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Welding, Engineering, and Assembly Company, Inc. (WEACO) has always maintained a distinguished reputation throughout the industry. Please see the information below for answers to some frequently asked questions.
How do I get started?
Give us a call - You can arrange for us to come to your site and develop plans and drawings. We will review your existing architectural features and discuss preliminary options with you to identify a general design type. We will develop some preliminary design plans for your review and approval. From those plans we can superimpose your product onto a digital image of the work site so that you can get a good feeling of the final look. Once you have made a final selection we will put together shop drawings and installation specifications so that you can know what to expect. Telephone (410) 467-1354 / Facsimile (410) 235-8033.
Send us a picture - if you are concerned with a maintenance issue and considering repairing or replacing the job or section. A picture is worth a thousand words. Send us a picture of the entire site and some close up shots of your concerns. (weacoinc@aol.com) We can take a look at the problems and give you feedback regarding your options and the potential cost of each option.
Send us your plans and drawings - if you have engineering and architectural drawings or if you have sketches and measurements you can send us your drawings (2144 Harford Rd., 21218). We will review the drawings and get back to you with a time frame for the project and an estimate of the cost. We will need to inspect the project site before we will be able to give a final estimate.
Stop by - bring in your measurements, pictures or your concerns. We can discuss your project and develop a plan to meet your needs. You can see and touch the parts and components and get a great feel for your options. If you are a real do-it-yourselfer we can fabricate a custom made product that makes installation simple and fast. We are open from 7:30 to 3:30 Monday through Thursday for walk in consultations and are also available for appointments.
Can I fix my rail? - In some cases there are a number of simple repairs that can be made to extend the useful life of your railing for many years. Many of the repairs can be done with products fabricated to meet your specific needs and that can be installed or applied by you.
Do you have a no-maintenance product? - Every product has maintenance over some period of time. We can provide you with the pros and cons of steel, ornamental iron, aluminum, vinyl, extruded plastics and wood. Aluminum degasses and certain alloys are subject to failure, vinyl chips, steel rusts and wood rots. The right choice of material based on your needs and the initial coatings and standard maintenance makes all of the difference. See the maintenance section below the questions.
What can we expect from your company? - A professional, courteous, and well planned job. We expect everything to go smoothly. However, in some cases we do not meet your expectations. We are proud and confident that our service group is open, responsive and dedicated to your satisfaction.
What do your customers say about your products and services? -
"To all at WEACO, thank you so much for doing such a great job! I love the way the ironwork looks on my home. Sincerely"
"Thank you for the wonderful work on my home. The door and window grates are beautiful. Sincerely"
What can I expect during my installation? - Normally it takes about 2 to 4 weeks to get your job built and ready for installation. Unless you have requested or there are special circumstances your representative will have informed you of the install steps when you execute your contract and we not call you regarding your installation. Install procedures and approximate locations will be noted in the contract. If you have questions this is the time to have us clarify both the product and installation process.
Can my current rail posts be removed and the new posts set into the same hole? - It is possible to drill the post out of the current hole and reset the new post in that hole. However, special care needs to be taken. Cracking, (visible or hidden) may exist which may cause the section of concrete being drilled to fail and break away from the slab.
Does WEACO build specialty steel products? - We do. We can fabricate granite and marble counter support brackets, air conditioner or heat pump security guards and cages, open staircases with wood or decorative iron treads.
Do you fabricate the cellar trap doors or cellar covers? - Yes! We have different options to help with water going into the cellar way, security or walk plate trap doors for basement delivery. Since the doors are custom made they can accommodate unusual obstructions and can be made to fit non-standard openings.
Do you provide help with ADA and building code compliance? - Yes. through the years we have become well versed in the American with Disabilities Act Handbook and we have developed a wealth of practical application knowledge to help you comply with the Act. We have developed affordable and effective ways to deal with ramps, rails and decking that are cost effective.
Can I or should I do this myself?
You can do many of the small repair or installation projects. If you are handy and have some basic power tools we can fabricate a rail that can be easily installed and enjoyed for many years to come. We can identify what measurements you need to provide. WEACO can also help you identify the best method to set your rail, guard or steel product. We can provide you with the installation parts and material you will need to complete the task.
In general if you can sketch a top view of the porch and the rise and run of each step (with a measurement of any step nosing) we can layout the slope and length of your rail and present the options for attachment. If you are looking to install window guards or flower boxes we need a top view, and a front view of the window frame. We will also need a description of the wall, (i.e. brick siding, formstone, etc.) and the condition of the wall. We can design the guards and attachments to meet your conditions.
Like any do-it-yourself project you are responsible for the measurements and the details of the project. We are happy to provide you with counsel, but cannot be responsible for things we have not seen. In addition to correcting any error we make, we will also make every attempt to help you correct items you did not consider or anticipate.
Maintenance
WEACO has been in the business of manufacturing specialty steel products for over 60 years. Our goal is to build a relationship. Accordingly, we are happy to address product issues like cosmetic rusting, rusting that causes a product to fail, (post has rusted through, or the cap has rusted off the rail section) rails pulling away from the wall because of the porch settling, loose parts in the concrete and loose or failing bolt attachments. In many cases we can perform simple services that will repair the problem and extend the useful life of the product for many years. It should be noted that in some cases the rusting or concrete failure is so significant that repair work is not the best course of action.
The interesting thing about maintenance is that the amount needed depends on the time frame. Over our 60 years, we have tried many of the different railing and fence product materials. Far and away the longest lasting, least maintenance product over a long-term period is steel. It goes without saying that a short-term concern is rust. However, today's industrial coatings and applications significantly reduce rusting and delay first time maintenance for many years. Aluminum certainly eliminates welding failure but sets up mechanical failure and is subject to abuse. Steel is also one of the most flexible materials to achieve your design. Forging, bending and shaping are a wonderful feature of steel.
The most common problem is the failure of the bottom rail post. Most commonly, it rusts through and is no longer stable. Although it may be possible to install a slip shoe over the post and lag the shoe to the ground, this will not provide a long-term solution. Depending on the extent of the rusting, WEACO can weld an extension to the post and reset the post into the concrete setting. We can also cut the existing post off of the rail and install a new solid post. Most of the posts that fail are hollow and not only fail as a result of less material but also because water is captured inside the tubing.
Many times we receive a call about the rail pulling out of the wall. Most of the time this is a result of settling and the wall attachment fails. In some cases we can provide a slip show that can facilitate the repair. In some cases we need to extend the existing rail and reattach the railing back in it's original location.
General rusting and rough railings can generally be ground, filled, sanded and repainted. In some cases the rusting has gone too far and the capping or the base channel that the capping is attached to is beyond repair. Sometimes we can replace the capping; however, the rail may need to be replaced.
Damage from falling trees or collision may be repairable. If the general structure of the rail is not damaged, it is possible to cut out the damaged pieces and repair the rail.
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