Residential

Residential metalwork in Saudi Arabia carries more of the architecture than in most countries: the mashrabiya screen that gives a villa privacy without closing it to the light, the entrance gate that sets the tone of the plot, the balustrade, the pergola, the feature wall behind the majlis seating. We fabricate that metalwork for villas, palaces and residential compounds, from the architect's or interior designer's drawings through cutting, forming and finishing to installation-ready pieces.

The materials are stainless, aluminium and brass, finished brushed, mirror, patterned or PVD-coloured; the processes are laser and waterjet cutting, bending, perforation and PVD. This page explains what we make for homes, how to choose a grade that will look the same after ten Saudi summers, and what a good enquiry from a homeowner or architect contains.

What we fabricate for residential projects

• Mashrabiya and privacy screens for façades, balconies, boundary walls and interiors, laser-cut in geometric, floral or custom patterns.
• Gates, railings and balustrade infills, cut and formed with laser cutting and bending, in stainless or aluminium.
• PVD-coloured feature panels, door cladding, kitchen and majlis elements in gold, bronze, champagne and black.
• Perforated sunshades, pergola infills and ventilation panels.
• Waterjet cutting for thick plate, brass and marble-inlaid patterns where a laser edge is not wanted.

Choosing the grade for a Saudi home

Inland, in Riyadh and the central region, 304 stainless serves gates, screens and railings well, and it is the grade for kitchens and interiors everywhere. Along the Red Sea and Gulf coasts, in Jeddah, Yanbu, Dammam and Al Khobar, exterior metal that faces the sea air should be 316L; the article on why 304 stains near the Saudi coast shows the tea-staining that follows when it is not. Screens and gates that need to be light are cut in aluminium 5052 or fabricated from 6063 sections and powder-coated, which suits large sliding gates and high façade screens.

Finish is where a home's metal ages well or badly. Hairline hides dust and fingerprints; mirror is for feature elements out of reach; brushed gold PVD gives the warmth of brass without the polishing. The finish guide explains the bases, and each finish page shows the surface at close range.

Designing a screen that works

A mashrabiya screen is a balance between privacy, light and stiffness. The open area sets how much can be seen through it and how much air and light pass; the pattern bridges set how stiff the panel is and how cleanly it cuts. The article on what mashrabiya is covers the tradition and the modern versions, and perforated sheet open area, hole size and pitch explains the geometry in plain terms; the open-area calculator gives the figure for a regular pattern. We prepare the pattern file for cutting, check bridge widths against the panel size and thickness, and make a sample panel before the run so the family can see the real light through it.

What a good enquiry contains

For an architect: the drawings, the grade, the thickness, the finish and colour, and whether each element is interior, exterior inland or exterior coastal. For a homeowner: photographs of the location, rough sizes, a reference image of the pattern or style, and the city. From that we return a drawing and a quotation, and the pattern is confirmed on a sample before cutting begins. Panel weights for the fixing design can be checked on the sheet and plate weight calculator. When you are ready, send the enquiry.

Common questions

Will a stainless steel gate rust in Jeddah?

Not if the grade and finish are chosen for the coast. 316L with a brushed finish, cleaned with fresh water now and then, stays sound in Jeddah's salt air. 304 used outdoors near the sea develops brown tea-staining within months, which is why we ask for the city before recommending a grade for any exterior piece.

Can I bring my own mashrabiya pattern?

Yes. Send the drawing, a photograph or a reference image and we prepare it for cutting, adjusting bridge widths so the screen is stiff and the cut is clean. If you have no pattern yet, we offer geometric families from our library that can be scaled to the opening, and a sample panel is made before the run.

Do you install as well as fabricate?

We fabricate to installation-ready condition, with fixing details on the drawing and position numbers on every panel, and we work with the project's contractor or a nominated installer for fixing. Where a project needs it, installation is arranged as part of the enquiry rather than assumed.

Which finish is easiest to keep clean at home?

A brushed or hairline finish, which hides fingerprints, dust and light scratching, and an anti-fingerprint coating on doors and handles that are touched every day. Mirror finishes are beautiful and show everything, so they belong on feature elements above hand height. PVD colours need only mild soap and water, never abrasive pads.