The Contemporary Look

Is it easier to come up with an ornate or contemporary design? For me, it's easier to come up with an ornate design. Ornamental items, such as scrolls or baskets, can be added to an ornately designed iron project and the placement of those components doesn't have to be perfect. As a matter a fact, imperfections can add character to an ornate design. There are usually several different types of architectural components incorporated into an ornately designed piece, so anything that appears out of the ordinary becomes interesting. On the other hand, when you're viewing a contemporary iron design, one with crisp edges and clean angles, any imperfection becomes an eye sore. More attention to detail is definitely required when designing something contemporary.

Sometimes, a contemporary design can appear too plain. If you add a little angle here or a horizontal rail there it can become too busy. What I would say about a contemporary design is that it's all about balance and equality of the objects. Contemporary designs are sometimes thought to be boring and too plain but I believe that's quite the contrary. There is nothing more intriguing and interesting than a well designed contemporary iron piece.  It usually embellishes an equally beautifully designed contemporary home or commercial building.  There are times, when, by adding a well designed contemporary iron design, the look and concept of a building becomes complete and artistic.  

When dealing with a contemporary look, the finish is extremely important.  There are many powder coat colors that mimic the look of stainless steel without the expensive cost of building your project out of stainless steel.  There are wonderful nickel, platinum and bronze powder coat colors available too.  Some of the  powder coat colors come in a pearlescent finish.  The pearlescent finish actually picks up different hues and lighting effects.  That’s a great way to glam up your contemporary iron design without adding more decoration.

Whatever you do, make sure that your contemporary design is just right for you, your home’s architecture and your lifestyle.  It takes time but conquering close to perfection in a contemporary design is achievable!   

 

 

 

 

Creating Unique Designs

Creating an iron design for my clients is not always easy. It's so difficult to show exactly how a scroll will look or whether picket collars verses picket baskets will be appropriate. When I meet with a customer I ask them to pick out some existing iron designs that catch their eye. Once I see what type or style of iron design that the client has chosen then that gives me some direction. There are literally hundreds of different elements that can be added to iron to make it beautiful. Most of the time, my clients want something unique to them, something very special that will compliment their surroundings and will last for many, many years.

It may take several tries before actually coming up with a design that is perfect. I also take into consideration how practical the iron design is for the application. If my clients have small children, then cable type railing is not a good idea. The cables sag over time and if small children are climbing or hanging on them that will speed up the sagging process. If I'm asked to design a pool fence of gate enclosures there are even more limitations. The design cannot be climbable, it has to have very specific spacing between the pickets and it has to be at least a certain height.

If someone wants a railing design then there are different top rails to choose from. The following questions have to be asked; is the rail to serve a specific purpose? Is this rail to be used by an elderly person who might need a very graspable top rail? Are there children in the house that may catch their little hands on a sharp scroll end? At certain heights there are specific code requirements that have to be adhered to.  These are just some of the things to take into consideration when creating an iron railing design.

Once I've narrowed down what my client wants, and their taste, then it's time to roll up my sleeves and put together some sketches.

We seldom hand forge our own scrolls or components. Labor is expensive and it would cost a fortune to have these items hand made by our craftsman. There are several companies that sell beautiful, solid, hand forged components. These components are made from different types of steel. I refer to each steel type as a family. If my client is particular about using only solid steel components, then I'll look in the solid plain bar family. If my client wants many scrolls or components then to help reduce the weight I'll use components from the tube steel family. There are also lovely designs that are made from solid flat bar or solid round bar. There are hammered, twisted and scored components to choose from to enhance your design. The possibilities are limitless.

To add some dimension, I'll combine square material with round material. The combination really works well and looks completely unique. Remember, it’s important not to box yourself into using specific materials.  You may love the twisted or roped picket look, but in the end, it may not fit into the style you’re trying to achieve.  Have an open mind, don’t limit yourself, and have fun with using different ornamentation . . . you may be surprised by the final product. 

Installing Masonry Pillars - Let's Talk Steel Posts

When I receive a call from someone who has had their masonry contractor build stone or stucco pillars and they're telling me that now they're ready to install a driveway gate, it immediately leaves a pit in my stomach. If the pillars do not contain a steel post with hinge connections then we may have some problems. In some cases, the stone or stucco pillars are not made sturdy enough to allow for an iron driveway gate to be attached.  If this is the case, then you most likely will need separate steel posts installed outside the pillars taking away from the idea of why you had the lovely pillars built in the first place . . . and this also adds more to the cost after the fact.  A little investigative work and inquiry in the beginning of a project really helps eliminate any headaches later on.

