Before installing wrought iron fences or gates on your property, there are a few things you need to know. While wrought iron is attractive and durable, metal fencing also requires more maintenance than other types of fencing. Get more information about iron fences and gates below.

Reasons why homeowners love wrought iron fences

• Durable. Wrought iron is a sturdy, long-lasting material, especially when compared to other fencing materials like wood. Once metal fences are installed, they’re hard to remove and can withstand severe weather conditions such as high winds. They are also hard to dent or scratch.
• High-security. Metal fences and gates are a popular choice for homeowners who are concerned about security. High metal fences are difficult to climb and hard to break or cut through, making them ideal for those who want to keep their property safe.
• Customizable. Many fencing companies offer custom fencing options. Depending on the contractor you choose and your budget, you could design your own fencing, or you may be able to choose from a wide array of patterns and styles for a semi-custom look.
• Good visibility. If you don’t want to block the view from your yard, metal fences are an excellent choice. The thin metal bars on most fences are perfect if you don’t want to block a dramatic view or don’t want a “boxed in” feeling in your yard.
• Attractive. Metal fencing has been around for hundreds of years for a reason. Many homeowners are attracted to iron fences because of its decorative, ornamental appearance and ability to increase a home’s curb appeal.

Things you need to know about wrought iron fences

• Require maintenance. Because they are made of steel, iron fences will sometimes rust, something you don’t have to worry about with fences made of wood, aluminum, or vinyl. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to prevent rust with regular maintenance. A good fence company will show you how to maintain your wrought iron.
• May require professional installation. Unlike a chain link or wood fences, which savvy homeowners can often install on their own, metal fences should generally be installed by a professional.
• Less privacy. The flip side of the visibility offered by a wrought iron fence is a lack of privacy. If you want to turn your yard into a retreat from the outside world, or simply want to block prying eyes, a standard metal fence may not suit your needs. But if you want decorative or ornamental fencing, wrought iron is a perfect choice.

As members of the human race, the desire – or, to be more accurate, the need – to protect what is ours, is inborn. Thousands of years of evolution have ensured that we will fight tooth and nail so that no harm will to come to us, our loved ones, or our possessions. Whenever we are in danger, those little evolutionary alarms go off and our bodies offer us two choices: either run away or stand and fight. This is what psychologists call the fight or flight response.

But modern technology provides us with a third alternative: prevent. What if we didn’t have to stand and fight but didn’t exactly have to turn tail and run, either? We can efficiently protect what is ours by simply making good use of the tools that the Cyber Age has given to us.

Gate motors have been around for the last two decades or so and, much like us, they have also evolved to be quick-thinking, robust machines that are able to relentlessly guard our homes and offices like unflinching sentinels. They also act as faithful servants, opening and closing our entrance gates without so much as a word of objection – it’s what they were built to do.

The benefits offered by gate motors are manifold, and we will now look at some of them. We’ll also discuss a very close relative of gate automation, namely access control.

1. Safer

The obvious detriment to one’s lumbar region aside, getting out of your vehicle to open a gate can be extremely hazardous from a personal safety perspective. We’ve all heard of people getting hijacked or attacked while opening their gates. Having a gate motor installed may not eliminate this possibility entirely, but it will certainly reduce the likelihood. Some modern gate motors have adjustable speed settings, meaning that you can have your gate open and close rapidly and thus reduce the time that the gate is open and also the time that you are stationary in your vehicle. There are also some particularly advanced operators with innovative features such as beam automatic closing, whereby the gate closes the moment that the safety beams have been cleared.

2. Convenient

Why go through all the effort of stopping your car, getting out, and then straining your poor, long-suffering back just so that you can get into your own property? It is certainly much more convenient to simply press a button and let your gate motor do the rest. Gate motors also offer you considerable freedom when it comes to the manner in which you will activate it, since you can connect anything from a remote receiver to an intercom and use that as a triggering device. There are even GSM-modules that allow you to trigger your gate using your mobile phone. It doesn’t get more convenient than that, especially in an age where our phones have become extensions of our arms.

