Although our company specializes in Wrought Iron, that doesn’t mean we don’t dabble in other materials! In some conditions, environments, and price ranges, wrought iron might not be the ideal choice. When it comes to choosing gates for your home or business, we take a lot into consideration. We want your gate to last for decades, to last and stand against intense weather conditions, and to show our quality workmanship. The debate between stainless steel and wrought iron has gone on for a long time. We’re here to settle the battle once and for all.
The Great Debate On Gates
High-quality gates come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and materials. If you’re looking for something tough and durable, then wrought iron or stainless steel probably come to mind. Either material has its pros and cons, so it’s ultimately up to the home or business owner’s aesthetic. To help you make a choice, we’ve thought of some of the best things to consider when looking for your new gate.
What Is Stainless Steel?
To better understand stainless steel, they’re defined as low-carbon steel with 10% chromium with or without other alloy elements. It’s the material of choice for various industries due to its strength and corrosion resistance. The chromium helps increase the resistance, strength, and resistance against corrosion.
What Is Wrought Iron?
Wrought Iron is an alloy with very low carbon content. Compared to cast iron, which has 2-4% carbon content, wrought iron has less than 0.08% carbon content. The texture of “grain” is due to it being semi-fused with fibrous slag inclusions. It’s a tough and malleable material that’s easy to weld and reshape.
Welding Process
Wrought iron has been used to create objects for hundreds of years. It’s easily malleable, so welders can use it to make almost any design. This gives it a much broader range of articulate ornamental patterns and pieces to create. Gate designs can come out much more artistic and intrinsic because of this ease of malleability.
Steel, on the other hand, although it heats up much more quickly, the results differ. Since stainless steel only contains a small amount of carbon, it’s much stronger. It’s not as easy to shape and design things. Many gates get cast in plastic or other materials to help shape the more intricate designs.
Corrosion On Gates
The great thing about steel is its durability in environments. In an area with “hard water,” it can withstand the rain and other intense weather conditions. Its minerals won’t break down and turn into rust or corrode easily due to the nickel and chromium within it. However, Wrought iron is prone to rust, especially without proper care.
Price And Lifespan
Stainless steel has always sat a bit higher on the price scale than wrought iron. Although more expensive, that doesn’t declare it the winner. It depends on the design you want for your gate and the weather around you. Depending on the design you want for your gate, it could cost more than steel due to the labor involved.
With both materials known for their strength, the main differences come down to what these components are made from. The carbon in steel makes it a little stronger overall. Wrought iron will give you signs that it’s wearing out or breaking apart. In contrast, steel can suddenly break with no warning signs at all. This makes steel a bit more difficult to choose if you’re in an area with natural disasters.
Aluminum Materials
So, what about aluminum gates? The biggest pro when it comes to aluminum gates is that it’s easy to install, maintain, and repair. It’s extremely lightweight, so workers can get the job done much more quickly. If damaged, you just need to repair the damaged section without having to replace the entire gate itself. It’s also very beneficial for people who live in areas with “hard water” or somewhere sunny since it doesn’t retain much heat. However, as easy to repair and install as it can seem, they’re not as tough as other materials. You may find yourself doing more repairs and maintenance in a high volume area than a gate made of steel or wrought iron.
Atrium Wrought Gates And More!
So, who wins this debate? Well, it depends. All the factors we named are just the tipping point. We know that each gate has a particular style and purpose. That’s why we offer wrought iron, stainless steel, and aluminum materials.
If you’re looking to up the style on your balcony, gates, doors, windows, or rails, Atrium Wrought Iron can help you. With the best materials and knowledge, we have a passion for making these various metals into stylish art for your home. Bump up that curbside appeal with Atrium Wrought Iron. Give us a call today for any questions you may have.
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