Brass House Numbers

Brass is the one of the most durable and weather resistant materials from which to make house numbers. It is also practically maintenance-free, depending on whether it is solid or plated, lacquered or unsealed. This is unlike tile house numbers that can crack under stress.

Flexibility of Brass

Instead of being a pure metal it is an alloy of copper and zinc. The house numbers will vary in color depending on the proportion of copper to zinc used in making the brass. The metal can be forged, cast, die-cut or wrought. You can choose a finish from a highly polished shiny finish to a satin or brushed finish or even an antique, verdigris finish.

Solid Or Plate

Solid brass house numbers will darken over time and acquire a patina if they are not regularly polished. Some people allow this to happen naturally and find the patina beautiful. There are even some methods for making new metal look old. If you want the sign to retain its original color you can polish it regularly or lacquer it to protect it from oxidizing. Solid brass can be polished up and its patina removed no matter how old it is.

Electroplating

Plated numbers have a thin layer of metal electroplated to a steel or white metal base. Plating is usually lacquered to preserve the plating, which deteriorates over time. A sign that has been lacquered should never be polished, and indeed, should never need polishing. If the lacquer has worn off and the underlying metal has begun to darken, simply remove the lacquer with paint or lacquer thinner, polish it and reapply the lacquer to preserve the shine. To clean, wipe it with a soft damp cloth.

Availability And Cost

Brass house numbers are available in most hardware stores and come in a variety of styles and sizes. Most come with their own hardware to attach the numbers to your house. You can buy individual numbers and attach them yourself with normal household tools. Unlike ceramic house numbers, plaques will not crack or shatter under stress. Here are a number of locations to get you started.

• Brass signs from Address Sign Outlet, characterized by black trim lettering which adds to solidity and dimensionality. Sized 6" x 10", this product will run to just a tad over $100.
• All-brass from Address Plaques (aptly named), with lettering and backing made of brass. There are three sizes that fit three, four and five numbers respectively. This product runs about $160.
• Solid black plaque framed in brass from The Hillman Group. This company sells to retailers only so you will need to order in bulk. The cost is undisclosed but likely to be less than $100 since its in bulk and at wholesale prices.

Custom-Made

There are also many companies offering custom-made plaques. These can be cast solid with the house numbers embossed on them or can be a combination of materials attached to a plaque base. Another option is lighted house numbers made of the same material although glare can make shiny surfaces hard to see.

When buying any type of house number, be sure to check if the number is large enough to be easily visible from the street. Most house numbers are available in several sizes. A good way to check is to draw numbers in various sizes, starting with 4-inch tall numbers, and tape them to your house. View them from the street to see what size number is best. It is also possible to make personalized address plaques with brass.