Rust Removal by Heritage Steel Window Repair
Rust is the main enemy of steel windows and doors. Left alone, it expands, pushes frames out of line and cracks glass and masonry. Removed early and properly primed, it stops.
We remove rust from steel windows, doors, lintels, railings and hardware, repair metal that has lost thickness, and clean rust stains off stone, concrete and cladding.
How We Remove Rust
Light surface rust comes off with hand and power tools. Heavier scale is removed by media blasting or in a derusting bath for small parts. Bare steel is then primed the same day so rust cannot return.
Where rust has eaten through, we cut back to solid metal and weld in new steel, then grind and prime the repair.
Rust Services
Rusted Lintels
Cracks running diagonally from the corners of a window in a brick wall often point to a rusted steel lintel. We open the wall, replace or treat the lintel and rebuild the masonry.
Preventing New Rust
Most rust starts where paint or putty has failed. Keeping steel windows painted and glazing intact is the best rust prevention there is.
We serve Philadelphia, the Main Line, Bucks, Chester and Delaware Counties, South Jersey and Wilmington. Related services: media blasting, steel window repair, window repair.
Where Rust Hides on Steel Windows
Rust rarely starts where you can see it. It begins under cracked glazing putty, at the bottom rail where water sits, behind the frame where it meets the masonry and inside hollow sections of lintels. By the time it shows on the surface, the steel underneath may already be pitted.
During every survey we probe these areas, lift loose putty and check lintels above openings. That tells us whether a window needs surface treatment, local welding or more extensive repair before any price is given.
After rust removal we prime bare steel the same day with a rust-inhibiting primer and finish with a durable topcoat. The window is then reglazed so water can no longer reach the steel.
Good to Know
We also remove rust from steel railings, gates and grilles that sit next to the windows we restore, so the whole facade gets the same primer and paint system and weathers evenly over the following years.
Rust Removal Prices in Philadelphia
Starting prices for 2026 in our Philadelphia service area. Your final price depends on the number of windows, their condition and access, and is confirmed in a written estimate after a free on-site visit. No work starts without your approval.
Surface Rust
- Loose rust removed
- Rust-inhibiting primer
- Finish coat
- Putty checked
Heavy Rust
- Scale removed to bare metal
- Pitting treated
- Primed same day
- Two-coat finish
Weld Repair
- Cut back to sound metal
- New steel welded in
- Ground smooth
- Primed and painted
Price List
| Service | Price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware derusting (shop) | $25 - $60 | per piece |
| Steel lintel replacement | $900 - $2,200 | per opening |
| Rust stain removal on stone | $150 - $400 | per area |
| Railing or grille rust treatment | $20 - $45 | per linear ft |
| Rust assessment during survey | Free | with estimate |
| Touch-up maintenance visit | $195 - $350 | per visit |
Prices include labor and standard materials. Lead-safe work practices are included on pre-1978 homes. Travel outside our usual service area may add a trip charge, quoted in advance.
Recent Rust Removal Projects
Hardware Rust Removal · Philadelphia, PA
Before and after: corroded steel brackets cleaned down to sound metal and primed so they can go back in service.
Cut-Out and Weld-In Patch Repair · Norristown, PA
Rust-perforated steel cut back to solid metal and new sections welded in, ground smooth and primed.
Rust Stain Removal on Cladding and Stone · Cherry Hill, NJ
Rust streaks from steel fixtures removed from metal cladding and stone pavers without damaging the surfaces.
Rust Removal FAQ
In most cases, yes. Even heavily rusted frames can usually be cleaned and repaired with welded patches.
Not if the steel is primed correctly and the paint is maintained. Rust returns where water gets past failed paint or putty.
Yes. We use poultices and cleaners made for stone and concrete.
Surface rust is cosmetic, but heavy rust can crack glass, seize vents that serve as emergency exits and damage the masonry around a frame. Treat it before it gets that far.
Often yes. Light and moderate rust is treated in place; heavily rusted sashes come to our shop for blasting and welding.
Get a free rust removal estimate
Call (215) 555-0163 or send us photos of your windows.