{"id":1383,"date":"2019-03-12T14:42:06","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T18:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/?p=1383"},"modified":"2019-03-12T14:42:06","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T18:42:06","slug":"7-items-to-consider-when-buying-wrought-iron-fence-and-gates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/7-items-to-consider-when-buying-wrought-iron-fence-and-gates\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Items to Consider When Buying Wrought Iron Fence and Gates"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Wood<\/a>
Wood Posts Combined with Wrought Iron Fence Make for a Stunning Custom Look<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Shopping online has made finding iron fence and gate products not traditionally carried in stores much easier.\u00a0 Finding an iron fence or iron gate online is a good start, but how can you tell if it is a quality product?\u00a0 That part becomes a lot harder when all you have to go off of in a lot of cases is some photos and a few bullet points on a web page.\u00a0 Let’s take a deeper dive and go over what you need to look for when buying a quality wrought iron fence or gate.<\/p>\n

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ITEM #1 – RUST PROTECTION SPECIFICS<\/span><\/h3>\n

The number one concern most folks have about an iron fence is rusting.\u00a0 The problem is that a lot of companies throw out a few vague terms you don’t know and assume you won’t ask questions.\u00a0 Even worst, some sites don’t really specify what type (if any) rust protection they have.\u00a0 Galvanization is a time-honored and great way to protect iron and steel from rust.\u00a0 Lots of fence makers will utilize e-coatings to minimize rust.\u00a0 While they can be effective, it is a thinner coating.\u00a0 We prefer hot-dip galvanization for our parts because it encapsulates every surface of the piece inside and out.<\/p>\n

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\"Fence<\/a>
Fence Materials Being Hot Dip Galvanized in Molten Zinc<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Unlike spray-on rust prevention coatings that only cover exposed surfaces, hot dip galvanization coats the outside, inside and underside of the dipped pieces.\u00a0 The biggest problem with lower end spray coatings is that the pieces will often rot from the inside out and by the time you see it, the piece is already ruined.\u00a0 Look for specifics on how the pieces are treated to prevent rust.\u00a0 Our Stronghold Iron line utilizes a hot dip galvanization, a 4-stage chemical wash and then use a TGIC poly-based powder coating with UV fade inhibitors to protect our pieces.<\/p>\n

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ITEM\u00a0#2 – HOW IS IT CONSTRUCTED?<\/span><\/h3>\n

The best construction method for iron fence is one that is strong and looks good from both sides.\u00a0 Below are a couple of photos showing how we build our Stronghold Iron fence with a punched rail and fully welded construction at the picket-to-rail intersection and for the decorative finial tip.\u00a0 You can see the picket (upright) goes through the middle of the punched rail for a strong connection and clean look from both sides of the fence:<\/p>\n

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\"Wrought<\/a>
Our Stronghold Wrought Iron Fence Panel with Finials<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"Side<\/a>
Side Shot of our Stronghold Iron Fence Rail Showing the Picket Passing through the Punched Rail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Some steel and iron fence manufacturers will cut corners here.\u00a0 Especially in the rail-to-picket connection (the rail is the horizontal piece and the picket is the upright one).\u00a0 The worst ones we’ve seen is companies using rivets or screws to connect the pickets to the rails.\u00a0 While this works fine on a lighter aluminum fence, it does not work as well on an iron or steel fence.\u00a0 Not only does a weaker connection result in a ‘loose’ feeling panel, but the rivets can allow movement which can scratch down to bare metal and create rust spots.<\/p>\n

Another construction shortcut we see is called ‘layover’ or ‘railroad’ construction of pieces.\u00a0 This is where a horizontal rail is laid out and the pickets are welded to the face\/ back of the rail.\u00a0 This is not only a weaker way to build the fence that can allow for easier bending of the horizontal rail, but it only looks ok from one side as well.\u00a0 It also looks non-symmetrical and bit unbalanced.\u00a0 Here is an image of a competitor’s piece built in layover style:<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/a>
A Competitor’s Layover Construction of a Fence Panel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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ITEM\u00a0#3 – FENCE AND GATE HARDWARE<\/span><\/h3>\n

This may seem like a small and unimportant item, but shortcuts here can make a nice iron fence or gate look cheap.\u00a0 Pay attention to the smaller elements like the brackets that connect the iron fence to the posts, the post caps and decorative finials on top of the pickets.<\/p>\n

