The growing demand for high quality home products which are personal and unique expressions is helping to ensure that treasured old-world crafts like fine ironwork do not vanish forever. The cost and relative rarity of skilled ironworkers in the United States makes producing such a product here cost prohibitive. While this noble trade is now relatively rare in the US, it still exists as it has for centuries in the heart of Mexico. Artisans there still transform metal into artistry through the skilled use of heat and hammer, a process known as hand forging. Fortunately for those who want to bring personality to their home, a Texas company called Grand Entrances has reinvented this very old process, breathing new life into an ancient art form. Luis Muñoz, principal of Alamo Designs, Inc., takes great pride in his company. "We have been able to successfully marry the old and the new," he explains. "We've taken a process that has been in existence for centuries and updated it to exceed current US building standards. What we offer now is a high-end product enhanced with the best technology available anywhere in the world.

"This is not wrought iron," Muñoz explains. Alamo Designs are truly "sentinel" doors, constructed of heavy 14-gauge steel framing, as compared to the thinner 16-18 gauge steel standardly used in most metal doors today. Top-of-the-line foam products are used to deaden sound and weatherproof the doors, along with high-quality weather-stripping for the jamb and oak threshold. While doors can be made to any specification, Alamo Designs are usually constructed to accommodate double-pane insulated glass to maximize the benefit of the heavily insulated frame. Another Grand Entrances standard is the use of Tover heavy duty anti-pry hinges, imported from Spain. Heavier models usually require tough ball bearing hinges. Exceptionally beautiful, these special hinges are meticulously welded for strength, balance and performance. Each hinge holds over 300 pounds. Most detail elements are also hand forged and seamlessly welded. The handles for these exquisite doors are hand-sculpted from a solid one-inch square rod of solid iron, and each is designed to accent the particular style of the door, perfectly blending functionality and beauty. Special spring-loaded catches replace the conventional doorknob on some models, allowing the door to interface precisely with the door jamb and close much like a fine cabinet door.

These beautiful doors are also exceptionally weather resistant. In harsh climates or other situations where conventional wood doors might warp or crack, Alamo Designs are unaffected. Their attractive hand-finished surface makes them impervious to moisture. The door components are coated with an anticorrosive primer after forging and again after assembly. The doors are then hand painted and finished in a variety of attractive finishes. Their high quality components and expert craftsmanship ensure that they will stand the test of time and continue to provide years and years of problem-free service. The unique design of Grand Entrances doors makes them an excellent choice for security. In addition to being virtually impenetrable, their design includes various other security features. Elegant glass panels behind the ironwork can be opened separately, leaving residents safely and securely protected by the iron portion of the door, even when the door is open to a visitor or to the fresh air outside. "Our doors really mean business," remarks Muñoz. In applications where unusually high security is required, Grand Entrances doors are considered the door of choice. One more exotic custom request came from a homeowner in Kuwait who wanted the beautiful artistry of Grand Entrances doors-fortified with protective bulletproof glass. The Alamo Designs facility in Monterrey, Mexico provides a modern, clean and safe place for its artisans to practice this unique craft. Uncommonly large and well-organized for a metalworking plant, it is equipped with specialized state-of-the-art forging tools that rival the most contemporary US metalworking facilities. In particular, a sophisticated device called a plasma cutter allows Alamo Designs' artisans to cut neatly and accurately through thick iron, leaving a perfectly smooth edge to the cut. While Alamo Designs proudly carry all of the marks of genuine hand forging, the process has been updated to give the finished product a clean appearance and to provide the utmost in security and efficiency for Alamo Designs’ workers. Alamo Designs' designers and ironworkers display remarkable creativity and versatility. While they stock a wide variety of door designs, many challenging custom designs have also been created to meet the exacting specifications of Alamo Designs’ global clientele. Muñoz relates one particularly interesting story about a woman in Dallas who wanted his staff to reproduce a design from an old castle. "She had fallen in love with the look of the castle's entry, and wanted us to replicate it exactly for her own home here in the United States. She was thrilled with the result, and is excited to have kept that very old design alive." Another client in Plano had a picture of a door she wanted to match. Others have requested that their company logo or initials be included in the ornamental detail of the door. In one case, the ironwork resembles a painting by Picasso, with its intriguing abstract figures and shapes. Alamo Designs frequently designs matching transoms and sidelights to complete the look of an elegant entry.

Alamo Designs has a remarkable record for customer satisfaction. "In our company's history, no client has ever been dissatisfied with their choice of a Alamo Designs door," notes Muñoz. "The design and construction of our doors makes them problem-free and they are extremely simple to install."

Muñoz has a warm, cordial manner which mirrors his accessible and customer friendly company. Alamo Designs are on display at their showroom, conveniently located on the 9th floor of the World Trade Center in Dallas. The showroom "Hemishere Design Gallery" is open Monday through Friday... 10 am. through 5 pm. and by appointment.

Alamo Designs also maintains an informative Web site at www.grandentrances.com which showcases their doors and other forged iron products, where you can browse at you convenience through a "gallery" of Alamo Designs designs.

While these works of art are not inexpensive; their superb craftsmanship, superior strength and security, durability and aesthetic appeal make them well worth the initial investment. Many of the designs offered by Alamo Designs are reminiscent of ancient Europe, and their classic style continues to appeal to today's homeowners.

They lend richness and exotic beauty to one of the most visible elements of any home, welcoming all who enter and making a passionate and personal statement about those who reside within.

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