Aged sheet metal brings character, texture, and depth to modern design. At Metal Sheets Ltd, our artisans create authentic aged and antique patina finishes on metals including brass, copper, zinc, steel, pewter, and bronze. Each finish is hand-crafted in our UK workshop, using specialist chemical and heat treatments to replicate the rich tones that develop naturally over time.

We also produce rusted finishes on galvanised and Zintec steel sheets, and can wax or lacquer the finished surface for lasting protection. Our patina process combines craftsmanship and controlled chemistry — each piece is unique, bringing a timeless aesthetic to interiors, architecture, and commercial design.

The Beauty of Aged Sheet Metal

Aged metal typically displays a patina showing that the newness of the surface has faded. It may be discoloured, corroded, rusted, dented, or lightly scratched — all traits that give it antique appeal. Natural patination occurs outdoors through repeated cycles of moisture, heat, and oxidation. In coastal or polluted atmospheres, this process is accelerated, producing the deep tones and texture often sought after by designers.

Images of two of our Antique Metal Sheets finishes are shown here. Many more images can be found in our Flickr Gallery.

Patina Laboratory

Waiting for a distressed, aged, or antique finish to happen naturally can take years. In our patina development laboratory, we create aged finishes using controlled chemical processes and physical techniques.

We also develop special patinas to a client brief. For example, we designed a distressed, rusted galvanised steel finish for New Look fashion stores, used in their denim displays. Once approved, methods are handed over to our patina studio for production.

We age and antique tabletops, bar tops, splashbacks and many of our other products. Also the metal sheets that we sell, we create aged copper sheets, aged brass sheets and aged zinc sheets. Corten steel and galvanised steel are rust patinated. Pewter sheets and bronze sheets are aged similar to how they would naturally. A recent development by our studio is a rustic blackened steel patina that we apply to Corten steel.

Patina Aged Copper Sheet Metal

Aged copper sheet has gained popularity with interior designers, we have many variations, these can be seen on the metal finishes page.

Copper sheet metal is a base for many patina variations. We have browns representing naturally aged copper. Blue copper, Green copper and Verdigris options showing copper as it could appear after 10 years in the elements. The natural progression of colours for copper ageing outdoors starts with light browns then passes through to darker and darker browns then to black and finally to green after maybe 10 years.

Patina Aged Brass Sheet Metal

Aged brass sheet has also gained popularity with designers and architects who have used it on impressive projects like Kew Pavilion. Our brass patina has four options that show brass progressing in stages from light aged to an antique finish. Brass allowed to age naturally outdoors progresses through shades of brown to black — its final colour. We also designed a bespoke distressed aged brass patina for a chimney-breast canopy feature.

Patina Aged Zinc Sheet Metal

Naturally aged zinc sheet ends up as a mid-grey colour in the long term. At Metal Sheets Ltd we have four options, starting with a light patina which is similar to a naturally aged zinc colour. Darker zinc patinas have been developed for the interior design market.

Patina Ageing Pewter and Bronze Sheet Metal

Other metals we patina and distress in our studio are pewter and bronze, for these we only have one patina option which is similar to the naturally aged metal.

Rust Patina Ageing of Corten and Galvanised Steel Sheet Metal

With Corten steel and galvanised steel we apply a rust patina finish, and we can vary the shade of rust. Corten naturally passes from orange through progressively darker browns to a deep chestnut over several years; we replicated this for a rusty metal panels lighting display.

We have recently developed a rustic blackened steel patina for use on Corten steel; it has been received well by designers — see this feature fireplace surround.

Patina Process Notes

The patina process is artisan in nature — part science, part art — and each piece we make is unique. There are many variables including the person tasked with the job. The application technique, the chemicals used, even the season of the year can cause variation. As such it is practically impossible to get two pieces of aged sheet metal the same. This all adds to the uniqueness, which is a USP. The patina images we display we say are typical. Differences in the patina between the work supplied and any sample should not be considered as manufacturing defects. This is as a feature of the hand processing which is susceptible to variances in colour and uniformity.

We do many statement pieces and wall hangings. For one client we created a triptych of blue aged copper, each piece framed and hung side by side to create a great looking piece of wall art. Each frame showing copper and blue tones in random patterns, the whole display accented with uplighting.

Post-Patina Wax or Lacquer

Patina-aged metals can be treated with Renaissance wax, beeswax, or clear lacquer, depending on the end use and specification.

Wax gives a natural appearance and can be maintained by periodically reapplying and polishing off with a soft-edged microfibre cloth.

For a wall hanging or décor item that is not frequently handled, the appearance should remain consistent. Alternatively, the patina we have applied can be used as a starting point in the ageing process. Frequent handling creates a more pronounced patina, and the items become increasingly rustic. This is often the case with our tabletop and bar top installs. Maintenance in such cases involves washing with soapy water, drying it, and maybe reapplying wax.

Many copper, brass and zinc bar tops and tabletops are just washed and dried. More patina develops, variations develop between areas of high and low use but the whole thing just blends to become lived in and rustic. See this picture of a natural copper bar top in Wetherspoons, it looks the part.

Lacquering

Clear lacquer provides a sealed finish,  It can subtly brighten the patina colour. We use a tougher lacquer for high-traffic items (e.g. tabletops) and a decorative lacquer for lower-traffic pieces.

Lacquer affects the visual appearance to a degree because it is clear paint on top of the patina. It can subtly brighten the substrate patina colour, which would be a good thing. It is all part of the customer’s choice. Again, being a paint, traffic across the lacquer can cause scuffs.

Aged copper with Verdigris, green copper or blue copper patinas are only supplied with a lacquer finish. The patina has a surface texture and needs to be sealed with several coats of lacquer.

Aged Corten steel sheet rust patina has a light texture. If used indoors for decorative effect and if people could brush against it, sealing is recommended to avoid patina transfer to clothes. We usually use lacquer, but beeswax could be used, though this does darken the tone. Outdoors Corten patina continues to develop through shades of brown into a chestnut brown. This takes many years of exposure to the elements. Blackened steel must be lacquered to preserve its appearance.

The colour tones of the patina images on our web pages can vary between different display monitors and screens.

Maintenance

For aged sheet metal, including aged brass, copper, or zinc, use a soft cotton or soft-edged microfibre cloth. Check out our article Preserve Patina on Metal. Dampen with warm water or neutral products that you would typically use to clean varnished surfaces. Do not use abrasive cloths, kitchen cleaning products, solvents, or strong detergents. Dry the surface thoroughly if there is standing water. Renaissance Wax or Beeswax polish can be used to reseal unlacquered patina finishes. We can supply these waxes if required.

Aged Sheet Metal — FAQs

Below are some frequently asked questions about our aged sheet metal finishes, care, and protection options.