Before beginning your pillar project, contact your local steel fabricator. Even if you're not sure about installing a driveway or walk gate now have the pillars made so that you can in the future. Talk to your local iron fabricator; explain your situation and what type of pillars you intend to install. Your fabricator can design a steel post with special hinge attachments that can be given to your masonry contractor to install inside the pillars. By doing this, the steel hinge attachments will be present and you can easily have an iron gate attached . . .  and, it can be a bonus when you go to sell your home, the new homeowners will be able to install “their” custom designed iron gate without any hassles.

The sketch below illustrates how the steel post and hinge attachment looks inside the finished pillar.

 

Forever Designs

Don't be shy when choosing a wrought iron design for your gate, fencing or railing. There are classic styles of iron that have endured throughout the ages. Why not add some flair to the classics, make the design your own, and enjoy it forever? You can accomplish this by spending some time to determine what components you love; look at gates, fencing or railings when your on vacation or a day trip. That's the best way to start, go to an area where there are lots of wrought iron pieces. Check out each and every one, take pictures, examine the designs, pick out the elements that suit you and will suit your home. Remember, you can always mix and match components such as spears, picket baskets, intricate scrolls, picket collars and more. Don't be afraid to use different materials like flat bar, square solid bar, tubing and round bar. The mixture of these elements adds character to a design and makes it extremely unique and doesn’t take away from the "classic" look. Frankly, it's hard to make wrought iron look anything but classic. It's sturdy, durable, intricate, ornate and sometimes even delicate.

Take a moment to determine what style of wrought iron that you like.  Do you want your design to be bold and big, or do you want it to be free flowing and contemporary?  Do you love a Victorian look, something almost lacy looking in design; this can be accomplished with cast iron components.  Cast iron has an almost old world look to it.  Cast iron is a bit more brittle than hand forged iron because the steel is melted and then poured into casts, so keep that in mind when considering it for a gate that might be used often. 

A very classic design of wrought iron is accomplished through the use of solid steel components, spear tops, and picket collars.  This design can further be enhanced with scrolls.  Have fun with your design, you won’t be wrong no matter what you decide. 

 

Security Barriers

 

A good deterrent to strangers is the installation of a gate and fencing. There is no guarantee when it comes to protecting your property but there are measures that you can take to help stave off intruders. If you have an open porch area, you may want to enclose it, especially if it leads directly to your front entry and main door. If you have an open yard area you may want to install fencing. A fence can be designed to frame your home and set off its architectural style while creating a barrier.

There are many ways to create a lovely porch enclosure. There are factors like height and width to be considered but in most cases a porch enclosure is very doable. Some things to keep in mind are; how wide do I want the gate opening of my porch enclosure?  How high do I want the porch enclosure? What type of locking mechanism do I want on my gate? How will visitors let me know that they're at my door? How will I block people from reaching through the gate to unlock my deadbolt? Your iron fabricator will have answers for you and will be able to show you various locking mechanisms that might work for your situation. Your fabricator can also come up with a design that will enhance your home's exterior.

The cost for an iron front porch enclosure can vary by design, height and width and how many openings need to be enclosed. If you have photos of your home's porch, know the measurements and have a design picked out, then you can email that information to local fabrication companies in order to obtain approximate pricing.

Fencing is usually installed around the backyard perimeter of a property, especially if there is a swimming pool present. Consider installing fencing around your front yard, it's beautiful and creates another obstacle for someone trying to enter your property uninvited. Again, nothing is fool proof but by making it harder for an uninvited guest to enter your property might make them think twice and move on to another less protected home.

Why Do We Love the Look of Wrought Iron So Much

Wrought iron has been part of architectural history forever.  It's a symbol of strength, wealth and longevity.  Wrought iron exudes excellence and power, it's beautiful and graceful, but most of all it's ageless.  An iron gate or fence establishes a boundary, it's like a do not enter sign framed in elegance.  A homes exterior is enhanced by it's presence, it's the finishing touch and the icing on the cake. 

Wrought iron compliments any architectural style.  You can design it to have a contemporary look by using clean lines and angles, you can create an ornate design by implementing scrolls and flower components, you can create a traveling vine or a blossoming overhang, you can design something that is musical or lyrical, the possibilities are endless.

We love wrought iron because it allows us to embrace true art but art that has a purpose.  It signifies security without taking away our artistic freedom.  It's beautiful while all the time it's serving a purpose, it's a chameleon and we love the surprise.  Most of all we love the permanence, the comfort that it will be with us for a very long time, we can rely on it, it's like an old friend that we can depend on not to disappoint, and it doesn't. Wrought iron is power, it is our protector as we are it's admirer.  So, why wouldn't we love it!

Why Are Automated Driveway Gates So Expensive?

