Choosing a Metal Gate: Wrought Iron, Contemporary Steel or Timber Infill
Ornate ironwork, modern steel or a metal frame with timber infill: how to choose a gate that suits your home.
A new gate is often the first thing visitors notice about a house, and it does a practical job too, keeping children and pets in and unwanted visitors out. Metal gates come in more styles than most people expect, and the right one depends on the property, the opening and how much upkeep you are happy with.
Wrought iron and ornate steel
Traditional homes and period properties often suit decorative ironwork. Vertical bars with spear tops, scrolls and Fleur de Lis or ball top finials give a classic look, and wrought iron garden gates are usually straight-topped, while driveway pairs are often arched. Most modern "wrought iron" gates are made from mild steel with decorative iron details, which keeps them strong and affordable.
Contemporary steel
Flat bar, horizontal slats and simple vertical bars suit newer houses. Steel can be made almost any shape and size, and powder coating gives a wide choice of colours, with anthracite grey and black the most popular.
Metal frames with timber or composite infill
A steel frame filled with timber or composite boards gives the privacy of a solid gate with far more strength than an all-timber design. Composite infill needs almost no maintenance, although it makes the gate heavier, so the posts and hinges need to be specified to suit. Bespoke metal driveway gates in Nottingham and elsewhere are often made this way.
Hinged or sliding?
- A pair of hinged driveway gates typically covers a 3 to 4 metre opening
- Each leaf needs clear space to swing, and a sloping drive may need rising hinges
- A single sliding gate suits short or sloping drives where hinged gates cannot open fully
- Either type can be automated, but it is best planned before the gate is made
Match the gate to the boundary
A gate looks its best when it matches the rest of the frontage. Fitting garden wall railings in the same style, with the same bar spacing and finials, gives a front garden a finished, cohesive look.
Keeping metal gates looking good
Galvanising and powder coating give the longest-lasting protection outdoors. Check painted gates each spring for chips and touch them up before rust takes hold, and keep hinges and locks lightly oiled.
For more on fencing, gates and garden structures, see our landscaping category.
