With around 10,000 conservation areas in England, knowing what you can and cannot do when installing a new external staircase, balcony or railing on properties located in these areas is the best way to avoid potential problems.

Conservation areas can be:

• Old town or city centres
• Historical hamlets, villages or towns
• Old suburbs of cities or towns
• Historic and significant landmarks
• Country estates

Many conservation areas also have listed buildings – if your building is also listed, then as well as addressing the regulations in a conservation area, you will also need to apply for listed building consent.

This designation of a conservation area is usually up to local planning authorities, and each area will have individual regulations controlled by Article 4 directions. In some cases, local authorities carry out a Conservation Area Appraisal which can be consulted to find out more information, but it’s also a good idea to get building control involved as early as possible.

Getting Building Control involved

Consider using a local private company rather than the local authority building controls as they tend to be much quicker and have much more experienced staff.

There are a few misconceptions of building control, namely:

1. The involvement of building control will prevent you from achieving the design you would like​.
2. The involvement of building control will result in an escalation of construction costs​.

However, we find that the earlier building control is used, the more delays tend to be avoided whilst also keeping costs down. As well as this, the involvement of building control creates awareness of a particular building’s, or area’s, constraints, whilst expanding on local and historical knowledge. This can help to identify what materials and designs you should use for your project.

If you’re working on a property in a conservation area which requires a staircase, railing or balcony, it’s also a great idea to get in touch with us at the earliest possible stage. We can help you with all of the design and planning steps and explore all the design and material options. This can help to streamline the process and avoid unnecessary planning delays or costs.

All planning officers will be looking for high quality design, materials and finish as well as appropriate scale, size, height etc. of the proposed design. For some conservation areas, the choice or design and materials may be determined by the specific planning restrictions in place – but this depends heavily on the local officers. Some original railings, staircases and balconies have historic and architectural value, meaning the same design or material need to be used if they are replaced. Being aware of this early on will help you consider how it will affect costs, project timescales, finishes and design. But in some cases, conservation areas can still enable a flexibility in the type of material specified, so long as it conserves the character of the area – so it may be possible to use cast aluminium to replace cast iron, which can help lower overall costs.

It may also be possible to specify a design based on one from the catalogue of cast iron castings we already have available, as opposed to specifically recreating the original pattern used for a project. This means we don’t need to create a custom pattern mould, which can save on both costs and lead times.

But in the case that the design of the piece needs to match a pre-existing design, there are a few options to consider:

• If possible, we can take a cutting from another part of the property and create a mould from this. If this isn’t possible, we can see if there are any railings or balustrades in the surrounding area that are similar and take photographs of these.
• Alternatively, you may also be able to find archival images of the street scene online, which can be used to replicate the design. For example, councils will often house collections of local archival images.

When it comes to creating pattern moulds from samples, we start by removing all the paint by shot blasting or chemical dipping, and then we cast from that and produce as many new pieces as the project requires.

For some projects, designs may need to be adapted to meet the building regulations or requirements. At British Spirals & Castings, our Victorian and LCC tread patterns are based on the original designs and patterns, but the front fascia has been adapted for regulatory compliance.

Get in touch

If you are interested in having a bespoke spiral staircase, balcony or railing designed and installed in a conservation area, visit our gallery to view some of the options and submit a quote or get in touch via phone or email.

The post Renovating in a conservation area – a guide appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

Before designing a bespoke piece for a client, whether it be a staircase, balcony, balustrade or railing, we always sit down with them (either in-person, on the phone or via email) to try and get a clear idea of their vision. Customers are often surprised by the amount of choice and design decisions they need to make. For a typical spiral staircase alone, common questions can include:

• Would you prefer wooden or cast aluminium treads?
• If wooden then what type of wood (we offer a wide range of grade-A timbers)?
• If cast aluminium then which pattern (options include Victorian, LCC, Modern Art Deco, Diamond or a completely bespoke pattern)?
• What material would you like the handrails to be made from (we can match any handrail design with our treads)?
• Would you prefer the riser bar to be metal or timber?
• How many spindles and/or railing panels would you like per each tread?
• What design of spindle and/or railing panel would you like?
• Would you prefer a wooden or metal handrail?
• Do you need an inner handrail?
• What colour would you like the metalwork to be powder coated?

