Wrought iron is a material known for its usage in the construction of most infrastructures during the 19th century but its demand decreased by the 20th century as people discovered steel. Having a custom made metal railing gave an impression of wealth and power as these required intricate processes and carefully done by blacksmiths. 

Even if it is not widely used today, people still consider custom metal railings for stairs, fences, and gates. Yet people still confuse other metals for wrought iron just because it was melted and bent to form various figures. Cast iron is often mistaken for wrought iron because of its procedures that include heating. The difference between cast and wrought iron is that the former is metal that is heated and placed in a mold to cool while the latter undergoes the same process, however, is immediately taken out to be hammered into different forms. Moreover, their properties differ much. For instance, cast iron has high brittleness and is not malleable. This meant that bending or stretching it to the desired shape is difficult whereas, with wrought iron, this is done without much effort because of its ductility.

Listed below are the benefits that you can gain when you consider personalizing one for your home.

1. Wrought iron enhances the beauty of traditional houses

Wrought iron isn’t limited to large houses. Even with traditional one-story homes, wrought iron is a perfect ornament that will certainly give off an exquisite ambiance. It can serve as protective covers for windows as well as provide enhancement to your gates and fences. If you have a mini garden that would require some sort of guard, wrought iron fences from Illinois Fence Company are the right decision. Aside from functioning as barriers from unnecessary elements, it helps maintain the care your plants would need.

2. Perfectly gives off contemporary look and modernized feel

If you are not much on the complicated designs of ironwork, you can opt for the simple vertical placement of the metal for the embellishment of your stairs. Its simplistic and professional touch contributes to the minimalistic appeal of your area. In addition, wrought iron railings can match the neutral tones and components of the modernized take to your home without overpowering other elements.

3. Other materials can complement the metal

You are given the freedom to mix and match materials. Wanting to go for an elemental vibe? Incorporating wood with metal is a perfect strategy to kickstart the earthy mood for your home. You can also manage to work out a rustic-themed environment when you merge large logs from old trees to your metal works. Don’t refrain from testing combinations of materials and just be sure that it supports metal.

4. Provides elegance and sophistication

True to its earliest usage during the Victorian era, wrought iron is highly demanded because of the elegant and sophisticated feel it offers once customized into the interiors of most mansions and castles. Today, these styles are followed to achieve the formal and glamorous atmosphere without having to visit old castles and royal mansions.

5. Suitable for porches and terraces

Stair railings aren’t the only places in your house where wrought iron can be applied. Boost the appearance of your porches, balconies, and terraces by integrating it with wrought iron. Choose the appropriate design for your ironwork to best complement the aura your visitors want to experience once they plan to hang out and spend time in your area.

Maintenance and care

Wrought iron is vulnerable to corrosion and other hazards if their surfaces are exposed bare especially when there is a presence of direct sunlight or oxygen. This may become a problem since it is not similar to other metal types that produce protective coatings. Wrought iron forms rust and starts to flake.

To resolve this, placing protective coatings would effectively cover the surface and avoid elements that would attempt to ruin it. There are different types of coatings that can be used and are very essential when you decide to have custom made iron railings. Paint is the most common coating type wherein several paint types have been created to retain the metal’s hardness and other properties. Additionally, it keeps surfaces neat because it prevents small debris or elements to scatter all over your space.

The other type of coating is powder wherein it is made from a mixture of finely ground particles of pigment and resin. This is applied to the metal through an electrostatic spray so that it is evenly spread on the surfaces. The particles from the spray are charged and are combined to the electrically-grounded area for heating. The heated particles are merged into a smooth coating inside a curing oven. The output is a durable, neat, and excellent finish. Nowadays, many industries adopt powder coating as their main finishing application for their metal works as these are durable, environmental-friendly, affordable, have lesser health hazards, and much neater when used.

Regardless of what type of coating you prefer, it is vital that you take care of your ironworks. Proper care is required for your metal even if they don’t need extra monitoring. If there are minimal rusted spots, use a chisel or sandpaper to get rid of it. It is not advisable to immediately apply any coating over rusted areas. You have to make sure the area is clean and check if the coating is appropriate for the type of before putting anything.