What to expect
| Typical duration | Railings 2–4 weeks including fabrication · structural steel by design |
|---|---|
| Cost band | Figures live in the cost index |
| Permit required | Structural steel yes · appearance controlled in settlements |
| Seasonal constraint | Year-round · coating work needs dry conditions |
Choosing the material for the position
The right answer is different on an inland courtyard gate and on a caldera-facing handrail, and treating them the same is why so much metalwork here fails.
| Position | Reasonable specification | What goes wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Inland, sheltered, away from spray | Galvanised and painted mild steel | Coating damage at fixings and cut ends |
| Coastal or caldera-facing, in spray | A316 stainless, or aluminium | A304 stainless pits; painted steel stains the wall |
| Structural steel, enclosed | Painted to a suitable system | Condensation at unventilated junctions |
| Fixings anywhere near spray | A316 stainless, always | Galvanised or A304 fixings bleed rust down the face |
| Traditional ironwork in a settlement | Match the original, with the best coating that appearance allows | Modern powder coat can look wrong; accept maintenance instead |
Galvanising, and how it gets ruined
Hot-dip galvanising is effective, and it is routinely compromised on site. Cutting, drilling or welding after galvanising exposes bare steel at exactly the point where water collects, and touching it up with paint is not equivalent.
So fabrication is completed before galvanising, holes included. Where site modification is unavoidable, the exposed area gets a proper cold-galvanising treatment rather than a coat of whatever is on the van. On components going into spray, we would rather move to stainless than rely on a repaired coating.
Traditional ironwork
The island's traditional balconies, window grilles, gates and handrails are part of what the settlement rules protect. Replacing them with a modern stainless equivalent is frequently not permitted and usually looks wrong.
The realistic approach on traditional ironwork is repair and maintain: cut out and replace corroded sections in matching profile, treat and recoat, and accept a maintenance cycle. It is more work than replacement and it keeps the building looking like itself.
What we fabricate and install
- Railings, handrails and balustrades, coordinated with glass where combined.
- Gates, grilles and security grilles, including matching traditional profiles.
- Structural steel — beams, posts, and support to openings formed in existing walls.
- Pergola frames and shade structures, wind-rated and fixed into structure.
- Pool ladders, rails and fixings in A316.
- Staircases and external steps.
- Repair and recoating of existing metalwork, including cutting out corroded sections.
- Brackets and supports for air conditioning, solar and services, which are frequently the worst-specified metal on a building.
Questions people actually ask
Why is there a rust stain running down my white wall?
A steel or low-grade stainless fixing above it. The component itself may be fine — it is usually the bolt, bracket or screw. Replacing the fixing stops the stain; cleaning the wall without replacing it does not.
Is stainless steel always the answer?
No. It is more expensive, and in a sheltered inland position galvanised and painted steel is perfectly reasonable. In spray, A316 stainless is worth it. A304 stainless in a marine-adjacent position is the false economy in the middle.
Can you repair my traditional balcony railing?
Yes, and in a designated settlement repair is usually preferable to replacement for approval reasons as well as appearance. Corroded sections are cut out and replaced in matching profile.
Can you make brackets for my air conditioning units?
Yes, and it is worth doing properly. Standard supplied brackets are frequently the first thing to corrode on an installation, and they are carrying a heavy unit on a wall.
How long does painted metalwork last outside here?
It depends entirely on exposure and on whether the coating gets damaged at fixings and cut ends. Rather than a figure, plan on inspection and touch-up as a maintenance item — that is what determines the real life.