Wrought iron fences give your home a stately appearance and will last for more than a hundred years. You can purchase new or antique wrought iron fences, or ones made of steel or polymer.

Real wrought iron is a mixture of iron and other materials that make it possible to shape it in different ways. Blacksmiths use heat along with methods of force to create the design, a process that requires great skill. This makes real wrought iron more beautiful than other types but also more expensive. 

History

Wrought iron has been used as a building material since the Middle Ages. In the last two centuries, the demand for wrought iron increased to be used in bridges, ships and trains. Early skyscrapers also had beams of riveted wrought iron that provided the framework. Newer buildings used steel.

When mild steel was introduced in 1856, it replaced wrought iron because it much less expensive to produce as it required none of skills of the craftsman. Like wrought iron, it is long lasting and can be shaped into all the patterns of standard wrought iron. True wrought iron is rare today.

Real Wrought Iron

Real wrought iron is still available, both in the antique form and new. The advantage of real wrought iron is its longevity. While it does rust over time, the rust can be treated or even prevented if it receives the right kind of care. Two types exist: charcoal iron and puddled iron.

Mild Steel

This is the material used to create most of the modern “wrought iron” fences available today. Mild steel is a carbon and iron alloy, which is made by melting cast iron and removing the carbon and slag. Even though it has greater strength and produces better consistency, it has less resistance to corrosion than real wrought iron.

Polymer

Polymer “wrought iron” fence captures the look of real wrought iron. It is less expensive than metal varieties, easy to install and, unlike other types of wrought iron fences, will always be rust-free. Also known as faux wrought iron, this fencing is available at Lowe’s and GeoMatrix under the brand name EverIron.

Caring for Wrought Iron Fences

Wrought iron and mild steel fences must be painted to prevent rusting. Use a high quality paint recommended by the manufacturer of your fence. If rust does appear shortly after installation, consult with your manufacturer or repair it yourself by sanding it down to the bare steel, wiping it clean and applying RustSeal primer. Wait until it dries before painting over it with the fence paint.

Black wrought iron fences may not guarantee privacy but they certainly make a lasting impression on those driving by. Seriously, there is nothing that makes a statement about class, elegance, style, and affluence quite as nicely as a wrought iron fence. Of course having spent a good portion of my life in New Orleans and receiving a healthy exposure to the Creole iron working that is quite common in the city and in surrounding parishes it brings to mind for me the stately old homes and plantations you would find in this part of the country. There is little else that can attest to elegance and gentility quite the way of an old plantation home surrounded by black wrought iron, fences or not.

With so many fencing choices today it is difficult for many to imagine going to the expense of wrought iron, which guarantees little privacy. Of course, wrought iron is not the way to go if privacy from prying eyes is your goal. This type of fence invites curiosity about the owners of the home it surrounds. This type of fence makes a statement more than anything else. However, a black wrought iron fence is very strong and if high enough will provide a layer of security for your family against intrusion. This security to me is worth so much more than the fear of prying eyes though both can be quite invasive.

If you love the look of black wrought iron fences but would like a layer of privacy there are ways to have both. First of all you could landscape according to your preferences. This actually works two ways that are equally great depending on your personal tastes. The first option is to plant bushes designed for privacy along the line of your fence. This will keep prying eyes from seeing inside and still allow those on the outside to appreciate the elegance of your fence.