Property boundaries are now way more than keeping your privacy intact. Property boundaries have evolved to become more about first impressions, aesthetics, and property value. Many property owners have invested in excellent gates for their properties but have paid little attention to how these gates relate to their fencing. Such an oversight can have significant negative impacts on property value, with most people not realising this until their estate agent explains it to them.
The rationale for this is quite simple: gates and fences should be similar in style. Unfortunately, many gardens across the UK are examples of how this simple principle is easily ignored. Gates with wrought iron designs paired with plain fencing, modern aluminium gates paired with traditional brick walls, or classic metal gates paired with modern composite fences are examples of such inconsistencies in property boundaries. Such inconsistencies are an indicator of poor decision-making processes, which most people do not understand until it’s explained to them.
The benefits of understanding why style consistency is important in property boundaries are quite simple. More importantly, such an understanding provides property owners with information on how to save money while increasing property value.
The Visual Impact Issue
Gates are an integral part of property boundaries. Unlike fences, gates are larger and more prominent, placed at entry points where most people naturally focus their attention.
The effect becomes even stronger when it comes to entrance areas. The front gates need particular attention when it comes to maintaining consistency. The reason for this is that they define the principal entrance area for the property. The visitor forms an impression about the property within the few seconds it takes them from spotting the front gates to reaching the front door. Inconsistent boundaries look like neglected areas.
The inconsistency is not just about how it looks. Inconsistent boundaries imply that the owner has not thought through the boundary area comprehensively. It implies that the owner has reacted to problems as they arose instead of being proactive about maintaining the property. Estate agents will recognise this immediately. The purchaser may not consciously recognise it, yet it will still affect their offer.
Material Coordination Principles
Every boundary material has its unique visual characteristics. The coordination principle requires working with these characteristics instead of fighting them.
Metal Gates and Metal Fencing
Metal gates and metal railings coordinate well with each other. Both components share similar visual and maintenance-related characteristics.
At Metal Gates Direct, our design collections – Abbey, Balmoral, Classic, Corfe, Manor, Regent, Saxon, and many more – all have matching metal fences and railing products available. It is not simply coincidence when properties look good with our products. Properties that use our Manor design for the gates and our railings look great. They achieve visual coordination that mixed boundaries cannot achieve.
The advantages of coordinating boundary components extend beyond the visual appeal. The components will age at the same rate. The protective finishes will deteriorate at the same rate. The maintenance schedules will be similar. In short, coordinating boundary components like this makes it easier to look after the boundary than if mixed components were used.
Metal components can be used with traditional brickwork components as well. Wrought iron gates and railings look great when combined with brickwork. The use of metal boundaries has the advantage of historical precedence. Victorian and Edwardian buildings show how metal boundaries can be used to great effect on brickwork.
Height and Scale Consistency
However, the material matching is not as important as it may be thought to be if the height and visual weight are well coordinated. The 4-foot metal gate will look out of place with the 6-foot panel fencing regardless of the material matching. The difference in height is overwhelming.
The height of the boundary should be consistent or vary for specific reasons. The variation in height from the 6-foot privacy fencing to the 4-foot decorative gates is acceptable because it is functional. Random changes in height are indicative of poor planning.
The visual weight is as important as the actual height. The solid panel fencing will have greater visual weight than the open railing fencing even if the height is the same. The gates must match the visual weight. Heavy solid gates will match solid fencing. Lighter open gates will match railings or open fence panels.
Infill Pattern Coordination
Metal gates and metal fencing come in various infill patterns such as vertical bars, horizontal rails, or even scrolls. The coordination of the infill pattern is important for the creation of the look of continuity even if the materials do not match.
The Classic range has an infill pattern consisting of vertical bars. This will match well with other railing fencing or even modern horizontal slat fencing because both have clean lines. The Balmoral range consists of ball-topped vertical bars, which add visual interest with the inclusion of the decorative elements. This will match well with matching railings or picket fencing with similar features.
More complex infill patterns such as the Warwick or Henley ranges have scrolls. These require matching fencing or neutral boundaries that do not compete with the gates. It is not possible to match infill patterns such as the ornate gates with other ornate fencing because the patterns will clash.
The Property Value Connection
Buyer Psychology
Buyers form impressions within minutes of viewing the property. Coordinated boundaries provide an impression of detail and complete maintenance. This has an overall effect on the perception of the property as a whole.
Mismatched boundaries, conversely, provide the opposite impression. This leads buyers to view the property as a whole in a more critical light. This, in turn, leads to lower offers.
Estate agents know the psychology of buyers all too well. This is why they advise homeowners on boundary improvements, as the effect far outweighs the cost. Coordinating gates and fencing, or replacing them, is always included in the list of improvements.
Perceived Maintenance Standards
A coordinated boundary system implies the property has been well-maintained. This is an attractive quality for any property. It implies low maintenance costs in the future.
This effect is not dependent upon the actual maintenance history. A mismatched boundary, even if the property has been well-maintained, still has an adverse effect. Conversely, the effect of a coordinated boundary is not dependent upon the property itself.
Investment Perception
A coordinated boundary system implies the property has been well-invested in. A good quality gate paired with good quality fencing implies the property has been well-invested in. This implies all other property systems have also been well-invested in.
