The great thing about wood is that it is easy to modify, and the end consumer can build gates from scratch if so desired. The disadvantage is that not all the parts are attached when the product is purchased, and a swinging door needs hinges. The great thing about wood is that it supports many different styles of hinges, and steel gate hinges can be browsed and selected from an online store with more options than you can shake a stick at.
Steel itself is a versatile material. It is stronger than iron, which itself is strong enough to support most wood lawn gates. The strength of iron depends on either its carbon content or the addition of stiffening substances such as chromium. Mild steel is the most common because it is inexpensive and still soft enough to endure deformation without creating a pressure splintering hazard.
Mild steel can also be printed into many shapes. Patterns might create an organic or wrought texture. Plate metal can be shaped and cut simultaneously by a press and then curled by the same assembly line in order to hold a bolt. Steel hinges made like this are inexpensive. They are prone to rust if they are left bare to the elements, so they are usually coated.
The most common alternative is stainless steel. This looks like modern metal because it largely resists rusting and corrosion. It can be exposed to rain and snow and it will not rust or crack. They are great for wooden gates because they last for so long and need very little maintenance. It is more likely that the wood holding the screw will rot before a stainless steel hinge needs replacing.
The biggest alternatives are aluminum and brass, although these are scarcely used with wood gates. Aluminum is cheaper than steel but is generally not as strong. It resists weathering reasonably well, although it inevitably forms dingy rust on the surface. This is unattractive over time, and cast aluminum tend to fracture rather than warp when subject to heavy pressure. Steel is preferred over aluminum for gate hinges because of its strength.
Depending on the needs of the owner, steel gate hinges can be very strong and secure. Big hinges exist that cover nearly half the width of a gate door and have very thick and secure bolts. These are stronger than what is necessary to hold the gate, but can hold the weight of a heavy person leaning on the gate. Strong hinges cannot be kicked through and act as a security feature.
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