This is before we even get to more practical questions about the diameter of the staircase, depth of treads and height of handrails.

Understandably, all these choices can be a little overwhelming. To make things easier, it is a good idea to gather together examples of designs you like in one place. This might include images from our website, ones found on social media or sites such as Real Homes or Houzz or even pictures of staircases, railings or balconies you’ve seen when out and about.

Whilst it is possible to simply collate these all in a folder on your computer, we’ve found that the approach which works best is to create a Pinboard on Pinterest. If you’ve not used it before, Pinterest is basically a digital version of a noticeboard, allowing you to “pin” images together and add notes to them. You can either search for images on Pinterest, link to other images by pasting in their URL or even upload pictures from your phone, tablet or computer.

Pinterest offers a useful beginners guide to help anyone who is new to the platform to help you get set-up.

What to include in your inspiration board

To give you an idea of what to include, we’ve created an example inspiration board. In this case, the customers are looking for a spiral staircase for their new home.

As you can see, when you open each image in the pinboard there are useful notes pointing out what we like about each image, whether it be details like the thickness of treads and design of spindles or simply the design of the entire staircase.

To add some context, we’ve also included some interior images to help communicate the overall feel of the property. These can be really helpful in narrowing down the design options.

You don’t have to pin hundreds of images but if you can gather around 7 or 8 it should provide a useful starting point, meaning we can get on designing your staircase more quickly!

Once the board is ready, simply click the three dots next to the board name, select “Share” and then click on the “copy link” button as shown below. Then simply paste this link into an email and send it over.

Visit our Pinterest board and start gathering your ideas today!

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For over a century the Science Museum in London has been inspiring visitors from across the world with the wonders of science. The museum’s world-class collection forms an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical advancement from across the globe and includes objects ranging from Robert Hooke’s microscope to the Enigma machine and Tim Peake’s spacecraft. Back in 2019, we worked to faithfully recreate and reinstate ornate railings within new gallery Science City 1550 – 1800: The Linbury Gallery  showcasing how traditional skills such as cast iron manufacture still play an important role in our modern world. Craftmanship is at the heart of the story of the gallery as it explores the role artisans played in aiding scientific discovery in London over the course of 250 years.

The Science City gallery overlooks a main atrium within the museum. At some point, the original run of cast iron railings on this end of the atrium had been replaced with glass. With the space being converted to house the permanent Science City gallery the museum were eager to reinstate cast iron balusters matching the design in the rest of the hall.

Getting the Measure of the Job

The gallery is located on the second floor of the busy museum, presenting a number of challenges we needed to overcome. As the space had to be accessed through a service lift, the balusters needed to be manufactured in short panels whilst retaining the appearance of a continuous run of railings once installed.

In addition, the existing glass balustrades were fixed within a concrete plinth which couldn’t be removed until the new balusters were ready. As a result, we had to design the bespoke cast iron run with fixings that could work with a wide range of potential substrates.

Gallery View of Science City 1550ñ1800: The Linbury Gallery

We carried out regular site visits throughout the project, taking measurements to allow us to produce the bespoke panels and carrying out detailed discussions with the site team about the site requirements and how the panels would be fixed.

Restoring traditions

The Science Museum’s current home was constructed in the 1910s and 20s and the cast iron metalwork exemplifies the decorative style of the period, with the railing panels centring around a detailed floral design.

To faithfully recreate this, we searched around the museum for a section of railing which could be removed – eventually locating this on a back service staircase. We took this section back to our workshop and used it to create an accurate moulding which could then be used to create the pattern for the new run. The section was then carefully reinstalled.

Our experienced team used the patterns to carefully cast the new railings, ensuring each individual section was finished to the highest standards before sending them off to be installed by our expert site team. Thanks to the careful pre-planning and bespoke manufacture, the installation progressed very smoothly.

