+ How do I place an order?

Once we've given you a formal quote and you are ready to place an order, sign the proposal and return it to Badger Railing along with a check for the required deposit. The order will be entered, and we will make and send a shop drawing for your approval before the job is fabricated.

+ What do you recommend to prevent rust?

Ornamental iron will rust if it is exposed to moisture and does not have a protective coating, but there are some things that can be done to prevent it.

We should explain that the term "wrought iron" is a generic term. Actually, wrought iron is no longer commercially produced at scale and steel has taken it's place. Decorative castings are still made of cast iron. Both steel and cast iron will rust eventually if not properly cared for.

At Badger Railing, we go to great lengths to make our finished products look attractive and endure the harsh Wisconsin environment. We sandblast most hot rolled steel materials to remove the mill scale... a major culprit in the rusting process. Exterior railings with slimmer profiles are built with solid steel posts instead of tubing, which substantially increases the life of the railing.

Picket style railings and fences are primed with an epoxy primer, then we finish paint your order with a urethane enamel finish. We highly recommend this finish as a long term protection of exterior installations. Urethane enamels offer excellent resistance to ultra violet light and salt sprays, two major factors in the degradation of paint finishes.

Other options that can be added are:

An zinc primer as an additional base coat

Hot dip galvanizing and brush blasting prior to the standard finishes above.

Paint color selection is a major factor in the life of the paint finish. Dark colors such as black or dark bronze hold up best over the years. White and beige do not hold up as well, and we try to discourage their use. White tends to show imperfections and oxidization far earlier. Custom colors are available for an additional charge if a color chip is provided.

Interior railings are generally furnished as shop primed only. The finish coat is then done by others to insure that all installation nicks and scratches are evenly painted. The result is a smooth finish without any touch up marks.

+ How long does it take after the order is placed?

That depends on several things... how complex the job is, the orders that are ahead of you, the chosen finish, and the time of year. Most people fall down their stairs in the winter but wait until spring to order a railing. Better to have the railing installed in the winter... which is also our slowest time. Still the whole process of estimating, measuring, preparing shop drawings, fabricating, painting and installing generally takes at least 4 to 6 weeks.

Once the construction cycle begins in the spring, our lead times expand rapidly, and it can easily take 8 to 12 weeks for even a simple railing to go through our shop.

Fence and gate projects are also subject to the weather. Typically the ground in Wisconsin freezes at Thanksgiving and does not thaw out until the first of April. Those dates vary widely from year to year. However, September 1st is usually the latest that a fence project can be started and be reasonably certain that it can be installed before the ground freezes.

+ Can you help design a project for me?

Yes and no! This is sort of like going to the car dealership and asking them to design a car from a bucket of bolts.... the possibilities are infinite and expensive. We need you to give us a place to start. What are the dimensions of the project? Is there a photo on our website that caught your attention? Do you have a photo or sketch of a design which interests you?

We would like to invite you to talk with one of our estimators. We have been building ornamental iron for over 60 years and can give you our design experience. We can also provide advice to help make the project practical and cost effective.

+ Can I install myself?

Yes.

If railings are being installed on a wood stair or deck this type of installation is usually relatively easy and does not require any special tools. Bases are welded onto the posts as the railing is built.

Railings installed on concrete however are more difficult to securely fasten. Lags and shields may not hold. Badger Railing typically core drills these railings into the concrete. However, they can be made with base plates.

Fences and gates can be built in sections for you to assemble on site.

Spiral stairs are built in one piece and may be difficult to transport, but are not difficult to install