Before deciding that you must have an automated driveway gate evaluate your actual need for one. If you currently have a manual driveway gate and you enter or exit your property one or two times a day, then it's not much trouble to get in and out of your car and automation may not be necessary. If you have a manual driveway gate, and you come and go from your property many times a day, then automation is must. If you don’t currently have a driveway gate but would like to install one, and are considering automation, start out by inquiring into costs. After you find out the cost then you can weigh the need.

An average driveway usually measures about 14' - 0". If you choose a very basic design for your gate, but still keep it  custom made, in a double swing layout, rectangular shaped, with no frills or extras, primed and painted black and installed, that will probably cost you between $4,500 to $5,500. If this fits into your budget then you might want to upgrade by adding iron components to your design to make it a unique look. Ask your iron fabricator about styles and pricing.

Now that you've established that a manual double swing gate fits into your budget, let's talk automation. Let's use the basic rectangular double swing gate design as mentioned above, this design will not be as heavy allowing several choices in gate operator systems (gate operators are based on height and weight of the gate panels).  With the double swing design you will need gate operators to open both panels. The least expensive option is an arm operator. There are many good arm operators to choose from. Whatever you do, don't skimp when it comes to choosing an operator, you don't want it to break down; you want something you can depend on. Keep in mind, that for a double swing gate operator it will be necessary to concrete cut across your driveway so that the electrical can be run from one side of the gate to the other. When the concrete is cut, the wires laid, and the area refilled, you will still be able to see where the cut occurred. There is no way to match older concrete or asphalt to the new filler. If you love the look of your driveway this option may not be for you.  There are also pad mounted units; these normally cost about 40% more than the arm operated unit.  They require that you buy two separate units for the double swing gate application.  Each unit requires that a concrete pad be installed adding to the cost of the installation.  Keep in mind, that in order for pad mounted operators to be an option, you must have enough room on each side of your gate for the unit to fit.  Your iron fabricator will know how much room is needed for the unit you choose. 

Once you've decided on the correct operator then you need to ask about safety devices. If you want your driveway gate to shut behind you automatically and open automatically when you exit then safety devices must be installed. There are several options for safety features. Loop detectors being the most popular. Loop detectors are electrical wires that are embedded into your driveway (again, your driveway will have to be concrete cut so that the wires can be installed). Loop detectors pick up the presence of metal. If a car is detected, in the area where the loop detector has been installed, than the gate operator will not open or close and this protects the car from being hit by the gate. Another option is photo eyes. These are installed on opposite sides of the driveway and a beam of light extends from one eye to the other. If the beam is broken then the gate operator will not open or shut. There is also a safety edge that’s available and it is installed on the gate itself. The safety edge can sense the presence of an object and will reverse direction so that the object is not hit.

Now that we’ve discussed safety devices we must talk about how your guests and maintenance people are going to enter and exit your property.  There are a lot of new options available and many new devices are coming onto the market daily. A telephone entry system is the most expensive option. In order to install a telephone entry system a dedicated telephone wire must be present at the point where the system is installed. This type system allows you to distribute codes or someone can ring your telephone from a button on the entry system. Many systems today have the option of ringing your home phone and then rolling over to other phone numbers including cell phones. If you want to eliminate the need for telephone wiring altogether then you may want to consider a system that requires only a Sim card, this unit works like your cell phone. Once the Sim card is installed there is one button that the guest can push and once pushed your cell phone will be contacted and you can open the gate using a key on your cell phone. The down side to this system is that there isn't a keypad so you can't distribute codes to individuals. There is also a digital keypad; this does not require a telephone line at all.  The digital keypad allows you to distribute codes to those that need them, i.e. – maintenance people, family and friends and does not connect to any telephone.

All these extras do add up.  The cost to install loop detectors adds about $3,500.00 plus to your project. If you wish to have a telephone entry system, then add another $3,000 - $4,500 depending upon the unit. If you wish to have a digital keypad only, add about $800.00 to the cost.  If you like the idea of the Sim card type system, add about $2,000.

Don't forget, that if you install an automated driveway gate the Fire and Police departments have to be able to get into your property. You must contact your local Fire and Police Departments to ask them about Knox Box Switches. Your local Fire Department has an application that they'll have you complete and then you'll be told what Knox Box Switch to purchase. This switch has to be connected to your gate operator so ask your iron fabricator to include hook up in the price.

I hope this gives you an idea of why automated driveway gates are so expensive.  They are worth every penny, for security reasons, if you have high traffic going in and out of your gate and when the weather is foul.  If you aren’t sold on automation then have your manual driveway gate installed and live with it for awhile.  Automation can always be done at a later date.