Misty1 Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 We want to replace our horrid old rail with a nice black wrought iron style railing which will have to also go down a set of marble faced steps. The terrace is unfortunately made of concrete and we have no idea where to buy the parts from or how to fix them. Our friend got a rediculous quote in the 1,000s of euros to have it done so we have to do it ourselves. In UK B&Q sell a range of black wrought iron stair rods and hand rails and I have seen something like this in Leroy Merlin. My other half says they are only for grilles and decorative fences however as there are no fixings available.Anyone got any solutions - everyone has a terrace with a rail surely!!! Does anyone know where to buy component parts to make balconies & railings yourself - do you all know what I am talking about?Many thanks if you can help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJSLIV Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 These people seem to have a comprehensive selection from about £100 per yard. I don't know how you would handle the stairs. It might be easier to get the whole lot custom made.http://www.bourguignon.com/cadre_portails_ej.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misty1 Posted March 20, 2007 Author Share Posted March 20, 2007 Hi Thanks for the link, this is the sort of thing that Leroy Merlin sold but I am not sure its for balconies, rather for fencing (defense?). Its the fixing that I am most worried about! If you know of any other links I would be delighted to hear them.Many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 [quote user="Misty1"]We want to replace our horrid old rail with a nice black wrought iron style railing which will have to also go down a set of marble faced steps. The terrace is unfortunately made of concrete and we have no idea where to buy the parts from or how to fix them. Our friend got a rediculous quote in the 1,000s of euros to have it done so we have to do it ourselves. In UK B&Q sell a range of black wrought iron stair rods and hand rails and I have seen something like this in Leroy Merlin. My other half says they are only for grilles and decorative fences however as there are no fixings available.Anyone got any solutions - everyone has a terrace with a rail surely!!! Does anyone know where to buy component parts to make balconies & railings yourself - do you all know what I am talking about?Many thanks if you can help[/quote]A quote in the 1000's of euros for a custom made balcony railing and stair railing, supplied, fixed to marble stairs and probably finished is not unreasonable given the labour and risk of damaging the marble involved.You are unlikely to find a standard off the shelf solution for the stairs, the balcony perhaps but you would still probably have to cut and reweld and refinish to length.To answer your question on attachment whether for the concrete balcony or the marble stairs I would use chemical anchors (fixations chimique) every time. However if you use decorative wrought iron the structure and the fixing members will almost certainly not be strong enough for a safety application like yours, it will probably wobble to the touch also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gastines Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 The last time I was faced with this problem I used a diamond faced drill bit,still in the shed if you want to borrow it, and drilled holes in the steps,put the ends of the support rods in,they were threaded so I attached a couple of nuts to give it a flange at the thread base, filled the holes, about 40mm wide up with a strong cement mix. After I put a decorative cover 45mm wide over the fixing. This was to a marble staircase in Doha,Qatar, where I had to make things up as I went along. The staircase designer had allowed for the threaded supports to be fixed by decorative bolts under the steps but the twit forgot is was on a solid concrete support.The staircase was of barleytwist supports made from Perspex with gold-plated brackets to hold the supports to the perspex handrail. I used to specialise in these bad taste jobs.Regards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misty1 Posted March 24, 2007 Author Share Posted March 24, 2007 Thanks very much for your informative reply, it sounds like you had to do what we have to do but you are much more creative! My other half will be looking closely at your posting - it might give him some much needed inspiration!To the person who kindly posted previously, I am not wishing to imply that the quotes obtained were falsely high, its simply that we could not afford to pay the going rate!! It may well cost that much to do the job and there is probably a very good reason - it takes, as you rightly say, skill and expertise and people have to make a living afterall (we are self-employed and know how hard it can be to run a business). Many thanks to all who have taken the time to reply, if anyone else has any comments, I would be really grateful to have them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 We have recently had iron railings (3 sets) fabricated and installed at the front of our house. The cost was 3,500€ and at first we were astounded with the quote. Each set is just under 3 metres in length. Then we looked at alternatives, including wood.Lapeyre have some in their catalogue, (www. lapeyre.fr) and I think Castorama also sell relatively inexpensive ones. They're usually wrought iron and very lightweight, and we didn't think they were very strong. We didn't like those. Having seen samples of our man's work we went with his quote and I have to say they are superb (but then I would say that!). Seriously though, they are extremely substantial and compare well with the type seen on the front of public buildings. They are very thick and heavy and rock-solid. To asnwer your question as to how they are fixed, they are cemented in holes (approx 12cm deep) in the balcony floor and into the walls.The cost is in the fabrication, each upright bar cost, from memory, 12€; ours are fairly simple in design, and you can get very 'fancy' ones at greater cost. There is a higher price for the corner supports, and then for decorative handrails and ornamental balls.The artisan took all the measurements and angles, and when they turned up on the lorry the rails were ready to fit complete with 90 degree returns etc. The fitting took only about 2 hours, so the cost must be in the materials and manufacture.We are glad that we got them now because they finish off the appearance of the approach to the house in a proper French style.Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 I used to manufacture and install automated gates, fencing and railings in the UK.On some heritage jobs I had to use the old method of setting the upright in a large hole and pouring molten lead around it, it is rarely seen these days as most of the original ironwork like that was melted down in the second world war.Except perhaps the queen and those enterprising chaps who removed their treasured gates and railings and buried them, every once in a while I would get the job of restoring some that had just been unearthed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misty1 Posted March 25, 2007 Author Share Posted March 25, 2007 Thanks Sid that is very helpful, I think we might ask for some quotes to be done and as we have about the same amount needed I imagine it will be the same price - but I think its going to have to wait for a long time while we save up! The other alternative is that we get hold of the metal and a welder and do it ourselves rather than buying the pieces already fabricated, I agree that the ones we saw in Leroy Merlin did look a little flimsy and probably suitable for decorative fencing etc.I would be interested to hear from anyone who has actually done this themselves and any tips you could give, my other half has done a bit of welding in his time....Kind regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG MAC Posted March 25, 2007 Share Posted March 25, 2007 Thinking outside the box why not have uprights fabricated to recieve decorative wrought panels then have a hardwood hand rail?Get the uprights made to have sockets to recieve your choice of panel simply slid or bolted in.Chemfix anchors stainless strud and domehead nuts are a tidy way of securing the plot.If funds are mega tight then using metpost starter sockets and a timber post and handrail with decorative infill may be a way forward but I would trim the flange from the sockets and make the fixing through the sole plate inside in all likeyhood you could get some box section and get a plate welded on to do the same job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misty1 Posted March 27, 2007 Author Share Posted March 27, 2007 Hi Mac What a brilliant idea - thinking ouside the box is obviously the way forward! I will let Steve see this tonight and discuss - thanks so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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