Improve Home Security with Wrought Iron Door Inserts

Webmaster February 28, 2023

If you take your home security seriously, you might have invested in a high tech camera system. However, camera systems are only a psychological deterrent. If a burglar wants to break in, a camera won’t stop them – it will only record them. Moreover, that recording may or may not even be valid as evidence. It all depends on what it captures. If you want effective home security, you need to invest in something that will physically prevent a burglar from entering your home. That’s where wrought iron door inserts come in.

What Are Wrought Iron Door Inserts?

Wrought iron door inserts are iron grates or bars that fit between the panes of glass on your front door. These are usually designed to be attractive and decorative, while still maintaining their function. What is their function? To prevent anyone from getting through your door just from breaking the glass.

Are They Effective?

Now comes the age old question: are they effective? Is there actually a point to this, or is it just to make you feel better about your security? The answer is: yes they are. A burglar may be able to take a rock to the glass on your door, but they can’t do much after that. With the wrought iron door insert in the way, they can’t step through the broken door window. If designed properly, they also can’t reach the inside deadbolt from through the grate.

Now they’ve made a loud noise by breaking the glass and have nowhere to go but away. Your home is safe and so are your belongings. If you have homeowner’s insurance that covers vandalism or break-ins, you may even be able to replace your glass free of charge. However, this is all assuming someone would break your door’s glass in the first place. Seeing wrought iron door inserts is enough of a deterrent for many to not try in the first place.

Impact on Appearance

Now is the question of appearance. Do wrought iron door inserts look like prison bars? In the end, it does come down to perspective and perception. However, we don’t think they do – not when made by artistic professionals like us.

Wrought iron door inserts can be made as simple as prison bars. However, that doesn’t mean that’s the only way. When crafting these inserts, we tend to lean more toward art nouveau type styles, since this style works well with wrought iron. The resulting appearance is that you’ve simply decorated your door. Most people may not even consider the real purpose of the insert; they’ll simply admire the design.

Custom Wrought Iron Door Inserts

If you have a design idea that you would like crafted for your own door, give us a call. We love to consult with clients and work out their design ideas into something tangible. We look forward to hearing from you!

Custom Steelwork for Unique Home and Business Decor

Webmaster February 28, 2023

Did you know Pro Weld can do more than just railings? Our specialty is metal, in all of its wonderful forms. From railings to machinery, all the way to custom steelwork, we know our way around metal. Wondering what custom steelwork is? Technically, anything made custom from steel is custom steelwork. However, we want to shine a light on the possibilities in home and business decor.

Custom Steelwork Wall Art

If you run a business, or simply enjoy large art pieces in your home, custom steelwork wall art might be up your alley. Have you ever seen wall art made of steel before? It can look really incredible. Imagine large, sweeping, metal leaves, intermingled with berries that catch the light on their metal surfaces. Or, imagine a contemporary cityscape made of overlapping highrises and mountains in the background. All of this can be done with flat pieces of steel, hammered out into the right shapes and cut into pieces.

Hammered steel wall art is ideal for large spaces with lots of light flow. An office space is a good example. Large office spaces with ample lighting and extra tall wall spaces offer the perfect place to display a piece like this. The light will catch on all of the gentle waves in the metal. We think this is one of the best ways to appreciate the work that went into it.

Steel Sculptures

Looking for something more suited to be displayed in the center of a room? Steel sculptures are a beautiful and contemporary way to fill empty space. Steel sculptures can be small, or they can be massive. It all depends on how much space you need to fill. A small sculpture could sit happily on a corner table in a waiting room. A large one could fill a 3 story entry room with skylights and escalators. You could also display one of a larger size outdoors to draw attention to your business. Extra points if the sculpture depicts the topic of your work!

Custom Steel Vessels

As we mentioned, steel can be used for virtually anything. So, take a moment to consider custom steelwork in the form of custom steel vessels. This could be steel cups, steel beer steins, steel pitchers, or steel bowls. You can use steel to make practically anything. And we’re up to the challenge!

Any Custom Steelwork in Toronto

Any steelwork you can imagine, we’re probably game for. Call us today with your ideas and let’s start a conversation about the possibilities. Pro Weld is always excited to take on something new and interesting. We look forward to hearing from you!

