Services
Bespoke Metalwork Services Across the West Midlands
MP Gates and Handrails offers seven services from its Brierley Hill workshop: bespoke driveway gates, gate restoration, bespoke handrails, handrail restoration, bespoke railings and fencing, railing restoration, and security products including anti-ram posts, shutter door bars, window grilles and bollards. Every job is designed, made and fitted by Matthew, with a free no-obligation quote.
01 / Bespoke driveway gates
Looking for bespoke driveway gates in Brierley Hill?
A gate is the first thing anyone sees of your house, and it has to work every single day. I design each driveway gate for the opening it will sit in, not from a catalogue. That starts with a visit to measure the width, the fall of the drive, the posts or piers and the space the leaves need to swing. Then I draw the gate so you can see the bar spacing, the finials and any scrollwork before I cut a piece of steel.
Everything is made in my workshop in Brierley Hill from mild steel and wrought iron, welded and ground by hand, then painted in the colour you choose. The gallery shows black, white, grey and mint green. When the gate is ready I fit it myself, hang it, set the latch and check that it swings clear of the drive.
Most homeowners start by sending me a photo of the drive and a rough idea of the style. Spear tops, arched rails, ring motifs and scroll panels all appear in the work I have made. Tell me what you like and I will tell you honestly what suits the house.
Ask about bespoke driveway gates
Quick answers: bespoke driveway gates
How long does a bespoke driveway gate take from enquiry to fitting?
It depends on the size, the design and how busy the workshop is, so I give a realistic timetable with your quote rather than a promise up front. Once the drawing is agreed, making and fitting follow in order. Call and I will tell you where the diary stands today.
Can the gate match my existing railings or house style?
Yes. Send photos of the railings, the front door and any ironwork already on the property. I match bar spacing, finials and colour so the gate looks as though it was always part of the frontage, or I can design something deliberately different if you prefer.
02 / Gate restoration
Can my old driveway gates be restored in Kingswinford?
Old gates often have good bones. A heavy iron gate that has rusted along the bottom rail or dropped on its hinges can usually be brought back with less upheaval than starting again, provided the steel is still sound. I look at the corrosion, the welds, the hinges and the posts, and I tell you plainly whether restoring or replacing makes more sense for your gate.
Restoration means taking the gate off site where needed, stripping flaking paint and rust back to clean metal, repairing or replacing any bars that have failed, and refinishing it in the colour you want. I can rehang it on the existing posts or set new ones where the old pair have moved. Where a gate is beyond saving, I can make a new one that follows the original pattern so the house keeps its character.
Send me photos of the worst areas and of the gate as a whole. If you are in or near Kingswinford, Wordsley, Stourbridge or Dudley, ask about a look in person before I quote. The quote is free and carries no obligation either way.
Quick answers: gate restoration
How do I know if my gate is worth restoring?
Look at the bottom rail, the hinges and where bars meet the frame. Surface rust and flaking paint are usually fixable. Bars that crumble or frames that have split need more work. Send me photos and I will give you an honest view on whether restoring or replacing is the better route.
Will the restored gate keep its original design?
Yes, restoration keeps the pattern you already have. I repair damaged scrolls and bars to match, then refinish the whole gate so it looks even. If a section cannot be saved, I make a matching replacement piece rather than changing the design.
03 / Bespoke handrails
Who makes bespoke handrails in Stourbridge?
Steps without a rail are a worry, especially with children, older relatives or a heavy shopping bag in the mix. A well-made handrail gives a firm hold and finishes the steps at the same time. I make each rail to fit your steps rather than adapting something that is nearly the right length, so the line follows the stairs and the posts land where they should.
The work in the gallery covers front steps with scroll balusters, slim rails along a garden path or a gravel drive, and wall-mounted rails on indoor stairs, some with an LED strip running beside them. A curled end, a plain return or a set of bars between two rails are all options. I will suggest what suits the house and the people using the steps.
To start, tell me how many steps there are, whether there is a wall to fix to, and who will use the rail most. Photos of the steps from the side and from above help me draw it before I quote.
Quick answers: bespoke handrails
Can you fit a handrail to existing steps?
Yes, most of my handrails go onto steps that are already built. I measure the rise and run, decide whether the posts fix to the step, the side wall or the ground, and make the rail to suit. A photo of the steps and the surrounding walls is the best starting point.
Do you make rails for the inside of the house as well?
Yes. The gallery includes wall-mounted rails and balustrades on indoor stairs. Tell me about the staircase, the wall finish and whether you want lighting beside the rail. I will draw the layout and confirm how it fixes before you decide.
