Historic Restoration: Old Metal, New Life
Services
BAck to Better than New
Ornamental metalwork — even when fabricated to the highest standards — faces relentless environmental forces that accumulate over decades. Ferrous metals rust where coatings fail. Bronze and copper alloys develop patinas that can conceal deeper corrosion beneath. Air quality, freeze-thaw cycles, and physical wear can open joints, compromise finishes, and degrade structural integrity in ways that aren’t always visible on the surface. New products and processes that were previously unavailable may be ideal fits for bringing a tired or broken piece of metalwork back to a safe and functional condition.
Effective restoration starts with understanding the original work — what it was, how it was built, and why it failed. From there, we determine what needs to be returned to original condition and where a thoughtful improvement is the better answer. Sometimes that means replicating period-appropriate profiles and finishes exactly. Other times it means specifying a more durable coating or a refined connection detail that preserves the original character without repeating its weaknesses. The goal is metalwork that is historically faithful, structurally sound, and built to last (again).
APTi Member
Traditional Building Conference
Est. 1940
What We Restore
Every Landmark Deserves to Last Another Century
Courthouses & Government Buildings
Houses of Worship
Museums & Cultural Institutions
Historic Residences & Estates
Commercial & Mixed-Use Landmarks
Our Approach
Made Last Week, Looks like last Century
Restoration work requires a different discipline than new fabrication. We begin by studying what exists — analyzing original materials, measuring profiles, photographing patina, and understanding the techniques the original craftsmen would have used. We create a foundation for a desired replication.
Our blacksmiths use traditional hand-forging methods where the original demanded it. Our finishers match original patinas using the same chemical processes and aging techniques. The goal is always the same: when the work is complete, no one should be able to tell which pieces are original and which are new.
01
Site Assessment and Documentation
Physical inspection, photography, sampling, and profile measurement of all existing metalwork.
02
Pattern And Profile Replication
If needed, custom patterns, tooling, and dies are created to reproduce the exact profiles and decorative elements of the original.
03
Fabrication and Patina-Matching
Matching the original, improving where necessary, our craftsmen work the metal using period-appropriate techniques for authentic results.