ORNAMENTAL AND ARCHITECTURAL METALWORK
Some examples
- Period features cleaning, paint removal, conservation.
- Historical or ornamental gates and railings: paint removal, repainting and conservation.
- Historical building fixtures and fittings; cleaning and maintenance.
- Architectural metalwork, maintenance, conservation and restoration
- Gilding
- Historical documentation and record keeping.
- Re-pointing and other work on associated stone features.
Due to our great industrial past many of our buildings and parks have interesting cast iron features that still exist in the form of gates, railings, stair cases and other detail that imbue buildings with a distinctive character and quality synonymous with historical periods. Many buildings have wrought iron gates and door hinges which have the individual character of the blacksmiths forge. These buildings may also have brass and bronze fittings such as doorknockers and other novelty metalwork, which has survived the changing trends through time.
The modern trend is to paint ironwork black but thorough inspection can reveal the original colour and coating system, which may even have incorporated gilding. This is not only historically interesting but may be useful to the custodian, owner or local council upon deciding a colour scheme following restoration. They may decide to adopt the original colouring scheme as part of a more generalised restoration program. An example where this may be appropriate would be in the case of historic park gates.