A mismatched boundary, conversely, implies the property has not been well-invested in. This has an adverse effect upon the property as a whole.
Common Coordination Mistakes
Understanding the most common mistakes helps avoid them in the planning stages.
The Piecemeal Upgrade Trap
Replacement of gates without considering the fences makes the most common type of mismatch. People replace their gates because of security or aesthetic reasons. They plan to replace the fences later. However, later may never come.
As a result, the new gates will clash aesthetically with the old fences. This will go on for years. Initially, it was a good plan. However, it resulted in a mismatch that continues to this day.
Better alternatives include planning the entire fences and gates. This means choosing the fences and gates from matching sets. Installing the fences first and then replacing the gates later is a good plan. However, it makes more sense to plan the gates first and choose ones that match the fences that will be installed later. This ensures that there is ultimate consistency in the end.
Style Confusion
Using modern and traditional styles does not work. For instance, modern aluminium gates next to Victorian-style iron gates create confusion. Similarly, traditional wrought iron gates clashing with modern horizontal fences indicate a confused sense of direction.
Each property needs to have a sense of direction. Traditional homes require traditional fences and gates. Contemporary homes require modern fences and gates. Blended styles will never work. This is because they will compete instead of complementing each other.
Material Mismatches
Using materials that have different requirements for upkeep also makes for a mismatch. For instance, metal gates that require painting every few years next to composite fences that do not require painting highlight the problem. This mismatch becomes apparent when it is time for painting.
As time goes on, this disparity between materials makes the fences and gates appear increasingly inconsistent. This is because the metal will continue to show signs of aging while the composite continues to look good.
Achieving Coordination on Budgets
It is possible to achieve ultimate coordination even on a tight budget. This requires a series of strategic steps.
Prioritising Visible Areas
Front boundaries are the most important for property value. Coordination efforts for the entrance gates and immediate fencing areas should be the main focus. The less noticeable rear or side boundaries can have less expensive materials used for them as long as they don’t clash with the main boundaries.
Staged Implementation
While the entire system is designed, the implementation is in stages. This allows the budget to be spread out while ensuring that the final result is consistent. The choice of gate and fencing styles can come from the coordinated ranges. The gates can then be installed first for security, with the fencing added in later stages as the budget allows.
This system avoids the coordination issues associated with piecemeal upgrades. Each stage is moving in the direction of the final goal without the permanent coordination issues of the piecemeal system.
Standard Design Benefits
Metal Gates Direct’s design collections offer coordinating gates, railings, and fencing in affordable packages. The Classic collection is for the budget-conscious homeowner with coordinating products. The Manor or Saxon collections offer mid-range products with coordinating options. The more premium products in the Warwick or Henley ranges also have coordinating products available.
The use of the standard coordinating ranges is more cost-effective compared to using coordinating products individually from separate manufacturers. The coordination is automatically included in the purchase without the need for specifying the components individually.
Making Coordination Decisions
Practical decisions involve the integration of many factors beyond the sole consideration of coordination.
Assessing Existing Boundaries
The condition of the existing boundaries must be considered before deciding on new gates. Good quality fencing that is already in place requires new gates that match the quality of the fencing. Fencing that is in poor condition and will need replacement soon is the best time to put in new gates with coordinating systems.
Trying to coordinate new gates with old fencing is a waste of the coordination process. It is better to have the current system in the wrong coordination for the time being, since the entire system will need to be replaced in the future anyway. Alternatively, the fencing can be replaced as soon as possible to provide coordination with the new gates.
The timeframes of ownership should also be taken into consideration when determining the level of coordination required. When selling within two years, the highest level of investment in coordination is justified, as the results are immediately reflected in the sale prices.
The economics of the situation change depending on the timeframe of the owner. For short-term owners, the aim is to maximise the visible results, while long-term owners can aim to balance costs and benefits at various times.
Consulting Professionals
The services of estate agents can offer valuable insight into what buyers in certain areas will find important and notice. They can help ensure that the prioritisation of the coordination is as effective as possible. Garden designers can also help ensure that the decisions made are visually attractive.
The cost of consulting professionals is relatively small in comparison to the cost of installation, and the improved decision-making can save money that is many times the cost of consulting professionals.
The Metal Gates Direct Advantage
The design collections that we offer are specifically to help overcome the problem of coordination. Each and every one of our gate designs has matching railings and fencing available, making it easy to achieve this rather than having to undertake detailed research and specification.
The Abbey, Balmoral, Classic, Corfe, Court, Henley, Manor, Regent, Saxon, Stirling, Warwick, and Weston ranges all offer a full range of boundary solutions. Select a style that suits your home. All gates, railings, and fencing supplied by us come guaranteed to fit together perfectly. It’s a simple way to get a professional finish without any hassle. No need to worry if everything will go together. No need to make compromises to get everything to fit. Just a range of gates, railings, and fencing that will work well together to provide a great boundary around your home.
Knowing why matching gates and fencing is important can help you make a more informed decision when it comes to your boundary investments. Matching gates and fencing can provide a number of benefits, from improving the overall appearance of your home to providing a more practical solution that can reduce maintenance issues and extend the overall lifespan. At Metal Gates Direct, we have been providing coordinated boundary solutions to homeowners across the country for a number of years. Homes that have matching gates and fencing look far better and can command a higher selling price than those that do not.