Mulholland Brand replaces rusting iron gates with custom powder-coated aluminum gates for homes in Anaheim and across Orange County. Aluminum does not rust, so the repaint cycle ends. Each replacement gate is built to your opening in Mulholland's own factory in Canoga Park and installed by its own crew. The company has built gates in Southern California since 1994 and is licensed under CSLB #1061373. It handles driveway gates, side and walk gates, and the motor and access controls if you want the new gate automated.
Why does an iron gate keep rusting after you repaint it?
Paint on iron is a barrier. Once it cracks, water and air reach the metal, and rust starts under the coating where you cannot see it.
That is why a fresh coat often looks fine for a season and then bubbles. The rust was never removed. It was covered. Every weld, hinge point and scratch from a car or a garden tool is a new place for it to start.
Anaheim adds its own pressure, and it is not only a coastal problem. Sprinklers that hit the gate every morning keep the bottom rail wet. Summer sun bakes the paint until it chalks and cracks. Closer to the coast, salt in the air speeds all of this up.
You can keep an iron gate going with a strict routine: sand to bare metal, prime, paint, and repeat. Some owners enjoy that and like the look of iron enough to keep doing it. If you are tired of it, the fix is a metal that does not rust in the first place.
Is aluminum really a better choice than iron?
For most Anaheim homes that are fighting rust, yes. But it helps to know the trade-offs.
What iron does well. It is heavy and feels solid. Hand-forged iron has a traditional look that suits some older homes, and some owners value that.
What aluminum does better. It does not rust or rot. It weighs a fraction of iron at the same span, so hinges and posts carry less load and a gate motor has less to move. With a powder-coat finish it does not need repainting. Mulholland states its powder coat lasts 30+ years in the Southern California sun.
Fire. Aluminum is non-combustible and CAL FIRE tested, which matters on homes that back onto open land.
Aluminum can also carry a traditional look. Picket and spear-top styles read as classic, and a dark powder coat looks close to painted iron from the street. If you would rather have the warmth of timber, woodgrain finishes look like wood with none of the upkeep. Mulholland explains that option in the benefits of wood-like aluminum gates and fencing, and compares the two metals in more depth in how does aluminum compare to iron.
What kind of gate can replace the old one?
Most rusting iron in Anaheim falls into two groups: the driveway gate and the side or walk gate. Mulholland builds both, and they can match.
For the driveway, there are nine-plus design series and eight aluminum styles, in sliding or swing. A sliding gate is often the better fit when the drive slopes up toward the house or the space in front is short. See the full range on the driveway gates page.
For side yards and front walks, pedestrian gates are built in the same series as the driveway gate, so the two look like a set.
If a rusting iron fence runs alongside the gate, it makes sense to look at both together. Mulholland also builds aluminum fencing, from spear-top picket to horizontal slat, and it can be stepped or raked to follow a sloped yard. Replacing the gate alone can leave a new gate next to an old fence that keeps bleeding rust onto the concrete.
A few things are worth deciding up front:
- Swing or slide. Your driveway grade and the space beside the opening usually decide this.
- Style. Classic picket, horizontal slat, modern frameless, or a laser-cut custom pattern.
- Finish. A solid colour or a woodgrain powder coat.
- Automation. Whether to motorize it now, and which access controls you want.
If you live in a community with an HOA, the powder coat can be matched to an approved association colour. That is worth checking before you pick a finish.
Can the new gate be automatic?
Yes. Many owners use a replacement as the moment to add a motor.
Mulholland motorizes the gates it builds. That covers the opener, safety sensors and exit loops that open the gate as you drive out. Access options include keypads, smart locks, fingerprint locks and car-integrated openers. Gates can also be prepared for an intercom.
If your old iron gate already had a motor, the lighter aluminum gate is easier on the operator. That is worth raising at the consultation.
How does the replacement work?
Mulholland runs every project the same way.
- In-home consultation. Someone comes to your Anaheim home to look at the gate and the site. No showroom visit needed.
- Measurement. The opening, the grade and the exact dimensions are measured on site.
- Written quote. You get a clear, itemized price in writing.
- Fabrication. The new gate is built to spec in the Canoga Park factory. It is not a stock size cut down to fit.
- Installation. Mulholland's own W-2 crew installs the new gate and walks you through it.
Financing is available if you ask at the consultation. You can read more about how Mulholland works locally on the Orange County service area page.
What should you ask a company before you replace your gate?
A few questions separate a good replacement from another short-lived one.
Is the new gate fabricated in-house? A company that builds its own gates controls the welds and the finish. A company that resells panels depends on someone else's quality.
What is the finish? Ask whether the gate is powder-coated and what the company says about how long it lasts in sun and moisture.
Who installs it? Employees or subcontractors? With an in-house crew, the installer and the builder are the same company.
Is the quote itemized? You should see the gate, any motor and access controls, and installation as separate lines.
Are you licensed? Look up the license with the Contractors State License Board. Mulholland's number is CSLB #1061373.
FAQ
Will an aluminum gate rust like my iron one did?
No. Aluminum does not rust. With a powder-coat finish it also does not need repainting.
Can an aluminum gate look like the old iron gate?
It can come close. Classic picket and spear-top styles in a dark powder coat look traditional from the street, and custom laser-cut panels can add detail.
Does Mulholland repair iron gates?
No. Mulholland replaces them with new aluminum gates. Its repair and service work is only for gates it has installed.
Can I replace the side gate at the same time?
Yes. Walk gates are built in the same design series as the driveway gate, so they match.
If your iron gate in Anaheim is rusting through again, Mulholland Brand can measure it and quote an aluminum replacement in writing. Book a consultation or call (800) 562-5770.