Professional Steel Railings for Toronto Businesses

Webmaster January 31, 2023

If you’re a Toronto business owner looking to outfit your business with high quality railings, you’re in the right place. Pro Weld is here to help! For most businesses, we consider steel to be the best material for rails. So, here are some of the reasons you should consider professional steel railings from Pro Weld for your business.

A Strong Material

Steel railings are a great choice for businesses, first and foremost, because steel is a strong, reliable material. While other materials might make some great looking railings, their strength is not all equal. So, glass railings might work if you own an upper class office building, but for most businesses, strength matters. Customers, clientele, and employees coming and going regularly will use your railings day in and day out. For high traffic businesses, you need high traffic railings. That’s exactly what steel is good for.

Steel is made to withstand a lot of use. It won’t take damage easily and, if it does get dented, scraped, or even bent, it won’t significantly impact the integrity of the railings. This is why steel railings are often installed in places like parking lots. A modern car that backs into a steel railing is more likely to be the losing team.

Variety of Designs

Second to strength, design matters. Therefore, you could opt for the same minimalist, double-horizontal bar railings that many businesses use. Or, you could opt for something with a little more character. Pro Weld isn’t just about utilitarian production. We’re craftsman. Check our variety of designs and find something that’s both strong and stylish to set your business apart from the others.

Custom Steel Railing Designs

Additionally, if you have a custom railing design you’d like to be made, we can make it happen. Bring us your design or sit down with us to create one and we can give you a unique railing that isn’t found anywhere else.

Professional Steel Railing Repair in Toronto

New railings are necessary in new buildings, but not always in old ones. If your business is already outfitted with metal railings that just aren’t in good shape anymore, they might be salvageable. Depending on the extent of the damage, you may be able to get away with professional steel railing repair. Instead of fully replacing them, you can simply have any damage repaired.

High Quality Railings

If you’re looking to buy high quality railings, Pro Weld is the best choice. We’ve been serving Toronto reliably for over twenty years, outfitting businesses just like yours. Therefore, if you have any questions about our services or railings, let us know. We would love to discuss the needs of your business and get to work crafting the right railings for you.

Simple Steel Railings for Parking Lot Stairs and Ramps

Webmaster January 31, 2023

Large parking lots aren’t always completely flat. In a hilly area, multiple levels may be necessary to cut down on how much terraforming has to be done. That means putting in stairs and wheelchair ramps to allow for easy navigation. And, with stairs and ramps comes the need for railings and guardrails. If you want railings that are reliable, simple, and get the job done, you want simple steel railings from Pro Weld.

Stair and Ramp Railing Laws

You may be aware that stairs, legally, must have railings on them. If the stairs ascend more than a step or two, it becomes hazardous for many people to traverse them. To ensure they’re as safe as possible, we attach railings that can be held onto or leaned on as necessary. They’re also great for catching yourself if you trip.

However, unless you’re well-versed in disability law, you may be unaware that ramps have their own guidelines. A ramp may be easier for an abled person to walk up and down. However, when you add wheels into the mix, they’re extremely hazardous without railings. A parking lot with stairs or ramps must have railings on both to ensure visitors to a business, hospital, or other location are safe.

The Most Durable Option

Because we’re talking about railings for parking lot stairs and ramps, we have to consider durability. Glass railings may be attractive, but they’re expensive and easily broken when combined with the back end of somebody’s truck. Since cars are heavy and drivers are imperfect, you need the strongest material available for parking lot railings. Simple steel railings are the perfect choice, in that case.

Steel is an extremely strong metal that is not easily bent or broken. This is especially true if opting for a simple design with fewer bars of a wider circumference.

Simple Designs

You’re surely familiar with the most standard of steel railings. They’re made up of two horizontal bars – one at about hip level and one at about knee level. These are excellent safety railings. The width of the bars makes them extra strong and incredibly difficult to break. Meanwhile, the positioning of the bars makes them easy to grab onto. Additionally, the width of the bars is a very typical grip size for most hands, making them comfortable and easy on fingers that may experience more pain than average. Someone with arthritis or a joint condition will have less trouble holding onto a bar of this comfortable width.

