Some compare wrought iron fences and gates to works of art in their beauty. However, these elements are not only distinguished by their attractive appearance, but also by their reliability and practicality. Such a fence will last as long as possible and reliably protect the house. Of course, the manufacture and installation of a metal fence requires certain financial costs, but the result is undoubtedly worth it.
Gates and wicket in brick frame
Features of forged elements
The modern Internet is replete with various photographs of these products. Many masters put their exhibits on public display, demonstrating their beauty. But what additional features do wrought iron fences have, besides the aesthetic component?
When choosing fencing, you must take this issue as responsibly as possible. Don't blindly believe advertising. When choosing, first of all, you need to start from a number of criteria, which will subsequently determine the right choice. These include functionality and practicality.
Forged gates and fences precisely meet these criteria.
The technology for manufacturing these elements involves the use of metal rods, which are located at an equidistant distance from each other.
The photo shows a beautiful metal fence.
Beautiful blind fence
Forged products have the following advantages:
- long service life, which according to some estimates exceeds hundreds of years;
- individuality and originality of a forged fence, which is achieved thanks to the handiwork of a craftsman;
- from an aesthetic point of view, these products have a more attractive appearance than other fences (brick fences, wooden fences, etc.);
- thanks to the use of a special coating, such products remain resistant to destructive corrosive influences;
- metal fences do not require specific additional care.
A decent fence for a luxury dacha
Of course, forged fences also have disadvantages, just like any other structure or structure. First of all, this is due to significant financial costs when comparing wood products.
Also, some are not happy that such gates and fences are transparent, which interferes with the privacy of people on their site. Regarding this drawback, it can be solved by combining barriers with wood or polycarbonate, but this will be discussed later in the article.
Beautiful fencing for a private home and cottage
The final touch - finishing
Fence made by cold forging
When the assembly and installation is completely completed, you can proceed to the last stage - finishing. So a finished fence is needed:
- degrease;
- apply primer;
- paint.
Degreasing can be done with simple white spirit or another solvent. Thanks to the application of a primer, the metal will be additionally protected from rust, and it will also allow the paint layer to lie more evenly and not spread.
Note!
When choosing paint, it is worth considering that the fence will be used in a variety of weather conditions.
As you can see, it is possible to make a forged metal fence with your own hands. It is enough to have a great desire, opportunity and a little time to do the job carefully. As a result, your country house or plot will be protected from the street and neighbors by an elegant and sophisticated fence that will decorate the entire landscape design.
Posts for wrought iron fences
The preparatory work stage is very important when making a fence. It necessarily includes the preparation of strong and reliable supports. These elements should not only be durable and functional, but also aesthetically attractive.
The most popular are the following elements and materials for fencing:
- Metal. Such supports can withstand severe mechanical stress. The existing advantages of metal supports include: favorable pricing policy, the absence of complex installation work, ease of installation and transportation. Square or round pillars can be used as reliable supports, which will give the fence an additional frame.
- Made of brick. This type of fence is not only durable, but also aesthetically beautiful. Facing bricks are often used for supports, from which columns are then erected. However, before starting construction work, it is worth taking care of the foundation. Otherwise, cracks and subsidence may subsequently occur in the brick structure, which is extremely undesirable.
- Concrete pillars and asbestos pipes. These materials also look good with metal structural elements. They are as reliable and durable as the options listed above. However, there is one criterion - asbestos pipes are used only for those fences whose height does not exceed 1.5 m.
Stone pillars
Selection of materials
The main structural elements should be considered spans, sashes and pillars. In accordance with the approximate weight of the entire structure, it is worth choosing the following materials:
- Pillars - profile pipe (galvanized) 100x80x6. The best option would be seamless, but given the rather high cost, we can recommend electric welding with a wall thickness of at least 2.5 mm;
- Gravel, cement and sand will be required to install the posts. It should be remembered that their volume must be selected taking into account the pouring of the solution into the cavity of the pillars;
- Facing brick;
- A sheet of galvanized steel (thickness from 0.5 to 0.7 mm) is necessary for the manufacture of tops for poles;
- Profile for creating frames of sashes and spans. Here you can use profile pipes (20x40x2.5), angle (45x45), round pipe with a diameter of more than 40 mm;
- Material for the door leaf - if preference is given to a solid design, then a sheet of cold-rolled steel with a thickness of 1.2 to 2 mm is used. The transparent structure is made of rods of different profiles and strips;
- Forged elements for a fence can be made independently, which is quite difficult, or ordered from a specialist.
When purchasing material, first of all you should pay attention to the grade of steel. The carbon concentration is of utmost importance in this matter, because how well the material will be welded depends on this parameter. The optimal choice can be considered steel grades st.0-st.20.
