Wrought iron possesses a timeless quality. This versatile metal &#; an iron alloy with a very low carbon content &#; has been used all over the world since ancient times to make weapons, build cities, decorate buildings and furnish homes. Although today it is mainly used for ornamental purposes, the beauty, strength and durability of wrought iron ensures that it remains the material of choice for gates and railings, garden furniture and other structural decorative features.
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Here are 5 reasons why you should consider bespoke wrought iron gates for your driveway.
Solid wrought iron gates and fencing make ideal deterrents to would-be intruders. Imposing and unbreakable, a wrought iron gate at the entrance to your property provides an instant boost to your security. Installing automated gates will yet further increase the security of your home: choose from sliding or swinging gates with the latest access control technology features to blend modern technology with traditional craftsmanship.
Made to measure wrought iron gates and fences will enhance the beauty and kerb appeal of your home. Elegant and versatile, wrought iron offers unlimited design possibilities (it is easily welded) and will improve the aesthetics of any property and garden. While wrought iron fences possess an elegant simplicity, entrances and exits allow for more individual expression and personality. Wrought iron lends itself beautifully to both contemporary and traditional designs &#; why not collaborate with fencing professionals such as Blue Cube Fabrications on your gate design and let your creative juices flow?
Of all the materials used to create bespoke garden gates and railings (including wood, vinyl, aluminium and high tensile steel), wrought iron is far and away the toughest and most durable. It won&#;t bend or break, and it&#;s capable of withstanding even unexpected damage, for example being hit by a car. As wrought iron has a higher carbon content than pure iron, it&#;s better protected against rusting, too. It&#;s precisely this toughness, malleability and resistance to corrosion that made wrought iron the most widely produced and versatile metal in the world before the development of effective steelmaking methods.
Wrought iron gates and fences are straightforward to take care of, requiring a simple wipe down with soapy water every now and again when you notice they&#;re dirty. Although wrought iron is highly rust resistant, any metal that encounters moisture will succumb to rust eventually so you&#;ll want to scrub away rust spots as they appear before they are able to penetrate. You may also want to repaint your gates and fences every few years to keep them looking their best.
While wrought iron gates are generally more expensive than their wooden or steel counterparts, the longevity of wrought iron means that it&#;s extremely cost effective in the long run. It&#;s worth bearing in mind too that wrought iron railings and gates will increase the monetary value of your property, which will in turn help to offset any initial expense.
If you are thinking about installing wrought iron gates or fencing on your property, give us a call at Blue Cube Fabrications. Our expert craftsmen are renowned across Berkshire for our bespoke wrought iron and fully automated gates. We can make them to any design, modern or traditional, and to fit any space. Get in touch with our friendly team today to discuss your requirements.
There are so many wonderful garden gate ideas that can change the look and feel of your yard and set the tone for what lies beyond.
Much more than a security feature, gates help to define the look of an outdoor space and are one of the most important aspects of your front yard landscaping ideas.
They have been a key element of many different garden ideas for hundreds of years, and today there is a wide choice of designs and materials to complement any property style &#; from simple modern timber to ornate metalwork.
'Gates define the entrance to a garden so their style and state of repair are important in creating first impressions,' says renovation expert Roger Hunt, who cautions regular maintenance to keep your gate in good condition.
'If not properly maintained they may stick, squeak or wear. Check latches and stays, keep hinges and other moving parts well greased, keep on top of any damage, and paint or refinish when needed.'
Ensure house names or numbers attached to gates are clear and readable.
To get you started, we've rounded up the best garden gate ideas for functionality, durability and style.
Consider how your chosen design will complement your garden fence ideas or garden wall ideas to create a truly impressive perimeter.
(Image credit: Joe Wainwright)
When adding a garden gate, consider how well the design will work with other elements &#; in particular the fence.
