Buyers associate wrought iron with luxury and chain link with utility, according to Mark Nash, author of Real Estate A-Z for Buying and Selling a Home.

Ken Helfer, marketing director for Amazing Gates, which produces wrought iron fences and gates, says his product is stealing market share from chain link because it's much more esthetic.

"Back in 1974, when I started in the business, it was all chain link," says Helfer. Today, both wrought iron and wrought aluminum businesses are growing fast, but iron has a more luxurious look and better durability than aluminum.

Iron comes in many designs and Amazing Gates sells its product for about $20 to $30 a running foot for a six-foot tall section.