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Ornamental steel and aluminum fences add style and elegance to residential, commercial and industrial properties, and with a few modifications, can provide security as well. Similar in style to traditional wrought iron, ornamental fences are prefabricated from tubular bars instead of being hand forged to enhance affordability.
“Many consumers choose ornamental fencing because it is a strong secure fence with an open design that doesn't detract from landscaping. In fact, in many cases, ornamental fencing provides an attractive backdrop for landscaping,” commented Paul Bulten, an engineer in Tulsa, OK.
Ornamental fences come in a wide variety of styles to complement all types of architecture, from contemporary to traditional, and are available in a number of standard colors, according to Steve Frankel, Product Manager/Specialist Sun Valley, CA.
“Most manufacturers offer standard colors, like black and white, while some also offer brown, green or bronze,” he explained. “For those who choose a paint finish, the fence color can be easily customized to match a home or office building.”
The attractiveness of ornamental fencing is one of its biggest draws, and property owners have a range of style options from which to choose. “Customers can easily personalize their ornamental fences by adding rails, rings, scrolls and finials. They may also choose arching or swooping pickets. Twisted pickets are also available to customize ornamental fences,” Frankel said.
Rings and scrolls are installed between pickets, while finials dress up post caps and the tops of pickets. Swoops and arches refer to the placement of the pickets. |
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In addition to their good looks, ornamental steel and aluminum fences can be used to secure properties. Pickets with thicker walls are used for commercial or industrial applications to further increase the strength of the fence.
In addition to stronger pickets, larger and taller pickets are also used to increase security. One company furnished an ornamental steel fence for an embassy that was 13 feet high and built of solid rails and pickets. The gate was solid metal, and it was very secure.
A number of other modifications are also available. Because ornamental fencing is constructed in an open style, an unobtrusive mesh can be added behind the pickets to further enclose the secure area, and locks can be added to gates.
Gates can be outfitted with locks that are opened by keys or a keypad with a panic bar on the inside of the fence to increase security. |