Custom Railing Designs

While simple steel railings are perfect for parking lot stairs and ramps, that doesn’t mean they have to be cookie-cutter. Simple can also be different. If you’d like something that adds some character to your building’s exterior, opt for a custom railing design.

Steel railings can be customized a number of ways. You could add zig-zagging between-bars to decorate the space between two horizontal ones. Or, you could do something else more geometrically creative. The possibilities are unlimited. Give us a call and we can discuss any railings you’re interested in ordering. Custom designs may call for a consultation to iron out the details. In any case, we’re happy to help!

Iron Spiral Staircases for Interior and Exterior

Webmaster December 9, 2022

Looking for an interior or exterior stairway? Iron spiral staircases aren’t just an aesthetic choice. There are actually a lot of reasons you might opt for one of them. Let’s take a look at why you might invest in one of Pro Weld’s spiral staircases for your Toronto home or business.

Space Efficient

Spiral staircases aren’t just a throwback to older fashions; they have some timeless perks you can enjoy even today. For example, iron spiral staircases are extremely space efficient. Straight staircases require a long stretch of floorspace that isn’t available in every room. However, just because a room doesn’t have a lot of floor space doesn’t mean it doesn’t need a stairway in it. Solve your space problem by using an iron spiral staircase.

Spiral staircases take up significantly less space since they curve back on themselves. That means you can fit one easily into the corner of a room. In fact, you could make do with a square space of only 4.5ft long.

Easy to Navigate

Spiral staircases may give you pause because of their odd shape. Are they easy to use? Don’t they cause problems with regard to moving things? While we admit spiral staircases aren’t the ideal design for transporting goods, they’re actually better than stairways with regard to physical ease of use.

Iron spiral staircases are easy to use, especially for those with minor mobility difficulties. This is due to the spiral staircase being a closer fit and having reachable handholds on either side. Someone who isn’t so light on their feet can grip the handrail on one side and the center post with the other. While wide, straight stairways are better for carrying large boxes, they also provide too much space to easily hold on at both sides.

Additionally, if you’re worried about tripping on the stairs, spiral staircases come with the added benefit of being easier to catch yourself on. There may be some funny ideas about people falling down spiral staircases in films, but that’s mostly added for humorous effect. In reality, a spiral staircase of a moderate to small size provides a lot of places to grab on. That means, even if you lose your footing, it’s unlikely that you would end up going all the way down the stairs. The same can’t be said for straight stairways.

Steps That Grip

An additional perk to iron spiral staircases is that you can order them with steps that grip. The same type of metal grate design that’s used for a factory catwalk can be used on a spiral staircase. This is ideal for spiral staircases that are placed outdoors or in work environments. Wet shoes won’t lead to slipping. Plus, instead of collecting dirt, grated steps will allow filth to fall through, meaning your stairs stay cleaner and easier to traverse.

High Quality Iron Spiral Staircases

If you’re looking for a space-efficient stair solution, get a spiral staircase from Pro Weld. Check our photos to see examples of our work. Or, contact us today to set up a consultation. We would be happy to discuss your options with you or show you our complete portfolio.

Metal Stairways for Factories and Industrial Buildings

Webmaster December 9, 2022

Factories and industrial spaces have a lot of unique design requirements. One thing that they can’t do without is metal stairways. There are a lot of reasons why metal stairways are the best choice for factories. All of those reasons are catered to with the beautiful iron and steel stairs made by Pro Weld.

Why Metal Stairways for Factories?

The reasons why metal stairways are the best choice for factories are endless. However, we can offer you the most important ones.

Metal Is Durable

When working with heavy machinery, carrying heavy materials, and taking on the day to day back and forth of employees, having a durable stairway is a must. Relying on metal, in this case, is an obvious solution. You aren’t going to get the same results from wood. And, while cement may seem like great alternative, it comes with a lot of downsides. One of those downsides is that the stairs will begin to warp as the cement is worn down. Other downsides relate to the following points.

Metal Allows Air and Light Flow

When working in an enclosed space where machine fumes may be present, having good airflow is important. Most of the fumes of a factory will be ventilated directly outside. However, certain smells and fumes will remain indoors. After all, why else would a factory smell the way it does? Metal, grated stairways are ideal for factories because they allow air through them, as well as light.

