Faux Corten Steel Architectural Signage: 2 Benefits and a Process Video
Learn the benefits of using aluminum instead of steel to get the rusted finish of corten steel. See a short video on our process to create this finish and signage examples used for interior signage, ADA signage, outdoor signage, and donor signage.
1. Don’t be dense: Steel vs Aluminum for Signage.
Steel is typically 2.5 times denser than aluminum. So, aluminum’s lighter weight makes it easier to fabricate and reduces costs when it comes to the installation and fabrication of creative sign designs.
Since aluminum is a more malleable metal, it responds better to bending and cutting. Architectural sign designs with curves and bends are possible with this material and so is internal illumination. Whether backed up, flush, or push through, creating cnc-cut logos and letters are much easier using aluminum than using steel. With an aluminum product, cnc-routing letters on the flatbed is a standard and more cost-efficient process because aluminum is an easier metal to fabricate.
2. Play the long game: Exterior Signage Durability.
This faux rust finish, using aluminum, doesn’t continue to degrade over the years. The finish is clear coated and essentially stops the“rusting” process in its tracks. Why should you care? You won’t see rusty drips on lettering or the concrete/stone base. The clear coat, applied last, stops the rusting process and proves the sign finish more vandal resistant and easier to clean than traditional painted finishes.
Bonus: Do you need a graffiti-resistant final finish? While it adds a day to the production schedule along with some cost, it may be ideal for the final environment of your sign needs.
See the Process: Let’s Rust Some Aluminum!
A primer and iron flake solution are applied to an aluminum panel, then an acidic solution is sprayed on to begin the“rusting” chemical reaction. Depending on the desired rust level, the sign could sit for a couple hours or overnight. The longer, the rustier. Then the finish is rinsed off and clear coated to‘stop’ the continued degradation of the finish.
Just like naturally occurring rust, there is no specific pattern to the rust finish, it’s all natural since it is the same rusting process…just sped up a little, then stopped.
Want to know more? Here are 5 Reasons to Choose Aluminum Over Steel for a Rusted Finish.
Are you interested in learning more about faux corten steel finishes?
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