For a long time, steel fencing meant chain-link or a spiky ornamental fence. That's changed. Powder-coated steel rail fences and custom welded metal now show up on modern farmhouses, ranch properties and new builds all along the Front Range. Here's why, and what to know before you choose it.
What is Buckley-style fencing?
Buckley-style steel fencing uses horizontal steel rails on steel posts, usually powder-coated black. It has the clean look of a horse-board fence without the boards that crack, cup and fall off. It works for pastures and acreage, driveways and front yards, and anywhere you want to mark a line without blocking the view.
Why homeowners are switching to steel
- It doesn't warp, rot or split. Colorado's sun and dry air are hard on wood rails. Steel holds its shape year after year.
- Powder coating fights rust. A baked-on powder coat finish protects the steel. Touch up nicks and scratches when you see them, and it keeps looking sharp.
- Pests can't damage it. No carpenter ants, woodpeckers or horses chewing the rails.
- It won't burn. Wildfire experts, including the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, recommend noncombustible fencing within 5 feet of a home whenever possible, because a wood fence attached to a house can carry fire right to it. Steel fencing, or at least a steel section where the fence meets the house, is a smart choice in the foothills and in grassland neighborhoods.
- Almost no upkeep. No staining or sealing. A rinse now and then is plenty.
Mixing steel with wood and stone
Steel doesn't have to look industrial. It looks great alongside other materials:
- Stone or stacked-stone pillars at corners and entries, with black steel rails between them.
- Timber entry arches over a driveway, paired with steel rail fencing on either side.
- Custom steel gates. A welded steel gate won't sag the way an all-wood gate can. See how to keep gates from sagging.
Custom welding
Not every opening fits a standard panel. Tyler, our foreman, is a certified welder, so we can build custom gates, frames, brackets and railings to fit your property instead of forcing a kit to work.
What does steel cost?
Steel usually costs more up front than wood, but you skip the staining, board replacement and repairs that wood needs over its life. We'll price wood and steel side by side at your free estimate so you can compare. Get a ballpark first with our fence cost calculator.