Ironmongery refers to the manufacture of iron goods for the house and garden and can refer to items such as nails, pans and tools. This article will specifically refer to decorative ironmongery, as opposed to constructional ironmongery.
Decorative ironmongery are beautiful additions to any house or garden and work as spectacular modern or traditional features of a property.
Our guide will cover decorative ironmongery both inside and outside the home, how much these different types of ironmongery are likely to cost, what will affect the cost of decorative ironmongery, how you can save money and the best way to hire an installer for your decorative ironmongery pieces!
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How Much Does Decorative Ironmongery Cost?
Decorative ironmongery refers to a vast range of products for your home and garden, all of which come at differing costs.
Common household decorative ironmongery such as handles, hooks or locks will typically range from £5-£60 in cost, but more unique and complex items, such as balustrades could range from £100-£1,000.
The table below breaks down the estimated cost of decorative interior ironmongery by type:
| Ironmongery Type | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Doorknobs | £20-£75 per pair |
| Doorknob plates | £5-£10 each |
| Door levers | £25-£40 per pair |
| Door pulls | £50 per pair |
| Door hinges | £5-£25 per hinge |
| Drawer pulls | £5-£35 each |
| Drawer plate handles | £80 |
| Drawer drop handles | £5-£10 |
| Drawer cup handles | £2-£30 |
| Shelf brackets | £10-£40 each |
| Decorative stair balustrades | £400-£1,500+ |
| Stair clips for rugs | £15 each |
| Stair rods for rugs | £20-£50 each |
| Skirting board corner protectors | £10-£15 each |
| Hooks | £5-£50 each |
| House numbers | £5 each |
| House letters | £5 each |
| Cabinet latches | £20-£40 each |
Decorative door furniture is a type of decorative ironmongery that homeowners use typically to decorate their front or back doors.
The table below breaks down the estimated cost for decorative door furniture by type:
| Decorative Door Furniture Type | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Push plates | £5-£60 each |
| Bell push | £5-£140 each |
| Door knockers | £10-£135 each |
| Escutcheons for keyholes | £5-£20 each |
| Letterboxes | £15-£170 each |
| Rim locks | £40-£65 each |
| Lever locks | £50-£80 each |
Another common strand of decorative ironmongery is that of window furniture.
The table below takes a look at the estimated cost of decorative window furniture by type:
| Window Furniture Type | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Fasteners | £5-£40 depending on design and window type |
| Handles and pulls | £3-£5 |
| Locks | £5-£45 |
As you can see, there is a wide range of types of decorative ironmongery available for specific features of your home.
It’s possible to source ironmongery for relatively cheap prices, as the tables above demonstrate, but do take into account that the quality and longevity of cheaper decorative ironmongery may be lower than the products in a higher price range.
What Affects the Cost of Decorative Ironmongery?
Several factors will dramatically impact the cost of decorative ironmongery and it’s a good idea to make sure you’re up to speed with these factors before you make any final purchases or installations.
Ironmongery Type
Due to the huge range of decorative ironmongery available, the type of ironmongery you would like for your home or garden will play a massive role in deciding the final cost of your purchase.
Ironmongery tends to be assorted into the following categories:
- Cabinet and cupboards
- Doors
- Fixings
- Stairs
- Windows
- Accessories
- Architectural hardware
- Lighting
Depending on what strand of decorative ironmongery you’re interested in, the pricing will differ.
For example, a single doorbell could range from between £20-£100 in price, whereas the purchase of metal nails would range between £1-£40.
Also, remember to take into account the size of the product you’re after; if it is something small, such as a nail, it is likely to cost less than a product such as a doorbell or a hook.
There can also be a huge difference in the price of decorative ironmongery, even between products of the same type. For example, stair brackets are likely to cost between £5-£7, whereas a stair rod is likely to cost between £30-£50.
For this reason, make sure you know exactly which product you’re after and do any necessary research before you make your final purchase.
Size
As mentioned, the size of your decorative ironmongery product will make a difference to the final cost.
If you’re considering products that tend to be naturally larger, for example, a product in architectural hardware, such as a bench or seating pair, you’re likely to be looking between £100-£200.
This is because, in comparison to a doorknob, which is likely to cost between £20-£75, there is far more material needed to craft the bench or seat. This then increases its total price.
Quality
Decorative ironmongery is brilliant for your home or garden because there is an endless range of designs and styles in all of its product types. This means it is quite likely you’ll find a product you like within your ideal price range.
It is important to bear in mind, however, that the quality of the ironmongery will affect the final price. The better the quality of the product, the higher the price will be.
A commonly used material in ironmongery is iron, but this is not the only metal that can be used, and there will be a price difference between nickel decorative ironmongery and brass.
Some ironmongers will be happy to work with you to create your perfect decorative pieces, in the material of your choice, but this is a bespoke service and is likely to cost you more than a store-bought product.
You may find that some ironmongers have a collection of antique or period ironmongery products that will cost more.
