Why Do Some Iron Designs Cost More?

I'm often asked why one gate design costs more than another. The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a gate design is the intricacy. Remember, labor is what costs and in many cases the material cost is really secondary. If you choose a gate design that requires cutting and shaping of the pickets that will drive up the cost. If you have a design that requires arches, (and they are beautiful) that drives up the price. This is especially true if you want more than just the top of your gate arched. Any interior arches have to be calculated and bent accordingly, that takes time.

Once a gate design is chosen it has to be drawn so that the shop personnel can make it. If you choose a more intricate design, then it takes longer to draw, adding to the price of the gate. When you integrate components into a design that will add extra time to the fabrication process. If you choose a large component, over several small ones, that may help to reduce the labor time but it may increase your material cost. Some of the larger components are amazing but expensive.

Even the smallest detail can add extra work to the project. You might not realize, but by adding an extra picket collar here or there or an additional interior rail or two that increases the cost. Each time you add an extra item, that item has to be cut, laid out, welded and cleaned. If the project is extremely elaborate then it takes more time to apply the finish too. If you are opting for a powder coat finish, the powder coater will consider how long it will take to apply the powder to scrolls, picket collars or any other small or large component design.

My recommendation is to start with a design that you love, make it as intricate looking as you wish, and if the price is prohibitive then start removing some of the elements. It's better to start at the most expensive price and remove items rather than start at the least expensive price and be shocked when you get to the design you desire.

Iron verses Wood Fences

If you're in the market for either a wood or iron fence call around to fence contractors, talk with them about pricing, the pros and cons of wood verses iron fencing and the purpose that you want the fence to serve. If you're trying to meet a tight budget then iron fencing is probably not for you. Plain wood fences are usually less expensive than any type of iron fencing. There are factors to consider, like design and details that may drive up the price of wood fencing. Talk to an expert before making any firm decisions or discounting iron fencing altogether.

If you're looking for a barrier that is solid and very private then wood fencing is a wonderful choice, but there are ways to design a custom iron fence so that it offers the same privacy by incorporating a solid plate into the body of the fence. If you want partial privacy, then you can incorporate a perforated metal panel into your iron fence design, this helps to buffer what can be seen through the fence. There are many ways to make each of these options even more attractive and that’s by adding hand forged iron components. Again, if price is an issue then these two options may not be feasible. Both options are extremely beautiful and depending upon the architectural look that you're trying to achieve can be perfect to complete your backyard project.

Before contacting iron fence contractors come up with a budget for your project, especially if budget is the driving factor.  You may be asking yourself “How can I come up with a budget if I don’t even know the first thing about how wood or iron fencing is priced?”  Good question, because that’s normally the case for most people.   Begin by selecting a local fence contractor, give him the measurements of your project, the height that you want your fence and the location of where the fence will be installed (include whether the fence posts will be embedded in dirt or concrete).  If your fence contractor accepts email send some photos of designs that you like and pictures of the area of installation.   Ask for pricing for a basic wood fence design and pricing for basic pre-manufactured iron fencing, that’s a good starting point.  Once you obtain these prices then you can establish your budget.  Establishing a budget will make it easier to determine if iron or wood fencing is the right selection for you.  Once you’ve decided you can contact several other local fence contractors, send out pictures or a sketch of your design, measurements and photos of where the fence will be installed and they should be able to give you a ball park figure for your project allowing you to compare pricing.  Once you select the contractor that’s right for you, then he can come to your property to answer any questions, measure precisely and firm up the design and pricing.

Happy fence shopping!



 

What Are My Options When Installing A Driveway Gate?

You're at the point where you want a driveway gate. You've scoured the Internet for gate designs, you've painstakingly sketched out what you envision your driveway gate to look like and you believe that you've done the homework required to collect estimates. Then, you contact the first iron fabricator and that's when the questions begin. The following is a list:

• Do you want a manual or automated driveway gate?
• If you want your gate automated, ask about the operators available, the choices are many.  Keep in mind, that you don't want the cheapest operator out there.  There are many good medium priced operators and that will be your best bet.  A medium price for a single swing gate operator is about $1,400.00 including tax and freight. This does not include the price to install the operator.
• Do you have electrical available at the point where the gate operator will be installed?
• How will you exit and enter your driveway gate if you're on foot?  The best option is to have a walk gate installed adjacent to your driveway gate (if you have the space).  If not, a keypad can be installed.
• If you're interested in a double swing gate, are you okay with having your driveway concrete cut?  This has to be done in order for the electrical to connect to both sides.  There is a new operating system available that works like a blue tooth eliminating the need for wiring to stretch across your driveway.  This might be a good alternative for some applications.
• What type of safety devices do you want installed?  If you want your gate to open automatically when you leave your home and close automatically when you enter or exit then you will need safety and exit loop detectors installed.
• If I install a single swing gate what are my design alternatives?  Most driveways measure at least 11' - 0".  As you can imagine, that is a very wide expanse.  When you have one wide panel it can be very heavy and can cause the gate to sag.  One good way to help with the sagging is to install heavy duty adjustable gate hinges.  This won't eliminate the sagging problem altogether so you may wish to implement a solid kickplate at the bottom, or a diagonal bar that extends from one top corner to the opposite bottom corner.  This helps with rigidity.  Most people think a kickplate is for beauty only but it also serves a purpose.
• How will my guests and maintenance people enter through the gate?  There are several options.  You can install a keypad and distribute codes.  You can have a telephone entry system installed.  If you choose this option then the guest will press the telephone key and that places a call to your phone.  Once you determine whether or not you want the visitor to enter then you can press a button on your phone to activate the gate.  There are also entry systems that communicate directly with your cell phone.  Unlike the telephone entry keypad systems, this does not require that a telephone wire be installed.  This system is operated like your cell phone with a Sim card. 

Another issue that you may run into with an automated single swing driveway gate is that due to it's lenght it will gain momentum as it opens and closes.  It's not the best idea to have a gate that opens and shuts in a speedy manner so that's something to consider.

Educate yourself on the best options for a driveway gate. You'll be ahead of the game if you find out what is available, what designs are best and whether you want a manual or automated gate, not to mention what fits your budget. Don't scrimp when it comes to automation and remember that you’ll have this gate for many; many years to come so why not make it the best design possible, one you’ll love and be proud to have as the entrance to your home.

Do I Always Have To Schedule An Appointment To Obtain Pricing?

In this day and age, of high gas prices and time constraints, it isn’t always necessary to meet in person to discuss pricing for an iron project.  There is a way for an iron fabricator to come up with approximate pricing without scheduling an appointment.  This of course is dependent upon the type of iron work you’re looking for and the degree of difficulty.  Obtaining pricing over the phone is especially helpful if you're only looking for a budget price. Keep in mind, that pricing may change once you meet but it is usually by a nominal amount.

If you are in the beginning stages of your project the first step is to pick out a design. This can easily be done by perusing websites. Look at photos of designs appropriate to your project. Print the designs that you like and download them to save on your computer.

If you’re shopping for a price, the following is especially helpful and will save you time and aggravation. The best way to find a good iron fabricator is through recommendations. Ask your neighbors or friends for references. Stroll through your neighborhood, look for homes that have an iron design (that you like and looks like a solid product), and ask the owner what contractor they used for their project. In most cases, people will be happy to share contact information of the iron fabrication shop that they used. You can also ask that person questions about the project to further educate yourself. You probably want an iron fabrication shop that is in your local area, so asking neighbors is a great way to find someone nearby. If you choose a shop that is a distance away, be prepared for a higher price because of the travel time.

Now that you have a recommendation(s) of an iron shop (or several shops) to contact, there is a little more work for you to do. When discussing your project with an iron fabricator, they will first need to know about what design you've chosen. Since you've already downloaded some images, you can email them, and include the measurements for your project. The necessary measurements will consist of length and height.  If the project is on a slope include that information. If you have a HOA then inquire about codes and compliances. Ask your fabricator if he can provide you with plans for submittal to your association if that is a prerequisite.

It is important to know what type finish you want on your project. The standard finish is usually primed and painted black. Another option is powder coating; this is a great option if you want to have a color or texture. There are also attractive patina's available but keep in mind that powder coating and patina's are usually at an additional charge.

If you choose an intricate design then your project will be more expensive. I find it's important to begin with presenting a design to your fabricator that you love.  This gives the iron fabricator an idea of your taste and architectural style. If pricing comes in too high, and you can’t have exactly what you want, then you can work with the fabricator to come up with a design that is more cost effective but still desirable.

The last bit of information that your iron fabricator will need is how, and where, the iron design will be installed. Take pictures of the area of installation. It's important to take several pictures so that the fabricator has a really good idea of the degree of difficulty in installing your project. An iron fabricator will look to see if your project will be installed in dirt verses concrete. If you're installing a gate, then he'll look to see if there are existing pillars that the gate will attach to and will question you about the stability of those pillars.

If you’re installing a driveway gate it’s important to figure out if you want that gate automated and what safety devices you will require.  Figure out if you’ll need a telephone entry system or a keypad.  Ask yourself how guests and maintenance people will enter and exit through your automated gate.