Calculation of material requirements is carried out on the basis of a preliminary design of the product. Most often, a simple design is used, consisting of two mirror doors and spans of the same length. The width of the gate in most cases is from 3.8 to 4.2 m. Thus, the width of one leaf is approximately 2 m.
When designing gates, you should remember the need to strengthen the structure. For this purpose, stiffening ribs are installed on the sashes. In order not to spend extra money, when drawing up a project, it is advisable to take into account the cutting of metal, thereby minimizing the amount of waste. To do this, you should visit your nearest supplier and check the dimensions of the rolled metal.
Forged fencing options
Metal fences are the most practical designs due to their long service life. However, this is not all you need to know about this type of fence.
There are various options for such products, which differ in their parameters and external features.
For example, classic forged gates and fences are a simple design with a minimum number of forging elements. They are attached directly to the finished section with a threaded connection or by welding.
"Game of Thrones"
In this case, special blanks are used, which reduces the time when assembling the entire structure. In essence, these are stamped products, which, of course, affects the price (it is significantly lower than handmade analogues).
Decorative fences are, first of all, beautiful structural elements and, of course, reliable. The use of various forging patterns and additional decorative elements make them special. Such iron fences and wrought iron gates are made according to individual drawings of the future customer. There are also combined types of structures, which will be discussed below.
Metal combined with polycarbonate
With corrugated sheets
This design is a classic wrought iron fence with metal rods, which are placed at a certain distance from each other. To rid such a fence of the transparency factor, many use elements made of corrugated sheets.
For this reason, combined hedges today occupy a leading position. The fact is that the corrugated sheet fits perfectly into the metal fence and, in a sense, complements it.
A beautiful gate and wicket made of corrugated sheets are shown in the photo below.
Good option for a summer residence
Some people mistakenly believe that only experienced specialists can build such structures, but, of course, this is not the case. Naturally, installing forged fences is not an easy task. However, if you follow important rules and be careful, almost everyone can cope with this task.
Sectional option for the territory of a multi-storey building
In addition, the profiled sheet has some undeniable features, which are as follows:
- You can choose an original color palette that will fit perfectly into the local landscape.
- The material perfectly performs the function of sound insulation, thanks to which you can get rid of annoying noise coming from the street. It is also possible to build a fence of any height from this material.
- Installing this type of fence is quite easy. It is also possible to do without the involvement of experienced craftsmen.
- The material remains resistant to various weather conditions.
- Such a fence does not require constant maintenance, since it is initially protected from corrosion.
Corrugated fencing
With polycarbonate
In this case, the forged element acts as a solid base, while the polymer plays the role of a lightweight barrier. The main advantage of this material is that it is flexible enough to take the desired fence shape. Even the most intricate patterns made from a metal base can be sheathed with this material.
In fact, polycarbonate is a synthetic material, which is why it is not susceptible to negative external influences, such as:
- damp weather;
- sultry heat;
- cold;
- wind and so on.
Set for work
- Welding machine with a set of electrodes.
- Grinder with grinding and cutting discs.
- Equipment for the production of decorative elements. There are several types of machines that allow you to give metal rods different shapes. You will learn more about the main units below.
- Vise. A flimsy student setup won't do. You need a powerful locksmith unit. Additionally, prepare patterned yews to give the rods a spiral shape.
- Pliers.
- Roulette.
- Hammer.
- Building level.
- Corner.
- A spray bottle or several brushes of different sizes.
- Steel rods with a diameter of 12-14 mm.
- Sheet steel 2 mm thick. We will use it to make peak tips. We buy the material if peaks are present in the selected fencing design.
Elements of a wrought iron fence
Photos of artistic forging
Types of forged gates
When choosing a fence for your site, you also need to think in advance about which gate is best suited to it. You can make the main gate to match the style of the overall design or a slightly contrasting option. In this case, a wide field for flight of fancy is open.
Fine handmade
Traditionally, gates are made from several types of material:
- steel – is flexible, thanks to which you can create the most intricate designs and ornaments;
- cast iron is durable due to the combination of carbon and iron.
The process of making iron gates differs depending on what material is chosen for it. In the case of cast iron, some individual parts are first cast, which are eventually assembled into a finished product. This method is called hot forging; it is more technically complex and expensive.
The photo shows a forged gate.
Beautiful gate
For steel elements, simple cold forging technology is used. In this case, individual metal elements acquire the desired shape due to strong mechanical stress. This method is less labor-intensive and not too expensive.
Today, you can implement various variations of forged gates. For example, openwork gates with a metal pattern. Such structures are transparent.
Massiveness and grandeur
If you want to hide the decoration of the site from view, use combined-type structures similar to those listed above. In this case, a forged metal base will add rigidity to the gate, and a decorative base in the form of wood, corrugated sheet or polycarbonate will hide the courtyard from prying eyes. Such models of gates look no less attractive than solid forged structures.
