How to touch up your Wrought Iron Railing (stop rust before it takes over!)

The elements such as rain, wind, and snow can be rough to wrought iron products. Even if we powder coat the items, they are not 100% safe, specifically near a coast where salt water is the biggest killer. If you are like most, Galvanizing sounds nice but way too expensive! Below is the process that we use when we punch out units, turn them over, or go back to retouch when it's in warranty.

Small/Medium Rusts Spots

When this happens, we have to attach the problem ASAP. Rust spreads and doesn't stop. 

First: Clean the railing thoroughly. 

Dust buildups in the crevices of the balcony practically invite rust, as water settles in the crevices as well, they both act as a rust heaven. I would use soap and water, if you feel the need you can put a de-greaser as well. 

Second: sand the rust lightly. This step depends on the gravity of the rust. If there is significant damage, this step should not be left out. If the spots are really deep and hard to get, you might want to invest in a wire brush such as this: 

available at www.homedepot.com

Third: Prime the spots with a Rustoleum primer. Try to get a prime that resembles the balconies color, it just makes it easier when actually painting. 

Found at www.homedepot.com

Fourth: Wait until the primer dries and apply the final paint.

Hopefully you are able to find a matching spray can to paint over. We love Rustoleum products, they are specifically for rust and touch ups. If the color just doesn't work, the next step is to get it matched at your local paint shop. 

found at www.homedepot.com

Side Note: Ordering the paint can be daunting. Bring a little sample of the paint, maybe scrape off a bit of paint from the rail. Make sure you explain that it is for metal, and if you know that the railing was powder coated, make sure to include that.

Painting a rail with paint that is close but not 100% there is a bit difficult. I've learned to thin the paint with a little bit of water and use a paint brush. Apply to the area, make sure its covered. After diffuse the paint with the brush so it slowly blends in. 

You should have now a new and improved iron product. Please don't hesitate to call us if you have any questions about the processes and if you need some product info. 

Lastly, if the railing has significant rust all over, that's another process, we recommend sand blasting and completely re-powder coating. That info will be in another post.

Good Luck!

Decorative Iron 

www.deciron.com

http://www.deciron.com/balconies-s/1817.htm

New Project MIRBEAU INN & SPA AT PINEHILLS

Wow! what a great half year so far, so much improvement and new projects!  

We're currently working on another great Project, which opened June 29

MIRBEAU INN & SPA AT THE PINEHILLS AN INSPIRING NEW ENGLAND GETAWAY.

We are really grateful that Mirabeau has chosen us as their Ornamental Railing and Ornamental Columns fabricator

Mirabeau choose a spectacular design the Ornamental Portuguese.

Custom Ornamental Portuguese Wrought Iron is an elegant statement of great taste.  Each decorative wrought iron rail and balcony is handcrafted to your desired look and then finished with three coats of paint to make an individual design statement for your property.  Our skilled craftsmen can design and shape handrails, columns, balconies and any wrought iron product to fit your exact needs.

THE MIRBEAU INN & SPA PROCESS

Fabrication

                                      

Priming

Crated For Shipment

Painting

Construction

                                                                                    

Breaking Ground

                                  

Main Entrance The Opening June 29 2014

                           Cocktails and Appetizers’ on the curved Terrace overlooking Ornamental Columns and Railing from

                                                                Decorative Iron of NC, INC

           

With over 10 years experience, delivering Nationwide, Decorative Iron of NC, INC produces a complete range of stairs, railings/balustrades/handrails, accessories etc. Products that could be customized according to the client’s likes and requirements.

We offer special pricing for qualified builders in all our lines.

FAX OR EMAIL YOUR BUILDER'S LICENSE TO QUALIFY FOR DISCOUNTS

FAST ESTIMATING

Get a quote within 3 business days and sometimes on the spot.

We bid larger projects for multifamily dwellings across the nation. 