Once you’ve gathered all this information, then it can simply be emailed to your fabricator(s). Once your iron fabricator receives all the information then he can make a good estimate of what the project will cost right over the phone.

If you follow the outline above and contact your iron fabricator will all the facts then you can save yourself time.  With this information, your iron fabricator should be able to provide you with a budget price.  Once you receive this price, you’ll know if your project is affordable and doable.

Gate Latches

If you’re installing a walk or entry gate you will have to consider what type of locking mechanism to use.  This is also the case if you’re installing a manual driveway gate.

If you are installing a walk or entry gate then there are many options. The standard closure for a walk gate is a gravity latch or a slide bolt. Either latch is a good device if you wish to have your gate accessible most of the time.  If you are going out of town, and would like your walk gate to be made safe, a gravity or slide bolt latch can be secured with a padlock if necessary. Another option is to have a deadbolt and entry lever installed.  This is one of the more popular choices; it gives a more finished look and is easily secured.  There are also magnetic gate locks, they can simultaneously open or lock the gate from either side. It usually uses a 6-pin security lock that can be conveniently re-keyed (by a locksmith) to match other Kwikset house hold door locks. 

If you are installing your walk gate around a pool, then you will need your gate to be self-closing.  There are both hydraulic gate closers and spring gate closers.  Make sure that the latch you choose meets code for your project. 

If you desire an upgraded lock you may want a Mechanical pushbutton lock.  Dependent upon the mechanical lock chosen, there may be varying functions.  These locks allow for various ways of managing entry by code, by key and by passage mode operation of the lever handle. 

Most manually operated driveway gates are held closed with cane bolts.  If you want further security, you can include a slide lock so that you can padlock the gate shut when needed.  Another alternative to securing driveway gates is to automate them with a gate operator and either wireless keypads or a telephone entry system.

As you can see there are latching options available for every budget and that will accommodate most projects.  Ask your iron fabricator which latch is best for you.

Privacy Screening

There are times when it is necessary to have a gate or fence that either filters or blocks the view from the outside world. HOA's or CC&R's will sometimes require that a boat or recreational vehicle be blocked from view of the street. There are ways to accomplish this and still have a beautiful iron design.

Perforated panels can be welded to the gate or fence panels to filter the view. A perforated panel helps to camouflage things that are located behind it. This is not the solution if you need to block the view completely but it helps to diminish what can be seen. Perforated panels come in many different hole sizes. Ask your iron fabricator to show you some samples.

If you want to block the view completely then consider using solid plate.  The plate is welded to the back of the fence or gate panels. Solid plate is sturdy and completely blocks anything from being viewed. 

If you think your iron design will look too plain using either of these privacy options, don’t despair, you can always add iron components and pickets to the design.  It’s easy to design a gate or fence that is beautiful but gives you the privacy you require.

If you choose either type of panel, you might consider powder coating over painting as your finish.  Powder coating gives a very smooth clean finish to solid material.  Any type of steel material will have flaws and the larger the surface area the more flaws you’ll have.  Powder coating helps to hide those flaws.   The baked on finish, along with the UV protected colors, will enhance your iron design and help it to last for many years to come.

  

Custom vs Pre-Manufactured

Pre-manufactured iron products are really the way to go if you are on a tight budget and are not concerned about design. You can buy pre-manufactured fencing or gates that are basic in design for much less than custom. The reason for this, is when you buy a pre-manufactured product you are limited in the type of materials used. The product is made in a plant, somewhat like an assembly line, powder coated at the same facility, and shipped to the iron shop. The size of the materials that are used generally range from tube steel 1/2", 5/8" or 3/4" square, with a 18 ga. wall, for the pickets and tube steel 1" or 1-1/2" square, with a 14 ga wall, for the top, bottom rails and gate frame. There's nothing wrong with this type of product and when you need a lot of it this can really save you money over custom.

On the other hand, custom designed iron is completely different from pre-manufactured. Although the same size tube steel is used the wall thickness is usually much greater. When custom designing iron, you can also incorporate many iron components like scrolls, circles, picket collars, arched or inverted arched top and more. The wall thickness of iron is very important and if it’s in your budget ask your fabricator to use the thickest materials available.

Another benefit of a custom design is the finish. A standard finish for a pre-manufactured product is black powder coating. If you choose a custom design, you can opt for a patina, specialty paint color, or powder coating with an array of colors to choose from. The different designs and finishes for a custom product are really limitless.

Choosing custom iron design over pre-manufactured is like choosing to purchase a track home verses a custom home, neither is better or worse, it’s all about what fits the budget.