Wrought Iron and Aluminum Fences in Tyler, TX

Steel or aluminum

Almost no new fence is true wrought iron. What is sold under that name is tubular steel, welded into panels and powder-coated, usually in black. Steel is heavier and stiffer, which suits long front runs, tall estate fences and gates that take a lot of use. Where a mower or trimmer chips the coating, bare steel can rust. Aluminum is lighter, can't rust, and shrugs off sprinkler overspray and pool splash, so it is the usual pick beside water. It dents more easily than steel.

Sloped yards and rackable panels

East Texas lots are rarely flat. A fixed panel on a slope has to be stepped, each panel set level and a little lower than the last, which leaves triangular gaps under the high end. Rackable panels have pickets that pivot at the rails, so the whole panel leans to follow the grade while the pickets stay vertical. That keeps the bottom gap even, which matters for pets and for pool barriers.

Pool barriers beyond the height rule

Tyler's pool rule covers any pool holding more than 18 inches of water. The 4-inch limit on openings applies everywhere on the barrier, including between pickets, under the bottom rail on uneven ground, and at the gap beside a gate post. The city also requires a barrier that is not easily climbed from outside, so pool panels keep the horizontal rails on the pool side where they can't be used as a ladder. Where a wall of the house is part of the enclosure, the doors that open toward the pool need the same self-closing, self-latching hardware as the gate. Outside single-family zones, such as a pool at an apartment complex, Tyler requires a 6-foot barrier instead of 4.

Front yards and historic streets

Because Tyler caps front-yard fences at 4 feet and requires them to be at least 50% open, ornamental metal is the natural fit for a front yard in Tyler. Brick or stone columns are allowed, but a masonry footing under the fence can rise no more than 24 inches above grade. If the house is a Tyler historic landmark or sits in one of the Heritage Neighborhood overlays in Azalea, Brick Streets or Charnwood, exterior changes, fences included, go through the city's Certificate of Appropriateness process, which we confirm with the city first.

Lake lots at Hide-A-Way

At Hide-A-Way Lake, the club's building code limits approved lakefront fences to decorative wrought iron no more than six feet high and at least 80 percent open, and it prohibits chain link, vinyl and wood there. Every fence goes through the club's permit and committee review first. For matching entries, see our gate building and openers, and for a budget run along the back of the lot, black chain link pairs well with iron in front.

What sets the timeline? The length and height, steel or aluminum, the number of gates, and whether it has to meet pool barrier rules.

Frequently asked questions