Steel vs Aluminum
Many companies offer aluminum gate and fence products. Why don't we? Amazing Gates has been working with steel for the past 19 years and we continue to be impressed by its strength and longevity. While aluminum has become popular for gates and fence due to its corrosion resistance and weight, steel is a stronger alternative. With a Hot Dipped Galvanized undercoat and a baked on Powder Coat finish, a steel gate or fence will outlast an aluminum gate or fence. That's why we offer a LIFETIME WARRANTY on the steel frame of our gates.
Our Gates and Fence are Dipped, Not Painted
During the Hot Dip Galvanizing process, the gate or fence is dipped in multiple solutions including the molten zinc that cover the inside and outside of the tubes. This 12-step process prevents the gate from rusting from the inside out. We do not paint on our galvanizing.
Our Gates are Powder Coated
Our gates are not only hot dipped galvanized, but are also finished with a TIGER Drylac Powder Coat. The powder coat is applied with an electrostatic spray gun then melted and chemically cross-linked at substrate temperatures of between 160 and 200°C (320-400°F). The resulting coat finish is smooth and durable, the same as powder coatings used in the automobile, construction and architectural industries. And our powder coatings are environmentally friendly because they are solvent free, unlike liquid coatings, and do not pollute the air, soil or groundwater!
Our Gates are Strong, Easy to Install, Easy to Maintain
Steel is a stronger alternative to aluminum. It is heavier and resists impact. It will not require banging out to fix dents. The weight of the gate can generally be managed by two people. Please see what our customers say about their installation experience -- most of the installations were done by two people without machinery. Also check out our installation videos and watch our gate being installed.
Quality Gates, Quality Gate Openers
A steel gate is managed easily by the selection of openers we offer. Most professional openers feature a soft start and stop and are designed to handle the weight of a gate. If you already own a lesser rated opener that requires a lighter gate, you might want to consider aluminum.
Our gates and fence will not sag under weight or stress. This allows for longer fence panels and thus fewer post holes which means less labor on a fence installation and wider, stronger gate leaves.
When is Aluminum Better?
Shipping costs for aluminum are typically cheaper since the fence or gates will weigh less. So if shipping costs are your primary concern, aluminum may be a better choice. Please be sure to compare all the extras (such as bringing the gate to your site, and not just to the shipping terminal for you to pick up) included in your shipping costs from other gate companies, as these can add up. We don't charge you any more than the shipping company and we get a significant discount for you. In fact, we get the discount, and you pay the shipper. We don't take any cut.
An aluminum gate or fence does fare well in wet conditions for a certain amount of time. If you do choose aluminum be sure that it is protected with a baked on or dipped powder coat finish so your gates or fence do not lose their finish and eventually corrode. Rust-oleum paint is often recommended to maintain the gate's finish -- it is a good idea to do this frequently with Aluminum gates that are not protected by a powder coat finish.
If your primary concern is corrosion resistence, we suggest you use steel with a Hot Dipped Galvanized undercoat and a powder coated finish which will outlast aluminum and paint and look much better.
