Our Process
From drawing board to reality…
We have an impressive range of Electric Gates & associated Ironwork should you wish to visit our showrooms with many more designs to view within our Ironwork catalogues and website.
Design Process
Whilst our designs are purely for inspiration, you may wish to leave them exactly the way they are or perhaps make some alterations to suit your own style. Since all of our gates are made to order, this is no problem.
If you have an idea in mind already, we are happy to discuss your concepts too. We can make just about anything and always welcome a challenge!
Next steps, making your gate come to reality...
Measuring
Once we have studied your requirements, we would visit your property to take all the necessary measurements & undertake a full site survey.
This isn’t always the case though & dependant on distance we sometimes work from client dimensions & imagery.
From a site meeting or from client imagery, we give expert advice on design, fixing methods & recommend how we would manage such a project.
CAD
Following an official order & in receipt of a deposit, one of our experienced CAD engineers will produce Design Drawings for your approval.
Using exact scaled dimensions, you will get a very good idea of how the finished design will look.
Once the drawings are approved these are sent to our fabrication department to be made.
Fabrication
All of our ironwork is manufactured at our main Factory & Headquarters in Nelson, Lancashire using a combination of age old blacksmithing techniques and modern machinery. Our craftsmanship and attention to detail is evident in every aspect of our work and we ensure that our quality is always consistent.
Hot Dip Galvanising
Hot-dipped galvanizing is a process of coating mild steel by immersing the fabricated product in a bath of molten zinc at a temperature of around 900 °F. This involves chemically cleaning prior to dipping to remove any substrates & once completed, the zinc coating is fully bonded to the Ironwork. This guarantees the longest possible lifetime for anything metal affected by outside elements, such as rain, frost or snow, along with the least maintenance also.
Powder Coating
All our ironwork is powder coated as standard in our state-of-the-art facility. Our standard finishes are black or anthracite grey, however, we can powder coat to any specified RAL to achieve your perfect finish.
One of the primary benefits of powder coating is its durability. The coating is highly resistant to scratches, chips, and fading, making it an ideal choice for outdoor applications or products that are exposed to harsh environments. Powder coating also provides a more even and consistent finish, eliminating the need for touch-ups or reapplication.
Our ironwork is made to last, meaning no maintenance for years to come!
Finishing
Our metal gates and railings can be given a variety of finishes after painting including patinas. As standard we use gold, silver & bronze brushed very lightly over the contours to highlight the detail in the work, bringing the design to life.
Alternatively, ironwork can be left with a plain painted finish or for the more extravagant option we have Everlasting Gold paint which certain details such as Railheads, Bushes, Cages etc. It can be painted fully to give that Midas Touch. Our Hardwood gates are finished using UV protective coatings, which not only shield the wood from fading, but also enriches the natural grain and beauty, achieving a glossy sheen.
Installation
Leave the hard work to us – from groundworks to installing intercom systems; we offer an end-to-end installation service. The only requirement we have is a power supply for electric gates and we can do the rest.
We install ironwork across the UK using our experienced, in-house team. No matter the difficulty of the project, we always have a solution to ensure a seamless finish.
Safety
When installing automation a range of safety tests need to be carried out including force testing and CE marking before we leave site. All of this will be explained to you when you place your order including information regarding the amount of safety edges and photocells you will need for your gate type.
Rest assured that we only ever install automation systems that are safe and reliable as not only do we have over 30 years’ experience in this field, we are accredited members of Gate Safe and DHF.
Aftercare
If you have chosen to have your gates automated; once all relevant safety tests have been carried out by the engineer you will receive a ‘Handover Pack’ including all site risk assessment information and documentation including the testing procedure.
You also receive a 12 month parts and labour warranty from the completion date on installed automation and access control systems.
Servicing is optional although we do highly recommend that you have your gates serviced annually. We have both Gold & Silver service
plans which can be explained to you.