Patinas
Dakota Tin offers two collections of corrugated metal products. Each collection has a distinct philosophy and finish lineup. This page is the complete reference for what's available, how each finish behaves, and which product lines stock which finishes.
Two Collections, Two Approaches
Dakota Tin Collection — Reclaimed Barn Tin
Real corrugated steel salvaged from Midwest barn roofs and machine sheds. Every piece is unique. Expect nail holes, natural rust lines, manufacturer marks, warping, and wide color variation — metallic grey, rust orange, light brown, and yellowish hues. Never chemically treated or artificially finished. Inspected before shipping.
Four sub-styles based on the ratio of rust to galvanized coloring on each piece.
Colorado Rustic Collection — New Steel, Consistent Finishes
New corrugated steel with uniform, consistent patinas. Introduced in 2019 after customers asked for a rustic look without nail holes or warping. Typically less variation per piece than reclaimed barn tin — but each patina has its own distinct character and is individually hand-styled.
Dakota Tin Collection — Reclaimed Sub-Styles
All Dakota Tin Collection material is real reclaimed barn tin. Every piece has its own story. The sub-styles below describe the ratio of rust to galvanized coloring on each piece, not different materials.
Random Mixture (recommended)
The most contrast between cool, darker grey / blue galvanized coloring and warm orange / brown rust coloring. A natural mix of majority rust, majority galvanized, and partial rust pieces. Our most popular sub-style.
- Recommended for: larger projects (whole ceilings, full wainscoting walls) where variation adds character.
- Not recommended for: small projects — the piece-to-piece variation can read as inconsistent when there are only a few tiles.
Majority Rust
The majority of each piece has warm, orange / brown rust coverage and coloring. Best when you want the rustic warmth without as much cool-tone contrast.
Majority Galvanized
The majority of each piece has cool, darker grey / blue antique galvanized coloring. Best when you want the aged-barn character without strong warm-tone dominance.
Premium
The best reclaimed tin we source. Each piece is a natural mix of rust and galvanized created only by real weathering. Flatter with less warping than our other sub-styles. Higher price point.
- Recommended for: smaller applications, door inserts, statement walls, art and craft projects — anywhere flatness matters or you want the best pieces we've found.
Colorado Rustic Collection — Active Finishes
Rusted
Cold rolled steel with an all-natural, accelerated rusting solution spray-applied by hand in our Yankton facility. The result is a more even copper/orange rust color than natural aging produces, with small variations of blues and greys for character. We start the rusting process; you can take it further after installation with vinegar water, or pause it with a clear coat.
- Care: Rust can rub off. We strongly recommend clear coating for indoor or high-touch applications. Everbrite Coatings is what we recommend.
- Can be used in showers if properly clear coated and sealed.
- Do not bury in ground for landscape edging — soil reduces the life expectancy of the material. Use above-ground stake installation instead.
- Linseed sealant add-on available.
Galvalume
Steel with a hot-dipped zinc / aluminum / silicon coating, plus a clear acrylic topcoat. Light silver, semi-sheen. No rust and no color variation. The most uniform and modern-looking finish we offer.
- Care: The clear acrylic topcoat provides base protection. No additional sealing needed for typical applications.
- Linseed sealant not available (and not needed — the factory topcoat already seals the surface).
Antique Galvanized
G90 galvanized steel that has been bonderized (phosphate bath plus chromate treatment) by our supplier. Dark grey, weathered, flat texture. No rust and no color variation initially, but the surface will age and wear over time.
- Care: The finish is more porous than Galvalume. May produce white rust with moisture exposure over time — this is a known characteristic of the bonderized finish, not a defect. We recommend clear coating in high-wear areas or where oils may splatter (kitchen backsplashes, bar fronts, etc.).
- Linseed sealant add-on available.
Colorado Premium
Galvanized steel that we artificially age in-house to replicate the look of our reclaimed Premium barn tin — without the nail holes or warping. The result is more consistent than true reclaimed, but still has the aged, weathered character of natural barn tin. A middle ground between Antique Galvanized and our reclaimed collection.
- Care: Treat similarly to Antique Galvanized. Clear coating optional for high-wear areas.
- Linseed sealant add-on available.
Corten A606 Weathering Steel
True A606 grade weathering steel in 24 gauge — thicker and more durable than our standard finishes. Unlike our Rusted finish (cold rolled steel with a spray treatment), Corten A606 is chemically designed to develop a self-protecting rust-like patina when exposed to the elements. The rust actually protects the underlying metal rather than degrading it — which is why Corten is the right choice for exterior and high-moisture applications. Ships before the patina has fully developed; the weathering happens naturally after installation, which is the entire point of the product.
- Care: Self-protecting once the patina forms. Does not require clear coating the way Rusted finish does. Best used where the steel can weather naturally.
- Higher price point than standard Colorado finishes — it's a premium architectural-grade material.
- Linseed sealant not offered pre-shipment for this finish. The patina needs to develop naturally.
Crinkle Black
Textured black coating on steel. The crinkle texture reduces sheen and hides wear better than a smooth painted finish. A good option when you want the drama of black metal without high gloss.
Note for edging applications: Crinkle Black is currently coated on the front side only — the back side of each panel is white. For interior walls, ceilings, or single-sided wainscoting this is invisible. For edging where both sides may be seen (between yards, along driveways, around raised beds), plan the orientation so the white side faces where you want it.
- Care: Standard painted-metal care. No rust behavior.
- Linseed sealant not available for this finish.
Which Finishes Are Available in Which Products?
Not every finish is available in every product line. This table shows what's in stock and actively offered today. Click any ✓ to shop that finish/product combination.
Dakota Tin Collection (Reclaimed)
| Product | Random Mixture | Majority Rust | Majority Galvanized | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barn Tin Ceiling Tiles | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Barn Tin Wainscoting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom Panels | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Colorado Rustic Collection
| Product | Rusted | Galvalume | Antique | Colorado Premium | Corten A606 | Crinkle Black |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiling Tiles | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Wainscoting Panels | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wainscoting Rolls | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ |
| Landscape Edging | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| J-Track | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ † | ✓ |
| L-Trim / Z-Trim | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Large Panels (26"x72") | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom Panels | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Acoustical Ceiling Tiles | ✓ | — | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Ceiling Grid Cover | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — | — |
† Corten A606 J-Track is available in the 92" length only. The 23⅝" J-Track is not offered in Corten A606.
Linseed Sealant Add-On
We offer a boiled linseed oil and mineral spirits sealant that we apply to your metal before it ships. The sealant creates a shellac-like coat on the surface that:
- Slows further rusting by blocking air and moisture contact
- Helps prevent rust rub-off (particularly important for the Rusted finish)
- Adds a level of shine to the metal
Available for: Rusted, Antique Galvanized, Colorado Premium, and all Dakota Tin reclaimed sub-styles.
Not available for: Galvalume, Crinkle Black, Corten A606, White, Copper Penny.
Sealant pricing is shown at checkout as an add-on to the product you're ordering.
Limited Availability
The following finishes are still on site and in stock while supplies last, but are not part of our active product focus. They may be discontinued when current inventory sells through.
White
A clean white finish on metal. Smooth corrugated metal painted white on one side.
Copper Penny (Metallic Copper)
A smooth satin metallic sheen with a warm copper finish on the front and a bright white backing.
Still Have Questions?
Order samples to see and feel the finishes in person before committing. Our Designer Sample Kit includes all active finishes from both collections.
Or reach out directly:
Phone: 605-484-0875
Email: info@dakotatin.com