Bespoke Glass Victorian style Column Porch

Bespoke Glass Victorian style COlumn Porch

We were first approached by DBR Ltd to design and create this bespoke Victorian style column entrance porch in 2023. The brief required a fully glazed apex roof in a design in keeping with the late 19th Century Gothic Revival property. The clients also wished to have an internal rainwater gutter with drainage concealed within the columns themselves.

The design stage of this project was exciting and unique and our Director and experienced team worked closely with the clients in order to achieve an aesthetically beautiful, period style porch with rainwater drainage that is almost invisible.

Design, COlumn Patterns And Manufacture

We were pleased to welcome Stephen Levrant and his design team from Heritage Architecture Ltd along with representatives from DBR Ltd for an in person design meeting at our workshops where we were able to discuss column design details and material options. Once the porch design was finalized, we moved into the next phase: creating a detailed 3D model and fully dimensioned drawings for client approval before starting production. At Fine Iron, precision is at the heart of our process, and for this project, exacting accuracy was essential. We ensured that the porch roof would align perfectly with the contours of the dressed stone door surround and follow the adjacent wall.

The porch’s substantial columns feature custom decorative head and base elements, carefully designed to complement the existing stone columns around the entrance. To achieve this, we hand-carved wooden patterns for these decorative details, which were then used to create molds for casting in iron. Once cast, each piece underwent quality checks, was refined by hand in our workshops, and integrated into the custom apex glazing bar roof frame. . This frame showcases a custom decorative front panel with a finial and intricate cast cresting, adding a unique character to the overall design.

To ensure functionality matched form, we fabricated water channels along the ring beam, double-checking that the drainage holes lined up perfectly with the column heads for effective water management. The centres of the columns were lined with a stainless steel inner liner for the water drainage

Before final finishing, the entire ironwork structure was shot blasted, and the glazing bar roof, along with water channels and the front decorative panel, received a zinc thermal coating to enhance durability. For the finishing touch, the ironwork was coated in a custom “Truffle” color, matching the existing ironwork and blending seamlessly with the decorative masonry.

Installation and completion

Prior to installation of the ironwork DBR Ltd. expertly reconstructed the entrance steps and piers to support the substantial cast iron columns, making accuracy paramount in our manufacturing process. The porch roofline needed to precisely follow the contours of the dressed stone door surround and align with the adjacent wall, while the columns were required to sit perfectly centered on the newly built piers.

Due to limited site access, we conducted comprehensive risk assessments and developed a meticulous lifting plan, enabling the ironwork to be safely craned into position. Our team worked in conjunction with DBR Ltd. on-site, ensuring a seamless and secure installation process. Once the ironwork porch structure was in situ, DBR Ltd. completed the project arranging glazing of the roof and carefully applied lead flashing to safeguard the decorative masonry.

Working closely with the clients and Heritage Architecture Ltd throughout this project allowed us to achieve a stunning result, marrying form, function, and craftsmanship into a truly unique and durable porch structure.

We are exceptionally pleased with the final result and appreciated the opportunity to contribute our craftsmanship to this distinctive column porch!