Looking after your metalwork.

Powder-coated pieces

Powder coating is the toughest finish we offer: a dry pigment electrostatically applied and oven-cured into a hard, even shell. It resists knocks, UV and weather, which is why we use it on garden and outdoor work. Outdoor signage and heavy duty letters also have a zinc primer layer added for further corrosion resistance.

• Wipe clean with a soft cloth and warm water with a drop of mild washing-up liquid. Dry with a soft cloth afterwards.
• Avoid abrasive pads, scouring creams and solvent or bleach-based cleaners, as they can dull or scratch the coat.
• Outdoors, an occasional rinse to clear salt, grime and pollen keeps the colour fresh.
• If the coating is ever chipped to bare metal, dab the spot with a matched touch-up paint to stop moisture creeping under the coat.

Brushed & lacquered steel

Mild steel can be sealed under clear lacquer. It's a bright, modern finish, but the lacquer is a thin protective layer, so treat it gently and keep it indoors. Some stainless steel options come in a brushed finish, but being stainless they don't generally need any further protection.

• Dust with a dry microfibre cloth, wiping along the grain, not across it.
• For marks, a barely-damp cloth is plenty; dry immediately. Never use wire wool, metal polish or abrasive cleaners, as they cut straight through the lacquer.
• Keep it out of bathrooms, splash zones and unheated outbuildings; trapped moisture is the enemy of a lacquered finish.

Raw & natural steel

Some of our pieces are deliberately left as bare steel to weather naturally: a living finish that deepens from bright grey to warm amber and russet tones over time. No two ever age quite the same.

• Indoors, you can seal raw steel with a clear wax or lacquer to hold it at the patina you bought. Re-wax once or twice a year with a clear furniture or metal wax to keep it stable.
• Outdoors, an unsealed piece will rust on the surface: that's intended. The patina protects the steel beneath and rarely needs anything from you.
• Surface rust can transfer, so stand outdoor raw-steel pieces clear of paving, decking and light render that you'd mind staining.

Indoors vs outdoors: at a glance

Buying a gift or planning where a piece will go? As a rule of thumb: powder coat goes anywhere; brushed-and-lacquered stays indoors and dry; raw steel is happiest outdoors or sealed for indoor use. If you're unsure which finish suits your spot, tell us where it'll live and we'll point you the right way.