Ironworks, Wrought iron buyers guide
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buyers guide to wrought iron work.Every one wants the best value for money, in terms of price and quality of workmanship. How do you truly make sure that is what you are going to get? The most obvious answer is to get multiple quotes from different companies, i would suggest between 3 - 5 quotes should be enough. If you found us on the internet it shouldn't be difficult to find a few more blacksmiths. Getting quotes.The easiest solution is to compose an email and mail it out to several wrought iron workers, the same email sent to different companies. Include in the email photographs if possible where the item is to be situated (very relevant for railings and balconies), and size measurements. Don't worry for purposes of quotations, sizes don't have to be perfect. 2mtrs of railings at the top of some steps and about 1.5mtrs going down the steps, is more than good enough. It doesn't matter if the correct size is 2.05mtrs on the landing and 1.46mtrs down the steps. If you have a design in mind include pictures of that. If not just give brief description of what you require. A few details like this should be good enough for anyone to quote against. Worst case is if you don't supply enough details, the blacksmith will email you back asking for more information. Never mind the quality feel the width.This is where it gets interesting, what seems cheap may not be cheap and what seems expensive may not be so expensive. After a few days or so, you should get quotes back from the different companies you have sent emails to. Compare the prices each company sent to you. check to see if they have specified the thickness of material they are going to use. If one company quotes for a plain set of railings / handrail of 2mtrs on a landing and 1.5mtrs going down steps a price of £400, using 40mm convex bar (D shaped bar often use on handrails and stairs) 40mm x 6mm for the bottom bar and 12mm round for the upright bars. The other quotes £430 but is using 40mm convex bar, 40mm x10mm for the bottom bar and 16mm square for the uprights. The later quote is better value, now this might not be helpful if you have a budget of £400 for the railings. if you were to email the second company back that quoted £430 and asked them how much would it be if you used 40mm convex bar, 12mm round upright bars and 40mm x 6mm bottom bar, you may find they come back with a price of £380. That's £20 under budget and £20 you can save. Paint finish.Compare the finish they are all offering, some may be finished in primer only, some may be top coated. Primer is cheap and easy to paint, having something top coated is far more expensive. It also requires more skill in getting a good finish. Good quality top coat paint isn't cheap. primer can be bought for as little as £15 for 5ltrs, where as good quality top coat paint is likely to be at least £50 for 5ltrs. So make sure all companies are offering the same, if they haven't specified the finish the work is supplied it, get it confirmed. Some companies may offer powder coating as an alternative to painting. Having something supplied primed only is a good way of making the budget go a little further, as long as you don't mind painting it yourself. Quality of workmanship.Probably the best way to gauge quality of workmanship, is to visit the company that provides the best quote. Look at work they have in progress. This will tell you far more about there quality of workmanship, than anything else. Display items don't tell all, the reason being, its easy to spend more time on a display item and make it near perfect. To be honest i believe there are to many rogues in the metal working industry. Its not something that you can set up easy, as it requires premises and vast investment in tooling. Not something you can normally set up over night and disappear after a few unhappy customers, like some mobile professions. Never the less it always pays to be careful.
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