When customers are looking for bespoke metal garden gates, metal side gates, iron railings or other metalwork, it’s understandable that they ask whether we can manufacture the product and supply it for someone else to install.
A supply-only option might seem simpler or more cost-effective at first glance. We’ve made the decision not to offer our bespoke gates and railings this way, and the reason is straightforward: the best quality, finish and long-term result comes from managing the entire process ourselves, from the initial site visit through to manufacture and installation.
We Carry Out Our Own Site Visits
While our initial process starts with requesting rough measurements and site photos, we do carry out a site visit if you’re happy to proceed based on our estimate.
Our team visits the property to take accurate measurements and assess the installation area, which allows us to spot practical considerations that aren’t obvious from initial site photos or sketches alone:
- Existing walls, brickwork and posts
- Ground levels and slopes
- Available fixing points
- Opening sizes and clearances
- The direction and operation of gates
- Access and installation requirements
Any of these can change how the finished product needs to be designed and installed. A set of metal wall railings, for example, can look straightforward on paper, but the condition of the wall and the available fixing points can have a significant impact on how (and whether) they go up cleanly.
Bespoke Gates and Railings Need the Right Installation
Our gates and railings are made specifically for each individual property. They’re not off-the-shelf products that can be delivered and fitted anywhere.
A gate can be manufactured perfectly and still fail on site if it’s installed incorrectly, it may not open, close or align as it should. The positioning of hinges, posts, catches, locks and clearances all play a part in how a gate operates, and the same applies to metal side gates, metal garden gates and larger bespoke metalwork installations.
By carrying out the installation ourselves, we make sure the product is fitted correctly and performs as intended from day one, something our own guide to installing a metal garden gate covers in more detail for anyone curious about what’s actually involved.
Our Fitters Have Specialist Experience
Our fitters are highly experienced specifically in installing gates and railings. They understand our products, how they’re constructed, and what’s required to achieve a high-quality finished installation, along with the specialist tools and practical skills needed to deal with the realities of working on site.
Just as importantly, our fitters can make adjustments during installation if required. Even with accurate measurements and careful manufacturing, site conditions can sometimes differ slightly from what was anticipated. Rather than leaving a third-party installer to figure the product out on their own, our team already has the knowledge to make those final adjustments and get everything properly aligned and working.
It’s the Finishing Details That Matter
A good installation is about more than getting the gate or railings into position. Our fitters pay attention to the smaller details that give a finished installation a professional appearance:
- Fitting nut covers where appropriate
- Carrying out touch-up work
- Using touch-up spray paint where necessary
- Checking alignment and clearances
- Making final adjustments to ensure everything operates correctly
- Leaving the installation neat and properly finished
These details might seem minor, but they make a real difference to the overall appearance of iron railings, metal gates and other bespoke metalwork.
One Company Responsible for the Complete Job
When we design, manufacture and install the product ourselves, there’s a clear line of responsibility throughout the project. We take care of:
- The initial site visit and measurements
- Design and specification
- Manufacture
- Finishing
- Delivery
- Installation
- Final adjustments and finishing touches
That means our customers have one point of contact throughout. With supply-only, responsibility gets murkier: if something doesn’t fit or operate correctly, it can be difficult to work out whether the issue lies with the measurements, the manufacturing, the existing structure or the installation. By managing the whole process ourselves, we can take responsibility for the finished installation rather than passing it between different parties.
Avoiding Unnecessary Returns and Delays
There’s also a practical reason we don’t offer a supply-only service. If a bespoke product supplied to a third-party installer runs into an issue that can’t be resolved on site, it may need to come back to our workshop for inspection or adjustment.
Because gates and railings are large, heavy and bespoke, that’s rarely simple. In some circumstances a same-day courier is needed to get the product back to us, which is costly and holds the project up. When our own fitters are on site, they can usually identify and resolve minor issues there and then, avoiding that unnecessary transport and disruption altogether.
Protecting the Finish
Installation is also the stage where the finished product is most at risk. Powder-coated, painted and otherwise finished metalwork needs careful handling during transport and fitting, and our own installation team knows exactly how our products should be handled to minimise the risk of damage. If a small mark or touch-up is needed during installation, our fitters deal with it as part of the finishing process rather than leaving it to someone unfamiliar with the product.
Why We Believe Supply and Installation Works Better
We understand some customers may prefer to arrange their own installer. But with bespoke gates and railings, manufacture and installation are closely connected, and our approach lets us control the complete process and hold the finished product to the standard we expect.
Whether it’s metal garden gates, metal side gates, iron railings, metal wall railings or metal balcony railings, we want the finished installation to look right, operate correctly and give our customers confidence in the quality of the work.
We don’t just want to supply a gate or railing. We want to deliver a properly finished installation we’re proud to put our name to. That’s why we provide our bespoke gates and railings as a complete design, manufacture and installation service, rather than on a supply-only basis.
If you’d like to talk through a project, get a free, no-obligation quote and we’ll arrange a site visit.
