In this edition of the CI Connection:
• Hot Iron – New website, showroom launched
• Color Your World
• Tips + Tools
• Creative Metal Showcase

Hot Iron – New Custom Iron website is live
After months of redesign, the Custom Iron website is live and getting some great feedback. The update includes easier navigation and more interactivity. Among other improvements, there is a home plan on the welcome page that can be used as navigation throughout the site for specific products in relation to the areas in a home.

The baluster section has been getting specific attention because of new organization and the ease of use in finding the balusters you are looking for. You may click on the section of balusters that interests you and scroll through the collection or use the newly added search function that searches by part number, ornament, material, name, and other variables. We also beefed up the photo gallery with more installed products for our customers to look at and get inspiration.

New Custom Iron showroom is open
If you’re ever in the Rochester, Minnesota area, stop by our new showroom in the Rochester Market Square on South Broadway. It is a fabulous new space with one stop shopping for the builder or home remodeler.

Color Match Here at Custom Iron, we can “match” just about any solid color wet paint very well. It is not always possible to “match” custom powdercoat colors or custom faux finishes as well. Powdercoat colors are dry pigments applied with an electrostatic process and then baked on for a lasting and durable finish.

In general, custom wet coat one color paints will match the original sample very closely so that when both are held at arm’s length, with 4” of space between them, they will appear to be the same paint.

For custom powdercoat colors, if we have an extra 2 weeks, we can request an “archival match” from a sample. These matches are generally as close as the wet coat matches. If we don’t have an extra 2 weeks, then we will match by obtaining spray-outs from powder vendors and then selecting a color that is closest to the sample. More variation between the original and the match is expected. The powdercoat “match” will complement the sample and be in the same family of color.

Custom faux finishes with multiple paints are achieved with a variety of methods added to a sprayed base coat

• Overspray one or more top coats
• Hand-apply one or more top colors with rag, sponge, or brush

It is unlikely that our faux finish will exactly match the faux treatment on the original sample. We match the paint colors and attempt to achieve a similar effect that will complement the treatment in the sample.

Our tip this issue is to go to our website and click on the Balusters section on the left hand side. We’ve incorporated a search function that will allow the user to search for balusters by part number, ornament, material, name, and other variables. This will make discussion of specific balusters on the phone much easier, you’ll be able to find all the balusters within a certain parameter with just a keyword and a click. Please check out this new function here: http://www. customiron.com/balusters.html and give us any feedback you might have.

This is where we showcase installed creative metal. If you have Custom Iron metal balusters, panels, or a stair you’re particularly proud of, send us a picture and we’ll feature it in an upcoming Custom Iron Connection. If we made a spiral or curving stair and it looks fabulous in your setting, send us a picture of it! You’ll get credit for the stair (if you choose), some “press” and a chance to showcase what you do. Let us show what Custom Iron and you can do together. Send digital pictures to jq@customiron.com. Send prints to Julie Quinn, Custom Iron, 400 1st Street East, Zumbrota, MN 55992.

Above right: Custom designed panels with insets painted
brilliant gold grace this stairway in a home on Lake Calhoun in
Minneapolis.