The new cast iron balusters blend seamlessly with the other metalwork within the atrium. The finished effect is so accurate that most visitors won’t have a clue that they are recreations – proof that modern British manufacture can still be held up to the quality marks of old.

If you are looking to reinstate cast iron balusters or railings within your property, or simply to include railings as part of a new project, get in touch via phone or sales@britishsc.co.uk. With our wealth of knowledge and experience, we are able to create railings in a wide range of styles, from traditional intricate patterns, to simple minimalist options.

The Science Museum is currently closed until 3 December. If you’d like to visit after this date you’ll need a book a ticket in advance, via the museum’s website. If you’d like to discover more about the objects and stories featured in Science City, you can explore these in more detail here.

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Approved Document K of the Building Regulations has the most up to date information on railing/barrier heights and can be found specifically under the section named Protection from Falling.

The whole document can be viewed here but the main elements are summarised in the table below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-from-falling-collision-and-impact-approved-document-k

Scotland has its own interpretation which can be seen in link below but follows the same guidance as that of England and Wales.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/building-standards-2017-domestic/4-safety/43-stairs-and-ramps/

To summarise:

1. All staircase handrails for both domestic and non domestic properties need to be a minimum of 900mm high
2. In domestic dwellings, internal balustrade need to be a minimum of 900mm high
3. In domestic dwellings, external railings need to be a minimum of 1100mm
4. In non domestic situations, balustrading other than on the staircase needs to be a minimum of 1100mm high whether internal or external

Consider all aspects

The above guidance gives the minimum heights that the handrails need to be but there are situations where we would recommend that you set your handrails higher than the minimum specified. Such an example would be in situations where the balustrade is a barrier to a large void area – in these situations we often advise to increase the railing height to 1000mm in order just to give that extra sense of presence. Also although a 900mm high handrail would feel relatively comfortable to some on who is 5’2” tall, it may not feel as comfortable to some one who is 6’2” for example and therefore it is important to consider all different aspects when deciding on your final balustrade heights.

100 mm sphere rule

In addition to the height of the balustrade, don’t forget that in the UK staircases must also be designed to ensure that a 100 mm sphere cannot pass through any area. This is to stop very small children falling through gaps or getting themselves stuck. This may affect the finished design of a staircase, for example meaning we have to install more spindles per tread then you will find in some traditional designs and fitting riser bars across open risers.

Get in touch

Hopefully this helps to clear up any confusion. If you’re ordering a staircase or balcony from us, you can be confident that the finished design will not only look the part and fit perfectly, but will be fully compliant with the relevant regulations here in the UK.

Visit our gallery to take a look at some great examples then submit a quote request and we’ll help to create the perfect solution for you.

The post How tall should a stair railing be? appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

Since we began creating bespoke staircases back in the 1980s, creativity and attention to detail have been hallmarks of our work. In our collaborations with Jonathan Lees Architects, we have found kindred spirits. Each project is a new adventure and finished details are everything, making everyone involved with the project up their game to even higher levels. That was definitely the case when we crafted a floating, helical staircase for a new home in the beautiful Constantine Bay in Cornwall. 

Initially, the owners were looking to extend an existing bungalow which stood on the plot. However, during the planning stage it became clear that it was better to demolish the existing home and create a new one from scratch, which was highly sustainable and built around the owners’ needs.  

The new home design has a ridge height which is similar to the surrounding bungalows but also incorporates bedrooms on a second floor. To provide access to this, they envisaged a helical staircase within the entrance hall leading up to a mezzanine gallery, which provides views across the main sitting room and out through the large south-facing glazing. 

 Creating the staircase 

Having obtained planning permission, Jonathan Lees Architects developed the initial designs for the staircase and connecting gallery. The original concept for the stairs was that of a Nautilus shell, with the curved conical nature of the stairs reflecting the geometry of the shell and the plain, upright balusters representing the ribs in the structure.  

Jonathan Lees Architects approached us to develop and engineer these plans through to the finished staircase. The connection between the mezzanine walkway and the staircase was already designed so we had to carefully model the staircase with CAD to ensure it accurately interfaced with this and delivered the high-quality aesthetic expected. This included obtaining the structural calculations to prove the design. 

As with all aspects of the project, the materials chosen for the staircase had to be of the highest quality and to provide the longest possible lifespan. The structure, balusters and handrail are all formed from steel which has been powder coated to colour match with other metalwork within the property, including the glazed doors which lead into the spaces directly adjoining the entrance hall.   

In their briefing, Jonathan Lees Architects explained that their vision was that both the fascia and balustrades should run continuously up the staircase and along the length of the mezzanine, creating a beautiful flow to the entire structure. We worked with a local engineering specialist to develop and manufacture these elements to the precise requirements. The steel balustrade and handrail interconnects with those of the curved basement stairs that flowed under the main metal stairs which we also manufactured. The tightly curved section of handrail to the centre represents the core of Jonathan Lees Architects’ shell concept.  

The treads on the staircase and at either end of the walkway are carved from fine oak, as are the nosings that we crafted to frame the mezzanine. The subtlety curved oak treads were bleached to match the finish of the white Oak floor to the hall. A key aspect of the design was to create the illusion that the treads are floating over the metal structure with no visible supports. This was achieved by wrapping the treads around steel cross members, completely concealing them. The fixing holes for the balusters in both the treads and nosing’s are also concealed with colour matched plugs, creating a seamless finished aesthetic.  

This was a project which really challenged our team, not least due to the distance to the Cornish site from our Derbyshire workshop, but we think you’ll agree that the finished results are stunning and perfectly integrate within this beautiful home. 

If you are looking to create a truly one–of–a–kind feature for your home, browse our gallery

The post A Floating Staircase for A Dream Home by The Sea appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

There’s a growing movement here in the UK to restore the decorative parts of period homes that have been lost or covered up over time. Just take a look at the #victorianterrace tag on Instagram and you can see countless examples of homeowners stripping out modern-style plastic windows to replace them with more traditional sash-style alternatives or uncovering original decorative tiled floors in halls. We love to help customers to restore their home’s cast and wrought iron railings back to life and we recently had the opportunity to do just that on a flat in London.

The red-brick Victorian terrace is located just a short walk from some of London’s most historic sites including Lord’s Cricket Ground and Abbey Road Studios. The lower-ground floor of the property had been separated into a self-contained flat and the owner had chosen to expand to the rear with a stylish extension. Access to the front of the property is through an external basement staircase and as part of the wider work, the owners decided to refresh this area including a front wall-top railing and staircase balustrade.

New for Old

The original property railing panel featured two intricate natural cast iron patterns embellished with leaves and Celtic symbols and topped with railing heads. The homeowner was able to supply us with different smaller section of the original railing. Using this, our experienced foundry and cast iron specialists, split the sample into sections, recreated the castings using the different elements of the casting available to us and then cast replicates of these to fit as the new railing sections.

As part of the refurbishment work, the worn-down steps leading to the main entrance were stripped back and replaced with reinforced concrete. We manufactured metal balustrade for the staircase in a traditional style to tie in with the new cast iron railings.

We think you’ll agree that the finished result really adds to the period charm of the property, perfectly completing the front refurbishment by bringing the old back to life.

If you need any lost or damaged external metalwork replacing or would simply like to add an extra touch of class to a new or existing property, we are happy to help. There are a wide range of railing panel designs on offer in our cast iron store and we can custom produce full railing sections and balusters to suit.

To find out more, visit our railing section and request a quote – we look forward to helping you with your design!

The post Replacing a London Wall-Top Railing and Balustrade appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

Photography by Peter Savage

Decorative metalwork helps to define the character of many period homes, adding charm and splendour. It’s no surprise then that when homeowners are looking to make changes to these properties, they want to ensure any railings, balusters or stairways match the style. As specialists in period metalwork, we’re always looking to ensure any metalwork is as accurate to original designs as possible, including using centuries old patterns. But occasionally it is necessary to make the odd tweak to designs to ensure they comply with modern safety standards. That was a challenge we faced on a recent installation in North London.

Design Challenges – North London Home

The property we were working on was a beautiful Edwardian mid-terrace spread over three storeys. The home already featured raised ground and first floor balconies, and the homeowners were looking to add a further roof terrace above a flat roof on the top floor. They also wanted to upgrade the front exterior of the house in a style befitting the property including pattered black and white floor tiles.

The existing railings were a mixed bag with plain straight railings installed on the front and first floor terrace and wooden rails on the ground floor balcony. We worked with the owners to create a consistent railing design which could be used across both the front and rear exterior and was more in keeping with the property’s age.

As we’ve discussed, the Edwardian age metalwork shows clear influences from the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements with lots of curves and natural elements. As a result, decorative railing panels are a common feature of this era of design and these were clearly visible outside other properties on the road.

The challenge when working with railing panels is that they can fall foul of the so called “100 mm sphere rule” within the Building Regulations. This essentially means there can be no gaps anywhere on a balustrade or balcony railing that are greater than 99 mm in any dimension (preventing a 100 mm ball from passing through at any point). Ornate railing panels typically taper in to a single point near their top and base and if put together in a run, this will often mean the gap in these areas will be too large.

To work around this, we typically separate the panels with two or three straight balusters. After spending some time looking through different options, the owners selected a beautiful design with a floral interior and piped edges. This design was used for all of the wrought iron railings across the front and rear and was separated with straight balusters with a classic circular footprint. For the rear balconies we also incorporated wrought iron newel posts with a simple central decoration.

“While we contacted and considered a number of cast iron specialists in connection with the replacement of railings for our home, it was apparent from the outset that BSC were a category apart. The owner of the company, Antonia Harding, devoted personal attention to every aspect of our project, travelling miles from her home to conduct site surveys, identifying challenges and working with us to deliver a highly bespoke product which was in keeping with the brief while meeting the challenges of modern day building regulation and safety requirements. All questions were answered patiently and the installation team were also polite and helpful. We are very pleased with the uniformity and quality of the end product.”

Gayatri Desai – Homeowner

We created CAD designs for all the railings and balusters. Once these were agreed, we got to work casting the balusters and top rails and crafting them into the final railing panel, before sending them to site to be installed. Whilst we offer a powder coating service, these panels were delivered to site without a finish and were hand painted by the installers.

The finished metalwork really completes the exterior appearance of the building, looking like they’ve always been a part of the building.

Looking to add some wrought or cast iron metalwork to your own home? Take a look at some of the options in our gallery, then get in touch and let our specialist team help you make it a reality.

The post Recreating Edwardian Wrought Iron Railings to Modern Standards appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

Neil Denham

The Monroes had already overseen the conversion of two Georgian buildings at the site, Greystead Old Church and Greystead Coach House, into Gold-Award-winning holiday lets. The third cottage presented a significant challenge having remained derelict for over forty years since being sold by the Church of England in 1975.  The family were keen to retain the character of the building in the refurbishment, particularly the full height interior space which features a mezzanine gallery. They chose to convert the ground floor space into a living room/kitchen, extending the mezzanine to form a landing which leads to the master bedroom and bathroom.

Finding the perfect style

The family wanted a spiral staircase to provide access to the expanded balcony and upstairs living spaces. As the staircase sits in a prominent position at the centre of the room, it needed to reflect the quality and history of the building. After a considerable search, Anne Monroe came across our website:

“I had tried various recommendations for local firms in Northumberland, but none could produce the type of spiral staircase we wanted” Anne said. “The moment I found British Spirals & Castings online I felt sure they were just what we were looking for – very high-quality staircases in metal or wood, custom-made, and superb, creative designs. These first impressions were immediately confirmed when I rang and spoke to their staff, and then to Richard Harding.”

To help find the right staircase for the cottage the couple visited our Derbyshire showroom.

“We were drawn initially to the metal staircases, but as soon as we saw the wooden ones we decided this is what we wanted” Anne explained. “They really do have the WOW factor, and we felt that a solid timber staircase would work best with the original wooden beams overhead, and the Victorian wooden floor below.”

Neil Denham

Designing and creating the staircase and balustrade

At British Spirals & Castings, we pride ourselves on our ability to design and manufacture staircases without ever having to visit a property. By helping customers to take precise measurements, and ensuring the finished pieces match them exactly, we are able to supply staircases to all parts of the world. In some cases, however, we understand it can be helpful for us to come to site – particularly on older buildings where there can be unusual features or considerations.

One of the main challenges of the Greystead Institute project was the low eaves on either side of the hall which meant the balustrade needed to slope down towards the two side walls. Richard went to site and had an in-depth discussion with the project architect and the joiner who would be installing the staircase and balcony. Detailed templates were then produced and, by working together, we were able to come up with the best solution.

Neil Denham

The solid oak staircase has a diameter of 1500mm providing plenty of room for users and making a real statement in the centre of the space. To ensure the design met Building Regulation requirements, the staircase was designed with three spindles per tread with solid oak risers. To match the simple, clean design of the main space, elegant square profile spindles were used. These taper down to a circular profile near where they meet the solid oak handrail.

The spindle designs were continued to the balustrade. To complete this aesthetic, square profile newels were used for the staircase and balustrade. These have circular base plates and low-profile pyramid style caps.

Installing the finished pieces

Once the designs were finalised, our team of cabinet makers got to work crafting the pieces taking care to ensure they were not only finished to the highest standards, but also met the precise project measurements. As with all our wood staircases, we used only the finest Grade A timber and we will plant five saplings at our anniversary forest to help offset the wood we used. Our current total is 3500 trees.

“Once the order was placed, Richard and his team were universally helpful at all stages of the design and production, and always happy to discuss matters in depth via phone or email” Anne said. “The staircase and balustrade arrived beautifully packaged and with clear instructions for our joiner on how to install. Everyone found Richard and his team a pleasure to work with. As a result, the installation went exactly according to plan with no hitches.”

To help bring out the wood’s natural character we arranged for a quality pre-varnish to be applied on the oak staircase and balustrade by a local partner business – Meadow Mill wood finishers.

Neil Denham

A holiday to remember

Now open and available for bookings, Greystead Institute is the perfect location for guests looking to trek the wilds of Northumbria National Park or to simply cosy up and relax by the woodburning stove. Everything within the property has been completed with care and attention to detail, creating a luxurious experience. Our staircase sits at the heart of all of this, reflecting and amplifying the cottage’s beauty.

“The quality of the staircase and balustrade is superb, and everyone who has seen it has been hugely impressed, including our first guests to the Institute” Anne added. “Several visitors to our other two holiday properties who saw the staircase/balustrade before the project was even finished, decided to book Greystead Institute on the strength of how fabulous it looked. We always saw the spiral staircase as the central feature of the conversion, and so it is!

I would recommend BSC as the first port of call for anyone looking for a quality spiral staircase.  We also feel that the price was highly competitive for a staircase of this quality.”

If you are interested in a bespoke, high quality staircase for your own property, take a look at our gallery where you can find examples of some of the designs we can produce then submit a quote request or get in touch via phone or email and we’ll happily find the ideal match for you and your home.

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There is a genuine pleasure in being able to bring the metalwork designs of past generations to life for the modern day. Typically, we are asked to do this work when replacing or reinstating iron railings, balusters and gates which have been damaged or lost to time. Recently, however, we had the opportunity to authentically recreate early 18^th Century cast iron balusters for an entirely new residence.

Situated within green belt land, the three-storey mansion had been designed in the Queen Anne Style. Throughout the construction, great care has been taken to ensure authenticity. This included the use of handmade bricks and tiles, reconstituted stonework and sliding sash windows of the correct proportions. There is even an original 18^th-century fire mark on the front elevation of the home.

Internally, traditional solid oak panelled doors and marble are combined with modern conveniences such as underfloor heating. At the heart of the home is a galleried entrance hallway which spans the full height of the property and is illuminated by a large roof light.  The homeowners approached us to provide British manufactured cast iron spindles and newel posts for the balustrading around these galleried areas, along with the balustrade required to the grand staircase that served the two upper floors.

