PVD Door Furniture FAQ
PVD stands for Physical Vapour Deposition. This is a
process where the surface of metals are coated with molecules of hardwearing
metals. The process involves metallic vapours being created in a vacuum. With
the introduction of reactive gases into the vacuum chamber, a thin film of
metallic compounds is created. This highly adherent thin film is then deposited
onto the surface of the base metal creating a non-tarnishable finish.
Q. What are the advantages of
PVD treated door furniture?
A. PVD treated door furniture can be used in areas and situations where
normal lacquered brass handles would eventually tarnish. They have an extremely
high resistance to salt spray which makes them ideal for use in coastal areas
where non-treated brass would certainly begin to tarnish fairly quickly. PVD
products have unlimited resistance to muriatic acids (acids created from brine)
and anti-calcareous products (de-scaler). It should be remembered that the PVD
process gives protection to the finish and not the mechanism which will usually
be no different to a standard door handle. If PVD products are to be fitted in a
very harsh environment then it is important to ensure that the mechanism is also
well greased.
Q. Are PVD door furniture
products known by any other names?
A. Companies which produce PVD door furniture often have their own
particular brand name such as "Everbrite", "Titan Protection" or "Stainless
Brass". Some companies will simply refer to it as "PVD Brass" but they are all
the same type of product.
Q. How long can I expect my
PVD treated door furniture to last?
A. Different manufacturers of PVD products offer different guarantees.
Everbrite™ offer a 25 year guarantee on the
finish whereas Titan Protection™ offer a 20
year guarantee, others may offer a 10 year guarantee. These lengthy guarantees prove that any door furniture
that has been PVD treated are of extremely high quality and can be expected to
last a long time, even when used in "high wear" situations such as public
buildings, offices, shops etc.
Q. Can I mix and match PVD
treated brass door furniture with normal lacquered brass around the home?
A. PVD brass is slightly richer in colour to lacquered brass
and, because there is no lacquer on the surface of this finish, it has a
brighter polished shine. Whilst the two products are very similar and certainly
don't look out of place next to each other, they would not be a perfect match on
the same side of a door. It should also be considered that the finish on
lacquered brass may deteriorate with time, whereas the PVD brass would not,
and as a result the slight difference in appearance could become exaggerated.
If however the products were used on different doors in the same house it would
be difficult to spot the difference. Many people therefore use PVD brass on
the external side of their front and back doors (were corrosion is most likely
to occur) and standard lacquered brass internally. It could also be considered
for bathroom doors and is ideal for marine applications where we recommend that
the handle's mechanism is well greased before fitting. You could
of course use PVD brass throughout your home and be reassured that you may
not have to replace any door furniture for in excess of 20 years! The
images below show Everbite™ products on the left and polished brass on the right.
Q. How should I maintain my
PVD brass door furniture?
A. PVD treated door furniture is virtually maintenance free. Everbrite™
recommend simply cleaning their products approximately every two
months with a moist sponge and drying with a soft cloth. As the product is bare
metal (not lacquered) and also very shiny, it can have more of a tendency to
show fingerprints. Not really a problem, its just the same as handling any high
shine product (eg like chrome). If desired, a good wax polish, like you would
use on car bodywork, can dramatically reduces this effect and also enhance the
rich shine.
Q. Why haven't I bought any of
this trouble free door furniture?
That's a very good question, why haven't you? If you have any reasons
why you wouldn't buy it please email
with your feedback.
DISCLAIMER
Bernards makes every effort to ensure that the information contained in our FAQs
is correct and accurate. We can however accept no responsibility for any errors
or omissions or their subsequent effects. Indeed if you find any please let us
know, we appreciate any advice or comments to improve these pages.
Copyright © 2003 [Robert Bernard & Son Ltd]. All rights reserved.
Revised: July 18, 2007
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