Forerunner Creations

We are an owner-operated metal fabrication company, specializing in the restoration and replication of 18th and 19th century cast and forged metalwork. Working in cooperation with homeowners and preservationists we achieve historically accurate and beautiful finished products that are compliant with all federal and city Landmark criteria.  

Our company is a recognized contractor with the NYC Landmarks Conservancy.

In historic districts, fences and handrails made of cast-iron and wrought-iron differ in appearance due to the distinctive ways in which these materials were manufactured and used in construction.  Wrought-iron was traditionally formed by hammering rods of hot iron over an anvil, and bending or twisting them into thin, flowing shapes.  For this reason, wrought-iron fences and rails seem light and airy.  Cast-iron is manufactured by pouring molten iron into a pressed sand mold.  It is more brittle than wrought-iron and cannot be shaped by heating and bending, but retains whatever form it was when cast. As a result, cast-iron fences and rails sometimes look heavier but can have more elaborate ornamentation than those of wrought-iron.

Forerunner Creations utilizes a variety of materials and techniques to replicate your existing ironwork.  The most popular alternative material we employ today is Aluminum.  The benefits of using this metal are that it's greener and cleaner to cast, and it is far more corrosion resistant than iron or other metals.  Our techniques range from loose molding to the latest 3D scanning technology and CNC carving.   All replication and fabrication is completed in our shop by trained craftsmen.  We then do a complete installation and provide all the finishing touches at the job site. 

Combining old world techniques with cutting edge technology, we offer the ability to re-create all aspects of your metalwork.