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-----Kitchen Faucet Finish Question
I am replacing the kitchen faucet but know nothing about finishes. Considering stainless steel or brushed nickel. For looks and durability would you recommend stainless steel or brushed nickel? And can you tell me why one would work better than the other?
Thanks for your consideration.
homeowner - Woodinville, Washington USA
September 10, 2008
September 18, 2008
Hi, Janet. Good quality faucets are solid brass. The stainless or brushed nickel is only the top-most plating (or possibly a PVD vacuum deposited finish), on top of a series of surface treatments. I doubt that there is any significant difference in corrosion resistance or performance between the two finishes (from the same manufacturer) -- it's just for looks.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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January 30, 2009
Dear All,
In European countries, I saw faucet in stainless steel and brass faucet plated with nickel. They look very similar but new nickel seems slightly more shiny than new stainless steel (this difference is only visible by a plater).
Concerning the brushed nickel, I think the most important is the price because the quality is depending the nickel thickness because when you brush the nickel you remove a small thickness of nickel.
But, anyway, you have to do a good maintenance of your faucet comparing to a chrome plated faucet.
- Bordeaux, France
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