Custom metal fabrication in West Vancouver

West Vancouver is a different kind of residential market. Average home assessments in the British Properties and along Marine Drive regularly exceed $3–5 million, and waterfront properties in Dundarave, Caulfeild, and Eagle Harbour push well above that. The homeowners, architects, and builders working on these properties expect fabrication quality and material specifications that match the investment in the home itself.

That means stainless steel 316 fittings instead of 304. Hot-dip galvanizing under powder coat instead of paint-grade mild steel left to weather. Glass railing systems with engineered standoff hardware instead of surface-mount shoe bases. The material choices cost more, the fabrication tolerances are tighter, and the finishing expectations are higher — but the end product holds up to coastal exposure and looks right on a $4 million waterfront renovation.

We've fabricated metalwork for properties across the West Vancouver hillside and shoreline. The architecture ranges from mid-century modern homes built in the 1960s and 1970s that are being fully renovated with contemporary metalwork, to new custom builds on upper British Properties lots where the architect is specifying feature staircases, structural steel canopies, and designer railings from the initial design package.

• Luxury custom home construction in British Properties, Chartwell, and upper Caulfeild — architect-specified staircases, railings, and gates on new builds valued at $5M+
• Mid-century modern renovation wave — 1960s and 1970s homes in Ambleside and Dundarave being updated with contemporary steel and glass metalwork
• Marine and coastal exposure across all waterfront neighbourhoods — salt air demands stainless steel 316, hot-dip galvanizing, and marine-grade powder coatings
• Large lot sizes supporting full driveway gate systems — dual swing and sliding gates with automation, intercom, and camera integration
• Glass railings for ocean and mountain view preservation — the dominant railing specification on south-facing and waterfront decks
• High-end landscape integration — pool surrounds, retaining wall caps, and multi-level terrace railings fabricated to work with hardscaping

Every exterior metalwork scope in West Vancouver needs to account for marine exposure. Properties in Dundarave, Ambleside, Caulfeild, Horseshoe Bay, and Eagle Harbour sit within direct salt spray zones — and even the upper British Properties lots at 800–1,200 ft elevation get enough airborne salt to corrode unprotected mild steel within 18–24 months.

Our standard recommendation for exterior steel in West Vancouver is hot-dip galvanizing to ASTM A123 followed by a marine-grade polyester powder coat. The galvanizing provides sacrificial corrosion protection at the metal level, and the powder coat delivers the colour and texture finish the architect specifies. For hardware, cable fittings, and any component that will be handled or in direct weather contact, we specify stainless steel 316 — the marine grade that resists chloride pitting.

This finishing specification adds 15–25% to the cost of a standard powder-coat-over-mild-steel system, but it's the difference between a railing that looks good for 20+ years and one that shows rust bleed at weld joints and fastener points within 3–4 years. On properties valued in the millions, the upfront investment in proper marine-grade finishing is straightforward to justify.

West Vancouver's housing stock includes a significant number of homes built between 1955 and 1975 — the mid-century modern era that produced some of the most distinctive residential architecture on the North Shore. Many of these homes are now cycling through major renovations that update interiors, structural systems, and exterior finishes while preserving the original architectural character.

The metalwork component of these renovations typically involves replacing original wrought iron or mild steel railings with contemporary cable or glass systems, fabricating new staircase structures to open up interior layouts, and adding steel canopy or pergola elements to outdoor living spaces. The design direction on most of these projects is clean-line, minimal-profile metalwork that respects the mid-century aesthetic without replicating dated details.

We work directly with the architects and designers leading these renovation projects. The shop drawing process is collaborative — the design team provides intent drawings, we develop fabrication-ready shop drawings with connection details and material specifications, and the approval cycle happens before any steel is cut. On renovation projects, site templating is critical because existing walls, floors, and structures are rarely perfectly plumb, level, or square.