STRAIGHT ANSWERS. NO RUN AROUND.
Frequently asked questions we hear most from contractors, facilities, and homeowners. If yours isn't here, send it over — we'll answer and add it to the list.
GENERAL
THE BASICS
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S&S Ironworks is based in Ashtabula County, Ohio. We're a family-owned and operated fabrication shop, and we serve clients in three tiers:
Local: walk-in and on-site work across Ashtabula County and Northeast Ohio.
Regional: mobile repair service across Northern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.
National: custom fabrication shipped anywhere in the U.S.
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We're a two-owner shop. Michael Schier (Owner/Operator) brings 15 years of trade experience. Lester Short (Owner/Lead Fabricator) brings 11 years. Emily Schier runs operations and scheduling. That's the whole front-line — you'll hear from one of us on every job.
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We're a two-owner shop. Michael Schier (Owner/Operator) brings 15 years of trade experience. Lester Short (Owner/Lead Fabricator) brings 11 years. Emily Schier runs operations and scheduling. That's the whole front-line — you'll hear from one of us on every job.
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Both. Our ornamental division is built for homeowners — handrails, guardrails, stairs, gates, and custom steel features. We're as happy to weld a backyard rail as we are a structural beam.
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Yes — American-made, top to bottom. We source from domestic mills and distributors whenever possible. If a job requires anything different, we tell you before we order.
QUOTES & PRICING
WHAT THINGS COST
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Fill out the quote request form on our contact page or email michaeljs@ssironworksllc.com directly. Send drawings, photos, or a sketch — whatever you've got. We reply within one business day.
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Yes. Quotes are always free, and we don't charge for initial consultations. For complex fabrication jobs that require detailed engineering review, we'll let you know up front if a paid design phase is needed before production.
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We quote to the job in front of us. The number you get is the number you pay — unless the scope changes, in which case you hear about it from us first, in writing, before we proceed. No surprise line items on the final invoice.
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Emergency and after-hours work carries a premium rate, quoted up front. We'll always tell you what the emergency rate is before dispatching — never a surprise.
WORK & CAPABILITY
WHAT WE CAN & CAN’T DO
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Carbon steel (A36, A572, A500), stainless (304, 316), and aluminum (5052, 6061) as standard. Abrasion-resistant plate, weathering steel, and specialty alloys sourced on request.
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Both. Our mobile weld repair service covers Northern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania — dumpsters, heavy equipment, farm machinery, and industrial equipment. Fabrication generally runs in the shop and ships or delivers.
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We'll work from whatever you've got — engineered drawings, shop drawings, hand sketches, or photos. For structural work that requires stamped engineering, we can refer you to engineers we trust, or work from your engineer's plans.
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It depends on material availability and current shop load. Small repairs: often same-week. Ornamental pieces: 2–4 weeks. Structural jobs: 3–6 weeks. Emergency repairs are prioritized — tell us it's urgent and we'll tell you what's actually possible.
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Yes. Mill certs, heat numbers, and welder qualifications available on request for projects that require them — industrial, structural, and process work especially.
LOGISTICS
DELIVERY & INSTALLATION
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Local delivery is available for Northeast Ohio. Installation — for structural, ornamental, and repair work — is something we handle directly when the scope fits our crew; otherwise we coordinate with your installer. Custom fabrication orders ship via freight nationwide.
PAYMENT & TERMS
THE PAPERWORK
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Check, ACH/bank transfer, and major credit cards. For established commercial accounts, we offer net-30 terms after the first job.
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For custom fabrication and larger structural jobs, we require a 50% deposit to lock material and schedule. Repair work and small jobs are billed on completion.
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Yes — we carry general liability and workers' comp. Certificates of insurance available on request for any job site that requires one.
