Architectural Metal Repair & Restoration in Brooklyn
You've seen those orange-brown streaks running down brownstone facades all over Brooklyn. Maybe you've got them on your own building. Most people assume it's surface rust, slap some primer on it, and move on. Twelve months later the streak is back, usually wider, and now the stone around the fire escape bracket is starting to crack.
That's not a paint problem. That's iron corroding underneath, physically expanding as it rusts, and pushing apart whatever it's anchored into. Painting over active corrosion doesn't stop it—it just hides where the problem is for another season.
What we actually do:
First, we find where water is reaching the metal. A failed seal where a fire escape bolts into the facade. A cornice joint that's opened up over decades of freeze-thaw cycles. Railing posts set into masonry that was never properly flashed. Each one lets water sit against bare metal, and once it starts, it doesn't stop on its own.
Second, we deal with the corrosion itself, not just the surface. Sometimes that means removing a section of ironwork, treating it properly, and reinstalling it. Sometimes the metal is too far gone and needs a fabricated replacement that matches the original profile. We tell you which situation you're in before we start—not after we've already removed something.
Third, we make sure everything meets current code, especially fire escapes. DOB requires periodic fire escape inspections in NYC for a reason. "Looks intact from the sidewalk" isn't the same as structurally sound. A fire escape that passes visual inspection but has corroded brackets at the wall connection is a safety system that might not hold up when it actually needs to.
Why it matters more than people think:
Rusting architectural metal isn't just an appearance issue. A cornice with corroded anchors can shed stone or metal pieces onto the sidewalk below. An ornamental railing that looks solid but has rusted through at its base can fail under normal weight. These are liability issues that look like cosmetic problems until they aren't anymore.
Our approach:
We inspect the metal and what it's anchored into before we quote repair versus replacement. If a section can be saved with rust treatment, proper sealing, and repainting, we say so. If it's too far compromised for a patch to mean anything, we explain why—clearly, without talking you into more than you need.
Local context:
Brooklyn's pre-war buildings carry a lot of original ironwork—fire escapes, cornices, stoop railings, window grilles—much of it over a century old and sitting through a hundred winters of salt air, moisture, and freeze-thaw. In landmarked districts like Park Slope, Fort Greene, and Carroll Gardens, replacement metalwork also needs to match original profiles and may require LPC approval. We handle that paperwork as part of the job.
If you're seeing rust stains, have a fire escape due for inspection, or have ironwork that's been "touched up" more than once, let's look at what's actually happening underneath.
Get a free estimate today.
📞 +1 929 283 1434
📧 gpconstructionny@gmail.com
📍 70 Dahill Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11218
🌐 greenpointconstructionny.com
