Oil Rubbed Bronze
A deep chocolate brown with warm copper showing through on the edges. The most requested patina for door hardware, faucets and lighting, and the easiest to match across a whole house.
Distinctive Aged Finishes for Metal Projects in Costa Mesa, CA
Decorative Metal Coatings creates hand-applied patina finishes for hardware, fixtures and architectural components serving Costa Mesa. Color is developed in layers, with preparation and protection selected for the base metal and intended use.
Certified, Approved and Verified
Building depth with layered surface reactions in Costa Mesa
Protecting the Color After the Patina Is Applied | Costa Mesa
A patina develops through a controlled reaction at the metal surface rather than an ordinary painted color layer. DMC builds color through brushing, dipping or heating, then selectively relieves raised areas by hand to reveal highlights and depth.
Copper, brass and cast bronze commonly accept patina directly after cleaning and preparation. Steel and iron can be blackened directly; other brown, brass or green effects may require a copper or brass plated base. Zinc die cast and aluminum generally need that plated foundation, while other alloys are reviewed individually.
Finish directions include oil rubbed bronze, Venetian bronze, statuary brown, antique brass, antique copper, verdigris green, hand-rubbed black, gun metal gray, antique nickel, pewter and oxidized silver. Lacquer or wax helps stabilize the approved appearance; an unsealed living finish continues to change with handling and exposure.
Send us a photo of the part and, if you can, a photo of the finish you want to match. We will tell you which patina gets you there, whether the part needs plating first and what the job will cost in a written quote.
What We Do
Patina Finishes
Patina directions include oil rubbed bronze, Venetian bronze, statuary brown, antique brass, antique copper, Tuscan brown, verdigris green, blue-green coastal tones, hand-rubbed black, gun metal gray, antique nickel, pewter and oxidized silver. Final color depends on the substrate and hand-applied process.
Antique Brass
Brass toned down to a soft, aged gold, darker in the corners and brighter where hands would wear it. Perfect for period homes and pieces that should look original.
Verdigris Green
The blue green crust of old copper roofs and coastal statues, built up in controlled layers. Sealed to keep it from rubbing off, or left open to keep evolving outdoors.
Statuary Brown
The classic finish on cast bronze, from light honey to almost black. Raised lettering and sculpted details are hand relieved so they read clearly from across a room.
Black Patina
A rich, hand rubbed black that is softer than paint and shows a hint of metal at the high points. Popular for modern hardware, railings, fireplace tools and accent trim.
Antique Nickel and Pewter
A gray, gently darkened silver tone applied over fresh nickel plating. It gives lighting and hardware a cool vintage look that sits between bright nickel and black.
How It Works
How We Build a Patina
The workflow begins with photographs or a physical color sample and a written quote. Old coatings are stripped as needed, the metal is cleaned or given a plated base, color is built in layers, highlights are relieved by hand and the selected protection is applied.
1
Share Your Target
Send photos of the part and of the color you want, or tell us the finish name your designer specified.
2
Review and Quote
We confirm the base metal, decide if it needs plating first and send a written quote within 24 business hours.
3
Ship or Drop Off
After quote approval, arrange drop-off at the Oceanside shop or ship the parts with the assigned quote number. Wrap each item separately with at least three inches of padding, insure its actual value and provide tracking information.
4
Prep and Color
Old coatings are stripped, the surface is polished or plated, then the patina is built up in layers.
5
Relieve and Seal
Highlights are rubbed back by hand, the color is approved against your sample and the finish is sealed.
What We Can Finish
Metals That Take a Patina
Some metals react on their own, others need a plated layer before the color can grow. Either way, the right preparation decides how even the patina looks.
Copper
The most reactive metal we patina. It goes brown, black or green with very little coaxing, which is why verdigris and deep browns start on copper.
Brass
The base for oil rubbed bronze and antique brass. Solid brass hardware, fixtures and lighting can be aged directly once the old lacquer is removed.
Cast Bronze
Plaques, sculpture and architectural castings. Bronze takes heat applied patinas beautifully, from honey brown to statuary dark.
Steel and Iron
Steel can be blackened directly, but for brown, brass or green tones we plate it in copper or brass first, then age the new layer.
Zinc Die Cast and Aluminum
These metals do not color well on their own. We give them a copper or brass base, filling pits along the way, and patina that coating.
Nickel, Silver and Others
Nickel can be darkened to an antique or pewter tone and silver can be oxidized. Other alloys are reviewed case by case before you ship.
Patina Catalog
Patina Colors and Options
Every patina color, base and protective finish we offer in house.
