With the constant development of new techniques and innovations, the building industry is always changing. At Arklen, we pride ourselves on staying updated with these changes so that our clients can have access to the best building experience possible. One innovation that’s still relatively new in Australia is applied metal, otherwise known as liquid metal. After using it on a few of our projects, we think it offers a great alternative to cast or sheet metal and may even be the better choice. Time for a deep dive.
WHAT IS IT?
Whether you call it applied metal or liquid metal, the name itself offers a pretty good explanation of what this material is. It’s metal that comes in a liquid form so it can be sprayed or painted onto the surface of another material, like timber, as a finish and it’s suitable for both interior and exterior conditions. It can come in a range of metals, such as brass and copper, and even rust, along with a wide variety of colours, textures and patterns.
A timelapse of the applied metal application on a door at our Langsford St project.
PROS & CONS
So far, we’ve had the opportunity to use applied metals from two different suppliers: Axolotl and Morph Liquid Metals. Through our experiences of both, applied metal undoubtedly offers an excellent alternative to cast or sheet metal. However, the below pros and cons come from our personal experience with these products, and further research into your chosen supplier should be done before choosing this material.
Pros
Textures and effects – Both within and between suppliers, you can choose from a wide range of different metals, colours, textures and effects. Just like paint, samples can also be provided to help choose the finish that best suits your design.
Surface-area consistency – With such a high level of control over the finished product, there’s more guarantee that it’ll look the same over a larger area. This is particularly notable when aiming for more detailed architectural design as it can be easily applied to curves or more complex surfaces.
Longevity – When properly applied and cared for, your liquid metal coating can last at least 20 years without chips, cracks, peeling or fading, on both interior and exterior surfaces.
Less leaching – Applied metals are much less likely to leach into other surfaces or transfer onto clothes than their solid alternatives.
Weight – As applied metal needs only a thin coating atop a chosen surface, it’s much lighter than cast or sheet metal, making it a good option for doors or other elements that need to be frequently moved.
Lower impact – Liquid metal requires much less metal than traditional cast or sheet metals, and requires less power in production.
Cons
Application – No matter the supplier you go through, it must be applied by an accredited applier. This means it needs to be outsourced and can’t be applied by your builder or as a DIY.
Offsite – It’s also typically applied offsite, so your product will need to be transported to and from their workshop, and the additional time to do this will need to be accounted for.
ARKLEN PROJECTS
We’ve had the opportunity to use applied metal on two of our projects so far, although we expect to use it in many more to come.
The first, was back in 2018 in our Langsford Street project, where innovative ideas were around every corner. Here, we used Axolotl applied metal in rust on a large feature sliding door. The door, 2.4 metres wide, would have been much too heavy had solid metal been used. So, the liquid metal sprayed onto a much lighter MDF door became the ideal solution.
The second project is much more recent on Urch Road. Here, liquid metal from Morph Liquid Metals was chosen for the rangehood, and on the cabinet doors under the barbecue. Outside of the aesthetics, these doors will be much lighter and easy to use in the long-term, unlike real metal that easily deforms.
While we’ve only used applied metal on a few of our projects so far, we wouldn’t be at all surprised if this material gets picked up as the next big thing. If you’d like to learn more, or want to consider using it in your project with us, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Photography by Dion Robeson and Arklen.