The distressed look of old tin roofing can be duplicated with tools and chemicals.
You have probably seen weathered tin roofing and admired the patina. That rugged look is the well earned result, in most cases, of surviving rough winters, hail storms and the like. New tin roofing is typically galvanized and is not easy to weather, or age. The surface is coated with zinc plating that must be etched before the surface will rust effectively, or lose its shine. The physical condition of the material, the dents and dings, can be replicated through mechanical means, using hand tools to approximate the natural distressing process.
Instructions
1. Bathe the tin in a bath of muriatic acid. Use a bathtub or other large trough. Mix the muriatic acid to the lightest solution on the label. Typically this will amount to a few ounces per five gallons. Use rubber gloves when pouring and mixing and avoid skin contact. Allow the tin to set in the bath for at least two hours to etch the surface and remove some of the galvanization.
2. Apply apple cider vinegar to the surface of the tin. You can pour or brush the vinegar on. Apply it heavily. Allow this to set for at least five minutes, then rinse the vinegar from the surface with clear running water. Allow the tin to dry and repeat the vinegar application if more dulling and rust is desired.
3. Lay your sheets of tin out on the ground. Pour rough gravel over the top of the sheets and tilt it back and forth to let the gravel scratch up the surface. Throw large pieces at the tin to dent and ding the surface. Beat the tin with a length of heavy tow chain for even more texture. Use a ballpeen hammer for areas that you want especially distressed.
4. Punch holes along the length of the tin with a drill to mimic old fastener holes. Light a candle and hold the tin with the flame just licking at the metal to heat it, leaving an additional aging effect, as found on tin that has been subjected to bright sunlight for years. Shift the tin to heat the entire surface.
Tags: muriatic acid