"Wrought iron" today usually means steel or aluminum
Most fences sold as wrought iron are actually welded steel or aluminum. Steel is stronger and heavier but rusts if the coating chips. Aluminum doesn't rust, weighs less and costs less to install, but it's not as strong. Both are usually powder-coated black.
A natural fit for front yards
Inside New Braunfels city limits, a solid front-yard fence can only be 36 inches tall. A fence that's at least 50 percent open can go to 4½ feet. Ornamental pickets are well over half open, so iron and aluminum fences are the usual choice for front yards. See the rules.
Pool fences
Pool barrier fences require a building permit in New Braunfels, and pool fences and gates have to meet barrier rules such as self-closing, self-latching gates and limits on gaps. Ornamental fences are often used for pools because they stay see-through. Confirm requirements with the city before you buy.
What iron fencing costs
HomeGuide lists wrought iron at $50 to $85 per linear foot installed: plain black $50 to $60, galvanized $60 to $65, and ornamental $65 to $85. Stone or masonry columns and automatic driveway gates add to that. At $50 to $85 a foot, an 80-foot front-yard run comes to about $4,000 to $6,800.
Care
Touch up chips and scratches in the coating before rust spreads, especially at the bottom rail where sprinklers hit. Check gate hinges and latches once or twice a year.
Common questions
How tall can an iron fence be in my front yard?
Inside New Braunfels city limits, a front-yard fence that's at least 50 percent open can be up to 4½ feet tall. A solid fence is limited to 36 inches. HOAs may be stricter.
Aluminum or steel?
Aluminum won't rust and costs less. Steel is stronger, which matters for security, livestock and large gates. Your contractor can show you both.