How to Install your Wrought Iron railings from Deciron

How to Install your Wrought Iron railings from Deciron

Ordering your wrought iron products online saves you a lot of money. Here are the instructions you need to be able to efficiently install your wrought iron railings from www.deciron.com

Thank you for buying your railings from us, http://www.deciron.com. We made sure they were welded properly and powdered properly, so that they would last you for life, now we want to make sure you know how to mount them. We are in a life saving business, but we are not saving anyone if your railings are not safely installed. Once you have received your railings from us it is important to follow the right installation procedures, to ensure that your railing is safe.

LOAD REQUIREMENTS

The International building code requires that a guardrail withstands a minimum of 200 lb, applied tangentially to the top rail. This means that a person or a few persons leaning against the rail could eventually apply a tangential force equal to 200 lb and the railing should be able to resist. There are several factors involved on this. However, the only factor that virtually does not count is the type of railing, because, for the most parts railings are building following common practices, and they are usually just ok. The main factor for code compliance is the quality of the installation. If one does not attach the railing properly, even if the railing is made of thick solid steel, it will not pass the 200 lb test. It does not make sense to build an iron railing that will probably need a force equal to 1000 lb  just to slightly bend it and then leave it lose against the wall! But this is what happens most of the cases when a railing has failed.

TYPE OF WALLS AND THE PROPER ANCHORS FOR EACH OF THEM

There are several types of “walls” where railings are usually attached to.

EXTERIOR BRICK WALL
Normally this type of wall has regular wood framing behind, and the brick is just attached against it. If you want to be over cautious, you may drill through the brick with a masonry bit, up until you reach the wood behind, and then pre-drilled the wood to drive a long enough 3/8 inch lag bolt into it. However by experience it is possible to use expansion bolts, 3/8 by 1 7/8 and install them into the brick and still have a strong enough grip. If the brick is lose or cracked, you may have problems. Also if you open the hole too much, the expansion might be lose or loosen up with time. Another possibility is to use concrete tap cons, which is a blue screw that is very strong. I would prefer the expansion sleeve anchors over tap cons. However, properly installed, tap cons are just fine on brick. Just be careful not to overdo while driving in the tap con, just go easy. If the brick is not dense enough, tap cons might not work. So just make sure you have a healthy solid brick to work with. If not you will end up going back to plan A. Do not use any type of anchors that would require impact, for it might break the brick, causing a greater problem.

WOOD FRAMING
Outside wood framing always has 1/2 inch OSB plywood behind the siding. However you do not want to attach your railings to the plywood only, but to the real wood framing behind. You might get away installing the rails to the plywood only, but for sure, if the railings are high traffic, they will fail. If the building inspector catches that, you will fail inspection.

But not all the time, sometimes you could leave, in good conscience, the rail with a weak joint (not lose) on the top, if you there is a post near to the wall and its four floor anchors are well attached. Actually a good post attachment would waive the necessity of an upper anchor, your railing could be left free standing, and still pass the load test.

As an installer you have the right to request that the proper wood backing is installed on the walls. Inside framing, on the other hand, is covered with drywall.  A drywall anchor will not take the load, even less than the OSB. So, don’t install your railings on drywall.

However there is two exceptions to this rule: the first is the one we already mentioned, and the second is that if the railing is a wall mounted railing only, and let say you have 4 brackets, and one is on drywall, it is going to be probably ok if the bracket is not at one of the ends.

Concrete walls and floors
The recommended anchor for this cases is always a sleeve anchor, 3/8 x 1 7/8. Sometimes it may require a 3/8 x 1 ½ or even more it is a long standalone railing. Tap cons are also ok in short runs. When there is greater danger and appearance is secondary, the best way to go is to core drill the concrete and then embed the legs with hydraulic cement. Of course if you could have the railings ready before you cast the concrete and cast them along, that would be the ideal situation.

Railings joinery
Sometime’s the railings need to be split and then joined at installation. The best joint is the welded one. You bring your welder, grind the spot, welded up and then touch up paint. However, if you paid for an expensive powder coating finish, you don’t really want to weld on it, unless it is completely necessary. Bolting is a second option, which requires a nut on the other side. It is good but too conspicuous. Especially if one does not grind off the excess tread and leaves the bolts un painted. If this is your case make sure the nuts are tight enough and then seal it around with clear silicone to avoid moisture penetration. Self tapping screws with a neoprene washer are the best option. Screws are not so visible and provide a very strong joint, which is also waterproof. Way to go! 

