What is the difference between wrought iron and mild steel fence?

True wrought iron is iron worked hot by a blacksmith, with a fibrous grain structure and very low carbon content. It resists rust slightly better than mild steel and has a characteristic hammer texture when forged. Mild steel is a modern industrial product, welded rather than forged, that performs comparably for fence applications. Almost all iron fence sold today is mild steel.

Should I choose paint or powder coat for an iron fence?

Powder coat is more durable and provides a harder, more uniform finish that lasts longer between recoatings. It is correct for new fence. Paint is correct for restoration matching and for recoating existing fence — powder coating an existing fence requires sandblasting to bare metal, which is not always practical.

What is the correct picket spacing for a traditional iron fence?

Three and a half to four inches between pickets — narrow enough that a child cannot pass through, wide enough that the fence reads as open rather than as a solid barrier. Closer spacing reads as a security barrier. Wider spacing reads as careless.

Wrought Iron Fence — Old Canaan Building Materials

Almost every fence sold as wrought iron today is mild steel. True wrought iron — iron with a very low carbon content, worked hot by a blacksmith — has not been commercially produced since the mid-20th century. The distinction matters for maintenance and longevity but not for appearance. A well-designed mild steel fence, correctly detailed and painted, reads identically to historic wrought iron at every distance that matters.

The Character

A traditional iron picket fence is vertical square or round bar pickets, 1/2" to 5/8" in diameter, spaced 3-1/2" to 4" apart, between horizontal rails of square bar stock, between posts of heavier square or round bar. The top of each picket terminates in a spear point, a fleur-de-lis, or a simple ball. The whole assembly is painted black. It is simple, precise, and permanent.

What It Is

Contemporary iron fence is mild steel — low carbon steel fabricated by welding rather than forging. For traditional fence profiles, mild steel performs comparably to historic wrought iron in New England conditions. True blacksmith-forged wrought iron fence is available from architectural ironwork specialists for restoration matching or for new work where the hammer texture of forged iron is part of the specification.

How It Behaves

Mild steel requires paint. Rust at paint failures spreads quickly without treatment. Inspect annually, address rust spots immediately with wire brushing, rust-inhibiting primer, and touch-up paint. Full repaint every 10 to 15 years, with thorough surface preparation. Powder coating is an alternative to liquid paint — it is more durable and longer-lasting but cannot be easily touched up.

Why It's Right

An iron picket fence is the correct fence for formal entries, urban residential properties, and any setting where a permanent, maintained boundary is the specification. It does not blow over in wind. It does not sag or check like wood. It lasts indefinitely with correct maintenance.

How To Get It

From architectural ironwork fabricators and fence contractors. For traditional New England fence profiles, specify the picket size, spacing, rail size, post size, and top terminal form. For restoration matching, bring a photograph and a sample piece if available.

The Old Canaan Standard

Mild steel or blacksmith-forged iron picket fence, 1/2-inch square or round bar pickets at 3-1/2 to 4-inch spacing, powder-coated or painted black, for formal entries and residential boundaries at traditional New England properties. Inspect annually. Address rust spots immediately. Full repaint or re-powder coat on a 15-year cycle.

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