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Wrought Iron Renovated An old wrought iron fence adds character to the front walkway of a 1930s house. From "Grounds for Improvement" episode DGFI-303

Figure A

Homeowner Kelly Brennan discovered an old wrought iron fence at an antique show. She knew it would be a great addition to her 1930s stone home (figure A), but she didn't know where. So Jackie Taylor, Dean Hill and the Grounds for Improvement crew step in to not only install her salvaged fence with style but also to give her ho-hum house and garden a splash of color. Pressure-treated 4x4s with decorative wood trim anchor the fence, the front flower beds are redesigned and expanded, and the house itself is brightened up with accent paint on the shutters and front door.

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Installing the Fence

The wrought iron fence is installed with new pressure-treated posts with decorative molding and post caps.

Tools
shovels
rakes
wheelbarrow
power nailer
posthole auger
electric saw
level
safety goggles
gloves

Materials
(8) 4"x4"x8' pressure-treated posts
(32) 1"x6"x8' pressure-treated decorative boards
(8) 6"x6" post caps
(8) 80# bags concrete
1 lamppost with light

Figure B

The pressure-treated posts are cut to the desired length and wrapped with decorative boards (figure B), which are primed, painted, and attached using a power nailer. Then, 6- by 6-inch decorative post caps top off the posts. Holes are drilled through the posts at the height of the wrought iron fence so that the structure can fit between each post.

Hill digs postholes to the desired depth using a posthole auger (figure C), and then sets the posts in the holes, making sure that they are plumb (figure D). He fills the holes with dirt and fast-setting concrete mix and adds water. After the concrete sets, the wrought iron fence sections are attached to the decorated posts by securing them with bolts (figures E and F).

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

The old wrought fence accentuates the stone cottage and adds an interesting architectural element to the walkway. The rusty finish contrasts nicely with the light gray stones (figure G).

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