Metals commonly used in historic buildings include lead, tin, zinc, copper, bronze, brass, iron, steel, and to a lesser extent, nickel alloys, stainless steel and aluminum . Historic metal building components were often created by highly skilled, local artisans, and by the late 19th century, many of these components were prefabricated and readily available from catalogs in standardized sizes and designs.
Identification is also critical to differentiate between metals prior to work.
Each metal has unique properties and thus requires different treatments. Removing or radically changing architectural metal features which are important in defining the overall historic character of the building so that, as a result, the character is diminished. Radically changing the type of finish or its historic color or accent scheme. Protecting and maintaining architectural metals from corrosion by providing proper drainage so that water does not stand on flat, horizontal surfaces or accumulate in curved, decorative features. Cleaning architectural metals, when appropriate, to remove corrosion prior to repainting or applying other appropriate protective coatings.