Browns and Bronzes
- Oil Rubbed Bronze
- Venetian Bronze
- Statuary Brown, Light to Dark
- Antique Brass
- Antique Copper
- Tuscan Brown
- Hand Relieved Highlights
Greens, Blacks and Grays
- Verdigris Green
- Blue Green Coastal Patina
- Hand Rubbed Black
- Gun Metal Gray
- Antique Nickel
- Pewter
- Oxidized Silver
Bases and Sealers
- Copper Plated Base
- Brass Plated Base
- Nickel Plated Base
- Clear Lacquer, Matte or Satin
- Paste Wax Finish
- Living Unsealed Finish
- Custom Sample Match
Real Transformations
Before and After
Drag the handle on any photo to see the part as it arrived and after its patina.
Before
Brass Door Lever
A builder grade polished brass lever that clashed with a new interior. Stripped of its lacquer and aged to oil rubbed bronze, with copper toned edges where hands rest.
OIL RUBBED BRONZE
BRASS
WAXED
Before
Dedication Plaque
Sun and sprinklers had left the bronze blotchy and hard to read. Cleaned, recolored in statuary brown and hand relieved so every raised letter stands out again.
STATUARY BROWN
CAST BRONZE
LACQUERED
Before
Garden Lantern
A new copper lantern that looked too shiny for an old courtyard. Built up in layered verdigris and left with brown copper showing at the edges for a weathered, lived in look.
VERDIGRIS
COPPER
LIVING FINISH
Since 1989
Over three decades of plating, one shop in Oceanside.
Every part is stripped, prepped, plated and inspected in our own building, and our work comes with a 12 month workmanship guarantee. Send photos and we'll take it from there.
What Our Clients Say
Trusted by Professionals
From custom builders to industrial manufacturers, our clients trust us to deliver the same result every time.
Who We Serve
Who Trusts Us With Their Patinas
The service page identifies applications for residential interiors, architecture and signage, hotels and restaurants, casinos and gaming, artists and sculptors, and antique restoration.
Casinos and Gaming
Railings, gaming floor trim, signage letters and bar fixtures aged to bronze, brass or black so the finish looks rich and stays consistent from one property area to the next. Trusted by casino resorts across North County San Diego.
Interior Design / Residential
Cabinet hardware, faucets and lighting finished to one designer specified patina for an entire home.
Architecture and Signage
Plaques, address numbers, door pulls and railings with patinas that hold up to sun and coastal air.
Hotels and Restaurants
Bar rails, door push plates and decor pieces that need an aged look that survives daily traffic.
Artists and Sculptors
Final patinas on cast bronze and copper artwork, including layered colors and custom tests.
Antiques and Restoration
Replacement parts aged to match original hardware so a repaired piece looks untouched.
35+
Years of Expertise
Take a Moment to Learn More
About Decorative Metal Coatings
Since 1989 we have been plating, polishing and coloring metal by hand. Because we plate in house, we can build the right base under every patina instead of hoping the color takes.
Free Estimates Available
Send a photo of your part and receive a no obligation quote within 24 hours.
Quality Guaranteed
Every part leaves our shop backed by our craftsmanship guarantee. If you are not satisfied, we make it right.
Ship From Anywhere in the US
A single fixture or a full production run, shipped to us from any state and returned insured.
Fast Turnaround Times
Most projects are completed within 3 to 5 weeks. Expedited Orders: 5 to 7 business days. Contact us for availability.
Choosing the Right Patina
Three Ways to Get the Look
The color you see is only half of the decision. What the part is made of and how much change you will accept decide which route we take.
Patina on Solid Metal
- Copper, brass or bronze parts
- Color grown in the metal itself
- Most natural depth and variation
- Hardware, plaques, sculpture
- Old lacquer stripped first
Plated, Then Patinated
- Steel, zinc die cast or aluminum
- Copper or brass plated first
- Pits filled before coloring
- Matches solid brass hardware
- Opens patinas to any metal
Living, Unsealed Patina
- No lacquer or wax on top
- Keeps darkening with time and touch
- Ideal outdoors and on art pieces
- Can be refreshed by us later
- Color will not stay exactly as delivered
Our Commitment
Patinas Done With Patience
A rushed patina looks blotchy and wears off in months. Ours take the time they need, one layer at a time.
Clean Start
Every coating, oil and fingerprint is removed first, because a patina only grows evenly on perfectly clean metal.
Hand Relieved
Highlights are rubbed back by a finisher, not a machine, so details read naturally and no two edges look stamped.
Matched to Sample
Color is checked against your sample or photo in daylight before sealing, and we send pictures if it needs your eye.
