Ornamental and Wrought Iron-Style Fences and Gates
Classic wrought iron looks without the upkeep — ornamental metal fencing and gates built for entries, pools, and front-yard boundaries.
"Wrought iron fence" is one of those phrases that's stuck around long after the material itself mostly moved on. True wrought iron is hand-forged, heavy, and expensive to produce — you'll find it on historic buildings more often than modern residential jobs. What most people picture and ask us for is ornamental metal fencing: steel or aluminum pickets and rails built in the same decorative style, with a factory finish that holds up far better outdoors than bare iron ever did.
What "wrought iron style" means today
Ornamental fencing is built from steel or aluminum pickets, formed into the same scrolls, spear points, and vertical picket patterns that traditional wrought iron used, then finished with a galvanized coating and powder coat. The look is nearly identical from the curb. The difference is underneath the finish: no hand-forging, no bare metal exposed to weather, and a manufacturing process that keeps the style consistent from panel to panel.
Where ornamental metal works best
This style earns its keep anywhere a property wants a decorative, open look without giving up a boundary line. Front yards and entries are the most common request — ornamental fencing frames a property without blocking the view of it. It's also a strong choice around pools, where local code often requires a fence but a solid wood or metal panel would block sightlines to the water. We also see it used along shorter decorative runs paired with a driveway gate, rather than enclosing an entire property.
Gates in the same style
Ornamental gates carry the same look through the entry point of the fence. We build both driveway gates and walk gates in ornamental styles, and can pair either with a gate opener for a driveway gate that opens on its own. For properties that want the decorative look with more of a security emphasis, our ornamental gate and security gate options can be built taller or with tighter picket spacing.
Maintenance compared to real wrought iron
Bare wrought iron rusts if the finish is ever compromised, and refinishing it is slow, specialized work. Ornamental steel and aluminum fencing built today is galvanized and powder-coated before it ever reaches the property, which is a meaningful advantage in a humid part of Texas near a lake. It still needs the basics — an occasional rinse, a check for scuffed finish after storms or yard equipment contact, and prompt touch-up if the coating gets damaged — but it does not need refinishing on any kind of regular schedule the way real wrought iron does.
Combining ornamental fencing with other materials
Ornamental metal doesn't have to run the whole property line. A common layout pairs a decorative ornamental fence and gate along the road frontage with a wood privacy fence or aluminum fence continuing around the sides and back where privacy or budget matters more than street-facing style. We can walk a property and talk through where each material makes the most sense.
Where we build
We build and install ornamental fencing and gates for properties around Onalaska, Livingston, Coldspring, Point Blank, and Shepherd, with additional service out to Huntsville, Trinity, Corrigan, and Goodrich, plus Oakhurst, Cape Royale, and New Waverly. If you're not sure whether your property falls in our service area, give us a call.
Frequently asked questions
Is this actual wrought iron?
Almost never, and that's usually a good thing. What we build is ornamental steel or aluminum in the same decorative style, with a factory galvanized and powder-coat finish that resists rust far better than bare wrought iron.
Can ornamental fencing be combined with a wood privacy fence?
Yes. A common setup uses ornamental fencing and a matching gate along the front of the property, with wood privacy fencing continuing around the sides or back where an open view isn't wanted.
Does ornamental metal fencing rust in a humid climate?
The galvanized and powder-coated finish is built to resist it, but no outdoor metal finish is bulletproof forever. Keeping an eye out for scuffs or chips and touching them up promptly is the best way to keep rust from starting.