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.