1. Wrought iron fencing - what do you need to know?

Wrought iron fencing not only provides security, but can be a decorative feature of your home, too - a stylish addition to the contemporary or the rustic. You can have a wrought iron fence around your garden or yard or wrought iron railings on your balcony or steps. In fact, wrought iron fencing provides protection for residential buildings, be it a town house or a holiday home, and business premises alike. However, wrought iron looks great inside the home too - as a balustrade for your staircase or railings for the mezzanine.

1.1. What is wrought iron?

Technically speaking, wrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon content. It’s incredibly tough and yet very malleable and easy to work with. However, due to new technologies that have led to increasing costs, wrought iron is no longer produced on a commercial scale. Today, many products described as ‘wrought iron’ are actually made of mild steel. Real wrought iron is a rarity. Today, only blacksmiths work with it, forging it by hand. The resulting imperfections, hammer marks and the like are easy to spot and yet it is these signs of manual work that make the products highly desirable and more expensive.

1.2. Why wrought iron fencing?

1.2.1. Durability and longevity

Wrought iron is a highly sought-after material as it can last for over a hundred years. Unlike wood, it does not dry out, there is no mould or mildew, and its strength and shape remain constant.

1.2.2. Strength

Wrought iron fencing is far more durable than other materials. Since it is almost impossible to break it, bend it, or set it on fire - in other words, to damage it in any way, it is ideal in terms of safety and providing protection.

1.2.3. Doesn’t block out light or views

Usually set at a distance of ten centimetres apart, the posts are incredibly thin so wrought iron fencing allows a lot of light through and doesn’t stop people from enjoying the view, whether they’re looking in or looking out.

1.2.4. Elegant and classic

Wrought iron fencing is considered to be the most elegant of all types of fencing, regardless of whether it is a minimalist design or something more lavish in the Rococo style or the florals and leafy concepts of the Baroque era.

1.2.5. Pest-resistant

Wrought iron is resistant to all kinds of pests, like rodents or woodworm, and also to most harmful substances.

1.3.  Disadvantages of wrought iron fencing

1.3.1. Price

Wrought iron fencing is among the most expensive fencing. Premium wrought iron is one of the most expensive materials, although the cost is justified to some extent due to its strength and durability. The price of factory-produced wrought iron fencing is twice as high as a wooden fence, for example, while hand-forged fencing is up to 10 times more expensive than the manufactured product. In addition to the cost of the fencing itself, you should also factor in the cost of laying foundations and building a knee wall and load-bearing concrete posts, which, due to the weight of the fence, must be stronger than for any other material.

1.3.2. Privacy

The positive side of wrought iron fencing mentioned earlier – the fact that it lets through the light and you can see right through it – can of course also be a negative when it comes to security and privacy.

1.3.3. Rust

Although wrought iron fencing is very easy to maintain, care must be taken to prevent corrosion.

1.3.4. Labour-intensive installation

Installing wrought iron fencing is a demanding job that takes a long time. It is very heavy and therefore solid foundations, knee walls, and supporting posts are required. Installation costs are also affected by the location, soil and terrain type, and the working conditions. In addition, you must remember to mark out where underground pipes and utility lines are so as to avoid damage when digging the foundations and causing unnecessary complications.

1.4. Maintaining wrought iron fencing

The good news is that fencing made from this solid and durable material will last for decades with just a little upkeep. Occasionally, reddish rust stains will appear on the fence, especially in wet or harsh weather conditions. These should be sanded down so as to remove the rust and then a protective coat should be applied. The appearance of rust is normal because iron like any other material has its weaknesses, but it’s not a cause for too much concern. As long as it’s dealt with as soon as it appears and not left for years, it’s nothing to worry about. That’s why we recommend you inspect the entire fence at least once a year and clean it. It should be repainted every 10 to 15 years, too. However, there are people who think that the patina on the iron makes the fence even more valuable.

