If you are looking for wrought iron gates in Dublin, Kildare, Meath or Wicklow, this page explains what is actually made today and how we get it made for you. The Home Upgrade Co. works with a local gate maker who measures your entrance, makes the gates in steel in the traditional wrought iron style and fits them himself, usually with railings to match.
What is a wrought iron gate today?
A gate made in mild steel in the traditional style: upright bars, finials, arched tops and dog bars. New wrought iron itself is no longer produced.
The Department's conservation guide to historic ironwork is plain about it: new wrought iron is no longer produced, and only a small amount of recycled iron exists for restoring historic work. So every new wrought iron gate sold in Ireland is a steel gate made to look the part. We would rather tell you that here than let the name mislead you. What matters is how well the steel is made up and how it is finished.
What wrought iron gate styles can be made?
Flat top, arched or bow top gates in upright bar, with a choice of finials, dog bars along the bottom and a matching pedestrian gate and railings.
- The top line. Flat, arched up to the centre as in the gates above, or swept down to the centre.
- Finials. Fleur de lis, spear or ball tops on every bar, or a plain top rail.
- Dog bars. The short extra bars along the bottom third, which close the gaps low down and give the gate its traditional look.
- A pair or a single leaf, with a pedestrian gate beside it where there is a separate path.
- Railings to match on the wall either side, made in the same job.
Because each gate is made to order, the height, the bar spacing and the detail are decided with you at the measure, not picked from a list of stock sizes.
Is steel as good as real wrought iron for a gate?
For a new gate, yes. Steel is consistent, welds cleanly and can be fully protected from rust, which is what decides how long a gate lasts.
Old wrought iron earned its reputation because it was worked by hand and resisted rust better than early steel. Modern steel closes that gap with its finish. Hot dip galvanising to EN ISO 1461 coats the finished gate in zinc inside and out, and powder coating on top gives the colour. Ask anyone quoting you which finish their price includes, because a painted gate and a galvanised gate look identical on the day they are hung.
If your house has original ironwork, the advice is different. Historic wrought iron is worth repairing and keeping, and on a protected structure it may have to be kept.
Send us a photo of your entrance and the rough width, and we will tell you what would suit it.
How much do wrought iron gates cost?
Every pair is priced individually, because every entrance is different. You get a rough guide from a photo and the width, and a firm written price after the measure.
Size comes first: the width and height of the opening set the steel and the hours. Detail comes next, since an arched top, a finial on every bar and dog bars all take longer than plain uprights. Then the finish, and whether your piers can carry the gates or new steel posts are needed. Automation is priced on top. This is premium steelwork made for one entrance, and it is priced to that standard.
Can wrought iron gates be automated?
Yes. Open bar gates suit automation well because the wind passes through them, as long as it is planned before the gates are made.
Tell us at the start if you want electric gates now or later. It changes how the frame, the hinges and the posts are made, and a duct for the cable is far easier to put in before a driveway is finished.
Do I need planning permission for wrought iron gates?
Usually not for gates in an existing entrance at a house, up to 2 metres high. A new or wider entrance onto a public road needs permission.
The exemption is Class 5 of Schedule 2 to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. Councils commonly hold front boundaries to 1.2 metres, and protected structures and architectural conservation areas have their own rules. The full explanation is on our made to measure metal gates page.
Do you make and fit wrought iron gates in Kildare, Meath and Wicklow?
Yes. Gates are measured and fitted across Dublin, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. Message us your area and we will confirm straight away.
See also metal railings to match, metal side gates and the full range of made to measure metal gates, including commercial work.
Frequently asked questions
Are wrought iron gates expensive?
A made to measure pair costs a good deal more than a fixed size gate from a shop, because it is heavier steel, made for one opening and fitted. It is a long term purchase and is priced as one.
What are the disadvantages of a metal gate?
Open bar gates give no privacy, and any steel gate will rust if the finish is poor. Choose composite infill if you want privacy, and check the finish before you order.
Can you copy a gate from a photo?
In most cases yes. Send a clear photo of the gate you like and one of your own entrance, and we will tell you what can be matched.
Can I get a price from a photo?
You can get a rough guide from a photo and the width of the opening. The firm price follows a measure on site.