In this beautiful cottage garden, a low-level trellis fence is complemented by a timber gate featuring a trellis panel. Trellis ideas make fantastic use of the vertical space in your garden, allowing you to grow the best climbing plants while maintaining a good view.
Here, a statement pergola with trellised roof links the design to the garden beyond, creating a walkway framed by climbing roses and vines.
(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)
A moon gate is a fully circular opening traditionally seen in Chinese gardens belonging to the wealthy. The design may be left as an open passageway, or can include a closing gate.
Add a touch of zen to your garden by introducing circular elements to your garden gate ideas.
This stunning timber gate mirrors the opening of the topiary hedge and is accompanied by a patinated picket fence for a rustic country feel.
&#;The hedging echoes the moon gate, drawing the eye up past the clipped spheres,&#; says gardening expert Leigh Clapp. &#;It&#;s a wonderful way to green up the vertical plane in your garden.&#;
The design actually utilises a pair of gates, creating a short passageway and making a stunning focal point.
(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)
&#;Crafted from wrought iron, cast iron, steel or a combination of these materials, metal gates are an important decorative and practical feature,&#; says Hunt.
Lack of maintenance is the main cause of problems. The metalwork is protected by its paint coating. Once the paint starts to crack and flake, moisture reaches the substrate underneath, causing the metal to rust.
To assess a gate's condition, wipe down the metalwork with soapy water to remove the grime that has built up over time &#; you can then see how bad the paint surface is.
Any loose and flaking paint needs to be removed, along with rust &#; this can be through sanding, but if the gate is in very poor condition, it might be best to have it professionally shot blasted.
Missing sections can be replaced or welded by a metalworker, and finally the gate can be primed and repainted.
(Image credit: Kasia Fiszer)
Garden gate ideas aren&#;t just confined to one material &#; topping a traditional timber gate with an ornamental metalwork top is a beautiful way to make it more of a feature than a plain design.
It is also more cost-effective than specifying a fully metal gate, while adding a sophisticated edge.
Make sure you match the paint color correctly across the wood and metal to create the best possible effect.
(Image credit: Joe Wainwright)
&#;A clear, easy-to-navigate route from the front gate to the front door is essential,&#; says gardening expert Matt James.
&#;Avoid fiddly arcs or fussy curves just for the sake of them; visitors will inevitably cut corners and might trample plants either side in the process.&#;
A clear line from one gate to another, or with a straight path to the front door is a very elegant way of creating an approach. It creates a more classical, symmetrical design that adds a touch of formality to the garden.
&#;Wide garden path ideas are best too, especially if you plan to border them with frothy geraniums or lavender, for example, which are unpleasant to brush against in wet weather,&#; adds James.
(Image credit: Future / Val Corbett)
Wrought iron has the edge over other metals for garden gate ideas when it comes to achieving an ornamental finish. Sturdy and durable, it can last for years as long as it&#;s properly protected.
Constant exposure to water and air can quickly result in rust and decay, however, so regular maintenance is required.
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These gates leading to the Sylvan Theatre in the garden at Killruddery House in Ireland are truly a spectacular design.
(Image credit: Future / Polly Eltes)
Steel is a popular option for more contemporary garden gate ideas. It is inherently stronger than iron and has the added benefit of being naturally more resistant to corrosion and rusting, although a protective layer is still advised.
'Galvanised, powder-coated or painted finishes will all help ensure longevity,' says Hunt.
(Image credit: Future / Rowland Roques O'Neil)
Aluminium offers a modern look, similar to steel. It&#;s not as strong, but it does have the extra advantage of being relatively maintenance-free.
Once installed, you won&#;t need to worry about it rusting, cracking, peeling or needing repainting. Plus, it&#;s easily recyclable, too.
(Image credit: Future / Brent Darby)
Most gates, especially in high-traffic areas, take a lot of battering from the elements, so it&#;s worth investing in garden gate ideas that are not only stylish, but durable.
There are so many different species and grains of wood to choose from, ranging from oak to timber.