For me, fence brackets is a big one.\u00a0 Nothing makes a nice steel or iron fence go from nice looking to cheap than stamped steel fence brackets.\u00a0 These are made of thin stamped steel and wrap around the fence post to hold the panel up.\u00a0 Below is an image of a competitor’s stamped steel, collar style fence bracket:<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/a>
A Thin Stamped Steel Collar Fence Bracket<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Not the greatest pic, but its tough to find one since the hardware isn’t often shown in detail.\u00a0 These often leave a gap between the rail and post, are tough to get straight, give it a cheaper modular look and draw your eye to them in a not-good way.\u00a0 Counter to that, our Stronghold Iron uses a stronger and cleaner looking cast-iron solid bracket that mounts inline of the fence post.\u00a0 This tucks the hardware and keeps it off the face of the fence line.\u00a0 This gives the look of a more authentic iron fence that was often welded together 100+ years ago.\u00a0 Here are some photos of our standard iron fence bracket:<\/p>\n

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\"The<\/a>
The Main Wrought Iron Fence Components<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"All<\/a>
All Iron Fence Pieces Fully Installed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Post caps are another place where cost cuts can be made.\u00a0 Lots of manufacturers will use a stamped steel standard cap which is easier to produce and squish on the top of the post.\u00a0 For the more decorative ball style post caps, some will make them out of aluminum, or worse, plastic.\u00a0 Our Stronghold Iron fence line uses cast iron caps for both styles that you can see in the photos below.\u00a0 The cast iron gives it a nice textured and authentic appearance.<\/p>\n

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\"Our<\/a>
Our Stronghold Iron Cast Iron Ball Caps for Posts in Various Sizes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\"Our<\/a>
Our Stronghold Iron Cast Iron Standard\/ Flat Caps for Posts in Various Sizes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Another place that is tough to tell the quality of the hardware online is those decorative tips on top of the picket called finials.\u00a0 Many places charge a hefty upgrade fee per panel to add finials to the fence panel.\u00a0 The worst part is these are often cheap die-cast, aluminum or plastic that ship loose and you have to glue or press them on.\u00a0 The difference between the\u00a0fence panel material and finial material\u00a0will be come apparent over time when the dissimilar metal coatings (or materials like plastic) fade at a different rate and really start to look like a cheap add-on.\u00a0 Be sure to check what those finial tips are made from and how they are attached.\u00a0 Our Stronghold Iron uses solid cast-iron finial tips that are welded directly to the picket like the image below.<\/p>\n

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\"Cast<\/a>
Cast Iron Finial Tips Welded to the Top of the Picket on Our Classic Style Panel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Gate construction is a big one to watch out for too.\u00a0 Unlike a fence panel that is fixed in place and does not move, the gates need to be able to support the weight of the entire leaf as well as any leverage force pressures exerted on them.\u00a0 This is where a proper gate frame comes into play.\u00a0 Many companies will simply weld two posts to the end of a fence section and call it a gate.\u00a0 Functional, but not really all that strong.\u00a0 You will sometimes see cross-bracing on wider gates as a band-aid to poor construction as well.\u00a0 The correct way to make a gate is with a fully boxed and welded gate frame like our Stronghold Iron line.\u00a0 That makes a solid, 3-sided frame that will withstand way more pressure and weight without cracking or deforming.\u00a0 Here is an image showing the U-frame on one of our gates.<\/p>\n

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\"Iron<\/a>
Iron and Aluminum Gate U-Frame<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Even little items like the screws and bolts used can be something that makes installation a pain or detracts from the look of the fence.\u00a0 Make sure the hardware is color matched to your pieces and uses a stronger hex-head on the bolts that allow use of a socket.\u00a0 Phillips head style screws can often strip easily and make installation a pain.<\/p>\n

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ITEM #4 –\u00a0REAL WORLD IMAGES AND EXAMPLES<\/span><\/h3>\n

Most sites are going to put their best foot forward with the photos on their site.\u00a0 These images have been professionally lit and photoshopped to make the fence look perfect.\u00a0 It gives an idea on the fence’s appearance but doesn’t give a very real world view on how the fence looks installed.\u00a0 Look for a photo gallery of installed jobs on the website to get a better feel how the fence is going to look in the real world.\u00a0 On ironfenceshop.com, I would say 98% of our images in our photo gallery<\/a> are from homeowner and contractor installations in the real world.<\/p>\n

