All gates and railings use high quality steel and are hand welded by
Flairmet's skilled craftsmen.
Flairmet aims to supply gates and railings which give a high quality
look and feel. The minimum gauge of steel used is as follows:
- Frames - from 25mm x 10mm
- Verticals - from 12mm square or round
- Scroll work - from 13mm x 3mm
- Posts - from 50mm x 50mm x 3mm square hollow section
- Security grilles - from 12mm round
Although described as "wrought iron" in
accordance with common parlance, in common with almost all other manufacturers,
Flairmet actually uses high quality mild steel for the construction of its
products. Actual wrought iron is virtually unobtainable nowadays (see The Wrought Iron Advisory Centre for more information about wrought iron).
We are constantly striving to improve our product offering and reserve the right to alter specifications at any time without notice prior to order acceptance. On occasions we may be unable to obtain special materials and will in such cases either substitute components of at least equivalent value, functionality and appearance or, failing this, contact you to discuss how we should proceed.
The following finishes are available on Flairmet steel (wrought iron
style) fabrications:
- Zinc phosphate black primer
- Zinc phosphate red oxide primer
- Zinc phosphate primer plus gloss black
- Galvanised (hot dipped) (see note on
galvanising below)
- Black powder-coated (oven-baked)
- White powder-coated (oven-baked) (see note on
colours below)
- Galvanised and black powder-coated (see note on
galvanising below)
- Galvanised and white powder-coated (see note on
galvanising below)
As standard, gates and railings would be supplied with black or red
oxide primer finish. This requires over-painting with standard gloss paint depending on the finish required.
Other options for finishes include:
- Features (finials) finished in gold-coloured paint on a fully-painted
gate
- Features (eg logos) finished in specific colours by arrangement
Galvanising. Galvanised products can be
painted over to enhance appearance. It is recommended that galvanised metal
should weather for about 6 months before being painted. In practice, painting
early means that paint may chip in use, though for most products this is not
noticeable. Where products are supplied powder-coated on top of a galvanised
finish, some chipping may be expected, though, in practice, most people feel
that this risk is outweighed by the advantage of having a complete and
lower-maintenance finish from the beginning. Where Flairmet offers the option
of painting (including powder-coating) over galvanising it is at the customers'
risk.
Products with a galvanised finish are much less likely to show rust,
except where the galvanised coated wears off in use. In areas where products
will be exposed to salt water (eg sea-fronts), serious consideration should be
given to using a galvanised based, as otherwise the products will need
repainting as much as every year (depending upon the level of exposure).
"Anyone who buys ironwork for outdoors and does not pay the
small extra cost for galvanising, is making a poor long-term decision", Mr William Hunter, Consultant
Mr William Hunter, who is a consultant to the zinc/galvanising industry,
says: "Zinc is a boring metal that does its job beautifully as an unsung hero. You are one of the only gate makers that offers a galvanised finish as a standard option, and in my opinion you are wise, and the public needs to be educated not to go for the cheapest price regardless of life."
Colour choice. The lighter the colour of
finish the more likely it is that small rust spots show through on continued
exposure to wind and rain. Black is the most durable finish. Powder-coated
finishes can be painted over using normal oil-based paints, and, will last
indefinitely if repainted at appropriate intervals (typically every few years,
depending on the environment).