Replacing a damaged cast iron baluster

I have a severely damaged cast iron baluster on my stoop. It is missing an entire chunk and can’t be patched in a way that will look right. Unfortunately, it is not a typical design, and I haven’t been able to find a match in salvage yards, so I’m looking to have it recreated, probably in aluminum or some other material. Has anyone had any experience with this? I found one company in Brooklyn that specializes in recreating historical metalwork (http://www.forerunnercreations.com/home.html), though I haven’t seen anything here or elsewhere about the quality of their work.

Any advice, fellow brownstoners? Thanks in advance.

mosesroberts

in Architectural Salvage 6 months ago

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mosesroberts | 2 months ago

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OK, I don’t know who reads Brownstoner anymore, but here is an update for the benefit of anyone who comes searching for answers to this question in the future.

As recommended by one of the commenters here, I contacted Spirit Ironworks on Long Island. They specialize in forged rather than cast iron (and they do beautiful work – check them out!), but they were able to get a direct casting of the piece made by a foundry in Virginia that they regularly work with. I actually had contacted this foundry directly, but they won’t speak to anyone outside the trade. They did a fantastic job and at a reasonable price (not cheap, but it’s all relative, and they were lower than any other bid I got for the work in cast iron). If anything, the new piece, while visually identical to the original, is of higher quality, being solid as opposed to hollow like the original.

For the deinstallation of the one that was used as the template and the installation/reinstallation, I used Vinnie’s Italian Ironworks, who were a pleasure to work with. They showed up exactly when they said they would and did really careful work for a reasonable price.

coresolutionsnyc | 5 months ago

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Hello there,

We specialize in custom casting those balusters and would love to help you. www.coresolutionsny.com.

dfreed1 | 5 months ago

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Thanks for replying to me. Consider buying two matching balusters as finding a match for the one you have will a big challenge.

mosesroberts | 6 months ago

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Thanks for the replies. I appreciate your making the effort, as this site is not easy to use anymore. In the old days of this site, there would have been many more replies.

@dfreed1 – That’s great advice, and I spent a couple of hours there looking, but no luck. It’s an unusual pattern.

@maggie.oldfather – Thanks, they’re one of the names I’ve contacted. Hard to get anyone in such a small job though. But the Landmarks Conservancy gave me a long list of companies, and hopefully one of them will come through.

dfreed1 | 6 months ago

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Iron yard at 9th entrance to Lowes 2nd ave. has many original ornamental iron posts, balustrades. As original and old will need an iron co to repair, paint and install. Ask iron yard guy for name of an iron co. Suggest you arrange to meed iron guy at the yard to show him piece your interested in and cost to repair and paint. Obtaining an original is better than recreation.

cate | 6 months ago

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Also if you search these boards you may find previous recs for ironworks companies who can re-create ironwork to match historic parts. There are a number who have been in business in Brooklyn for decades at the same address.

maggie.oldfather | 6 months ago

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if you want to consider recreating it in cast iron, consider Spirit Ironworks