range of driveway removable bollards.
Stainless steel bollards
When it comes to securing your home, how your bollards look is an important decision, which is why stainless steel bollards are such a popular option.
In addition to its unique look stainless steel is more resistant to vandalism, graffiti, and fire abuse. Should graffiti occur, the surface can be cleaned using paint thinners.
Quick question: Do I need grade 316 or grade 304 stainless steel bollards?
For most situations, grade 304 stainless steel is a suitable option, however, if you’re installing the bollard in a particularly saline or marine environment we recommend grade 316 as the molybdenum in the steel helps protect against corrosion from chlorides such as seawater.
If you’re looking for stainless steel driveway bollards, we have a number of options in both telescopic and removable models.
Our 114 670 Deterrent Bollard is perhaps our best-looking telescopic bollard, available in a sleek stainless steel finish and a lightweight design that means it has a lifting weight of just 9kg.
What about automatic bollards for driveways?
If you are accessing your driveway entrance multiple times throughout the day, you may find it more practical to install an automatic bollard system like the VP50 500 Automatic Bollard which can be raised and lowered on approach using a simple key fob system.
Another thing to keep in mind if you want to install automatic bollards on your driveway is to connect the system to a drain ensuring that water is continuously being carried away from the installed system.
The final consideration is how you want your automatic driveway bollard to look. All our automatic bollards come in a stainless steel finish and reflective bands to increase visibility. Want something a bit different? Our VP50 Automatic Bollard is also available in a stylish black finish.
Telescopic and removable bollards cannot be provided with lights but our automatic bollard systems can. An LED lighting ring can be supplied to help bring the automatic system to the attention of pedestrians and vehicles, especially at night.
If you’re looking for the very best in automated driveway security we recommend taking a look at our GloBoll Automatic Bollard. The GloBoll was originally designed to provide access control for larger sites such as hotels, golf clubs and town centres, but is equally suited to driveway security.
What sets the GloBoll Automatic Bollard apart from other automated systems is its integral hydraulics, this means that it doesn’t need a separate cabinet to house the hydraulic unit. Operated with a dual button key fob, this automatic bollard has a rise and fall time of just 5-8 seconds.
Interested in learning more? Why not take a look at our full range of automatic bollards.
What next?
Now that you have a better idea of what kind of bollard is best for you, why not take a look at our range of driveway bollards which you can buy online.
Or you can call one of our experienced sales team members on 0345 350 3799. They’ll be more than happy to answer any of your questions. To keep up to date with all our new products and the latest industry news follow us on social media.