Metal Is Nonslip

In a factory or industrial building, having safe stairs is absolutely paramount. Metal stairways can be designed with grated stairs. These provide a nonslip surface that shoes can grip to. Additionally, any liquid or dirt that spills on them will drop through to the floor below. There, it’s easy to sweep or wipe up without risking the safety of employees.

Types of Metal Stairways

Stairways come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Pro Weld doesn’t just offer a one-size fits all solution. We offer many types of metal stairways.

Straight, stainless steel stairways are great for easy maintenance, since they’re easy to clean and don’t rely on coating to prevent rust. These stairways are also very material safe, which makes them a great choice for any factory or industrial site that uses chemicals regularly.

However, if you’re looking for something darker or more compact, an iron, spiral staircase is also a great choice. This type of stairway is ideal for spaces where carrying goods isn’t necessary. Consider using a spiral staircase between factory levels and an employee lounge or office space.

Custom Metal Stairways for Factories

There’s more to a stairway than just performance. Appearance, size, and material also matter. No matter what kind of metal stairways you’re after, Pro Weld can provide them. In fact, we can provide them exactly to your safety-conscious specifications.

If you’re interested in custom ordering metal stairways for your factory or other industrial building, call us today. We would love to set up a consultation and discuss exactly what kind of stairways you’re looking for. When you contact us, we can give you a quote and estimate the speed of production. That makes your job a lot easier.

Get Handrails for Your Stairs – It’s the Law!

Webmaster November 20, 2022

If you’re working on constructing or commissioning the construction of a new building, listen closely! Did you know you absolutely must have handrails for your stairs? This may seem like a given for big stairways that span between floors. However, it’s also necessary for small stairways of only a few steps. Even if someone else is putting in the stairs and handrails for you, you can still play your part! Railing style can make a big impact on your overall design. So, let’s consider these options.

If You Didn’t Want Handrails

There are quite a few building designs that don’t account for the appearance of handrails. A simple, contemporary building looks sleek with a few railing-free steps leading up to the door or a porch. However, you legally have to have railings for steps that reach a certain height. Therefore, you may have no choice but to cut into that beautifully sleek design with some handrails. Fortunately, there are solutions for stair handrails that might just end up working for you.

Glass handrails for these stairs may be the perfect way to get everything you want. They ensure those walking up the stairs have a safe trip (or lack thereof) while still allowing a clear view of the building. The glass helps keep visuals open, allows light to pass through, and goes well with contemporary building design.

Handrails That Increase the Design Flair

If you want every part of your building to be a deliberate design choice rather than something you’ll hope people ignore, there are solutions for that as well. Handrails can be the perfect way to increase the design flair of a building if utilized correctly.

One way to create a daring design piece is by installing something unusual, like colored wrought iron or wrought steel. You could even do something as bold as a hybrid metal design. Imagine the stunning visuals of a black wrought iron design with wrought steel intertwining throughout. The bright silver color of the steel and the black of the iron would contrast each other beautifully.

Handrails That Blend Into the Background

There are two options of you’re looking for handrails for your stairs that will blend in: something transparent and something that matches. That means getting glass railings, or getting railings that are the same color as your porch or building.

If you have a contemporary building, you may find the building and porch are both black – or even white. Getting railings that are the same color will make them blend into the surrounding parts of the building. Then they’re less obtrusive while still fulfilling their very important role in your building’s safety.

Buy Quality Handrails in Toronto

If you need to buy high quality railings for your building in Toronto, Pro Weld is the team to help get you sorted. Give us a call and we can discuss style and design options. You can even order something custom from us and we’ll get to crafting just for you.

Buy Wrought Iron Railings for Your Home Interior

Webmaster November 20, 2022

Have you ever seen some stunning wrought iron railings and wanted them for yourself? Well, there’s good news! Wrought iron railings aren’t simply a design fad of the past. So many of us fell in love with them, that they’re still crafted today. In fact, you’ve stumbled onto the website of exactly one such team of metalworkers. You can get wrought iron railings for your home interior. Let’s see how.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Wrought Iron Railings

When choosing wrought iron railings, the first thing to determine is where you want them. Indoor wrought iron railings and outdoor ones may seem like the same thing, but there can be big differences in maintenance.

