Gates

[MetManMark]

All

I am hoping that this posting will be more successful than my last one about rendering which for some reason didn't get much of a response We have two wooden garden doors that need replacing due to the fact that they are old and rotten and that we have had some strong winds of late.

The first one that we are looking to replace provides access to the garden from the road. This goes along a little lane between some other houses such that such that it is quite secluded. Part of the reason why they existing door got blown down is that the wind can funnel along this passage. I have it in my head that I would like to replace the existing rubbish wooden door with a wrought iron gate.

I'll try to post photos to show the current situation. However, I have been doing some web searching and haven't really found much information regarding what sort of style we should go for. Any ideas?

Mark

 

[tobydog]

Mark - you're getting at least one response which I assume is better than last time!

I think that before anyone can give ideas or suggestions, you will need to provide photos to show the existing gates in situ and how they currently look with your garden, drive and house.

I used to have a wooden door alongside the house and I replaced it with wrought iron for two reasons. Wind was the first one because, like you, it got bashed about, but more importantly for security. The wrought iron gate made the passage far more open and light, and less inviting to undesirables who could sneak out of sight and get easy access to the cloakroom window.

 

[LadyArowana]

I don't know much about rendering.... but I did bookmark these people as potential candidates for the replacement of the balconette on our townhouse. They were going to supply one for some people who got LBC to repinstate theirs, and I see from their website that they have a section that shows lots of gates, so maybe that would act as inspiration for you.
http://ironart.co.uk/

 

[Penners]

Mark

That's a very difficult question for anyone to answer, except you. The "best" gate for the job will, in my view, be one which:

1. Looks appropriate to the age and style of the house.

2. Looks appropriate to the area.

3. You like!

To reduce wind resistance, you don't necessarily have to go for wrought iron. You could construct a gate yourself from wood, ensuring that the boards have reasonably sized gaps between them.

 

[Keithj]

Everything depends on the situation. We need photographs!

I have a pair of traditional farm-style 5-bar gates, mounted on some very substantial gateposts. They don't have much wind resistance, and they look right. They might not look right on a suburban garage drive. They've needed repainting about every three years.

Wrought iron is nice, but not cheap. It still needs maintenance - our garden gate is wrought iron, and has needed to be wirebrushed down and repainted since we moved in. I'm hoping the right treatment and paint will last a bit longer this time, but traces of rust at the bottom or round the hinges will be the sign to lift it off and do the job again.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I really love estate gates if yours is a country property. Simple and appropriate for the 19th C and maybe other centuries too - not an expert.

In my view the modern frilly wrought iron ones are really quite ghastly - unless you're having a bespoke replica of what's in the area.


http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=estate+gates&client=safari&hl=en-gb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=N0wOU_7GAoSShQf-sIDACA&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAA#biv=i%7C2%3Bd%7CyBjofR6xLFIThM%3A

Sorry about your render topic - will look.

 

[CliffordPope]

We've recently had a pair very similar to these made by a local blacksmith:

http://www.leorec.co.uk/images/GRD28-ornate-drive-gates.JPG

The new brick gateposts are finished, but I'm allowing the full 28 days for the mortar and reinforced concrete to harden before daring to put the weight on the hinges.

 

[Penners]

our garden gate is wrought iron, and has needed to be wirebrushed down and repainted since we moved in. I'm hoping the right treatment and paint will last a bit longer this time, but traces of rust at the bottom or round the hinges will be the sign to lift it off and do the job again.

I couldn't face the tedious job of rubbing down and painting 4 wrought iron gates, so I took them along to a local powder-coating firm. Obviously this cost a rather more than a tin of Hammerite, but it was money extremely well spent, in my view. There was a wide choice of colours and the gates came back looking wonderful. Three years on, there are no signs whatsoever of deterioration in the finish.

 

[plasticpigeon]

http://www.fhbrundle.co.uk/?gclid=COC484zT7LwCFWLHtAodqiMASg

 

[CliffordPope]

I don't believe they are wrought iron - they are mild steel.

Mild steel will rust unless galvanised.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Iron also rusts.

 

[malcolm]

Wrought Iron isn't generally available these days. There is one company that still makes it - http://www.realwroughtiron.com/ It's not much good for welding and was more commonly riveted - see http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/wrought-iron.htm for the theory. These days gates are mig welded together from off the shelf mild steel components sold by people like Brundles.

Ought to be possible to find someone local to make some gates to a design you want. Gates are fairly easy to make and tend to be how small fabricators start off. Worth specifying galvanising - you can still paint over galv but take advice on the primer.

Don't rule out being creative. Gates are ideal for that as they easy to change if fashions change. Here's the Dragon Gate from Harlech House, Dublin. An extreme example but I'd be inclined to search for something you like.

 

[Penners]

That's just showing off!

:wink: