Metal Refurbishing Services

Most metal pieces that end up on the curb are not broken. They are rusted, tarnished, chipped or dulled by years of sun, salt air and handling, while the casting, frame or forging underneath is still sound. A wrought iron gate from the 1950s or a brass chandelier from a family home was usually built heavier and better than anything sold new today. Refurbishing keeps that quality and gives it a finish that looks the part again.

Refurbishing is not a single process. It is a plan built around the piece in front of us. Some items only need careful cleaning, polishing and a clear protective coat. Others are stripped to bare metal, straightened, filled and then plated or powder coated. Bronze and copper pieces often look best with a fresh patina instead of a shine. Because every one of those options runs in our own shop, we can recommend the right one rather than the only one we offer.

We work on indoor and outdoor pieces of almost any size: railings and gate panels, light fixtures, lamp bases, garden sculptures, patio and dining furniture, antique hardware, plaques, signs and metal wall art. Single heirlooms and full sets for hotels, casinos and restaurants move through the same careful steps.

Start with a few photos. Tell us what the piece is, where it lives and how you want it to look, and we will explain what it needs, what it will cost and how long it will take before anything leaves your hands.

Start with weight. Pick the piece up or tap it. Solid brass, bronze, cast iron and forged steel feel heavy and ring when you knock on them, and they almost always refurbish well. Thin stamped metal or hollow plastic with a metallic coating usually costs more to fix than to replace, and we will tell you so.

Next, look past the surface. Rust, tarnish, peeling paint and dull plating look dramatic, but they live on the outside. What matters is whether the metal underneath is still whole. Deep rust that has eaten holes through a thin section, or cracks across a load bearing joint, are the warning signs worth photographing for us.

Then think about what the piece means and what it would cost to replace with the same quality. Vintage lighting, cast garden pieces, ornamental iron and antique hardware are rarely made the same way anymore. Refurbishing often costs less than a new item of equal build, and the result is one of a kind.

Finally, consider where it will live. A piece moving from indoors to a patio may need a different finish than it had before. Tell us its new home and we will choose a finish that will hold up there.