The choice of finish is a balance between your preferred look and your environments. Finishes are offer greater long term protection of your system, having regard to the surrounding environment. Stainless steel systems need maintaining like a car to keep them looking their best. The amount of maintenance required for your system depends on the correct choice of finish for your environment. Also known as 'teabag staining', a condition called Tannin is the enemy. Imagine a rusty like stain left by a used tea bag on a draining board. That is what tannin looks like. It is the collection of contaminates in the air that takes on the appearance of rust. It is not rust and can be controlled. See below how the different finishes help combat tannin: 🟢 TYPICAL ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS INLAND TOWNS AND VILLAGES: Typical environmental areas are inland towns and villages with traffic passing through, and has low airborne contaminates. Under these circumstances with the use of hydrophobic coating, brush satin steel may be used. Sanded in one direction then buffed, this creates a silk type finish. The silk type finish is created by millions of brush mark 'valleys'. It is in these valleys where airborne contaminates settle. Over time the contaminates build and cause tannin. 🟢 MARINE ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS SEASIDE TOWNS AND VILLAGES: A marine environment is, anywhere 'close' to the sea, and salt is generally in the air. Mirror polished is recommended for these environments as the polishing process smooths out the 'valleys' found in brush satin satin (see above). The smoothing of the surface reduces the ability of contaminates to grip on, therefore reducing the potential of tannin. 🟢 HARSH ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS DIRECTLY ON THE SEA AND MARINAS: A harsh environment is where a system is consisently exposed to contaminates, such as direct contact with the sea. Electropolished stainless steel systems offer up to 30 times more corrosion resistance. The process involves immersing stainless steel them into a bath of electrolyte which is composed of a mixture of acids. Components are positively charged during electropolishing. The electrolyte acts as a conductor and a small amount of metal is dissolved off the component's surface. The process leaves behind a clean and smooth surface. 🟠 POWDER COATING & PROTECTION: For long term quality, It is not recommended to powder coat mild steel , particularly in marine or harsh environments. Powdercoating is a paint that can be guaranteed for up to 25 years, however, over a long time will wear. If the paint is chipped exposing the steel underneath, rust will set it and cause blisters. This would not happen to stainless steel. Powder coating offers you any finished colour you wish. 🟠 HYDROPHOBIC COATING & PROTECTION: All finishes benefit from the application of a hydrophobic coating, particularly benificial for a brushed satin finish. Hydrophoic coating is an invisable, thin surface layer that repels water. Contaminates can be carried by rain water. When applied to brushed satin, 'valleys' are filled in leaving a smooth surface similar to mirror polished stainless steel. This reduces the ability of contaminates to grip on. Application is easy and straightforward using a sparay bottle and clean micro cloth. All systems supplied by Glazeit are hydrophobic coated. 🟠 AFTER CARE: If tannin is detected there are simple remedies. Brushed satin can be cleaned using a light abrasive cleaner and/or a Scotch Bright™ pad. Mirror polished can be cleaned using specialist non abrasive cleaning products such as CR Laurence CRLSSC600. Electropolished can be cleaned the same as mirror polished above. All Glazeit systems are supplied with a full maintenance guide.