The Repair of Wrought and Cast Iron Work - Dublin City Council

IRON THE REPAIR OF WROUGHT AND CAST IRONWORK
Whatever the structure, one of the most commonly
encountered problems is likely to be corrosion of
fixings. Wrought iron fixings were often used on cast
iron structures which in many cases caused galvanic
corrosion to develop. This is a particularly important
consideration in the maintenance of ironwork
fountains. While the exterior may appear to be in
reasonable condition, the interior (which often
remains wet for more prolonged periods of time) may
have suffered more severe corrosion leading to a
significant loss of fixings. Where fixings are to be
replaced, stainless steel or phosphor bronze are the
preferred materials. New fixings should be isolated
wherever possible from the surrounding ironwork by
means of an inert insulating material such as nylon.
Screws and other fixings should be tightened with
caution, preferably by hand, rather than overtightening
with pneumatic or torque tools, to avoid
causing stress fractures to surrounding ironwork.
The conservation of adjacent materials such as tiled
floors, supporting masonry or glazing should not be
overlooked when dealing with larger projects.
Traditional plain glass is an often-overlooked aspect of
glasshouse conservation. Many types of traditional
conservatory glass are no longer manufactured and
the retention and conservation of existing glazing in
such structures will merit consideration.
This finely-made circular conservatory was designed
and erected at Castlebridge House, County Wexford
by James Pierce of Mill Road Iron Works, Wexford. In
addition to its iron structure, it contains a 10-tier iron
display stand for plants at its centre
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