Metal Man Restoration repairs, restores, and refinishes traditional, antique, and second-hand cast iron radiators for customers in Mount Vernon, NY and across the New York City area. Everything happens under one roof, from stripping and repair through hand polishing, color matching, and delivery, and we have been doing it for more than 20 years.
What Cast Iron Radiator Restoration Involves
A radiator that has been painted over a dozen times loses its detail and heats worse than it should. We strip the old paint and rust down to bare iron, repair damage, pressure-test where needed, then refinish the radiator in the look you want. Detail that was buried under decades of paint comes back sharp.
Repair, Refurbishment, and Refinishing: What Is the Difference
Repair fixes a specific fault, a cracked section, a leaking joint, or a broken foot. Refurbishment is the full reset: strip, repair, and refinish. Refinishing is cosmetic only, for a radiator that works fine but looks tired. Most people who call us asking for a repair actually want a full refurbishment once they see what a stripped radiator looks like.
Hand Polishing Done In-House
We are the only facility in the United States offering hand polishing on cast iron radiators in-house. A polished radiator is a very different object from a painted one. It reads as a furnishing rather than a utility, which is why designers and homeowners restoring period apartments ask for it.
Custom Color Matching and Finishes
Paint, metallic, and polished finishes are all on the table, and we color match to a swatch, a wall, or another radiator in the building. For a project with several radiators, we keep the finish consistent across all of them so they read as a set.
Why Restore a Radiator Instead of Replacing It
Old cast iron holds and radiates heat better than most modern replacements, and in a prewar building the radiators are usually original to the room. Restoration keeps the heat performance and the period detail, and a restored radiator lasts decades longer. Replacement means new pipework, a modern look, and often worse heat retention.
Pickup and Delivery Across the New York City Area
We collect radiators and return them finished, which keeps the job simple for buildings and homeowners who cannot move several hundred pounds of cast iron themselves. Having the whole process in one shop is what lets us quote competitively and turn work around faster than shops that subcontract the polishing or finishing.
Common Questions About Cast Iron Radiator Restoration
These are the questions homeowners, contractors, and building managers ask us most before sending radiators in.
How much does cast iron radiator restoration cost?
It depends on the size of the radiator, the number of sections, the condition, and the finish. A straight strip and repaint costs far less than a hand-polished finish. We quote per radiator once we have seen it or good photos of it.
Does restoring a radiator improve how it heats?
It can. Layers of old paint insulate the iron and reduce the heat that reaches the room. Stripping back to bare metal and refinishing properly lets the radiator do its job again.
Can you repair a cracked or leaking radiator?
Often yes. We assess the crack or joint and repair where the casting allows it. Some damage is beyond economic repair, and we will tell you that rather than take the job.
How long does the process take?
It varies with the finish and how many radiators are in the job. Because stripping, repair, polishing, and finishing all happen in our shop, turnaround is usually faster than shops that send the polishing out.
Do you pick up and deliver?
Yes. We collect the radiators and deliver them back finished across Mount Vernon, Westchester, and the New York City area.
Get a Free Estimate on Your Cast Iron Radiators
Send us photos of your radiators or call (914) 662-4218 and we will give you a free estimate. For the detail on how we do the work, see our radiator restoration process, or our cast iron radiator restoration in Manhattan page.