At Your Service: Drain Gain
09/01/2008
Our goal is to alter the paradigm of thinking when it comes to drains," says Mark Armstrong, president of Iron Age Designs, which creates decorative grates and castings for catch basins and trench drain bodies. "I’m most proud of the awareness we’ve created where there wasn’t one."Armstrong, who cofounded the company, set out to offer affordable decorative castings to a broad market. Custom designs and personalized patterns are offered to every customer, and the array of products—which also include tree grates and register covers—are made from recycled materials.
According to Armstrong, cast iron is the most durable and elegant substance available. Made from old engine blocks or wheels that are melted down, it lasts decades in its raw state and requires no maintenance. As Armstrong puts it, you can "set it and forget it."
Iron Age Designs has constructed thousands of specialized castings for drainage on driveways, pool areas, and walkways. The company seeks to revolutionize the way people perceive drains by augmenting surroundings with functional, yet attractive, constructions. "If you’ve got it, flaunt it," jokes Armstrong.
Iron Age Designs, 206.276.0925, www.ironagegrates.com