Wrought Iron Window Grill

[Mike Grant]

Try a Google search for "burglar bars" We had them on our house in South Africa. Look at "images"

[Simon Strom]

Thanks for the advice Mike!

I’ve done searches like that, but I can’t find much in the way of technical info on how they go together or mounting options. I’d like to know the pros and cons of having a full frame sit just inside the edge of the window, or if it might be better to have the bars overlap the window and mount to the face of the brick on my house? I’m not really sure what parts can be tacked together and how burglar resistant they would be when they are. I’m trying to avoid just having a square grid of bars because I’ll be trying to sell or rent the house soon. Unfortunately most of the iron work done around here is pretty basic (and ugly IMO). I know there is a good deal more ornate work over in Europe, so was looking for advice for maybe someone that has had that sort of work done.

[Mike Grant]

The better looking ones are bigger than the window opening. They can be as ornate or plain as you want them to be. When they are bolted in place the bolt heads are welded so they can’t be turned out. Do whatever looks nicest for the building and your budget. Anyone who can weld up an ornate gate can make them. Not rocket science.

[Simon Strom]

Thanks, I’m thinking of doing something similar to the fence that runs around Buckingham Palace for the top by putting some fleur-de-lis on top with gold leafing and maybe putting large rosettes or medallions on the front. Also would like a curved bottom/sides so I can fit a planter in there. I’ll post some pictures when done. It will probably be a couple of weeks between planning and installation. Cheers!

[Gert du Preez]

Trust any current or former Suf Affrikan to speak with authority pertaining matters of Burglar Bars, Alarm systems, High voltage electric fences, Self loading weapons, Armed response reaction times, Stun Guns, Pitbul Terriers, Anti Hijack devices, Satellite vehicle tracking……………

Africa is no place for sissies !!

[Jill Marie Welsh]

Simon there are a few (well two) sign bracket guys I know of from the Northeast. They work with wrought iron all the time.
Not sure if it’s cool to post their names on here but if you get stuck let me know. Also have a client who specializes in this type of thing (railings) but the sign guys probably do it artsier and better-looking.
Love….Jill

[Shane Drew]

quote Simon Strom:

Thanks, I’m thinking of doing something similar to the fence that runs around Buckingham Palace for the top by putting some fleur-de-lis on top with gold leafing and maybe putting large rosettes or medallions on the front.

Simon…. Gold Leaf?.. similar to Buckingham palace?…. and you are in a high crime area? 😮 Mate, if it looks too flash, the thieves will think you are hiding some treasures’ and you’ll make yourself a target.

I’d be going smart, but low key myself.

Bit like the boy racers around here. They do their cars up to the max, and wonder why the cops keep pulling them over. Same theory. Get noticed and you may be asking for trouble. 😉

[Simon Strom]

Thanks for the responses everybody. Yeah, I thought about making it to flashy. It’s really good advice. The window is on the side of the house though so not very visible from the street. There are a few tall bushes near that window also. The problem where I am is that it doesn’t matter how much money you have or they think you have. They would literally destroy thousands of dollars of property to get $10. They absolutely don’t care.

The rest of the windows for the house I’m putting some security window film on them. It’s 8mm stuff that is suppose to make it really hard to get through the glass. The glass shatters but won’t come apart easily.

Jill, one of my main questions is about the mounting and what is feasible. I’ll be going to the bookstore after work to see if I can find any more definitive answers.

[Simon Strom]

Ok, so here’s my first draft for the design. I will still need to meet with the blacksmith to correct any problems with construction. The mounting tabs are probably done wrong too. When done I’ll post some pictures. The wife gave me he!! about the gold leafing too! To bad that $5 – $10 of gold leafing would make me look too rich.

Thanks again for all the previous replies.

😀

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Attachments:

[John Harding]

Thats a nice design Simon, what part of the Bronx do you live in BTW

John 😀

[Simon Strom]

Thanks. I’m actually in an area called Decatur, GA. The neighborhood is called Belvedere Park. It’s about 7 1/2 miles from downtown Atlanta. There are really really nice areas in Decatur and then total ghetto areas. Never been to NYC but really should go someday.

[Mike Grant]

Looks good, but do you not think its a bit too much steel. The openings seem quite small. They could be opened up to about 9" vertically with fewer horizontals, you just need enough to stop a small child squeezing through.

Just a thought! 🙂

[Simon Strom]

Thanks Mike!

Of course I’m open to any suggestion anyone has as I’ve never dealt with any type of iron work before. One of the dimensions is already set because the bars are hot pierced but come already pre-formed. It was one of the many questions I need to sort out with the blacksmith. I don’t know if he can take a regular bar and pierce it himself. Of course the other dimension is adjustable depending on the overall width and how many bars will be put in. It would certainly make it cheaper by taking one bar out and distributing the widths. Less material and welding time. I only went that way because he (the blacksmith) suggested 6" x 6". But now that you mention I’m going to take my drawing and do a few more sketches to see how it looks with it more opened up. I’ll have to figure up the weight to get an idea. Not really sure what my brick wall can handle. I suppose it depends on the mounting as well.

[Mike Grant]

Make sure your mounting brackets have a good purchase, you don’t want to drill to near the edge of a brick.

[Simon Strom]

I totally agree. I thought about that but didn’t want to do to much planning for that because I’m not sure exactly how he wants to do the mounting. I’ll measure and draw the bricks up after I talk to him to make sure that the holes will be far enough away from the edge of the bricks so no breakage occurs. It’s possible that he might even use a full length of angle on each side.

[Peter Normington]

I don’t know how it works where you are Simon, but for a blacksmith to form from scratch would cost a lot here, most of our wrought iron comes from India, is preformed and is very cheap. finials, twists and hot pierced iron is quite labour intensive. so most suppliers buy in the components, and and just spot weld together.

not a lot of help, though. just a comment

Peter

[Simon Strom]

Thanks Peter for the insight and comment. I’m definitely not educated on the ins and outs of metal work. I wish I did know more. My great-grandfather was a blacksmith from Malmö, Sweden. Of course I was too young to learn anything from that though.

The blacksmith I’m using has local supplier here in Atlanta that gets their metal from a place in Italy. The company is called Indital. http://www.indital.com/

He let me borrow the catalog with all the spec’s in it. So that’s what I used to draw up my design. The bars, finials, Scrolls and Tabs are all premade parts that he would cut down to size (where needed) and then weld together. I didn’t know if it was possible (or feasible really) to take a pre-made bar though and hot pierce it. If it’s more expensive to do that then it’s really not worth it in my case anyway.

Any input I can get helps. Cheers!

[Kevin Flowers]

Hi
as Peter stated components are purchased & welded together, i attached a link to give you some new ideas

http://www.fhbrundle.com/iron.htm

Kev

[Simon Strom]

Thanks Kevin. I’ll have a look. I might be able to find some better scrolls that can fit in the openings. I was having a hard time finding ones small enough to fit in the other catalog. The finial spear points that I used was specified to be used on 3/4" square, but the bars are 11/16" round. So will probably need to find a more appropriate fit.