Intricacy of Design
When we refer to quality in ironmongery, it’s good to look at two factors: the materials used and the design.
A door handle can come in a variety of designs and materials. A traditional pewter drop handle could cost you between £5-£7 in comparison to a cast brass ring door handle which could cost you £60-£80.
Similarly, more luxury ironmongers may make sure that production is carried out by hand by highly experienced craftsmen. A handmade decorative ironmongery piece is likely to cost more due to the nature of the labour required.
The difference lies both in the material difference and the difference in design. Ironmongery decorative pieces come in both simple, classic designs and intricate, unique designs and finding the perfect decorative ironmongery for your home is all about what style suits you best and works with the current aesthetic of your home or garden.
How Can I Save Money on Decorative Ironmongery for My Home?
There are a few ways you can save money on decorative ironmongery.
Firstly, most decorative ironmongery can be fit inside the home by yourself using just a screwdriver. Door pulls, door handles and even some locks can be installed by yourself.
Fitting any decorative ironmongery yourself eliminates the cost of hiring a tradesperson to come into the home and do the job for you.
Fitting door furniture, particularly if the design of the product is complex and intricately made, could be more complex and may require a drill and more experience, so if you’re unsure of the best installation method when faced with an ironmongery product, it may be best to hire a professional to avoid any mishaps.
Choose a simple design of the product. Classic designs can be a timeless and attractive feature just as much as the more fancy and complicated designs, so if you’re working to a lower budget you can be sure to find some beautifully simple decorative ironmongery pieces that are just the right price for you.
Consider combining bespoke or period ironmongery with high street options. This is a fantastic way to incorporate a few of the more luxury ironmongery pieces you truly adore alongside the cheaper options.
Most high street designs will follow period influences so the mix-and-match route will not leave you with a haphazard collection of decorative pieces.
Before purchasing anything, consider choosing only one or two areas in your home – such as the front door and kitchen – where decorative ironmongery will have the biggest impact. This way, you’re still able to acquire the decorative ironmongery pieces that will look best in your home, but you won’t be stretching your budget too tight trying to fill every room.
If you have a few pieces of decorative ironmongery you need installing, a great way to cut costs is to use HouseholdQuotes and let us find you a qualified professional to get the job done to your standard.
Click To Get QuotesHow Do I Find and Hire Someone to Fit Ironmongery and Door Furniture?
If you have any friends, family or neighbours who have recently had some decorative ironmongery and door furniture installed, make sure to ask them if they’re happy to pass along the recommendation of any specific professional.
You can also easily compare quotes using HouseholdQuotes to find the best tradesperson for the job.
Ensuring the Professional Is the Right Fit
To make sure you’ve found the best person for the job, we recommend you ask them for the below:
- For a written quote.
- For their experience.
- For their references. If they’re able to provide you with references you can be sure of their ability and may even be able to see some photos of their previous work.
- If they and their tools are insured. This can protect you from lawsuits if they or your property is damaged when they come to your home.
Final Checklist
This checklist will make sure you’ve got everything you need before you purchase any decorative ironmongery:
- Consider the type of decorative ironmongery you’d like to purchase.
- Choose which room or rooms of your house you would like to install with decorative ironmongery.
- Consider what type of quality of decorative ironmongery you’d like before making a final purchase.
- Use HouseholdQuotes to find a professional who can take on the job for you.
Click To Get QuotesFrequently Asked Questions
How Do I Maintain My Ironmongery?
Wrought Iron
If your ironmongery product is made from wrought iron, you must be careful with its exposure to water as once exposed it is likely to rust. Ensure that any wrought iron furniture has a weather-resistant coating to prolong its longevity.
You should regularly clean wrought iron with a small and soft scrubbing brush and warm soapy water that is mild and non-abrasive. Once cleaned, the product should be dried thoroughly.
If you want your wrought iron to gleam, then lightly sponge it with a mixture of baking powder and water until it shines. Once completed, again, make sure to dry the iron thoroughly.
Brass
Brass does tarnish easily so make sure when you’re cleaning it to use only water and a mild detergent as anything harsher could wind up damaging the plating and costing you more in repairs.
There is also a difference between lacquered and non-lacquered brass. Lacquered brass can be cleaned easily with a damp cloth whereas non-lacquered brass may need a specific brass cleaner to get the metal back up to scratch.
Pewter
Pewter is relatively straightforward to maintain and you will know it needs to be cleaned if its surface becomes dull.
Before washing, clean the pewter with a metal polish in straight lines and then wash by hand in hot soapy water. Make sure that once you are happy with the cleanliness of the product, you dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth.
Nickel
Like pewter, nickel is a very easily maintained metal and does not need anything more than warm, soapy water and a non-abrasive cloth. Nickel will not rust but depending on the conditions in which it stays then it may corrode.
Therefore, make sure to clean your nickel products every couple of months or if you notice the metal looking particularly dull.
It is not recommended that you use chemical cleaning products on nickel as they could damage the plating.