The automatic gate install that survives KC power outages, meets UL 325 safety code, and actually reverses when a dog walks through the beam. RKC is the Kansas City fence contractor installing LiftMaster, DoorKing, and FAAC operators with battery backup for the metro's 40+ annual outage hours, dual photo-eyes at 6 and 36 inches, buried loop detectors for vehicle exit, and every hinge post set 36 inches deep in poured concrete below the frost line — same company that installs and stains the gate in the first place. 4.9★ from 77+ Google reviews and 150+ fences installed across the KC metro.
The front of your property should feel as easy as the garage door does. LiftMaster-grade operators, battery backup, UL 325 safety, and the kind of daily access that fades into the background because it simply works.
You press a remote from the end of the block and the gate is fully open by the time you turn in. No cranking, no chain, no getting soaked in a summer downpour — the same convenience your garage has offered for twenty years, finally out at the street.
The housekeeper has her own code. The dog walker has his. Your in-laws have one for the week they're in town. Each code logs who came and when, and you can revoke any of them from your phone without touching the gate.
KC loses power 40+ hours a year between summer derechos and winter ice. Your gate doesn't know. Factory battery backup on every operator we install — tested before we leave — so you're never standing in the rain working a manual release.
A loop detector buried in the driveway sees the car coming out. The gate is already moving by the time you roll over it. No rolling stop, no awkward pause — just the clean arrival you pictured when you bought the property.
AUTOMATION USE CASES
The operator selection depends on the gate type, the driveway geometry, and the daily cycle count. A homeowner opening the gate 8 times a day needs a different operator than a commercial yard running 120 cycles. Start by matching the operator class to the actual driveway. Here are the four automation scenarios we see most often across the KC metro.
10–14 ft gate · 1 leaf · swing-arm operator
The most common automation job on the KS side of the metro — a 12-foot ornamental or wood-clad drive gate, LiftMaster LA500 or DoorKing 6550 arm operator mounted to the hinge post, wired to 120V from the house. Key remote for the homeowner, keypad at the end of the driveway for visitors. Safety photo-eyes across the opening, battery backup inside the operator box for KC's inevitable summer storm outages.
Typical hardware: LiftMaster LA500 or DoorKing 6550 swing-arm operator, 120V supply, external receiver, 2 remotes, keypad, battery backup.
$1,800–$2,800 installed
14–20 ft double-drive · 2 leaves · master + slave operator pair
Double-drive gates need a matched pair of operators — one on each leaf, wired together so the leaves open in sequence (one leads by about a second to clear the center drop rod) and close in reverse. We spec LiftMaster LA400 or DoorKing 6100 master-slave pairs, set up the timing on site, and add a center drop-rod release if the gate isn't already drop-rod-free. Photo-eyes mandatory.
Typical hardware: Matched pair LiftMaster LA400 or DoorKing 6100, master-slave wiring, timing controller, photo-eyes, keypad, dual-remote.
$2,600–$4,200 installed
12–20 ft sliding gate · V-track or cantilever · slide operator
Long residential driveways with grade changes or narrow approaches often run sliding gates instead of swings — no arc clearance needed, no drag on rising pavement. Slide openers use a chain-drive or rack-and-pinion to pull the gate along its track. LiftMaster CSW24UL and DoorKing 9000 are our workhorses. Loop detector across the driveway senses a vehicle on exit so the gate opens without needing a button.
Typical hardware: LiftMaster CSW24UL or DoorKing 9000 slide operator, V-track or cantilever hardware, loop detector (exit wand), photo-eyes, keypad.
$2,200–$3,400 installed
Heavy-duty gate · 20/7 duty cycle · intercom entry · vehicle loops
Commercial sites — yards, equipment rental, self-storage, gated apartments — demand a different class of operator. We install DoorKing 9100 or FAAC 412 rated for hundreds of cycles per day, hardwired intercom call stations, exit and safety loop detectors buried in the driveway, and tenant-facing keypad systems with individual codes, all wired to meet UL 325 entrapment protection requirements.
Typical hardware: DoorKing 9100 / FAAC 412 commercial operator, intercom call station, buried loop detectors (entry + safety), multi-code keypad, photo-eyes, battery backup.
$2,800–$5,800+ installed
KC-specific note. Battery backup is not optional in Kansas City. Between summer derechos and winter ice storms, the metro averages 40+ hours per year of power loss. Every operator we install ships with factory battery backup — tested before we leave — so the gate still opens when the grid doesn't.
OPERATOR SHOWCASE
LiftMaster, DoorKing, and FAAC — six operator models that cover every residential and commercial automation scenario we see. No big-box brands. No off-brand kits. Every operator listed here has a 2+ year warranty, UL 325 certification, and parts availability from KC distributors.