The primary concern you should keep in mind when deciding on a material for your railings is weatherproofing. Outdoor iron railings are completely possible – and look great too – but they will require more maintenance to prevent rusting. Wrought iron railings for your home interior, on the other hand, will stand up to wear much better. If they’re given a high quality coating of the right type, they should last many years without any kind of special upkeep.

Choose Your Design

When buying railings from Pro Weld, you can choose your own design. Don’t settle for the machine-made, cookie cutter railings available in many home stores. Get something original and let it speak for you in your home design.

Custom designs can come from taking inspiration from others, coming up with something from scratch yourself, or working with us to find the right, unique design for you via our professional railing artists.

If you’re not interested in going completely custom, you’ll find some really great design options in our regular portfolio. Find the one that feels right and we’ll make it just for you.

Get Reputable Railings

You can buy railings from many different places across Toronto. However, we recommend going with a team that has built up an airtight reputation. Our team at Pro Weld has been serving Toronto clientele for many years. In our wake, we’ve left a lot of happy people and beautiful homes. Check out our photos to see some of our proudest productions.

Contact Us at Pro Weld

If you’re looking for a consultation or to begin the ordering process, just give us a call. We’re happy to get things started for you, beginning with a meeting. Getting the chance to talk, you can take the opportunity to see how we work together and if you’re interested in moving forward with rail production. If you’re looking to order custom railings, we can also go over some of the design possibilities and take the first steps to creating one for you.

What Type of Metal Is Best for Outdoor Railings?

Webmaster October 31, 2022

When investing in outdoor railings for your home or business, you don’t want to buy something that breaks or rusts within a year or two. The faster your outdoor railings begin to have problems, the sooner you have to sink maintenance costs into them. So, what’s the best type of metal for outdoor railings? Let’s look at a few options and what pros and cons they come with.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a fantastic choice for outdoor railings; that’s why they’re so easy to spot lining commercial walkways and steps. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have their drawbacks, right? Well, in fact, there really aren’t any. Stainless steel is probably the best metal you could opt for when choosing a metal for outdoor railings.

They take ages to show the slightest hint of rusting
They’re sturdy and stand up to a lot of weight and impact
A variety of styles are possible with stainless steel

Aluminum

Aluminum railings actually look pretty similar to stainless steel when made in certain styles. Are they equally as good a choice? Well, not quite. Aluminum railings aren’t as strong as steel, since aluminum isn’t as dense a metal. However, that isn’t to say aluminum doesn’t have its perks.

As much a perk as a drawback, aluminum being less dense than steel means it’s more lightweight. If you’re looking for railings that can be picked up and moved around, aluminum is a great choice of metal. That’s why segmented railings, like those used at a fair or other event, are usually aluminum.

In addition to being lighter weight than steel, aluminum is also more affordable. As you know, “cheap” can be as much a pro as it can be a con.

Glass

If you’re looking for railings that stand up well to moisture and wind, glass is worth considering. Sure, glass isn’t a metal. But, that can be a good thing. Because glass isn’t metal, there’s no chance of it rusting.

If you’re looking for railings to line a porch, balcony, or deck, glass railings are a great choice. Some glass railings do come with metal frames, and most come with metal connectors. So be sure to choose your glass railings carefully.

Wrought Iron

Wrought iron isn’t the best metal for outdoor railings. It’s more prone to rusting and it’s brittle enough to break, rather than bend, if backed into with your care. However, humans have mastered the art of caring for wrought iron so that it does a pretty solid job of staying beautiful.

Wrought iron has the benefit of being extremely customizable and beautiful. And, it can stay that way if properly maintained. Therefore, if you opt for wrought iron railings, just be sure to keep an eye on it for rust. Then, if you spot any, act fast to stop it from spreading and put on a new coat of rust inhibiting paint.

Buy Outdoor Railings That Last

No matter what metal you decide on, there’s a right way to buy it and care for it to ensure you end up with quality. To start, source your railings from a group of professional craftsmen like those who work at Pro Weld. Our team is here to provide you with top quality railings, year round. Call us today if you have questions and we’ll happily help you sort out the answers.

