Finials or Spears

There are many ways to protect your home from the outside world. Understanding that nothing is perfect, iron fencing and gates are still a great solution. Not only can the design be beautiful but it can be a form of security too. I'm sometimes asked what can be done to a gate or fence to make it more secure. One option is to add spears (finials) to the top. There are numerous spear/finial designs to choose from, some being more for decoration and others more for protection. We all know that the presence of an iron gate or fence will not prevent intruders from entering your property but it sure will detour them. Add spears/finials to the top and it will make any intruder think twice. It's just more difficult to climb a fence or gate with something sharp and pointed sitting on top.

Spears can be welded right onto the top railing of most designs. If you want added height, then you can weld pickets onto the top rail and have the spears welded to the pickets. Spears are an easy way to enhance any iron design. Keeping in mind that iron design is a matter of taste and adding spears may not accomplish the look you’re trying to achieve.  Spears may not be an option for you because they are not always appropriate for all applications, but for many iron designs spears/finials can be the completing factor, the piece de resistance.

Ask your fabricator to give you options for security fencing and gates.  Another alternative, which is more of a commercial look, is to have pre-manufactured fencing or gates installed.  The pre-manufactured product comes, as an option, with what are called pinched spears at the top.  The steel picket is kept as one piece and forged into a sharp pointed spear at the end that looks like it’s pinched together.  These pinched spears are very sharp and can be a diversion to invaders but they do lack a design element that can be needed to create a more decorative iron look.  Ask your fabricator to provide you with samples of spears/finials; you’ll then be able to envision how they’ll look on your iron design creation before making your final design decision.