KS METRO STANDARD LiftMaster
Swing-arm operator
Key feature: Myq smartphone control, soft-start/soft-stop motor, photo-eye ready
RESIDENTIAL/LIGHT COMMERCIAL LiftMaster
Chain-drive slide operator
Key feature: UL 325 listed, entrapment protection, low-voltage safety circuit
COMMERCIAL GRADE DoorKing
Rack-and-pinion slide operator
Key feature: Loop-sensor compatible, smart connect, intercom-integrated
ESTATE / HIDDEN FAAC
Hydraulic underground operator
Key feature: Hidden under the driveway, silent operation, premium ornamental look
HEAVY-GATE RESIDENTIAL DoorKing
Swing-arm operator with remote
Key feature: Internal surge protector, field-programmable, 3-button remote system
MULTI-TENANT LiftMaster
Access control + operator
Key feature: Call-in entry, individual tenant codes, remote code management
INSTALLATION STANDARDS
Every automatic gate install follows the same six standards — residential, commercial, swing, slide. These aren't upgrades. They're the federal code floor plus the KC-specific additions (battery, conduit, 36-inch hinge posts). Skip any of them and the install is unsafe, non-compliant, or short-lived.
Every automatic gate operator in the US must meet UL 325 entrapment protection requirements — it's federal consumer safety code. Some budget installs skip photo-eyes or wire around the safety circuit. We don't. Every install RKC does includes dual photo-eyes (minimum), a Type A entrapment sensor (edge or photo), and a fully-wired safety-circuit interrupt. If a person or dog breaks the beam, the gate stops. No exceptions.
Kansas City averages 40+ hours of storm-related power outages per year. A gate that doesn't open on battery is a gate that traps you in your own driveway during the next derecho. Every LiftMaster, DoorKing, and FAAC operator we install gets a factory battery backup — either internal (LA500) or external (CSW24UL) — sized to run 20+ cycles on a full charge. Tested on every install before we leave.
Dual photo-eyes, one on each side of the gate opening, beam across the path. If anything breaks the beam while the gate is closing, the gate reverses. Single-eye installs (just the factory-included unit) leave dead zones. We install dual eyes at 6 inches and 36 inches above grade so both a crawling toddler and a standing adult trip the beam. IR-matched to the operator.
On driveway gates, we bury a wire loop under the asphalt about 6 feet inside the gate. A car driving out over the loop induces a signal that opens the gate automatically. No fumble for a remote. No pushing a button in the rain. Exit loop plus a separate safety loop directly under the gate (so it won't close on a vehicle) are standard on every residential drive we automate.
Under-spec'd operators tend to burn out within a year of heavy use. We weigh the gate (or measure and calculate) before picking the operator, then spec a motor rated to at least 50% over the gate weight. A 500 lb ornamental drive gate gets an operator rated to 800 lb minimum. Over-spec'ing is inexpensive insurance; under-spec'ing usually turns into a $2,500 replacement job in 14 months.
Every low-voltage run from the gate to the operator, and every 120V supply to the box, runs through UV-rated PVC or galvanized EMT conduit — not exposed wire. Every operator ships behind a surge protector. And, like our standard gate install, every automation job gets a 30-day return visit to re-program codes, adjust limit switches, and confirm battery backup is still at full charge.
RKC installs and repairs every type of fence and every type of gate — wood, vinyl, chain link, ornamental iron, aluminum, and commercial security — plus automatic openers and in-house staining. The six standards above apply to every opener install. Gate fabrication standards are covered on the gate installation page; opener repair on gate repair.
OPERATOR BRAND COMPARISON
All three brands are UL 325 certified and carry multi-year warranties. They differ on duty cycle, weight capacity, power source, and price. Here's how each performs across the factors that matter — so you can match the operator to your gate, not the contractor's margin.
| Factor | LiftMaster | DoorKing | FAAC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary application | Residential swing + light commercial slide | Heavy residential slide + commercial | Estate / hidden residential swing |
| Power source | 120VAC + battery backup | 120VAC / optional solar / battery backup | 24VDC with battery backup |
| Max gate weight (typical) | 800 lb (LA500) / 1,500 lb (CSW24) | 1,000 lb (6550) / 2,000 lb (9100) | 900 lb (412 underground) |
| Duty cycle | 100 cycles/day residential | 1,000+ cycles/day commercial | Residential only (100/day) |
| Warranty | 5-year motor | 2-year manufacturer | 2-year manufacturer |
| Typical installed price | $1,800–$3,400 | $2,800–$5,800+ | $3,200–$5,400 |
| Best for | Most KC residential driveways | Commercial, heavy-use, multi-tenant | Estate entries, hidden aesthetic |
AUTOMATIC GATE PRICING
Typical installed prices for residential swing, residential slide, commercial slide, and add-on accessories — operator, wiring, safety hardware, and 30-day tune-up included. Ranges assume gate is opener-ready (welded frame, cross-brace, 42-inch hinge post). If the gate needs upgrade first, we combine that with the opener estimate.
