Metalwork
Architectural metalwork covers railings, gates and balconies, structural ironwork, brackets, finials, cresting, weathervanes and the innumerable smaller fittings that give a building its detail. Wrought iron and cast iron behave differently and fail differently: wrought iron corrodes and delaminates along its fibrous grain, while cast iron is brittle and cracks. Both suffer from rust jacking, where corrosion expands within a joint or a lead-caulked socket and splits the stone around it. The firms here forge, cast, repair and reinstate, and several work from surviving originals or photographs.
What this category covers
- Wrought and cast iron railings, gates, balconies and balustrades
- Pattern-making and casting to match existing components
- Repair of structural ironwork, brackets, cresting and finials
- Rust jacking repair and re-leading of ironwork into stone
- Protective coatings, galvanising and traditional paint systems
Bespoke Blacksmiths
Bespoke Blacksmiths (Ironwork of Distinction Limited) is led by master blacksmith Ken ...
British Artist Blacksmiths Association
The British Artist Blacksmiths Association (BABA) promotes artist blacksmithing in Britain and ...
Calibre Metalwork Limited
ARCHITECTURAL METALWORK: Calibre Metalwork delivers conservation and restoration works to the highest ...
Maiwald & Mosse ltd
METALWORK: Maiwald & Mosse ltd specialises in the conservation, restoration, repair, and ...
Marsh Bros Engineering Services Ltd
Marsh Bros Engineering Services is a Derbyshire firm specialising in decorative and ...
Repairing historic ironwork
Establish what the metal is. Wrought iron, cast iron and mild steel look similar under paint but need different repair techniques, and welding cast iron without the correct procedure cracks it. A specialist will identify the material before quoting.
Deal with rust jacking properly. Where iron is set into stone, expanding corrosion splits the stone and the damage continues until the iron is removed, cleaned and reset. Cutting off flush and filling the hole is a temporary measure that traps the problem.
Copy from the original, not from a catalogue. Where components are missing, a pattern taken from a surviving example on the same building produces a true match. Photographs, neighbouring properties and early drawings all help where nothing survives.
Get the paint system right. Iron fails at the coating, not the metal, and the finish decides how long a repair lasts. Thorough preparation matters more than the product, and linseed oil systems and traditional coatings are often specified on historic ironwork for their flexibility and ease of maintenance.
Questions to ask
Why is the stone cracking around my railings?
Almost certainly rust jacking. Iron set into stone corrodes, expands to several times its original volume and splits the stone. The repair involves removing the iron, cleaning it back to sound metal, protecting it and resetting it, usually in lead or a lime-based mortar.
Can broken cast iron be repaired?
Yes. Depending on the component, options include bronze welding, cold metal stitching or casting a replacement from a pattern taken off the original. Standard arc welding of cast iron generally causes further cracking and is best avoided.
Do I need consent to replace missing railings?
On a listed building, and often in a conservation area, yes. Reinstating railings lost to wartime salvage or later removal is usually welcomed, and applications are strengthened by evidence of the original pattern from photographs, surviving sections or neighbouring properties.
All 7 businesses listed under Metalwork
- Barr & Grosvenor Ltd West Midlands
- Bespoke Blacksmiths Dorset
- British Artist Blacksmiths Association Lincolnshire
- Calibre Metalwork Limited Stockport
- Countryside Gates Suffolk
- Maiwald & Mosse ltd Gloucestershire
- Marsh Bros Engineering Services Ltd Derbyshire
Directory information is provided to help visitors identify potentially relevant specialists and suppliers. Inclusion does not constitute a recommendation, approval or guarantee by Tuscan Foundry Products. Please check current services, credentials, availability and suitability directly with each business.