When homeowners decide which material they want their gate to be built from, the choice is usually narrowed down to two heavyweight contenders—wood and iron. Take a stroll through any neighbourhood and these are the material options you’ll see the most of. But does that mean they’re the best? And, if so, which one is better? Which is more expensive? Which lasts longer? Learn how these two stack up against each other in the categories most important to those looking at new gates:
SECURITY/PRIVACY
Iron gates are much more effective from a security standpoint than wood gates. That’s doubly so if your current wood fence is rotting, warping or sagging. Our iron gates are built from steel and finished with a powder coating to make for a highly durable and secure gate option.
Because of the spacing between the lines of iron gates, you don’t have as much privacy as you’d get with a wood gate, which you usually aren’t able to see through. For most people, the curb appeal aspect of iron gate is more valuable, since gates are typically located at the side of the home, where privacy is less of an issue.
AESTHETICS
When it comes to aesthetics, homeowners are divided. Some love the rustic, natural look of a wood gate, while others prefer the smooth, clean minimalist lines of high-quality iron. It really comes down to the look you prefer and what works for your project. For those who prefer wood gates and are looking to enhance its aesthetics even more, check out our line of gate inserts.
MAINTENANCE
As for maintenance, maintaining your iron gate is easy and hands-off. Just take a little soap and warm water to it every now and again and it’ll stay looking as good as it did the day you bought it. Wood, however, takes a little bit more effort and time to do as much as possible to prevent rotting, sagging and warping. It’ll require regular inspection and staining every so often to keep it looking good.
EASE OF INSTALLATION
When it comes to ease of installation, iron wins hands-down. It’s much easier to put together and get it installed than its wood counterpart, which can take the better part of an afternoon or day, depending on how comfortable you are with these projects. There’s no need to cut wood to size and the tools (e.g. drill) are common and in most households.