04 / Handrail restoration
Can a worn handrail be repaired in Dudley?
A handrail that has gone loose, rusty or flaky is a nuisance long before it looks bad, and it matters most when someone leans on it. Many can be repaired rather than replaced. I check how firmly each post sits in the step or wall, whether the fixings have corroded, and how much metal the rail itself has lost, then explain what needs doing in plain terms.
Loose posts are re-fixed or re-set. Corroded sections are cut out and replaced. Bare steel is cleaned back and repainted so it lasts. If you want a change while the work is under way, a new colour or a curled end can be added without starting from scratch. Photos of the base of each post tell me most of what I need before I visit.
Restoration is also a chance to look at the whole flight. If the steps have moved or the wall the rail fixes to is crumbling, I will point it out, so you are not paying to refix a rail onto something that is about to fail.
What I check on every rail
- How firmly each post is fixed to the step, wall or ground
- Rust at the base of posts, where water collects
- Welds and joints along the rail itself
- The state of the paint and whether bare metal is showing
What you can send me
- A photo of each post base
- A photo of the whole rail from the side
- The number of steps and where the rail fixes
Quick answers: handrail restoration
Is a wobbly handrail safe to leave for now?
A rail that moves when you lean on it should not be relied on. Use another support and get it looked at promptly. Call me with a description or send a photo of the post bases, and I will say whether it is a quick re-fix or needs more work.
Can you repaint a handrail without replacing it?
Often, yes. If the steel is sound, I clean it back, treat any rust and repaint in the colour you choose. If sections have thinned or split, I replace only those parts. The inspection tells me which route fits your rail.
05 / Railings and fencing
Need metal railings or fencing made in Halesowen?
Railings mark where your property starts while keeping the front garden open to the street. In the right style they lift the whole frontage, and when they match the gate and the posts they read as one considered job. I design and make railings and fencing for front boundaries, wall tops, terraces, steps and side returns, and I make them to the length and ground you actually have.
Spear tops, plain bars, basket twists and scroll panels all appear in the gallery, in black, white and grey. Railings can be set into brick piers, bolted to the top of a wall or fixed to a base, so I look at what is there before I draw anything. Falls in the ground, corners and the position of drains all change how a run is built.
Send me a photo of the boundary and a rough length, and say whether you want the railings to match a gate. If you also want the gate made, I can design both together.
Ask about railings and fencing
Quick answers: railings and fencing
Can railings follow a sloping boundary?
Yes. I measure the fall of the ground and make the railings in stepped or raking panels so the line follows the slope without gaps at the bottom. Send a photo from the side of the boundary and I will explain which approach suits your plot.
Can you put railings on top of an existing wall?
Often, yes. I check the wall's condition and thickness, then fix the railings to the top or the face using brackets that suit the brick. The gallery shows spear-topped runs on brick walls. A photo and a rough length will let me advise.
06 / Railing restoration
Can rusty railings be restored in Cradley Heath?
Railings take weather from every side, and the damage usually starts at the base where water sits against the metal. The good news is that a run of railings rarely needs replacing in one go. Rusted feet, bent bars, a missing spear and tired paint can all be dealt with in sections, and the finished run is repainted so it looks like one piece again.
I inspect the railings, mark what needs repair and explain the order of work. Anything that has lost too much metal is cut out and replaced with a matching part. Where the fixings have failed, I re-set them. The aim is to keep the railings you have, in the style they were built in, rather than replace them with something unrelated.
Matching matters on railings, because a repaired section that does not match the rest draws the eye. I take the spacing, spear shape and colour from the sections that are still good and make the replacement parts to match. Once the whole run is repainted, the repairs should be hard to find.
01 Inspect
Walk the run, mark corroded feet, bent bars and failed fixings.
02 Cut out
Remove anything that has lost too much metal to repair.
03 Replace
Weld in matching bars, spears or sections made to the original line.
04 Clean back
Take the whole run back to sound metal and treat any remaining rust.
05 Refinish
Repaint in the colour you choose so repairs disappear into the run.
Quick answers: railing restoration
Can missing spears or finials be replaced?
Yes. I fabricate or source matching spears and finials, weld them in and refinish the whole run so the colour is even. Send a photo of a good section next to the damaged one and I will match the pattern as closely as the original allows.
Does restoring railings mean taking them down?
Sometimes. Many runs can be repaired where they stand, but heavily corroded sections are easier to deal with in the workshop. I will say which applies when I have seen photos or visited, and explain how the gap will be handled in the meantime.
