| If you are considering a metal faucet, sink or | | | | you still have a living finish that will evolve, but |
| countertop for your kitchen or bath you may have | | | | generally speaking, the darker the patina is to start |
| heard the term "living finish" or perhaps "organic | | | | with, the slower the change over time. |
| finish". Any metal besides stainless steel that is not | | | | Environmental factors specific to your home and |
| coated with a sealer or a metal finish such as chrome | | | | chemicals that may be exposed to the surface of |
| will acquire a "patina" over time. This means the finish | | | | your sink are the great unknown. Every application |
| will change and evolve through exposure to the | | | | and environment is different. Humidity, airborne |
| environment. Some call this "oxidation" (exposure to | | | | salinity, pollutants and oxygen work together with |
| oxygen) but this patina process is also caused by | | | | time to coat the metal surfaces with a signature |
| other environmental factors that the metal surface | | | | patina. If you have a kitchen copper sink and expose |
| might come into contact with as well as wear | | | | the metal surface to certain acids such as those |
| resulting from regular use. | | | | found in a lemon, you will actually dissolve some of |
| When applied to plumbing fixtures, the question | | | | the patina. The constant changes due to these |
| comes up most often regarding copper sinks. Faucet | | | | myriad factors are treasured by some and not |
| and drain hardware manufacturers generally address | | | | welcomed by others. Personally I like the rich hues |
| this issue with certain coatings that protect the metal | | | | and earthy browns that occur over time. I see this |
| surface from the environment, thus preventing patina | | | | as "character" and appreciate the uniqueness in color |
| or changes in the finish. However, these types of | | | | and tone between two identical products in different |
| coatings (PVD or other types of clear protective | | | | environments. |
| finishes) are more difficult to apply to a larger | | | | If you appreciate a living finish, the care and |
| surface area such as that of a sink and require a | | | | maintenance of your sink will be fairly straightforward. |
| more "production" like manufacturing process. Thus | | | | If you wish to prevent it, this is possible to a certain |
| many of the artisan crafted copper and bronze sinks | | | | extent. There are several different ways you can |
| are not sealed and will have a true living finish. | | | | slow down the patina process. Applying a brass or |
| Metal products with a chrome finish or stainless steel | | | | furniture wax that does not contain polish or cleaners |
| products are often referred to as "non-living". This is | | | | can slow the change in patina much the same way |
| only partially true. The surfaces of these products | | | | an automotive wax protects the finish of your car. If |
| can, in fact, dull over time depending on the | | | | desired, patina on a sink can be removed with a |
| environment and how well they are cared for. We | | | | metal polish or mild acid such as lemon juice or |
| have also heard nickel referred to as "non-living finish" | | | | vinegar. Waxing the surface will preserve the shine, |
| but the fact is that nickel will patina or "tarnish" as | | | | or the sink can be left untreated to develop a new |
| well. However, this process is significantly slower than | | | | patina. |
| unprotected copper or bronze. | | | | Oftentimes we sense that our customers are fearful |
| With unprotected brass, bronze or copper, the patina | | | | of a living finish. ...or that this type of finish will require |
| process occurs more quickly. What happens to the | | | | more maintenance. Our answer is always the same - |
| metal finish over time? The answer to this question | | | | if you don't like the patina that you eventually end up |
| depends on whether or not a patina was applied | | | | with, you can always start over! Any copper or brass |
| artificially when the sink was made, the environmental | | | | cleaner will revert the patina back to a shiny surface |
| factors present when in use, how much the product | | | | if you like. If left unprotected, the aging process |
| is used (wear) and the type of maintenance or care | | | | starts over again and within a few weeks you will |
| employed. | | | | begin seeing the metal surface darken. In addition, |
| If you are purchasing a copper sink that has a finish | | | | you can always buy a sink with a darker finish and |
| (i.e. it isn't a "shiny copper"), heat and/or chemicals | | | | keep the surface waxed. This will ensure the least |
| have been applied to accelerate the aging process. | | | | amount of change over time. As for maintenance, |
| You will see such terms as "oil rubbed bronze" or | | | | occasional cleaning with soap and water is really all |
| "weathered copper". To create these finishes, the | | | | you need to do. If you opt to wax your sink, this is |
| metal has been exposed to a chemical bath and | | | | generally something you will need to do only every 3 |
| possibly heat as well, that reacts with the metal and | | | | - 6 months depending on the amount of use. You |
| changes the color. The darker the finish, the less the | | | | can read more about the care & maintenance of |
| metal will patina or age after it's installed. In a way | | | | copper sinks at Copper Sinks Online. |
| you are "shortcutting' the patina process. Regardless, | | | | |