Is your company looking for signage with an aged, industrial look? Rustic metal signs are an excellent choice! We use a variety of methods to create the rusted look in our custom metal signs. Here are two of our most popular methods.

This striking corten steel sign was installed on the historic Oak Barrel Building in Nashville, TN.

When our customers want the rusted look, we often suggest steel. Steel signs can be treated and coated for indoor or outdoor use. 

Corten Steel 

We receive a lot of requests for corten steel (also called weathering steel) for logo signs. Corten is a corrosion resistant, copper chromium alloy steel. When left uncoated, it develops a rust-like patina on the outside layer. The patina protects the steel from additional corrosion. 

The photos above and below show how varied the finish can look on corten steel signs. Although these signs were installed at the same location, their finishes are very different. We love that!

Corten steel is an excellent choice for aged architecture because of its unique, weathered look. 

To learn more about the corten steel signs shown above, read the following articles:

1. Industrial Custom Signs Add Character to Historic Nashville Warehouse
2. Corten Steel Signage: Iron Gate & Oxford Architecture Get a Rustic Look

Burned Steel

We also achieve an aged look on steel signs by applying acid and burning the metal. The photos below show a logo sign we fabricated for Middle Tennessee Christian School. Needless to say, our team members enjoyed pulling out the torch for this one!

Burning the metal is one of the fastest ways to give new steel an aged look.

We can definitely say there's no other sign quite like this one in Middle Tennessee!

To learn more about the MTCS Robotics sign, check out: Middle TN Christian School’s Robotics Garage Gets Rustic Metal Sign.

As you can see, steel signs are a great option for customers seeking an industrial, aged look. The patina in these signs will change as the years pass by. But that’s what makes them so unique and beautiful!

Is your company looking for new indoor or outdoor signage? We can help! We design and fabricate custom signs using a variety of materials, including steel, wood, acrylic, brushed metal, and more. 

To reach us, call (615) 595-6564 or click on the button below. Estimates are always free, so let’s get started today!

We offer environmental branding, lobby & logo signs, vehicle wraps, architectural displays, wall murals, custom projects, and more! We provide services to Middle Tennessee and surrounding areas, including Nashville, Lebanon, Mt. Juliet, Franklin, Brentwood, Spring Hill, and Murfreesboro. We also ship our customer products to customers throughout the US and Canada.