There is a myriad of patina colors available for bronze with dark brown being most popular

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Which Finish?
Choosing a Finish for Wrought Metals

There are many types of finishes available for our wrought iron and bronze/brass railings, gates, lighting fixtures, and other products.

The choice of finish is based on two types of criteria: practical and aesthetic. The former relates to the fact that certain metals, especially iron, are susceptible to atmospheric corrosion. The latter is a function of your aesthetic preferences, the style of the surroundings, etc.

Iron

The material used most often today to produce "wrought iron" products is hot- and cold-rolled mild steel. Both are silvery-grey when brushed down to their natural color. Both are susceptible to corrosion, and will rust if left unprotected outdoors.

In order to protect exterior installations of wrought iron, we usually apply two coats of paint: a coat of anti-rust primer, and a coat of finish paint. The most popular color is flat black, but any color and gloss level may be chosen.

Interior applications of wrought iron need less protection, and lend themselves to many more choices of finishes than exterior applications.

Bronze

We at Jozef Custom Ironworks offer the option to substitute bronze for iron. Bronze and brass are attractive for several reasons:

  • Can be forged, like iron
  • Resists corrosion, and so can be used inside and outside
  • Offers many rich finishes / patinas

Finish Options
Inside or Outside Inside Only
Iron
Paint
Bronze / Brass
Classical Brown Patina
Color Patinas
 Iron
Brushed
Black Patina
Rusty Patina
Specialty Paints

Because of these characteristics, we have increasingly used bronze and brass for railings, fences, lighting fixtures, and gates.

Bronze is a more expensive material than iron. The cost of the finished product will usually be 20 to 100 percent more than the equivalent in iron. One should look at this premium as an investment in the beauty and durability of this fine metal.
Finish Descriptions
Paint The only option for wrought iron that will be installed outdoors. Though black remains the most popular hue, the color options are many. Paint also comes in many levels of gloss, from flat to satin to semi-gloss to glossy. We at Jozef Custom Ironworks use a heavy-duty epoxy anti-rust primer (undercoat) for exterior applications.
Brushed This look attempts to preserve the “natural,” silvery-gray look of iron. As the name implies, after assembly the iron is brushed, removing the dark “skin” and exposing the shiny metal underneath. Depending on the amount of brushing, the resulting finish can range from silver to dark grey with some highlights. We usually apply of protective coat of wax or flat lacquer as a final step.
Black Patina This finish looks like black paint to the casual observer, but in fact no paint is involved. The surface of the metal is treated with a chemical that reacts with the surface of the metal turning it black. This method is usually preferable to paint in interior applications because there is no layer of paint to obscure the beauty of wrought iron. This finish is also typically less uniform and more natural than paint.
Rusty Patina Like black patina, the rusty look involves chemically treating the metal’s surface, this time to produce a ruddy, rusty color. This finish is available in lighter and darker shades.
Specialty Paints These are multi-stage painting processes where the iron is painted by hand using two different colors. Many permutations are available, including copper black, to antique brass, verdigris, and antique yellow.
Classical Brown Patina The result of a chemical treatment, this is the dark-brown look most often seen on bronze statues. In exterior applications, bronze and brass treated in this fashion is extremely resistant to corrosion, and it usually gains a weathered, greenish look over time.
Color Patinas In addition to brown patina, many options exist for coloring bronze and brass. The colors range from red to green to blue.

See also: Bronze Replaces Iron as Material of Choice