Gate Ornament Catalogue Codes Explained: How to Order L-Series Steel Castings in Kenya

Cast steel gate ornaments are the leaves, scrolls, flowers, lion heads and centre pieces that fundis weld onto gates, balconies and staircases. At Antoh Decor every design in our L-Series catalogue has a code, from L1 to L90, printed next to its size. Quoting the code is the fastest way to order the right part, whether you are in our Gikomba shop or sending a WhatsApp message from Mombasa.

How the L-Series catalogue is organised

The catalogue is split into four sheets so it is easy to share on a phone:

Sizes run from about 3 inches for small leaves up to about 22 inches for the largest centre pieces. The size is printed beside each design, so check it against your drawing before you order.

Choosing the right ornament for each part of the gate

• Top of the gate or arch: a large centre piece or a lion head, with matching scrolls either side. Combine with spear heads and balls along the top rail.
• Panel centres: medium medallions, diamonds or flower baskets, one per panel, so the gate looks balanced when closed.
• Corners: small C-scrolls or leaf pairs soften the square corners of a frame.
• Between balusters on balconies and staircases: small leaves and scrolls that fit the gap between bars without crowding them.

A simple rule from experienced fundis: pick one “hero” design and repeat it, then use smaller supporting pieces from the same style. Mixing too many different motifs makes a gate look busy.

How to order by code

1. Ask us for the catalogue on WhatsApp (or pick one up at our Gikomba or Kariobangi branch).
2. Let your client choose. Write down each code and how many pieces of it you need, for example “L12 × 8, L56 × 2, L89 × 1”.
3. Send the list to us. We confirm stock and send your price. Hardware shops get wholesale prices, fundis get trade prices and homeowners get retail prices.
4. Collect from our Nairobi shops or have the order packed and sent anywhere in Kenya.

Welding and finishing tips

The ornaments are supplied in raw steel, so they weld cleanly with ordinary E6013 electrodes. Tack each piece first, step back and check the layout, then weld fully. Grind the welds smooth, remove all rust and grease, and finish with primer and paint, or send the finished gate for powder coating for a longer-lasting finish.

How many ornaments does a gate need? A worked example

Take a typical double swing gate, 12 ft wide and 6 ft high, with three panels in each leaf. A balanced classic design might use:

Count the panels on both leaves and on the pedestrian door before you order. Fundis often forget the pedestrian door and make a second trip.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Ordering by photo only. Two ornaments can look alike in a photo but differ in size. Always quote the code.
• Forgetting mirrored pieces. Scrolls on the left and right of a gate should face each other. Check whether the design needs a left and right version, or can be flipped when welding.
• Too many different designs. Three or four codes on one gate usually look better than ten.
• Not checking the opening sizes. A large centre piece must fit between the top rail and the panel below it. Measure the space on your drawing.
• Leaving ornaments bare. Raw steel starts to rust within days in rainy weather. Prime soon after welding.

Buying for a hardware shop

If you stock gate decorations for resale, start with the fast-moving codes: small leaves and scrolls for grills, medium medallions for gates, and a few popular centre pieces. Ask us which codes fundis in your area buy most, and we will suggest a starter stock list at wholesale prices. We deliver bulk orders to hardware shops in Nairobi and across the counties.

Want to see how the ornaments look on a finished gate? Read our guide to modern gate decoration ideas, or browse all gate, balcony and staircase decorations in the shop.