Private house under reliable protection
By the way, in some cases it is not necessary to cover the gate with a corrugated sheet; you can do it differently. For example, close the gate with climbing plants. The result is a beautiful and harmonious design, but it must be properly looked after.
Metal products
Types of gate designs
Forged gates not only differ in external features, but also in the type of construction, the list of which includes:
- Hinged doors are the classic and most common type of structure, the doors of which can open both outward and inward.
- Sliding ones are similar to the previous type, but they have one significant advantage - they save usable space on the site.
- Lifting ones allow you to free up space as much as possible due to the specific design of this design.
- Fully automated gates are the most expensive of the above. They are easy to use thanks to a fully automated opening and closing process.
Classification by manufacturing technology
Fences are made in three ways:
- Connecting elements by welding. The cheapest option. A welded structure is not a work of art, but the fence will be reliable and neat.
Photo: assembly and welding of forged elements into a single structure - Artistic (hot) forging. Allows you to create different patterns based on pre-made sketches. The master does everything by hand.
- Forged-welded method. They take ready-made strips and rods, give them the required shape and weld the parts to each other.
More often they make fences using the third method. By purchasing ready-made sections, owners significantly reduce costs and time for building a fence.
Schemes and sketches
Naturally, the first thing others pay attention to when passing by a fence is its visual component, decor, decoration, colors, etc. If the overall design is made using artistic forging, this gives the area sophistication and sophistication.
There are various sketches and diagrams of metal fences that can be turned into reality. You can find them on the Internet or spy on your neighbor.
Variety of sketches
The best option would be to develop individual sketches of the future fence. In this case, the overall design becomes an individual and unique creation. This way you can create a hedge that perfectly matches the landscape.
When developing drawings, it is worth considering that the future fence should not only be aesthetically beautiful, but also as durable as possible. After all, this is its original and direct purpose.
When developing drawings, you also need to take into account the possibilities of technological manufacturing of the structure. That is, it is necessary to find out in advance whether the corresponding material is available on the modern market or not.
Sketch for a country house
It is also important to consider the following factors:
- metal thickness;
- hedge height;
- number of support pillars;
- type of fastening, etc.
It is worth noting that the existing variety of metal forms is endless.
Section sketches
In this case, the only limitation is the imagination of a particular person. If there are no problems with this, all that remains is to take a pencil, paper and start creating a drawing. You can also take several existing drawings as a basis, take the best from them and combine them into one.
Great option for a summer residence
To provide the fence with the necessary strength, it is best to fill the structure with vertical or horizontal lines. And leave pointed peaks on the tops, which will make it much more difficult for uninvited guests to enter the area.
Also in a future project, you can implement forged monograms that encircle the structure of the forged product. Naturally, it is necessary to add forged rods imitating a vine or other plant motifs.
Option for a private house
Metal products
It is worth mentioning that forging elements, without a doubt, give any territory equipped with them a certain reliability and fundamentality.
At the same time, forging can not only fascinate with its metallic power, but also evoke real admiration for its unique designer elements, striking in sophistication and subtlety. But to truly appreciate the fundamental beauty of metal, you have to really get into it.
Manufacturing of forged elements
Creating steel masterpieces is possible in several ways:
- Stamping is the least energy-intensive method in terms of the use of physical force. This is a mechanized, production process. Elements produced in this way will cost you significantly less than those created directly by the hands of a blacksmith.
- Hand forging is used by blacksmiths mainly to create unique things. Such products will cost you a lot, but in the end they will justify their price. After all, exclusive designer or your own fantasies embodied in metal will definitely become a source of pride for the owner.
Hand forging can be of two types:
- Hot - before using a hammer or the hands of a blacksmith, the metal becomes flexible and ductile, heating up red-hot in the mining process.
- Cold - in its process, the metal takes the necessary shape thanks to the physical strength and skill of the blacksmith, as well as available (mostly) devices.
Forging an element using cold forging is physically more difficult for a blacksmith.
Preparation
Before starting such a large and ambitious project, you should familiarize yourself in more detail with all the proposals that companies for the construction of these structures can offer. In order to find them, you don’t have to go to every store and check all the details.
Using the World Wide Web, you can find information, photos of forged fences, and any other information related to this product. The main thing is to correctly analyze the market and choose exactly the product that is most suitable.
Ancient craft
Blacksmithing in Rus' is an ancient craft. Not a single peasant family in former times could do without a plow, harrow, sickle, ax and other items necessary for peasant labor and life. They were forged by blacksmiths.
Today, craftsmen forge not scythes and axes from metal, but much more elegant things.
Nowadays, wrought-iron fences are becoming increasingly popular among homestead owners. They are installed around country houses and cottages, and enclose the territory of parks and squares. Such designs speak of the excellent taste and merits of the owner.
