Please note that finishes are not warrantied due to a variety of external factors including, but not limited to, salt air, irrigation water with high mineral content, and proximity to fertilizers. For any finish other than the standard Unfinished Brass, a 50% deposit is required to begin production. Custom finishes may add to lead time.
Unfinished Brass
Beachside Lighting produces its fixtures with a standard unfinished brass. The fixtures are brushed as a way to even out the appearance to rid any discoloration caused by machine oil or handling. Because there is no coating, the fixtures will soon weather to a natural brown color at inland locations or develop a green (verde) patina at near-ocean locations, as shown in the photos of the unfinished fixtures below. While we can’t guarantee the rate of patina, below are images of what to generally expect.
Natural Aging Process
What to Expect – First Week
Out of the box, the fixtures are a dull, brushed brass. However, unlike standard lamp parts or brass door hardware, there is NO clear coat, meaning that any contact with moisture (in the air, rain, or sprinklers) will immediately start to dull the fixtures. Within the first week, the fixtures will lose their luster. This occurs regardless of geographic location.
Redden, Darken or Patina
Four Months
At this stage the fixtures are in a transition phase. Some darkening or green patina will continue to occur. At this point there is no sign of any shininess. Some fixtures at near-ocean locations will develop hints of green patina. Other fixtures in tropical locations with high humidity but away from the ocean will take on a reddish color and/or darken. Inland fixtures will have already darkened and may not change any further.
Final Aging
After One Year
At this stage, the color of the aging fixture has been 80 – 90% finalized. Inland fixtures will be a darker color. Near-ocean fixtures will have gone green. Even prevailing wind can make a difference — those on the windward side of islands will turn green while fixtures near canals with more brackish water will remain dark.
Beachside recommends simply letting the fixture ‘do its thing’ naturally by aging on its own. This is especially true for landscape fixtures in near-ocean locations. For fixtures located inland, the patina process still will happen. To illustrate the difference, in 2021 we a put a new fixture on a riser installed in 2016. The riser originally looked as shiny as the new fixture.
There is no special code for specifying the fixture to remain unfinished.
OTHER FINISH TYPES
Please note that finishes are not warrantied due to a variety of external factors including, but not limited to, salt air, irrigation water with high mineral content, and proximity to fertilizers. For any finish other than the standard Unfinished Brass, a 50% deposit is required to begin production. Custom finishes may add to lead time.
For those who desire a different appearance than that of natural brass, Beachside Lighting offers powder coating and three acid finish choices:
Acid Finishes
Acid finishes are colors produced in acid reactions with brass and copper. In areas not exposed to the elements, the acid finishes should maintain their appearance for years. However, in an exterior location, especially a salt-air environment, the colored fixture will start developing hints of natural green patina, eventually giving way to this coloring at the closest of oceanfront locations. These fixtures were made with a dark bronze finish, but because of their near ocean location the natural patina has begun to show. This is a natural process where salt air reacts with the copper in the brass alloy. Fixtures away from ocean locations can maintain their black, dark bronze, or nickel acid finishes for years. Simply supply the finish code at the end of the fixture specification. For example, the L-013-S-FIN-DB and L-024-FIN-DB shown here. Again, standard unfinished fixtures require no finish code.
This E8-H fixture on the left in was installed about 60 meters from the ocean. One year later, some green has developed on the surface. (Click images to enlarge.)
Nickel Acid
For a stainless steel appearance that is more popular in Europe and the Middle East, Beachside implements a nickel acid wash. Like other Acid Finishes, at near-ocean exterior locations, ultimately small hints of green patina will eventually appear. The degree of green will depend on the proximity to the ocean and the prevailing winds. However, unlike stainless steel, rust will never develop.
Powder Coating
Beachside also offers powder coating of fixtures, although we don’t recommend it for exterior near-ocean locations. Eventually the powder coating is subject to flaking if exposed to direct salt spray. However, unlike a powder coated aluminum fixture, Beachside’s brass fixtures will not pit or corrode. Instead, the natural green patina will develop. The biggest demands for powder coating are for architectural fixtures and the color white, which cannot be offered in an acid finish. We welcome inquiries regarding matching a specific color.
Vandal Resistant Bollard in Custom Light Gray Powdercoat, San Francisco, CA
COST & LEAD TIME
The finishing processes are labor intensive, requiring additional prep work on the components. Because of this, acid finishing and powder coating add cost to the fixture. Please consult your sales representative for an estimate on cost and additional lead time for the fixtures.
Available Finishes are Shown Below:
Black
FIN-BK
L-013-S-FIN-BK
Dark Bronze
FIN-DB
L-016-F-FIN-DB
Nickel Acid
FIN-NA
L-014-FIN-NA
Powder Coating
FIN-WH
L-013-S-FIN-WH