Q. Who do you use for your courier?

A. * As of 23 Nov 2020 * Metalbird's preferred courier partner is Royal Mail - however due to the timing of year and demand with the current climate, your order may be delivered with Hermes to help with this overflow. Our focus is to get your parcel to you as quickly and efficiently as possible, whilst still meeting our high service standards. 

 

Q. How long will it take to dispatch my bird?

A. We aim to dispatch within 24-48 hours and then we send our birds on 48 hour delivery via Royal Mail for orders delivered within the UK. Sometimes delivery can take slightly longer if you live in a rural area. 

 

How did Metalbird start?

A. In 2009 Phil Walters, an industrial designer from New Zealand, created and installed cool metal bird silhouettes around his neighbourhood for fun. People loved them and wanted them and 10 years later Metalbird has become a global art project.

 

Q. Who designs the birds?

A. They have been designed as a collaboration between the UK team and the New Zealand Metalbird team – these designs are exclusive to Metalbird. It all started in a backyard located in Auckland. The lead designer is Phil Walters who started this crazy dream over 10 years ago in New Zealand.

 

Q. Where are my Metalbirds made?

A. Metalbirds are crafted right here in the UK in a small factory in Wickford. They're then dispatched to you from our warehouse in Swindon.

 

Q. What are Metalbirds made from?

A. Metalbirds are laser cut from Premium 3mm Corten® steel.

 

Q. What is Corten® Steel?

A. A copper chromium alloy steel, our Premium Corten® Steel is weather resistant – it’s designed to quickly develop a patina, which then gives a layer of protection sealing in the steel and preserving it. It means that Metalbirds last for decades, with a patina that changes with the seasons. Corten® Steel is the steel you see use in high end exterior architecture. Once it develops a patina it looks beautiful for years

 

Q. What is the Art Project and how do I get involved?

A. When you install your Metalbird, you become part of The Metalbird Global Art Project. The project is created by all of you who, in the act of choosing that magic spot and putting up your bird, become artists in your own backyards. To join, tag your social posts with #mymetalbird so the whole world can see your epic installation.

 

Q. How do I install a Metalbird?

A. "The hard part is picking the perfect location where the bird can be seen and is ideally silhouetted against the clear sky or a light single colour… take your time, find the perfect spot and be the artist. The easy part is installing it. Simply grab a hammer and tap, tap, tap it into a tree or post. If the wood is particularly hard, drill a hole a little smaller than the spike, and then hammer it in firmly making sure there is no movement in the bird."

 

Q. Can Metalbirds be sent as gifts?

A. Absolutely… in fact, over half of the birds we sell are gifts. When you check out, you can even get us to insert a personalised message on a beautiful card. And no… we won’t put anything in the box showing how much it cost. That will be emailed to you.

 

Q. Do you ship overseas?

A. Currently, we are only shipping within the UK. 

 

Q. Will my Metalbird Rust?

A. The short answer is 'yes'. The better answer is our birds are made from Premium Corten® Steel which is a weathering steel. It wont deteriorate or crumble, quite the opposite actually - it's designed to develop a patina that then seals in the steel providing it with long term protection against the elements. We started the business 10 years ago in New Zealand and birds installed at the start still look great today with a beautiful patina that shifts with the season.

 

Q. Why does my Metalbird change colour?

A. Corten® Steel or ‘Weathering Steel’ is used in high-end exterior architecture, for good reason. Exposed to the elements, within weeks it develops a patina that seals the steel and preserves it for decades. It also leaves a beautiful even colouring that will get darker over the years. This means that over time, your bird will continue to deepen in colour. Our 10-year-old Metalbirds look incredible.

 

Q. Can you paint them?

A. We’ve found that using secondary paint systems like powder coating quickly lead to failure. Paint doesn’t last well outdoors – it cracks, water gets in and rust leaks out. Self-sealing Corten® Steel is the way to go for a long lasting great result!

 

Q. Will my metalbird scare off real birds?

A. No – while we’re not sure what goes through a real Wren's mind when it sees a Long Eared Owl Metalbird, however, judging from the thousands of photos we’ve seen, real birds love sitting on, or next to our art pieces.

 

Q. Will a Metalbird damage a tree?

A. While anything that breaks the bark of a tree is an opportunity for infection, in 10 years of Metalbirding we have yet to hear of a single tree that has been damaged as a result of one of our birds being installed. Our original birds are a decade old and the trees are flourishing. Arborists we’ve worked with believe that when the spike is driven firmly into the tree, the tree will seal around the hole to protect itself from disease. Of course, if you don’t want to install your Metalbird in a tree, there’s a whole world of posts, sheds, wooden walls and fences to explore. Let the adventure begin!

 

Q. Can gift vouchers be returned?

A. You have the right to cancel your Metalbird.com gift voucher at any time as long as the voucher has not been used. In case of cancellation, Metalbird will refund the amount of the gift voucher to the original payment method used during ordering within 14 days of cancellation.

 

Q. When will my gift voucher expire?

A. Don’t you hate it when gift vouchers expire? Well great news Metalbird gift vouchers are valid forever and only expire once you’ve used them! Feel free to redeem at a time that works for you… or pass it on to your family or to your friends.

 

Q. How do I use my gift voucher?

A. Metalbird gift vouchers work just as you’d expect to use any other form of payment. Add your items to cart and proceed to the check out to finalise your order payment. If you get carried away and buy more than what the voucher is valued for, simply top up the final amount with your credit card or Paypal.

 

Q. Can gift vouchers be used in conjunction with a discount code?

A. Yes! Treat your balance as cash, gift vouchers are just another form of payment.

 

Q. Can a gift voucher be used more than once?

A. Yes, your gift voucher is valid until every cent of the balance runs out.

 

Q. Can a gift voucher be used to purchase another gift voucher?

A. Although we all love a gift that keeps on giving, unfortunately you can’t use a gift voucher to buy another gift voucher.

 

Q. Can more than one gift voucher be used towards a purchase?

A. Absolutely, you can redeem multiple gift vouchers on one purchase during checkout.

 

Q. How do I find out how much is left on my gift voucher?

A. We’re here to help, please email info@metalbird.co.uk and we will confirm your available balance within 24 hours.