07 / Commercial and security
Where can businesses in Wolverhampton get anti-ram posts and bollards?
If you run a unit, shop, yard or depot, you need protection that fits the building and the way you work. I fabricate anti-ram posts, anti-ram shutter door bars, window grilles and bollards in steel at my Brierley Hill workshop and fit them on site. Each item is made to the opening or frontage it protects, agreed with you on a drawing before work starts, so there are no surprises on the day.
Start by telling me what you need to stop or protect: a roller shutter, a glazed front, a loading bay or a pavement edge. I will ask about access, deliveries and who else uses the space, then propose a layout and how each part is fixed. For larger sites, a short phone call usually saves a site visit.
If your insurer, landlord or a security survey calls for a specific product specification, say so at the very start. That lets us confirm what is possible before you commit to anything. Quotes are free, carry no obligation and can be sent to a named contact for approval.
| Product | Where businesses use it | What I need from you |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-ram posts | Shopfronts, entrances and boundaries where vehicles have access | Photos of the frontage, the positions you have in mind and any services under the ground |
| Anti-ram shutter door bars | Roller shutter doors on units, workshops and stores | Shutter width and height, the frame it fixes to and photos of the surround |
| Window grilles | Ground floor windows, rear elevations and storerooms | Window sizes, frame type and whether the grille needs to open |
| Bollards | Pavement edges, loading bays, walls and gates | Locations, quantity and how much clearance vehicles need |
Ask about commercial and security
Quick answers: commercial and security
Can you work to a specification from my insurer or landlord?
Send me the specification and I will say what I can and cannot make to it, before any quote is agreed. If a particular specification is required, we will check that early so you are not committed to something that does not meet the requirement.
Can you fit security products around my opening times?
I can discuss timing around your opening hours when you contact me. Tell me when the site is quiet and what access you have, and I will propose a plan for the work so trading is disrupted as little as possible.
Questions
Questions about the work
How bespoke work runs, what I make in and how restoration and security jobs are handled.
What does bespoke mean in practice?
It means each piece is designed for your opening, house and taste, then made from scratch. I measure on site, draw the design for approval, fabricate in the workshop and fit it myself. Nothing is chosen from a catalogue, so the proportions and details follow your property.
Can you copy a design from a photo?
Yes, send me the photo and tell me what you like about it. I will draw a version that fits your opening, which may differ in proportions or detail from the original. You approve the drawing before I make anything, so you know what you are getting.
Which metals do you work in?
I work in wrought iron and mild steel. Mild steel suits most gates, railings and handrails, and wrought iron suits traditional patterns and restoration. If you are unsure which suits your project, describe it or send photos and I will explain the options.
Do you fit everything you make?
Yes. Matthew fits what he makes, so the person who designed the gate also hangs it, adjusts the latch and checks it works. If you only need repair or restoration, the same applies: the person who looks at the job is the one doing the work.
What colours can the metalwork be painted?
Painted to the colour you choose. The gallery shows black, white, grey, mint green and orange finishes on gates and railings. Tell me the colour of your windows, doors and brickwork, and I will suggest what sits well with them.
Do you need to visit before you quote?
Not always. For many gates, handrails and railings, a few clear photos and a rough measurement are enough for a first quote. For larger or more complicated jobs I visit to measure properly. Either way the quote is free, and the visit carries no obligation.
Can I combine gates, railings and handrails in one job?
Yes, and it often looks better. Designing the gate, the railings and the handrail together lets me match bar spacing, finials and colour across the whole frontage. It also means one visit, one drawing and one quote. Tell me what you want and I will plan it as a set.
Is restoration cheaper than replacement?
Not always, so I give you an honest answer for your job. If the structure is sound, restoration often makes sense. If corrosion has gone through the metal, replacement is better. It depends on condition and size, so send photos for a free no-obligation quote and my view on both.
Can gates be made for a sloping drive?
Yes. I measure the fall of the drive and the gap under the leaves, then design the gate so it swings clear across the slope. Some gates follow the ground with raked bottom rails. Tell me about the slope and send a side-on photo of the drive.
How are anti-ram posts and bollards specified?
I fabricate them to a layout agreed with you, based on the frontage, access and what you need to protect. If your insurer or landlord requires a particular specification, tell me first and I will confirm what is possible before you agree to anything.
Free, no-obligation quote
Send Matthew a photo of your driveway
Tell me what you have in mind. I will look at your photos, talk it through and give you a free no-obligation quote.