3. Versatile

Yes, gate motors do open and close gates, but there are several models on the market that do so much more than that. Some models provide onboard timers, allowing you to set automatic activations or to bar certain inputs from working at set times, while others can be interfaced with third party alarm systems and infrared beams so that you’re notified when would-be criminals are loitering in front of your gate. It’s easy to see how a device that once had a singular purpose has now become a compact electronic defence force.

4. Total control

As I mentioned in the introduction to this article, we’ll also take a brief look at access control. Now, access control is rather a broad term and can refer to any number of devices including keypads, proximity card readers, GSM-modules, traffic barriers and of course gate motors. The wonderful thing about access control is that it affords you total control over who enters (or leaves) a property. Some variants, particularly proximity tag readers, can be interfaced with computers and allow the user to upload transaction logs, edit functionality remotely, selectively add and delete users, etc. This does its bit for convenience as well as security.

Innovation in the field has also ensured that no matter what your automation requirement – whether you have a swing or sliding gate, light or extremely heavy, whether you require automation for your home or business – there is bound to be a gate motor and/or access control system out there for you. So don’t wait: Automate!

Are you planning on repairing your automatic gate? Let me give you some basic tips.

Check the power. Basically, if there is no electricity or power to run your gate, it will not really work whatever you do. There may be some damaged wiring or parts that you need to check or replace.

Examine your gate. There may be a stone or obstruction that prevents the gate from opening. You just need to remove it and test again if the gate is already functioning. Also inspect for worn parts.

Check the Motor. The motor of your gate may already be damaged. Check the manufacturer’s instruction if this happens. You may also need to purchase some parts that need replacement.

But hey! Why would you go all through the trouble of doing all the work when you can have a professional do the repair of your automatic gate? I do know that you think doing it yourself is cheaper. But, are you really confident to stand by that decision? Let me give numerous reasons why you should just contact a repair company to do the work.

Save effort. Repairing automatic gates require a lot of work. You will need to check all the parts which think have the problem. You will also find yourself struggling through the manuals, video demonstrations or instructions from other people, but at the end of the day, the gate won’t still open. Just imagine how much energy you wasted, all just went to nothing.

Save time. If it requires your effort, it will also take most of your time.

Repairing automatic gates is not something you learn from school, not something you do every day, and not something you do as a hobby. Doing the repair is a real deal. If you’re lucky, you can fix it on a day but worse?

You may never fix it! So why would you let the repair take you very precious time when you can just pick up the phone and have someone repair it. That will just probably take a couple minutes and you are free to spend your time with your family. You can watch a movie, play with the kids, or plan a picnic.

Save money. We all have the impression that DIY saves money. But we are talking here about an automatic gate and it is not really cheap. It is a very expensive part of your home. So would you rather save a couple of dollars now? But in the long run, you might find yourself spending thousands just to replace the whole automatic gate.

Product knowledge. When your gate won’t just open, you can probably consult the instruction manual, call the company who installed it to ask for instructions, and you can even watch videos on the Internet. But let’s admit that you will probably not have vast knowledge and skill needed to fix your broken automatic gate. When you contact a repair company and hire someone, you can be sure to be provided with a person with ample expertise and knowledge about repairing automatic gates.

Precision. If you hire a repair company for your gates, you can be sure about the result of the work. They are very meticulous in dealing with your automatic gates so you will not find yourself being stuck again behind your gates.

Check-up. Let’s compare your gate with a person. When you we feel something is wrong, we go to a doctor to have our body checked, right? Same goes for your automatic gate, if it stops or won’t just open, you should also have it checked. A repair company will make a thorough inspection of your gate before doing the repair; it’s like a physical examination before the treatment. If you have your gates professionally repaired, you might even get tips to prevent future problems.

Peace of mind. Hiring a repair company to fix your gate will give you peace of mind. You will not continuously worry that when you are running late for work, your gate will just not open. Or when the weather is so bad but you are stuck behind your gate and can’t enter the house. Your DIY fix may be effective now, but how about in the coming days? Are you confident that the solution will last? So why take the odds, right?

Now, do you still want to get your hands dirty? Or would you rather have a good and trusted company repair your automatic gate?