The Tin, Mill and Clear finishes all look like a stainless-steel appliance. What is the difference between them?
Although our Tin-Plated Steel, Mill and Clear finishes look similar, they are very different.
- Tin-Plated Steel, while it is our least expensive option, it is our most labor-intensive. Tin is sold as meant-to-be-painted, because like the aged tin ceilings found in historic homes and buildings, tin will eventually rust. Painting or clear-coating the front and back of your products will slow this process.
- Mill finish is perfect for DIYers! Mill finish is a raw aluminum, so it will never rust. Because the product is not coated, over time a milky haze will gather on the surface of the metal. For this reason, Mill finish is also sold as meant-to-be-painted.
- Clear finish is an aluminum product with a clear coating baked directly onto the metal. You can either install this product as-is without any further prep from you, or the baked-on coating can serve as a primer for your own custom paint job.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE POLISHED COPPER, ANTIQUE COPPER, SOLID COPPER AND AGED SOLID COPPER FINISHES?
- Polished Copper is an aluminum product with a rosy copper color baked onto the surface of the metal. Because the substrate is aluminum, the metal will never rust or patina.
- Antique Copper is an aluminum product with an orangey-brown copper color baked onto the surface of the metal. Because the substrate is aluminum, the metal will never rust or patina.
- Solid Copper is actual solid copper metal, left uncoated. Solid Copper will arrive looking like a shiny new penny, and if not clear coated, it will darken and gather a greenish-blue patina.
- Aged Solid Copper is also actual solid copper, which is pre-aged during our manufacturing process. Aged Solid Copper will arrive darkened, with the beginning signs of the patina already on the surface of the metal. If you like the look of your products when you receive them, you can clear coat them to seal in that stage of the aging. If you do not clear coat them, they will continue to darken and patina naturally.
How do I nail the product into place? Do I need to put a nail on every dot?
When ordering, be sure to select “nail up” as your installation method. All of our nail-up products have what we call “a dot-dash pattern” around the perimeter. When installing, overlap this “dot-dash” perimeter with the “dot-dash” perimeter of the next product. Once the products are lined up evenly, you will insert your nail through the two overlapping dots.
Your nailing pattern is completely up to you! As you are installing, you will get a feel for how many nails your project requires. You may only need a nail in each corner. If the weight of the product doesn’t seem supported by the number of nails you’ve installed, just keep adding more until the product is secure. Our only suggestion is to keep your nailing pattern consistent throughout your room.
Your nailing pattern is completely up to you! As you are installing, you will get a feel for how many nails your project requires. You may only need a nail in each corner. If the weight of the product doesn’t seem supported by the number of nails you’ve installed, just keep adding more until the product is secure. Our only suggestion is to keep your nailing pattern consistent throughout your room.
Can products be installed with a nail gun?
A nail gun or brad nailer can be used to install M-Boss Inc. products. However, our conehead nails are not designed to fit into either tool, so you will need to purchase your hardware separately. We suggest testing the pressure of the tool prior to installing, so that you can adjust the pressure as needed.
For a decorative conehead look, you can use M-Boss Inc.’s decorative conehead nails. Our nails are purchased in quantities of 200, which covers roughly 20-25 panels.
For a decorative conehead look, you can use M-Boss Inc.’s decorative conehead nails. Our nails are purchased in quantities of 200, which covers roughly 20-25 panels.
Can I glue products into place instead of nailing
M-Boss Inc. does not recommend using glue as the only means of installation. While adhesives and drywall compound work great to reinforce the raised parts of your tiles or to temporarily hold products into place while you grab tools, adhesives tend to lose their adhesive quality over time and can eventually become ineffective. Adhesives and nails work great in conjunction with each other, but to ensure a secure installation, nail products into place or set into a grid system.
Can products be installed directly to drywall or sheet rock
M-Boss Inc. does not recommend installing products directly to drywall or sheet rock. Applying a thin (3/8”) layer of plywood to drywall or sheet rock first, will provide a more durable platform to install your products.
How do I cut the product
M-Boss Inc. products can be cut using standard tin snips, a hack saw or a compound miter saw with a fine-tooth blade.
How do I paint the products? What type of primer and paint should be used
You can paint M-Boss Inc. products using any method you prefer – brushing, rolling, spraying, etc.
There are two ways to go about painting your metal products.
There are two ways to go about painting your metal products.
- The first method is to use a direct-to-metal paint. Typically, a direct-to-metal paint does not need a primer or clear coat to seal the paint onto the surface of the metal. This allows you to apply fewer coats, buy fewer products, and spend less time drying. However, while this method may be less labor-intensive, keep in mind that direct-to-metal paints don’t always have the widest color selection – you may be limited to only a few colors.