'Natural timbers work best in traditional or cottage gardens, but can also be used to add character and charm to modern schemes,' says Homes & Gardens' Editor in Chief Lucy Searle.
Bear in mind that many off-the-peg designs are mass made using pressure treated soft woods such as pine or redwood.
Although soaked and injected with wood preservative these wood types do have a shorter lifespan than hardwood timbers &#; so shop wisely.
(Image credit: Future / Polly Eltes)
First impressions do count, so make sure the front garden gate is as welcoming as the interior.
Give wooden garden gates, or any other wooden garden privacy ideas such as fencing or screens, a makeover by brushing off any dirt and debris with a hard brush and applying a new coat of wood stain or exterior paint.
With endless paint colors to choose from &#; including rich heritage shades, earthy neutrals and infinite bold brights &#; you can really express your home&#;s style and personality.
(Image credit: Future / Val Corbett)
Your garden gate doesn't have to be a standout feature, it can simply be one that blends into its environment.
Take a cue from the immediate surroundings to inspire your choice of gate &#; the same principle also works well when considering fence decorating ideas.
'Painting your garden gate in one color &#; preferably in a heritage color palette &#; can make it look commanding, while dominant features, like foliage, lawn or fencing should all influence your color choice,' says Farrow & Ball&#;s color consultants.
(Image credit: Future / Val Corbett)
If you want your garden gate ideas to fit an awkward space, then a bespoke option may be your best bet.
There are many companies that will provide a fully bespoke service, which includes assessment of layout, help with design, manufacture and installation of your garden gate. Perhaps surprisingly, it often works out to be the most cost-effective option, too.
For a smart and secure finish, accurate measurements are essential &#; buying a generic size will often result in pricey alterations, which can also damage protective castings on the mental.
(Image credit: Future / Annaick Guitteny)
A garden gate is for privacy and security, but it should look good too. Cleverly camouflaged in one corner of this garden is the garden gate.
Constructed from the same slatted hardwood panels as the fencing that surrounds the garden, it blends seamlessly into the whole design.
'Of course, installing a garden gate, such as this one, is a costly business, so it is important to know the facts before putting up a new one,' says garden designer Lucy Wilcox.
After all, a well-installed gate and fence combination should last up to 10-15 years, so you need to get it right.
(Image credit: Future / Val Corbett)
In a country garden, you can borrow a bit of the landscape by blurring the lines between the borders and wild flowers with a simple wrought-iron gate.
This is one of the best garden gate ideas as it has the benefit of being almost invisible, so the flowers in your borders flow seamlessly between the two spaces.
(Image credit: Future / Brent Darby)
In more built-up areas of a village, you can create a similar effect with a wooden picket gate made up of vertical poles clad to a framework of posts and horizontal rails.
Traditionally, the main function of this type of gate is to delineate the garden's boundary, but it also makes a delightful backdrop for old-fashioned perennials such as lupins, daises and delphiniums.
If you&#;re lucky enough to have original gates, there are plenty of companies that specialise in sympathetic restoration services.
Their offerings range from basic cleaning and simple hinge, latch and fitting adjustments, to a full refurbishment.
When there is too much damage to the gates to allow for restoration, there are expert firms that can take moulds from the originals and recast exact replicas of them using recycled materials.
(Image credit: Jonathan Borba / Unsplash)
If you are after durability, style and sustainability, then oak is often considered the best wood for a garden gate.
One of the most eco-friendly options, oak is both carbon-neutral and sustainable: new trees are planted to replace those felled and, because oak is a natural product, it doesn&#;t require large amounts of energy to manufacture.
Though more expensive, metalwork gates can last for centuries and can be cast or manipulated into the most elegant designs.
(Image credit: Future / Mark Bolton)
Your garden gate should almost always swing inward. You want your gate to move towards private space, not out on to the public.
If you gate links two privately owned spaces, however, then you can throw the rule book out of the window.
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