Sealed and Packed
Finished pieces are sealed as agreed, then wrapped one by one so nothing rubs through the color on the way home.
What We Do Differently
- We test the color on your metal before doing the whole order
- Non reactive metals get a real plated base, not paint
- Highlights are relieved by hand on every piece
- Sets of hardware are colored together so they match
- You choose lacquer, wax or a living finish
What You May Experience Elsewhere
- Tinted lacquer or paint sold as a patina
- Color brushed over old lacquer that then peels
- Flat, uniform color with no depth or highlights
- Pieces in one set that do not match each other
- Unsealed color that rubs off on your hands
Keep Patinated Metal Clean Without Removing Its Color
Gentle care helps preserve the selected finish
Do not use metal polish, brass cleaner, vinegar, ammonia or bleach. These products can alter or remove patina. Lacquered finishes generally need dusting and a soft cloth lightly dampened with plain water when necessary.
Waxed patinas can be refreshed with clear paste wax about twice a year and lightly buffed. An unsealed living finish is expected to evolve with handling and exposure, so its appearance will change over time.
Living finishes are meant to move. Door handles brighten where hands grip them and outdoor pieces darken or green with weather. That wear pattern is part of the appeal, and most clients love how it looks after a year or two.
If a patina gets damaged or you want a different shade later, send it back. We can often recolor the surface without replating, and a waxed finish can usually be repaired in a single visit.
Project Gallery
Patina Gallery
Oil rubbed bronze, antique brass, verdigris and statuary brown, applied and relieved by hand on hardware, lighting, signage and art.
Nationwide Service
Ship Us Your Parts From Anywhere in the US
Patina work is performed by hand at DMC’s Oceanside, California shop. Projects may be shipped from any U.S. state after a written quote is arranged. Obtain the quote number, wrap each part separately with at least three inches of padding, insure its actual value and provide tracking.
01
Quote before you ship
Send photos of every piece and the patina you have in mind. You receive a written quote and lead time, usually the same business day. Wait for your quote number before you ship.
02
Wrap every piece on its own
Wrap each part on its own so pieces never rub together, with at least three inches of padding all around. If you are sending a color sample, bag it separately and label it.
03
Insure it and share tracking
Declare the real value with the carrier and email us the tracking number so we can log your parts the day they arrive.
04
Inspected, then shipped back
Once the patina is applied we photograph the pieces in daylight for your approval, then seal, pack and ship them back insured.
Visit Us
Our Location
Every patina is mixed, applied and relieved by hand in our own shop in North County San Diego.
Decorative Metal Coatings
Patinas, plating and metal finishing in San Diego County since 1989.
- Address 2613 Temple Heights Dr, Ste G, Oceanside, CA 92056
- Phone (760) 746 3378
- Quotes Send photos and get a price
Business Hours
- Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Sunday Closed
Patina Finishing for Costa Mesa, California
Decorative Metal Coatings is based in Oceanside, CA, not in Costa Mesa. Customers in Costa Mesa can request a quote remotely and arrange shipment after approval. Drop-off is available at the Oceanside facility.
Nearby Cities We Serve
Explore patina finishing information for other California cities included in the supplied master list.
Questions About Hand-Applied Patinas for Costa Mesa Projects
Frequently Asked Questions
The base metal, existing surface, target color and protective finish all affect the process. These answers explain what to consider before sending components for review.
Copper, brass and cast bronze commonly accept patina after cleaning and preparation. Steel and iron can be blackened directly; other brown, brass or green effects may need a copper or brass plated base. Zinc die cast and aluminum generally require a plated foundation.
These metals generally need a copper or brass plated base before patina application. DMC reviews the specific component and its condition before confirming the process.
Yes. Send a physical sample or clear photographs of the target finish. Because patinas are applied by hand, small variations in grain and highlights are natural; exact piece-to-piece identity should not be expected.
Lacquer or wax helps keep the approved appearance more stable. A living finish is left unsealed and continues to change with handling and exposure.
Dust with a soft cloth and use plain water sparingly on lacquered finishes. Avoid metal polish, brass cleaner, vinegar, ammonia and bleach. Waxed finishes can be refreshed with clear paste wax about twice a year.
Yes, and most of our work starts that way. We strip the old plating down to the base metal, repair what needs repair, then plate it fresh. New plating over a failing layer never lasts, so we don't do it.
We do. Along with single pieces for homeowners, we run batches of hundreds or thousands of parts for companies in California and other states. Send a photo of a sample, the quantity and the finish, and we'll quote the whole run.
Steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, pot metal and zamak. Some of them need extra prep so the plating bonds well, and we'll tell you up front if your part does.