- The second method is to prime your panels, apply the paint of your choice, and then seal them with a clear coat. This method is more labor-intensive, but gives you the ability to use a wide variety of colors and paint types. You can skip the priming step by ordering your products pre-primed! Our line of Traditional finishes (Clear and White) have a baked-on coating that can serve as a primed base. Paints can be purchased from your local hardware or retail stores, such as Home Depot or Walmart.
WHAT SIZE GRID IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE LAY-IN PRODUCTS? DOES M-BOSS INC. OFFER THE GRID SYSTEM?
M-Boss Inc. products are designed to fit a standard 15/16” or 9/16” suspension grid system.
M-Boss Inc. does not offer grid systems; however, we do offer a line of grid sleeves. Grid sleeve adhere to your existing grid system, hiding blemishes on the surface of the bars, allowing you to bring your grid back to life without having to replace it. We use the same metal for our grid sleeves that we use for our panels, so you can match your grid to you panels for a more uniform look.
M-Boss Inc. does not offer grid systems; however, we do offer a line of grid sleeves. Grid sleeve adhere to your existing grid system, hiding blemishes on the surface of the bars, allowing you to bring your grid back to life without having to replace it. We use the same metal for our grid sleeves that we use for our panels, so you can match your grid to you panels for a more uniform look.
WHAT SIZE ARE THE PANELS
M-Boss Inc. offers a variety of sizes.
- Lay-in panels are approximately 23 13/16” x 23 13/16”.
- Nail up panels are approximately 24 3/8” x 24 3/8”.
- Backsplash panels are approximately 18 3/8” x 24 3/8”.
- 2x4’ lay-in panels are approximately 23 13/16" x 47 5/8", and 2x4’ nail up panels are approximately 24 3/8" x 48 3/8".
HOW CAN I CLEAN THE PRODUCT
Our panels are virtually maintenance-free, however, periodic cleaning will assure that our products look good for years to come! Cleaning is as easy as wiping with a mild household cleaner, such as Windex, and a soft cloth. We suggest testing your cleaner on the back of your product prior to actual use.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECEIVE MY ORDER
All M-Boss Inc. products are made-to-order, and therefore, have a 15-20 business day lead time. Should you need your order sooner, please contact the M-Boss Inc. sales team to discuss the possibility of expediting products for an additional fee.
You can also check the Clearance page for products that are available for same-day shipping when ordered by 2pm eastern time.
You can also check the Clearance page for products that are available for same-day shipping when ordered by 2pm eastern time.
What is the return/cancellation policy?
Please be certain of the order at the time of placement, as colors/finishes can vary between orders due to subtleties in the manufacturing process. All M-Boss Inc. products are made to order, and therefore, have a lead time of 10-20 business days. Custom and replicated products will have an individual lead time quoted prior to ordering. Any order may be cancelled within 24 hours of ordering. No cancellations will be accepted on any product after 24 hours. Inspect all items upon receipt for damage and quantity verification; discrepancies must be reported within 7 days of receipt, to be evaluated by Quality Control. NO returns on discrepancies will be accepted after 7 days. A return-authorization number from the factory is required and product must be shipped back within 3 days of obtaining this number. All shipments are F.O.B. our dock. For prices, products, specifications, and offers, M-Boss Inc. reserves the right to make adjustments/improvements due to market conditions and availability.
Ordering samples before placing the full order is recommended, as colors/finishes displayed in marketing materials are intended for reference only and may vary from the actual finished product due to display settings and/or dye-lot subtleties. Some patterns may have minor dimpling and/or wrinkling inherent to our replication processes and/or manufacturing techniques. All lengths of cornice provide for 48” of linear coverage, unless otherwise noted, and may need tweaking in the field to achieve nominal dimensions portrayed. Oversized panels include pattern numbers 2414, 2422, 2423, 2431, 2434, 2435, 2437, 2438, 2441, 2442, 2445, 2447, 2448, 2451, 2453 and 2454.
Ordering samples before placing the full order is recommended, as colors/finishes displayed in marketing materials are intended for reference only and may vary from the actual finished product due to display settings and/or dye-lot subtleties. Some patterns may have minor dimpling and/or wrinkling inherent to our replication processes and/or manufacturing techniques. All lengths of cornice provide for 48” of linear coverage, unless otherwise noted, and may need tweaking in the field to achieve nominal dimensions portrayed. Oversized panels include pattern numbers 2414, 2422, 2423, 2431, 2434, 2435, 2437, 2438, 2441, 2442, 2445, 2447, 2448, 2451, 2453 and 2454.
