Metal Man Restoration restores architectural metalwork on Brooklyn’s historic homes and buildings. We work on ornamental ironwork, stoop and areaway railings, bronze doors and entrances, plaques, and storefront and lobby metal, handling cleaning, repair, fabrication, refinishing, and protective coatings under one roof. Much of brownstone Brooklyn sits inside designated historic districts, and the work is planned around that from the start.
Brooklyn Architectural Metal We Restore
The architectural metal on Brooklyn’s brownstones, Victorian homes, lofts, and prewar apartment buildings tends to fall into a few categories:
- Ornamental iron stoop railings, areaway fences, and gates on brownstones and row houses
- Bronze and cast-metal entrances on prewar apartment buildings and institutional buildings
- Bronze doors and fixtures in houses of worship
- Plaques and memorials on public and private buildings
- Cornices and architectural trim on historic exteriors
- Storefront and lobby metal in brass, bronze, and cast iron
Metal Man’s Architectural Metal Restoration Work
In August 2009 the U.S. Government hired us to restore the exterior bronze gates at the front entrance of the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House in New York City. We re-cast a missing finial section, made welding repairs, rebuilt the bronze caster wheels so the gates swung freely again, and recreated the original statuary bronze finish.
In September 2014 we restored the bronze sanctuary doors at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, working entirely on-site to strip them to bare bronze, refinish them to their natural tone, and seal them with a fresh clear coat.
Closer to brownstone scale, in August 2015 we restored the wrought iron entranceway of 251 West 89th Street, a Manhattan prewar building. We stripped every layer of paint and metal-filled the pitted and rotted areas to rebuild the iron’s profile.
What Architectural Metal Restoration Includes
Every project starts with an on-site assessment of the metal, its condition, and its finish. From there we clean the surface, repair or fabricate any damaged or missing sections, and refinish the metal by polishing, plating, or building an appropriate patina, then seal it with a protective coating.
For the full picture, see our architectural metal restoration overview and our guide to how bronze, brass, and copper restore differently.
Landmark and Preservation Requirements in Brooklyn
Brooklyn has many historic districts designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, concentrated in its brownstone neighborhoods. Work that affects a landmark’s exterior or a designated interior can require a permit from the Commission before it begins.
We help owners and architects confirm a building’s status and align the restoration with the applicable preservation standards.
Neighborhoods We Serve Across Brooklyn
In Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Bedford-Stuyvesant, the work is stoop railings, areaway fences, and entrance metal on brownstones and row houses. In Ditmas Park and Flatbush, it runs to railings and gates on Victorian houses. In DUMBO and Williamsburg, it is entrance and lobby metal on loft and former industrial buildings.
Common Questions About Architectural Metal Restoration in Brooklyn
These are the questions Brooklyn building owners, boards, and architects ask most before a project begins.
What landmark metalwork have you restored?
Our landmark work includes the bronze gates at the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House and the bronze sanctuary doors at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, both in New York City.
Do you restore architectural metal on-site in Brooklyn?
Often, yes. Large facades, railings, and fixed elements are restored on-site. Doors, gates, plaques, and smaller pieces usually come to our shop for a full restoration, then return to your building for reinstallation.
Can you tell what metal is under old paint?
Usually, and it is worth checking before anything is replaced. Testing a small area first can change what a project is worth doing.
Can you fabricate missing or damaged sections?
Yes. At the Custom House we re-cast a missing bronze finial section and fabricated it back into the gate. Replacements are made to match the original, so the finished work reads as one continuous piece.
Which Brooklyn neighborhoods do you serve?
All of them, including Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Ditmas Park, Flatbush, DUMBO, and Williamsburg.
For other boroughs, see architectural metal restoration in Manhattan and architectural metal restoration in the Bronx.
Restore Your Brooklyn Building’s Metalwork
If your Brooklyn home or building has bronze, iron, or other architectural metal that needs restoration, fill out the form below or call (914) 662-4218, and we will inspect it before we quote.
Projects Like This
Real projects from our own shop and job sites. Every one of these is work we did ourselves.
Alexander Hamilton US Customs House
In August 2009, the U.S. Government hired Metal Man Restoration to restore the exterior bronze gates at the front...
View the project
251 West 89th Street - Entranceway Restoration
In August 2015, Metal Man Restoration was hired to restore the front entranceway of 251 West 89th Street in Manhattan...
View the project
Church of St. Ignatius Loyola NYC
In September 2014, Metal Man Restoration was hired to restore the sanctuary doors at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola...
View the project
Being an interior designer in NYC for the past 10 years we have used metal man for all of our plating, finishing and metal restoration work. They have performed amazing work on light fixtures/door hardware/plumbing fixtures (changing fixtures from brass to either chrome or nickel finishes). We just...
Our Clients
We serve a diverse range of clients, including homeowners, contractors, antique dealers, hardware companies, insurance companies, restoration companies, and collectors.