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Home & Garden Articles
The Enduring Appeal Of Wrought Iron Railings
Thu 26 Apr 2007 - 14:02
The Enduring Appeal Of Wrought Iron Railings
By Phil Caxton
Wrought iron , including railings continues to be a popular choice for homes. Why has it retained its charm despite changes in the way people decorate their homes and gardens?
Wrought iron railings blends in with pretty well any décor and adds an elegant and rich feel to its environment. Whether you have railings around your porch, around your stairs or the perimeter of your home (fencing) or cottage, wrought iron looks great and is stable and durable.
Wrought iron railings have been around for several generations. Even as far back as the sixteenth century, it was used in expensive, wealthy homes and important buildings such as museums and government offices. The wealthy population wanted iron products and it took skilled craftsmen to create it for them in cast iron, wrought iron and in steel.
A bit about early iron railings
Despite ever changing trends, railings continue to blend with the times. Many things come and go in style and fashion but wrought iron seems to be immune to obsolescence. While most railings in the sixteen century, even for royalty, were made with wrought iron, some were even made of silver and gold with many styles and designs including monograms or family crests.
Early wrought iron railings took a very long time to make. They were fired until bright red and then the iron was hammered manually into the shape through labor intensive processes which made them extremely expensive and only owned by very wealthy and important people. Some had to wait a long time for their orders to be fulfilled through custom craftsmen.
Cast iron railings were done through hot liquid iron that was placed into molds made of sand. Cast iron railings weren't easy to repair though and were prone to cracking. Mild steel railings were also quite popular in the middle 1700's and they were easy to form so became very popular for railings and fences.
A little about modern Wrought Iron railings
As technology progressed, techniques were developed that would allow metal craftsmen more choices and the ability to manipulate iron rods into various intricate designs. Welding also developed and wrought iron became more widely available and more accessible financially. This also made repair more feasible.
While wrought iron is the same material as it always was, new techniques allow it to be less expensive to make and easier to treat, maintain and repair. You can buy it ready made or still, have customized orders done.
Regularly cleaning your iron and inspecting it for corrosion or rust can help it last longer and be around to be appreciated by your children and perhaps your grandchildren as well.
Phil Caxton is the editor of different articles published at http://www.wrought-iron-guide.com with reference to gates and iron rails . You can find more information and resources on wrought iron railings at his website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Phil_Caxton
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Enduring-Appeal-Of-Wrought-Iron-Railings&id=534899
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