Vetted gate and garage technicians in Pretoria. Book now.

Pretoria technicians generally charge a call-out fee of R350 – R650 and labour at R450 – R800 per hour, with parts priced separately. A backup battery is R300 – R600 fitted, a lithium upgrade R1,500 – R3,500, remotes R150 – R500 each and a new sliding gate motor R5,000 – R9,500 installed. Always ask for the labour and parts split.

Summer storms are tough on electronics here. Hail cracks plastic housings and beam covers, and heavy rain finds its way into any motor with a perished seal, corroding the board. A proper cover, intact housing seals and a surge arrestor before storm season are cheap protection compared to a new controller.

Dragging usually means the gate has sagged, the wheels have collapsed or the posts have shifted, and on Pretoria's clay soil and around jacaranda roots posts move more than you would think. Worn wheels are a technician's job; a bent or rusted gate frame needs a welder. Get the gate running freely by hand before blaming the motor.

Yes, learning a new remote into a Centurion or ET receiver takes a couple of minutes, and a technician can do several at once and remove any lost ones from memory at the same time. Remotes cost R150 – R500 each depending on brand and whether they are code-hopping. Always buy the genuine remote for your receiver.