Service 04 of 05

Ornamental Steel & Aluminum Fencing

When a site needs a hard perimeter but the fence is going to be seen — office campuses, multifamily, civic buildings, retail centers — ornamental steel gives you security that survives design review.

Get a free on-site estimate (510) 824-4654

Grade III and IV only — no residential picket on commercial sites
Shop drawings for design review and architect submittals
Panels raked to follow grade where the site allows
Manufacturer finish warranties registered in your name

01What it is

Security that passes design review.

Ornamental fencing is a welded picket system: vertical pickets fastened to horizontal rails, with posts at 6 to 8 ft on center. The industry grades it I through IV under ASTM F2408, by picket size, rail thickness and wall gauge. Residential Grade I has no place on a commercial property line — we quote Grade III and IV.

Steel is the stronger material and takes impact better; aluminum never rusts and makes sense within a mile or two of the Bay, where salt air is a real factor. Both get an electrostatic powder-coat over a galvanized or pretreated substrate. Black is the default in every Bay Area design guideline we work under.

Picket spacing decides whether a fence is decorative or defensive. Standard 4-inch spacing meets pool and playground code. Tightening to 3 inches with a flush bottom rail removes the toe-hold and hand-hold that make a picket fence climbable — what we recommend on any perimeter that has to hold overnight.

Modern steel picket fence against a brick wall

02Where it gets specified

Who buys ornamental steel, and why.

01
Office and R&D campuses
Perimeter and courtyard fencing that reads as architecture from the street while still controlling after-hours access.
02
Multifamily and HOA properties
Pool enclosures to self-closing, self-latching code, plus street frontage property managers do not have to repaint.
03
Retail centers and medical office
Trash enclosure gates, loading area screening and pedestrian control that matches the center standard.
04
Municipal and institutional
Libraries, transit facilities, schools and civic buildings where the fence spec is in the approved plan set.
05
Anti-climb security perimeters
Grade IV steel at 8 ft with 3 in. spacing and spear tops for utility yards and data centers.
06
Pool and amenity enclosures
Pool, playground and rooftop amenity enclosures with code-compliant spacing and self-closing gates.

03How the job runs

How a ornamental steel job runs.

Five steps, one straight line. Weather, permits and material lead times move the durations — we tell you which apply to yours.

01In progress
On-site estimate
Booked on the call
Grade, sight-lines and any design guideline or plan-set spec reviewed on site.
02
Submittals
2–4 business days
Shop drawings and finish samples for design review or architect approval.
03
Fabrication
2–8 weeks
Stock profiles run short. Custom color, height or raking to grade adds time.
04
Installation
2–5 days per 300 ft
Posts set and cured first, panels hung after — racked or stepped to grade.
05
Closeout
1 day
Touch-up, gate adjustment, and finish warranty documents handed over.

04Materials & specs

What we carry as standard.

Anything outside this list is available — it changes the lead time, and we will tell you by how much.

Straight answer

Not sure this is the right system for your site? Call and describe it. We will tell you when a cheaper scope does the job.

(510) 824-4654

Spec sheet · Ornamental SteelStandard stock

Heights: 3 to 8 ft; taller by engineering
Grades: ASTM F2408 Grade III (light commercial) and Grade IV (industrial/security)
Materials: Galvanized steel or 6063-T6 aluminum
Finish: Polyester powder-coat, black standard; bronze, dark green or custom RAL
Picket spacing: 4 in. clear standard (code-compliant); 3 in. anti-climb option
Tops: Flush, extended picket, spear, quad-flare or press-point
Lead time: Stock black steel 1–2 weeks; custom color or height 4–8 weeks