Use these real world pictures to look for examples of the same fence or installation area you are going to be using or your project.\u00a0 How does it look as a whole?\u00a0 Any close-ups of the fence in more detail?\u00a0 Does the fence look weird from certain angles?\u00a0 Things like that.\u00a0 In this day and age, any company worth its salt should have lots of photos and videos showing their products and components.\u00a0 If you can’t find it on the site, is the company responsive to email or phone requests on what you are looking for?\u00a0 You would be surprised how many people are shocked when we actually pick up the phone, answer questions or get back to emails right away.<\/p>\n

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ITEM #5 – ACCESS TO SPECS<\/span><\/h3>\n

This one isn’t as exciting or as fun as looking at completed fence project photos, but its probably the most important and overlooked item that can make the difference between being an informed shopper and regretting your purchase.\u00a0 Cutting corners on component sizes, thicknesses and finishes is a time honored tradition of lower-end companies that try to undercut higher quality pieces with a lower price.\u00a0 Don’t get me wrong.\u00a0 Price is important, but if you are saving $20 and getting a piece that is half the thickness, weight and will rust in 3 years; are you really getting a good deal?\u00a0 Any fence and gate maker worth their salt will have the ability to provide you specifications (specs) on the pieces you are buying.\u00a0 You can find and download both our abbreviated ‘quick specs’ and our full specs on our specifications page<\/a> on ironfenceshop.com<\/a>.\u00a0 Look for something fully versed and thought out like our specs versus some simple bullet points or a short blurb on a web page.<\/p>\n

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ITEM #6 – WARRANTY INFORMATION<\/span><\/h3>\n

Just like the specs above, you want more than text on a web page about the warranty.\u00a0 While downloading a warranty is a good start (you can find and download ours here<\/a>), you also want to be able to ask and get good answers on how that warranty is applied.\u00a0 You should be able to talk to someone at the company and ask how warranty claims are handled and what is involved.\u00a0 Just seeing a stated\u00a0warranty period is not enough to fall back on.\u00a0 Be wary of certain things that can void your warranty (like installing by salt water) or stipulations on what’s covered and what is not (especially on ‘Lifetime’ warranties).<\/p>\n

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ITEM #7 – THE COMPANY YOU ARE BUYING FROM<\/span><\/h3>\n

Some folks may feel like this is counter-intuitive coming from a company that sells online like we do.\u00a0 However, its more important than ever when dealing with an online sale.\u00a0 Is the company accredited from a source like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) that can give you a good view on customer happiness?\u00a0 We’ve been a long-standing A+ member of the BBB for over 10 years now.\u00a0 If you have a problem with your fence or its delivery, do you have direct access to someone at the company?\u00a0 If you bought your fence through a shopping cart online with no human interaction, good luck getting any issues resolved on that without lots of phone tag and emails.<\/p>\n

If you email the company, how quickly do they get back to you?\u00a0 Same goes with a phone call.\u00a0 If you emailed or called and have not heard anything back the same or next day when they are trying to earn your business, how receptive do you think they will be after<\/em> they have your money?\u00a0 A place where you can get a direct extension and name is going to be much more helpful and receptive than a place with a generic email and no direct people to work with.<\/p>\n

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I hope these 7 items give you better understanding on what to look for when buying a wrought iron fence.\u00a0 If I can help with any questions or concerns you have, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 800-261-2729 or shot us an email at sales@ironfenceshop.com.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Shopping online has made finding iron fence and gate products not traditionally carried in stores much easier.\u00a0 Finding an iron fence or iron gate online is a good start, but how can you tell if it is a quality product?\u00a0 That part becomes a lot harder when all you have to go off of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,2,10,3],"tags":[405,419,133,411,421,369,418,423,242,335,422,413,420],"class_list":["post-1383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-buying-fence","category-fence-products","category-things-to-know-before-buying-fence","category-iron-fence-gates","tag-best-aluminum-fence","tag-best-iron-fence","tag-buying-a-fence","tag-buying-aluminum-fence","tag-buying-fence-online","tag-buying-iron-fence","tag-fence-buying-tips","tag-fence-online","tag-metal-fence","tag-metal-fence-panel","tag-online-fence","tag-ready","tag-shopping-fence"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1383"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1383\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1495,"href":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1383\/revisions\/1495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ironfenceshop.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}