Creating Custom Balusters

Working with the homeowners, we took considerable time selecting spindles and newel posts. The staircase is visible from the moment that you enter the property and therefore need the exact same level of attention to detail as other statement pieces in the property. The key challenge was creating a design which matched the period and style that the client wanted, whilst also meeting all aspects of the Building Regulations. Initially the homeowners were looking to include decorative panels every third or fourth tread, however, this would’ve led to gaps greater than 100 mm at the top of the baluster making it non-compliant.

After discussing a number of alternative options, the owners selected a traditional twisted cast iron spindle and married this up with a more decorative, statement newel post. The newel posts sit at the corner of the each of the gallery sections and at the foot of the staircases meaning they had to be showcase features. A core rail was fixed to the top of the balusters to secure them in place and to allow a bespoke oak handrail to fit on top which was crafted and created by Handrail Creations, who we recommended to the client as our partner of choice as we have worked with on many other projects.

Floors throughout the entrance hall are finished in marble. We worked with the project stone masons to ensure that they knew exactly where the marble needed to be drilled, the hole size and depth of the holes. Our experienced specialist cast iron team triple checked every measurement to ensure the final balustrade sat perfectly.

After a two-and-a-half-year build programme, the homeowners were finally able to move into the house in the autumn of 2018 and were delighted with the balusters saying the finished results look fantastic! We agree that it looks fantastic too and shows that visions can be achieved when bring the old to the new.

Interested in a custom metalwork or a bespoke staircase or balcony for your own property? Take a look at our website, request a quote or — if you have any queries — get in touch via phone, email or by visiting our showroom here in beautiful Derbyshire.

The post Recreating Baroque Charm with Bespoke Cast Iron Balusters appeared first on British Spirals & Castings.

Fine ironwork has long been a defining part of the London street scene. Many homeowners are now reinstating the beautiful railings and balusters outside their properties, which were removed as materials for the war effort. Earlier this year, we helped one family to do just that on their home in South West London.

The five bedroomed, mid-Victorian property would originally have had ornate metalwork running along the front garden and leading up the steps to the main entrance on the raised ground floor – which is quite high. One whole length of the railing running along the steps was missing — along with some individual balustrades from the side that remained. New owners, Alexander and Elmerice Fairfax, were keen to restore both sides to their original state, as Alexander explained:

“This was not only about aesthetics but also the safety of our visitors, our three-month-old daughter and ourselves; standing at the top of a two meter drop every time you come in or out of the house makes you feel quite giddy!”

“When we began looking into restoring the ironwork we had no clue as to who to approach, what the cost might be or how they would be made” Alexander added. “Following an exhaustive search, I approached perhaps six different companies – some local to us, some further away. Antonia from British Spirals & Castings was the first to respond and her efficiency, professionalism and can-do approach was clear from the start. Conversely, the other response I received arrived four weeks behind, contained a higher estimate and from the outset indicated that costs would likely rise. Following the experience of renovating our home last year, we knew that efficiency and reliability counts for so much and we are so glad we made the choice we did.”

A Perfect Match

Using images of the existing railing, we were able to identify the original pattern moulds for the ornate spindles and accurately recast them. Having taken the site measurements, we then worked on them in our London based workshops before returning to the property to install them.

Now in-situ, the new railings are virtually indistinguishable from the originals. This attention to detail was particularly important as the home is located within a conservation zone. Often, the stricter requirements within these areas can make owners reluctant to consider exterior changes, however, planners are often more than happy to support sensitive restorations.

“Our council is very keen that those willing to restore their homes toward their original condition do so” Alexander explained. “In some cases, they even provide grants to those considering installing the original ironwork and stained-glass windows — a feature of the local properties. After all, it helps to improve the appearance of the area.”

“We are thrilled with the results and were so impressed with Antonia at British Spirals & Castings and the craftsmanship of Steve who came to fit the railings. It’s lovely to come home every day and see the house looking as good as it ever has done, and our neighbours have been very complimentary. I would heartily recommend British Spirals & Castings to anyone!”

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