When installing the self tapping screws go slow with the drill, making sure it is NOT in hammer mode. If you go too fast it might kick you back and cause an injury. So be careful. Remember that at slow speed the drill has more torque, so you are not doing much more by speeding up too much. One thing to remember is that it is better if you clamp the two pieces together before drilling, and that this is the last step. Make sure everything is lined up and attached, and then install the joint screws.

INSTALLING ON CERAMIC TILE OR SLATE
Here the problem is that ceramic tile or slate break easily, especially if there is a hollow spot. First of all, make sure you tell the owner of the house or your wife that this might happen; it will keep you out of trouble. Then, always try with a thin ¼ inch bit and then go with the 3/8 or ½ inch one, and make sure you use long enough screws to reach the wood or the concrete underneath.

GLUE DOWN YOUR RAILING
Sometimes there are worries about damaging the waterproofing of the deck, if that is the case and face mounting is not possible, for short spans, when there is a solid attachment of the top railing, it is possible to glue down the intermediate legs and even the posts. Use 1099 glue by 3M, which is much better than regular contact cement.

FACE MOUNTING YOUR RAILINGS
If for any reason you decide to face mount your railings, just remember that there is a lot of momentum on this type of mount, therefore the minimum spacing between bolts vertically should be 3 inches. Both screws need to be strongly attached, with a minimum of 2 ½ inches of real wood penetration, therefore there should be 2 boards on the mounting face. Therefore use 3/8 by 3 wood lags. If you don’t have 2 boards, you need to have 4 screws per leg. The best way and safer way would be passing through bolts with washers, if you have access to the back of the face. Use 3/8 of an inch bolts.

If you are face mounting on concrete you need a 3 bolts with a separation of 3 inches in between, and you need to use 3/8 x 3 sleeve anchors. If the slab is not thick enough, then doesn’t face mount, unless you are allowed to have kickers every 6 ft minimum. I think I have covered all the possible scenarios; so, the only thing left is to say: Happy railings installation!

Pedro L Sanchez - (owner)
Decorative Iron of NC INC.
http://www.deciron.com

Mediterranean Mansion Balconies & Railing

Mediterranean = Middle Land or Middle Earth.

Balconies are a common feature in Mediterranean architecture. Balconies are A typical, essential component of residential buildings in Greece, featured In almost any apartment or home.

Deciron provides an extent of information of "wrought iron" typically used to make railings and balconies. Our experience provides our customers with a wide or great range of knowledge such as: ideas, 

measurements, drafting, and manufacturing.

Traditional balconies certainly go a long way in defining the character of the Mediterranean landscape. Through their abundance of materials, textures and decorative platforms, they enrich the visual aspect of many homes.

When touched by the strong sun light, typical of the Mediterranean, the balconies cast deep shadows creating a dynamic effect, like in hanging gardens.

Or perhaps Mediterranean balconies surrounded with decorative stone, making many homes become alive with beasts such as lions and horses, angelic figures.

Wrought iron furniture has a long history, dating back to Roman times. The word "wrought" is an archaic past participle form of the verb "to work," and so "wrought iron" literally means "worked iron".

Wrought Iron is used more typically for finished iron goods, and manufactured by welders.

Wrought Iron Balconies and railings are custom built to your specifications.

Our designs range from basic to the most detailed and intricate. We can custom design a balcony to meet your structural specifications.

We can work with you or your designers to fabricate a style that suits your residential home or estate.

Style your custom made balcony/railing by a maker “expert in balcony design”. Custom-made Mediterranean balcony/railings options are not your average balcony’s, unlike others you may have seen before, these balcony’s, intended show a fresh interpretation of Mediterranean style, that come to life when you combine your ideas the maker’s talent with your personal Mediterranean balcony vision.

Though it seems too good to be true, all it takes is click on a Mediterranean balcony, message us and discuss your very own Mediterranean balcony!

