Cleaning and Caring for Plumbing Fixtures
Considerations
Manufacturers often use different techniques or a combination of techniques to produce a desired finish. Two seemingly identical finishes from different manufacturers may be achieved by different processes and have different wear characteristics. It is prudent to check each manufacturer's warranty for their particular version of that finish.
There are a few other cautions regarding metal finishes:
- Muriatic acid which is used to prepare tile grout prior to sealing can damage metal finishes. Cleaning and sealing of grout should be done before the final trim pieces are installed in a bathroom
- Paints continue to cure for a few days. Vapors released during this process can sometimes cause metal finishes to discolour or tarnish. It is best to wait until no paint odour can be detected before installing plumbing trim pieces
- Household bleach and cleaners containing bleach used to remove mildew and soap film from tile can damage metal and should not be allowed to remain on metal finishes. Metal finishes splashed with these products should be immediately rinsed with clean water and dried
- Sanding dust from the preparation of plaster and wallboard can also eat at many metal finishes in the presence of moisture and should not be allowed to remain on metal finishes
- Much of the damage to metal finishes may occur in the installation phase of the work. Metal pieces can also scratch each other, opening the way to further deterioration if handled carelessly during installation and removal
- Careful installation is very important to insure that metal finishes will have a long life
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