How to darken your faded cast stone address blocks and plaques
Address blocks are usually made out of cast stone. You can find them on your house, mailbox or on a brick pillar out by your street. They can have just your address or a combination of your address, street name, family name, or anything else you desire. Over the years though they can fade and not look as good as they once did. I have tried many different methods to make them look like new but one method seems to work the best.
Things you will need
- Half inch or quarter inch wide paint brush (depending on the size of your lettering) preferably with an angled tip
- Flat black spray paint
- A small steel can or container recycled from your pantry
- A steady hand is nice but not always necessary for your address plaque
First step is to spray the spray paint into the can a little at a time. About 10 seconds is all you need to have enough paint to start with. Second step is pretty obvious, dab your paint brush in and repaint your sign. It will usually dry very fast and dripping or runs almost never happen. This method seems to last for many years to come and sometimes longer than the original.
Where to buy a cast stone address block
If you live in the Dallas metro and would like to purchase an address plaque for your home I recommend Gartex in Garland, Texas. They have several sizes with many options to choose from.
You do have other options as well…
You may want to have an address plaque added to an existing brick structure and the easiest way is with a metal address sign. These come in thousands of shapes and sizes and are very easy to install. You can always pre-order them at Home Depot and Lowes. Some cheaper alternatives would be through Amazon and Etsy, each offering much more creative and personal styles.