In my opinion Mediterranean balconies give a spectacular look most home settings.

Our website is www.deciron.com  Contact us at 1-877-803-2282 Free estimates.

We ship nationwide and in orders more than 3,000 shipping is free. 

Wrought Iron Balcony Design

Hello friends. I would like to share with you guys a balcony that our customers like a lot, its the Light Iron Dove. Its a vintage design and gives a touch of elegance to any terrace or french door, and in general to the exterior of a house or apartment.

Here is a photo of the balcony already installed for you to decide if you guys like this balcony or any other of the bunch we have available, along with other iron products.

We ship nationwide, always with the warranty of high quality product, for we are experts in what we do and at the best price in the market.

Visit us at our website:

www.deciron.com

or Call now 704-921-0018

Email us now

deciron@deciron.com

Picture Day at Deciron

Hi guys!

Most of our clients are not from Charlotte, NC and have just talked to us on the phone. If you have ever wondered how we look like, you are in luck! Today was picture day at Deciron. Here you can put a face to the name :)

Josh - Warehouse/Shipping Manager

Don - Customer Sales Rep.

Daniel - Computer Drafter

Priscilla - Bookkeeping

Epic picture of the office guys and some of the warehouse guys.

Pedro L Sanchez - Engineer / Owner

Decorative Iron is a family operated business. We are so lucky to have this business in these tough times, and we are very grateful to all of our wonderful clients that make all this possible.

In case you want a close up of the super sweet chocolate brown light iron dove balcony, here it is:

Thank you for reading! We are also going to update our About Us page at www.deciron.com and probably add this balcony color to www.decironstore.com. If you have any questions about or products please let us know, our main email is deciron@bellsouth.net.

How to Order your product online from Decorative Iron

Morning Bloggers!

In this post I would like to give you a personal view of how to go about ordering your wrought iron product from us. As an online company we take pride in having all our customers go through an easy process when they order our products. Since we are a wrought iron company, we give our best efforts for every order to go through as smooth as possible. I've put together in this blog the steps that our customers go through as they invest in our product. If you are thinking of buying from us, this is would be a great way to learn more about the process.

Let's say one of our customers need a Standard Railing. They up falling in love with the Knuckle Railing for their front porch.

Step1. Find the railing you want/need (our prices are listed on the website)



Step2. If you know the exact measurements just call us and order the product.
If you do not know exactly how to go about getting the exact fit for your home, call or email us with your wrought measurements, or email/send us a picture of where you want to put the railing. It could be a picture of your window for the balcony, or your front porch or steps, etc.

In the email include: What type of railing (knuckle, standard..etc.) what color and the state we are going to send it to. 

Customer Measuring his entrance.
Customer taking picture with phone or camera

Step3. One of our employees will answer your email or call you back with a price quote, or if they need more information they will ask first. We will send you an formal estimate if you would like to. If not you can order right there and then.

Step4. Your payment is received. We take: check by phone, all major credit cards, PayPal and we even have financing! As soon as we get the payment we will start manufacturing your product.


Step5. Depending on the job, sometimes we will formulate shop drawings for final approving. Our drafter will make the shop drawings, custom for your product to your email and as soon as you approve we will begin fabricating.
Here is a sample shop drawing:

Step6. Fabrication takes about 3-4weeks, once it is completed we ship through FedEx. You will receive a tracking number through your email. You can track your package immediately after. Not only will you have the tracking number, but FedEx will call you as soon as it arrives to your home town, to schedule for a delivery, or for a pick up (depending on what service you chose as delivery).

Step7. Enjoy your product!!! 
All hardware is included in the package, and if you have more than one section to your project, they will come labeled according to the shop drawings provided.

That is it! With this service you can save with us up to 75% of regular costs. Wrought iron tends to be expensive because it is a luxury item. However, with us you can have this luxurious item for your home or business at the fraction of the cost. Please visit us at www.deciron.com and check out our products. For builders and contractors we have special bulk pricing!

Thanks for reading! Have a blessed day!