$1,800–$2,800 installed
Included: LiftMaster LA500 or DoorKing 6550, 120V supply, battery backup, 2 remotes, keypad, photo-eyes, 30-day tune-up
Changes price: Operator brand/model, keypad tier (basic vs telephone entry), dual-photo-eye upgrade, solar conversion
$2,200–$3,400 installed
Included: LiftMaster CSW24UL, slide hardware mounting, loop detector (exit), photo-eyes, battery backup, keypad, 2 remotes
Changes price: Track length, gate weight class, commercial-grade upgrade, weatherproof enclosure
$2,800–$5,800+ installed
Included: DoorKing 9100 / FAAC 412 heavy-duty operator, dual loop detectors, intercom call station, multi-tenant keypad, hardwired safety circuit
Changes price: Cycle rating, number of access codes, intercom feed (audio vs video), solar option
Per-item pricing
Included: Keypad + remote: $200–$600 · Loop detector: $150–$350 · Battery backup (if not standard): $150–$300 · Intercom: $450–$950 · Solar kit: $650–$1,200
Changes price: Brand, integration complexity, wiring run length
HOW IT WORKS
Most residential automation jobs install in a single day once the operator ships. Commercial intercom jobs take two. Full timeline runs 2–3 weeks from estimate approval, driven by operator lead time and power-run coordination with the electrician (if a new circuit is needed).
We weigh or measure the gate, check the power source distance to the gate post, identify the conduit path, and confirm UL 325 compliance on the existing safety hardware. Same business day response on most inquiries.
We spec the operator brand and model to the gate weight, duty cycle, and power source. Keypad, remote, and loop detector options listed as line items — no surprise accessory charges at install.
1-day installation for most residential jobs, 2 days for commercial with intercom and loop detectors. Weatherproof conduit, surge protection, safety circuit wiring, remote + keypad programming all handled on site.
Before final payment, we verify every safety circuit, photo-eye, loop, and battery backup. At 30 days, we return to re-program codes, test battery, and adjust limit switches after settling. Included in every install.
WHAT AUTOMATIC GATE CUSTOMERS SAY
Nine automation-specific reviews from across the metro — residential LiftMaster swings, commercial DoorKing slides, FAAC underground estates, and battery-backup saves during storms. Every one of these customers felt the dual-photo-eye, battery-backup, UL 325 difference directly. Full archive on Google.
“RKC installed a LiftMaster swing opener on our ornamental drive gate. Remote works flawlessly, keypad at the end of the driveway, battery backup kicks in during outages. Two summers in, zero issues.”LiftMaster Swing Opener
“We had a double-drive gate that we wanted automated. They installed a matched pair of LiftMasters with the right timing so the leaves sequence open. Works like the showroom demo. Great job.”Dual-Swing Opener
“Our driveway is long and narrow with a grade, so swing wasn't going to work. RKC spec'd a sliding gate with a LiftMaster CSW24 and a loop detector. I drive out, the gate opens. Total game changer.”Sliding Gate + Opener
“Commercial yard install — DoorKing 9100 slide operator, intercom, multi-code keypad for the drivers, loop detectors in both directions. Runs 80+ cycles a day without a hiccup. Installed in two days flat.”Commercial Slide
“Storm knocked the power out for 14 hours last June. The LiftMaster battery backup ran our gate through the whole outage. Didn't even realize it had switched over until I checked the panel. That alone was worth the upgrade.”Battery Backup Upgrade
“They pulled out our old, cheap opener that had died after 18 months and installed a LiftMaster LA500 with photo-eyes and battery backup. Clear instructions on the remote, keypad set up with my preferred codes. Smooth install.”Opener Replacement
“RKC installed an underground FAAC operator on our estate entry. You can't see the hardware — it's buried under the driveway. Gate just swings open silently. Exactly what we wanted for the look.”FAAC Underground
“Added a telephone-entry keypad to our existing gate so delivery drivers can call in. RKC programmed 40 resident codes, set up the call-in feature, and walked my wife through managing new codes remotely. Perfect.”Telephone Entry Upgrade
“They set up our photo-eyes properly — the last installer had only one beam and it kept missing our dog. RKC installed dual beams at two heights so the gate reverses instantly. Much safer now.”Safety Photo-Eye Upgrade
RECENT AUTOMATIC GATE INSTALLS
Every photo below is a real RKC automatic gate install. LiftMaster swings, DoorKing commercial slides, keypad entries, and estate automation from Overland Park to Kansas City MO. Click through for the full gallery.
OUR SERVICE AREA
We automate gates in 56 cities across the KC metro, both sides of the state line. From Johnson County estate entries to KCMO gated commercial yards to Northland long-driveway residential, we handle UL 325 compliance, permit submission, and power coordination in every city.
Johnson County is home base. Bonner Springs , Gardner , Leawood , Lenexa , Mission , Olathe , Overland Park , Prairie Village , Shawnee , Spring Hill . We handle permit applications, HOA architectural review, and UL 325 compliance checks in every city.
Northland through the southern suburbs. Belton , Blue Springs , Grain Valley , Grandview , Greenwood , Independence , Kansas City , Lee's Summit , Liberty , Oak Grove , Peculiar , Pleasant Hill , Raymore , Smithville . We handle KCMO's CompassKC portal, Knox Box requirements, and varying commercial code in Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties.
Recent Installs Across KC
AUTOMATIC GATE QUESTIONS
Common gate automation questions we hear most often on estimate calls. If yours isn't here, call (913) 286-1091.
Ready when you are
