Finishes available As you will discover when browsing our site, most of our products are available in a wide range of finishes. We hope you will find the information below helpful in deciding what to go for. However, if you are unsure of anything, please do not hesitate to give us a call. Customers living in coastal areas should contact us to discuss what fittings and finishes will be best for them. BRASS: products listed as this are made from solid brass that is either sand cast, die cast or pressed. These products are all, unless stated otherwise, polished and have a protective lacquer applied to them to prolong the life of the brass and reduce the need for regular polishing. ANTIQUE BRASS: this is a finish applied to brass to give an aged look. CHROME: this is a highly polished mirror-like metal plated finish applied to brass (usually) or zinc alloy products. This plating is generally extremely durable and will last many years. SATIN CHROME: this is a matt metal plated finish applied to brass (usually) or zinc alloy products. This plating is generally extremely durable and will last many years. BRUSHED NICKEL: this is a brushed metal plated finish applied to brass (usually) or zinc alloy products, similar to satin chrome but with a slight grain to it. It is also a slightly darker shade of grey than satin chrome, more similar to stainless steel. This plating is generally extremely durable and will last many years. STAINLESS STEEL: all our stainless steel products are made from high grade steel and come in a brushed finish unless otherwise stated. STAINLESS BRASS (P.V.D.): this a relatively new finish which looks identical to brass but is both scratch and weather resistant. This removes the need for polishing and is particularly suitable for areas subject to excess weathering - e.g. coastal areas, areas of high pollution etc. Many of these products come with a 25 year guarantee. BLACK PAINTED: these are iron or steel products painted black. Available in a smooth or hammered finish. IRON BEESWAX: this new range of stylish ironmongery has a real old world feel to it. The wax finish helps protect against weathering. SOLID BRONZE: our solid bronze products come in an antiqued finish are all English made to a high standard. This truly is the most exclusive of finishes. APPLIED BRONZE: our applied bronze products come in an antiqued finish. This is a plated finish applied to brass to give the appearance of solid bronze but at a lower price. These products tend to be a slightly darker in colour than solid bronze. Care of finishes Brassware and ironmongery will, with proper care, provide years of enjoyment and offer fantastic value for money in the long term. Customers living in coastal areas should contact us to discuss what fittings and finishes will be best for them. Lacquered brass products should only be cleaned with a damp cloth and then wiped with a wax polish to provide an extra layer of protection. Under no circumstances should metal cleaning polish be used as this will destroy the lacquer. Over time, however, the lacquer will start to deteriorate. When this happens it needs to be completely removed with a lacquer or paint stripper such as Nitromors. After this, the brass will need to be polished regularly with a metal polish such as Brasso. Unlacquered brass products will need to be regularly polished from the time of purchase. Stainless brass products only require an occasional wipe clean with a damp cloth to remove excess dirt. Plated and applied finishes should be treated the same way as lacquered brass products, with care taken not to scratch. Black painted products should provide good protection to the steel or iron against rusting and can be touched up at any time. Iron beeswax products will age naturally and should be protected with a wax polish.