Top 3 Costly Misconceptions About Iron Gates

Ever since the Industrial Revolution, many people have used wrought iron gates to keep their properties safe. Usually, an iron gate would be found fronting a property with a long driveway and sprawling lawn, leading to the idea that only the extremely wealthy would use them.

This, however, no longer rings true—especially given today’s modern technology. Iron gates are a lot more accessible now. They’re not just some main defensive barrier around someone’s property. And almost anyone can have them to grace their front lawn.

Those are just some common misconceptions most homeowners have regarding iron gates. Here, we take a look at the more common—and costly—ones. Let’s set the record straight.

Misconception #1: Iron Gates Need Maintenance, Or They’ll Rust

Iron rusts. That much is true. However, because of how an iron gate is made, it requires little to no maintenance and it’d take a very long time before it starts rusting. That said, you need to occasionally clean the gate with a little soap and water to get rid of the dirt and grime on the surface; that’s all it will take to make the gate to look like new again.

You’ll also want to visually inspect your gate at least once a year to spot potential problem areas – if there are any.

Weather also won’t have as much of an effect on an iron gate, in comparison to a wooden gate or an aluminum gate. There’s no need for long hours preparing for a section to be replaced, or – in the case of wooden gates – re-stained, so not only is maintenance minimal, it also takes very little time.

Misconception #2: An Iron Gate Isn’t Very Secure

Since you can see right through iron gates, they might not seem very secure. After all, people can see your property just fine from the outside. It’s for that reason that iron gates provide more security than, say, wood, aluminum, or vinyl.

You can easily see if anyone suspicious is loitering outside your property, and anyone inside who looks like they shouldn’t be there will be spotted immediately. It goes without saying that being easy to spot is an effective crime deterrent.

It’s also important to note that wrought iron is tough and durable, making it difficult to cut or break. On the other hand, wood and vinyl are easier to cut or break, so it’s that much easier to destroy and sneak into. Plus, you can customize such gates so that they’re topped with spikes, effectively discouraging people from trying to climb over and into your property.

Misconception #3: Iron Gates Are Too Expensive

While it’s true that an iron gate would cost more than one made of other materials like aluminum or wood, the former is more durable and won’t need to be repaired often or even replaced. This means that, in the long run, wrought iron gates are less expensive than gates made of any other material.

As mentioned earlier, gates made of wood, vinyl, or aluminum require repair and replacement on top of the initial installation costs. Gates made of iron, on the other hand, don’t need much in the way of repair and are expected to last 60 years, maybe even longer. That means you’ll be spending less on them than you would on other kinds of gates.

As you can see, asking the right people about iron gates should be enough to get rid of such misconceptions about iron gates, as well as help homeowners keep from too much on less secure types of gates.

If you want to know more about having an iron gate installed on your property and what benefits you can expect—besides better security—don’t wait too long to contact a local expert in your area. Los Gatos Iron Works is one such expert, with several years’ experience in the industry. They’ll be sure to help you with gate design and installation to keep your property as safe as possible.