Chris French Metal

What Chris French Metal does

Chris French Metal, Inc. is a privately held custom metal fabrication company headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. The firm specializes in bespoke architectural and decorative metalwork for high-end residential and commercial projects, working across carbon steel, silicon bronze, aluminum, and stainless steel, with finishes including paint, linear grain, and patina. Its portfolio spans entry doors, entry gates, handrails (interior and exterior), fire features, staircases, exterior step risers, side gates, wall sculptures, and decorative objects such as candelabras.

The company's work is organized into three product/service categories: Commercial Projects (architectural metalwork for commercial spaces), Residential Projects (entry doors, gates, handrails, stairs, and fire features for homes), and Elements (decorative sculptural pieces such as the Candelabra and Unfolding Space wall sculpture). Named credentials include the Skyhaus/Skyhouse residential installation completed in 2014 alongside architects Aidlin Darling Design and builder Matarozzi/Pelsinger Builders, and the Candelabra sculptural piece completed in 2019 with Aidlin Darling Design. Production is one-off and project-specific rather than catalog or mass-manufactured.

Revenue is generated through project-based custom fabrication engagements initiated via direct client contact and through architectural and builder partnerships. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quoted per project scope. Marketing is conducted through a website-hosted portfolio that categorizes work into Commercial, Residential, and Elements, with professional architectural photography serving as the primary visual asset. Operations are concentrated in the Bay Area; the firm has no disclosed parent company, external investment, or subsidiary relationships, and there are no headcount, revenue, or funding disclosures in the available record.

Name

Chris French Metal

Legal name

Chris French Metal, Inc.

Website

https://cfrenchmetal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chris French Metal, Inc. is a Bay Area custom metal fabricator producing bespoke architectural and decorative metalwork — entry doors, gates, handrails, staircases, fire features, and sculptures — for high-end residential, commercial, and design-firm clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Metal Fabrication Services

NAICS

Ornamental and Architectural Metal Work Manufacturing (332323), Ornamental and Architectural Metal Products Manufacturing (33232), Metal Window and Door Manufacturing (332321), Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing (332322)

SIC

Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440), Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442), Sheet Metal Work (3444)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural & Miscellaneous Metals (Stairs, Railings, Ladders) (IMADACAE)

Keywords

• Custom metal fabrication
• Architectural metalwork
• Residential metal fabrication
• Decorative metal sculptures
• Steel bronze fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Metal Fabrication Services: Project-based custom metal fabrication for architectural and residential applications, including entry doors, gates, handrails, fire features, staircases, wall sculptures, and candelabras. Revenue generated through one-time custom fabrication projects for individual clients.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Chris French Metal, Inc. is a custom metal fabrication studio that designs and builds one-off architectural and decorative metalwork, including entry doors, gates, handrails, staircases, fire features, wall sculptures, and candelabras, using carbon steel, silicon bronze, aluminum, and stainless steel with paint, patina, and linear grain finishes. The firm serves both commercial/architectural clients and high-end residential clients, collaborating directly with architects and builders on bespoke projects.

Product overview

Chris French Metal, Inc. is a custom metal fabrication company specializing in architectural and decorative metalwork. The company operates three core service/product lines: Commercial Projects (architectural metalwork for commercial spaces), Residential Projects (entry doors, gates, handrails, stairs, and fire features), and Elements (decorative sculptural pieces like candelabras and wall sculptures). Notable named projects include Skyhaus/Skyhouse (a residential project featuring entry doors, gates, handrails, and stair systems) and Candelabra (a decorative lighting piece). The company works with materials including carbon steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and silicon bronze, applying finishes such as paint, patina, and linear grain.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Projects

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Aidlin Darling DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Collaborated on Candelabra sculptural piece (2019). Aidlin Darling Design provided architectural design for a custom metal candelabra made of carbon steel and silicon bronze with paint finish. Ongoing project collaboration partner for architectural metal fabrication.
• Matarozzi/Pelsinger BuilderscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Collaboration on Skyhaus residential project (2014) in San Francisco. Matarozzi/Pelsinger Builders served as the builder while Chris French Metal provided all custom metal fabrication including entry door, gate, handrails, fire feature, and staircase. Long-standing builder partnership for residential projects.

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Architectural Iron Designs: Architectural Iron Designs produces custom ornamental and architectural ironwork for residential and commercial projects, including railings, gates, stairs, and decorative elements. Closely matches Chris French Metal's product mix and high-end custom go-to-market.
• Wiedenbeck Iron Works: Wiedenbeck is a Wisconsin-based custom iron and metal fabrication firm serving high-end architects and builders across the U.S. with staircases, railings, and architectural metalwork. Comparable in craft-led, bespoke positioning and use of diverse metals and finishes.
• Platt Metal Works: Platt Metal Works produces custom architectural metalwork including railings, stairs, and ornamental pieces for residential and commercial projects. Comparable in boutique custom fabrication with diverse metal and finish capabilities.
• Concord Iron Works: Concord Iron Works is a custom architectural metal fabrication shop producing staircases, railings, gates, and ornamental metalwork for residential and commercial clients. Direct comparable in craft positioning and project-based model.
• Heirloom Steel: Heirloom Steel is a custom metal fabrication studio producing bespoke architectural and decorative metalwork, including stairs, railings, and sculptural elements. Comparable as a craft-led, project-based shop serving high-end residential and architectural clients.
• Maas Brothers Iron Works: Maas Brothers is a custom architectural metalwork shop producing ornamental iron and metal pieces for high-end residential and commercial projects. Directly comparable to Chris French Metal in scope (staircases, railings, gates, ornamental work) and boutique, project-based go-to-market.

Broad incumbents

• A. Zahner Company: Zahner is a large-scale architectural metal fabrication firm known for iconic, high-design metalwork on commercial and institutional projects. Comparable in the architectural metalwork space but at significantly larger scale and more commercial/institutional focus than Chris French Metal.
• The Wagner Companies: Wagner is a large, established manufacturer of architectural metal products (railings, ornamental components, fabricated metal) serving a wide range of construction customers. Comparable as an architectural metals player but broader and more catalog-driven than Chris French Metal's one-off model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chris-french-metal-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chris French Metal