MAKING AN INFORMED DECISION - Choosing the appropriate driveway or garden  gate can be much harder than it initially appears.  This decision is important to finding a gate that will wear well in its specific environment and application. These choices will be the difference between a gate that will lead a long life of  servitude and one that will prematurely retire.  It also will be the difference between one that will enhance and blend with your home and one that will distract and detract. 

In an age where consumers are surrounded by false promises and poor quality our company continues to be the exception. 

>>back to topics

Durability: Is the ability of a material to withstand its environment in a functional manner.  Some metals are more durable than others depending on the protective finish.

Life Expectancy: Inevitably all materials will eventually degrade it is only a matter of time.  Dependant on environmental conditions, exposure, specific materials durability, etc. the life expectancy of a material may increase or decrease.

Unfortunately most peoples' perception of aluminum is not more than a flimsy pop can, but it is really quite the contrary. There are many grades and strengths of aluminum.  One of aluminum's most valuable characteristics is it's high corrosive resistance. It is also very light weight and can be machined thin and flexible or strong and thick.  Why aren't more outdoor items cast aluminum? The draw back to aluminum is its cost.  It is a very expensive metal, three times the cost of cast iron and with the markets demand for cheap disposable items, very few manufacturers will bother trying to sell this great material. 

Our aluminum gates are made from structural grade cast  aluminum.  This is one of the strongest and most resilient grades of aluminum.  It is the same material used to build industrial buildings.  The material looks and is made the same as antique cast iron, you cannot tell the difference by looking at it.  It is not possible to bend or break the decorative components on our cast aluminum gates by hand or average human force.  The frames are constructed of durable galvanized steel with an aluminum cover that additionally prevents corrosion.   One of the best features of cast aluminum is it's versatility in design.  Cast metals allow for very ornate design options that other metals cannot cost effectively offer.  This is why cast iron was so popular at the turn of the century.  These beautifully designed gates add an elegance all their own, lightweight and nearly maintenance free they are perfect for areas in corrosive climates and clients who enjoy very intricate and ornate designs.  Many finish choices available including faux patinas and verdigris finishes.

Today's market is flooded by cheaply constructed import steel items painted black and labeled "wrought iron" these products are the main reason for confusion about the material and method in which it is produced.  Many people think wrought iron is any metal that is black in color and bent in some fashion.  This cannot be further from the truth.  The term wrought iron conveys both the material's name and the method of its forming.  The word "wrought" means to be drawn out or formed.  This is how true wrought iron products are formed by hand on the anvil by skilled blacksmiths.  The metal is heated, hammered thin and formed into scrolls and other decorative elements.  Then there is the actual material wrought iron.  All modern "wrought iron" items crea