Liquid Metal and Metallic Plaster Finishes in Manchester

Short answer. Liquid Metal is a coating made with fine metal powder that is applied to walls, bar fronts, columns and doors to give the look and feel of solid metal without fixing heavy metal sheets. Zavoré supplies and installs Liquid Metal and metallic plaster finishes for bars, restaurants and apartments in Manchester, with its own applicators travelling from Birmingham.

For every decorative finish we install in Manchester, from Venetian plaster to limewash, gilding and murals, see our decorative finishes specialist in Manchester page.

Would you rather have it done for you? Our own applicators provide liquid metal and metallic finish installation across the UK, including Venetian plastering in Manchester.

What Liquid Metal actually is

Metal coatings of this kind are made by mixing fine metal powder, such as copper, brass, bronze or iron, into a binder. The mix is trowelled or sprayed onto a prepared surface in thin layers. Once it has set, it can be sanded and polished to a brushed or mirrored metal finish, or left with a rougher, more industrial texture.

Because it is a coating rather than a sheet, it can follow curves, wrap around columns and cover shapes that would be awkward or costly to clad in real metal. Some metals, such as copper and bronze, can also be aged with a patina treatment to give the green or dark tones of old metalwork.

Why it fits Manchester's bars and restaurants

Manchester is known for its industrial past, with red brick mills and warehouses, iron columns and exposed beams. Many bars and restaurants in areas such as the Northern Quarter and Ancoats lean into that look. Metal finishes sit naturally alongside brick, timber and concrete.

• Bar fronts and counters. A metal front makes the bar the focus of the room.
• Columns. Existing columns can be coated to look like cast bronze or aged iron.
• Doors and panels. Doors, wall panels and lettering can be given a solid metal look.
• Surfaces that take heavy use. A protective topcoat is added where hands, glasses and bags meet the surface.

For commercial spaces, tell us your opening hours early so the work can be planned around them. Our guide to commercial Venetian plaster covers more on planning work in businesses.

Metal finishes in Manchester apartments

At home, a little metal goes a long way. A kitchen island front, a fireplace surround, a headboard wall or a set of internal doors are all good places for Liquid Metal. In an apartment with concrete ceilings or exposed brick, an aged copper or iron finish can tie the space together.

Metallic plaster or Liquid Metal?

These two are often mixed up. Metallic plaster is a decorative plaster with metallic pigment in it. It gives a soft metallic sheen across a wall and is usually chosen for larger areas. Liquid Metal contains real metal powder, so it looks and feels like solid metal and can take a patina. Many projects use both. Metallic plaster on the walls and Liquid Metal on one or two features.

How the work is planned

Zavoré's applicators travel from Birmingham and work in Manchester in planned blocks of days. Surfaces such as MDF, plaster or metal are prepared and primed first. The coating then goes on in layers, followed by sanding, polishing or ageing, and a sealer where needed.

To see a metal finish before you commit, order a sample board, call 07592 929191 or email sales@zavore.co.uk. You can also visit our Manchester page.

Questions we get asked

Is Liquid Metal real metal?

It contains real metal powder held in a binder. It is a coating rather than solid metal sheet, which is why it can cover curves and columns.

Can it go on a bar top?

It is better suited to bar fronts, panels and columns. Any area that takes heavy wear needs a protective topcoat and some care.

Will copper Liquid Metal change colour?

Copper and bronze can darken or develop a patina over time. If you want the colour to stay as it is, a sealer is applied once the finish is complete.