My gate has dropped and catches on the drive. Can it be fixed?
Almost always. A dropping gate is usually worn hinge pins, a post that has moved, or a leaf that has racked because a joint has failed, and each of those is a repair rather than a replacement. We look at which of the three it is before quoting, because packing a hinge on a gate that has actually racked just moves the problem along a few months.
Is it worth repairing an old iron gate?
If the original work is decent, yes, and it is usually a fraction of the cost of a new set. Old gates were often made from heavier material than a modern equivalent, so there is something worth saving. Where every joint has failed and the bottom rail has rusted through in several places we will tell you it has had its day rather than take money for a repair that will not hold.
Can you repaint gates and railings?
Yes. Taking back the old finish, treating what needs treating and repainting properly transforms tired but sound ironwork. The preparation is where the time goes and where the result comes from, so this is not a job to price by how long the painting takes.
Do you replace hinges and posts?
Yes, both. Worn hinges get replaced with the right size for the leaf rather than the size that was there, and a post that has moved or rusted at ground level gets replaced and reset properly. Fixing the gate without fixing the post it hangs on is how the same job comes back around.
Do you charge to come and look?
Quotes are free. For a repair we would rather come and see it than price it over the phone, because the description and the fault are often two different things. If it turns out to be something you could sort out yourself with a spanner, we will tell you that.
Can you repair a gate you did not make?
Yes, and most of the repairs we do are on gates made by somebody else, including bought in sets from years back. We are a fabrication shop, so as long as it is steel or iron we can put it right regardless of where it came from.
