When thinking about wrought or cast iron, images of beautiful and highly decorative gates, railings, and other building furniture may come to mind. Wrought iron and cast iron have been used throughout history to provide decorative interest to buildings, but the two have different properties and characteristics. Let’s take a look at these in more detail.

Knowing how to differentiate between wrought and cast iron can help you make authentic choices when it comes to building restoration.

Wrought iron

In historical terms, ‘wrought’ translates as ‘worked’. Wrought iron pieces were often handcrafted by blacksmiths in labour intensive processes. It is highly ductile, meaning it can be shaped and elongated by hand to a high decorative standard with a fibrous texture and a low carbon content.

Wrought iron is stronger than cast iron; what’s more, it gains strength each time it is heated and worked. This makes it ideal for commercial projects.

Cast iron

Unlike wrought iron, cast iron is poured into moulds rather than hand forged. It is resistant to corrosion and can withstand high pressure compression, but it is brittle and cannot be reworked once it has been cast. It was used to replace wrought iron around the mid-19th century due to its lower costs and versatility.

Maintenance

Regular maintenance is essential for both wrought iron and cast iron. Regular inspection, repair, and repainting are crucial to keep them looking their best.

Wrought iron suppliers

Whilst wrought iron work is less common due to the dying art of hand forging, it is still possible to source it from a specialist provider for your building and design needs.

Wrought iron railings from specialists such as https://donkeywellforge.co.uk/what-we-make/iron-gates-railings are expertly designed and installed, using historical methods such as leaded bases for fixing.

Bespoke wrought iron railings, gates, and other pieces are available for private, commercial, and individual projects. In addition to being strong and highly functional, wrought iron pieces can be intricately designed to include geometric patterns, shapes, motifs, and embellishments ranging from florals and monograms to personalised initials.