Steel Railings in Simple, Attractive Patterns

Webmaster October 31, 2022

Railings come in innumerable designs. However, more often than not, different metals are “typecast,” so to speak. Stainless steel is used for bulky, simple railings, rather than attractive ones with nice patterns. Wrought iron is used for curvy, elegant railings with a lot of detail. Does it have to be this way? Of course not! Let’s give the spotlight to steel railings, the underdog in gorgeous design.

Why Are Steel Railings So Basic?

If you’ve ever wondered why steel railings are always simple, bulky designs, there’s a reason. Steel is an incredibly hard, dense metal alloy. That’s why it’s so often used for things like knives. They need to start sharp and stay that way for as long as possible. Steel is strong enough to ensure that that happens.

So, because steel is such a sturdy, stubborn metal, it’s easy to put it to use as a brawny safety barrier. The more fluid designs are left to its more manipulable cousin, iron.

Limitations in Steel Railing Design

There’s another facet of steel railing design that must be considered. Have you ever noticed that stainless steel railings are left plain while wrought iron is coated? This is all about rust prevention. The first parts of steel railings to fall victim to oxidization (rusting) are the joints. That’s because the joints where the steel is welded together undergoes a process that makes it more vulnerable to oxidizing.

Therefore, imagine a steel railing that’s been shaped into an intricate pattern full of connecting pieces. The more joints in a steel railing, the more likely it is to fall victim to rust. Does that mean it can’t be done? Of course it can! We simply must take precautions.

Steel Railings in Simple, Attractive Patterns

Steel railings can be made into beautiful designs by relying on simple, attractive patterns. Instead of hammering the steel into fancy, curvy shapes like those crafted from iron, we should opt for something simpler. In order to leave the steel “naked” we need to ensure it can hold up to rain and wind without rusting right away.

A simple pattern that relies on a lot of bends in the metal can accomplish this feat. The goal is to create a design with as little welding as possible. That leaves room for lots of creativity. Bars can curve around each other, pass each other by, bend to avoid each other, and make a beautiful pattern.

You may be wondering, “why not just paint the steel railings?” Well, technically you can paint stainless steel. However, it’s not easy. Stainless steel doesn’t allow paint to adhere to it very easily, so you have to get creative and use non-standard paints. Plus, most people opt for steel due to its appearance and lack of coating maintenance. If you’re interested in decorative railings with a coating, you may just want to get wrought iron.

Custom Steel Railings from Pro Weld

If you’re in the market for custom steel railings, you can get them from Pro Weld. Give us a call and let’s schedule a consultation to discuss your design ideas. We’re happy to craft steel railings into whatever patterns you want. Of course, we’ll do so with due consideration as to what kind of maintenance they’ll need in the coming years.

Blog

What Are Wrought Iron Door Inserts?

Are They Effective?

Impact on Appearance

Custom Wrought Iron Door Inserts

Custom Steelwork Wall Art

Steel Sculptures

Custom Steel Vessels

Any Custom Steelwork in Toronto

A Strong Material

Variety of Designs

Custom Steel Railing Designs

Professional Steel Railing Repair in Toronto

High Quality Railings

Stair and Ramp Railing Laws

The Most Durable Option

Simple Designs

Custom Railing Designs

Space Efficient

Easy to Navigate

Steps That Grip

High Quality Iron Spiral Staircases

Why Metal Stairways for Factories?

Metal Is Durable

Metal Allows Air and Light Flow

Metal Is Nonslip

Types of Metal Stairways

Custom Metal Stairways for Factories

If You Didn’t Want Handrails

Handrails That Increase the Design Flair

Handrails That Blend Into the Background

Buy Quality Handrails in Toronto

Indoor vs. Outdoor Wrought Iron Railings

Choose Your Design

Get Reputable Railings

Contact Us at Pro Weld

Stainless Steel

Aluminum

Glass

Wrought Iron

Buy Outdoor Railings That Last

Why Are Steel Railings So Basic?

Limitations in Steel Railing Design

Steel Railings in Simple, Attractive Patterns

Custom Steel Railings from Pro Weld

CONTACT US

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