1.5. Warning! There are a lot of imitations on the market!

You can find a lot of fencing that claims to be wrought iron, but actually it’s not! It’s no bad thing though. Decorative aluminium looks like wrought iron, but it is much cheaper. It is also lighter and easier to assemble, but is sturdy enough and can withstand the elements. What are the downsides of these other materials? Well, the durability, strength, and true patina of real wrought iron.

2. Wrought iron fencing - choosing a contractor

If you do go for wrought iron fencing, you’ll need to find an experienced professional who knows how to install it properly. It’s a highly demanding task and can only be done by someone with the appropriate expertise and experience and, of course, the right tools. You should check the contractor’s references carefully and look at their previous work.

3. Where can wrought iron fencing go?

3.1. A wrought iron garden fence

A wrought iron fence certainly brings an air of elegance to any home. A factory-made fence consists of individual elements that you can pick from a catalogue to suit your taste, while a hand-forged fence is a one-off because the smith works according to unique designs. The fence is fixed to large, forged posts or screwed into concrete or stone posts or to a masonry knee wall. All garden fences are protected against corrosion. They can be galvanized, sandblasted, or painted using the RAL colour chart. It is possible to patinate them with copper, silver, or green patina to make them look antique. Wrought iron fences can be any shape, semi-circular or oval; they can look vintage and ornate or contemporary and minimalist. The function of the fence will depend on its height, but it should be at least half a metre high. In this way it presents an obstacle to keep undesirable people and animals out and yet does not jar too much with the surroundings.

3.2. Wrought iron railings for balconies or steps

Wrought iron railings have a rustic feel and add to the appeal of your living space. They can be made in a factory or by hand, with a wide variety of shapes and styles to choose from, from classic to modern.

3.3. In the home

Wrought iron balustrades for interior staircases and galleries can look magnificent.

4. How to install factory-made fencing?

Whether you’re thinking of installing a fence on your own or hiring a professional, it helps to be familiar with what’s involved.

4.1. Before you build

Before installing your fence, you should enquire about the advantages and disadvantages of using wrought iron fences in the region you intend to build your home. You may need consent from your neighbours, owners of adjacent plots, or your local estate association to enquire if the rules allow wrought iron fences in residential buildings within the estate. When you have dealt with all the red tape, you can have designs and plans for the fence drawn up, including its location and dimensions. Based on these measurements, you’ll be able to get an idea of both the costs and the quantities of materials you’ll need to buy. It’s also crucial that you mark the position of any underground pipes and utility lines before starting work. When you’re done planning, it’s time to buy the materials and tools. In addition to the fence posts, panels, gates, and fastenings, you’ll also need a spade, a pickaxe, a mallet, a tape measure, a spirit level, a wheelbarrow, stakes, string, wire, gravel, and fast-setting concrete.

4.2. Marking out

Start by marking out the fence line. This is done by driving stakes into the ground at certain points along the line of the future fence, particularly where the fence will change direction, and connecting them up with string.

4.3. Digging holes for posts

Posts are usually placed at the start and end points of each fence panel, at the corners, and between the panels (depending on the shape of the fence you’ve chosen), so that’s where holes should be dug. Each hole needs to be about 20 cm in diameter and half a metre deep. The bottom of the hole is filled with gravel for drainage. When the holes have been prepared, it’s time to mix the concrete. You have to be careful about how much water you add - the mixture must be thick enough to hold the post firmly when it dries.

4.4. Installing the posts

Each post is placed in the hole at the correct depth and then the hole is filled with concrete, stopping 4 cm from the top. You should do the same for each post, checking that they are completely level and plumb. You need to pack soil tightly around each hole to hold the post straight for a few days until the concrete is completely dry. Wrought iron is a heavy material so the posts must be stable in order to bear the weight.

4.5. Installing the panels

Manufactured wrought iron fences come in the form of panels. You usually get the installation instructions along with the panels. Each panel should be lined up with the appropriate mark and then screwed into the posts from top to bottom.

4.6. Hanging a gate

The posts, panels, and the entire fence will settle after being installed. That’s why we recommend you wait a few weeks for the fence to fully stabilize before hanging the gate on the brackets and hinges that come with it.