Finish Care

Francone Bespoke Taps fittings are made from premium solid brass. All our finishes are unlacquered and should be treated with care to maintain the beauty of the product. 

General recommendations

We kindly advise our clients to carefully review the following information to ensure the preservation of our finishes. As our products are unlacquered, these guidelines are essential to maintain their integrity.

• We recommend that your products are immediately washed of any residue left by liquid soap, shampoo, shower gel or toothpaste after use.
• Be sure you dry the brass completely once you are finished cleaning, to prevent water spots and further damage.
• Do not use harsh cleaning agents containing caustics, abrasive, citrus acidic, bleach, vinegar, or alcohol ingredients.
• Do not use abrasive cloths, scouring pads etc. or the surface will become damaged.
• Do not locate the tapware and fittings in environments exposed to elements such as salt spray and chlorine that can cause damage to decorative finishes.
• We recommend regular cleaning of aerators and shower heads a couple of times per year, to prevent the formation of limestone.
• Please ask your plumber to take care when handling the products.

Alongside these general guidelines, we provide two distinct approaches for maintaining your brassware, depending on whether the products are uncoated, consisting of pure brass, or if they are coated.

Uncoated brass finishes

Uncoated finishes represent pure brass without any additional coating. These finishes vary based on the distinct treatments applied to brass, resulting in Unlacquered Brass when polished, Unlacquered Satin Brass when brushed, and Tumbled Brass when tumbled. Our unlacquered finishes come with no protective coating. This allows them to age naturally and gain a characterful patina over time. 

Our products are crafted from solid brass, and it's important to note that machined, bent, or cast components may age differently. The aging process and the development of a patina on the fittings are beyond our control and depend entirely on the environment and the substances with which the fittings come into contact.

To maintain your brassware, you have two distinct methods to achieve your desired look:
For a shiny, like-new appearance, we recommend using high-quality brass polish like Brasso or Silvo, applied with a non-abrasive cloth.
If you prefer an authentic 'aged' look, adopt a gentler polishing approach, performed less frequently. Concentrate on raised surfaces while allowing crevices to darken naturally over time, creating a well-worn, antique appearance.
To slow down the aging of the finish, particularly for unlacquered brass, consider applying a micro-crystalline wax a few times a year. Renaissance Wax is an excellent choice. Use a soft, clean cloth to apply the wax and remove surface spots, thereby preserving the finish.

 

 

Coated finishes Nickel or Bronze-based

Our coated finishes can be classified into two categories.

The first category consists of nickel-plated finishes, which encompass options such as Polished Nickel, Brushed Nickel, Aged Iron, Tumbled Nickel, and Chrome.

The second category includes bronze-based finishes, where each component undergoes a meticulous hand treatment process with specific chemicals to achieve a warm and rich brown/bronze finish. Due to the chemical interaction between the solution and the brass, it's expected that there will always be a degree of inherent variation in tones among each component. This category comprises Satin Bronze, Old Bronze, Gunmetal, and Tumbled Gunmetal. 

Restoring a coated finish to its initial original appearance can be quite challenging, even with minimal usage. This is because products like Brasso have the potential to remove not only recent signs of aging and patina but also the original coated finish meticulously applied in our factory.

To maintain these coated finishes, we advise using a soft cloth and warm water for cleaning. It's important to dry the fixtures with a cloth after each use to prevent the accumulation of residues from harsh products like shampoos or soaps. This helps safeguard the finish and avoids any undesired signs of aging, such as patina or white water marks.

Should aggressive chemical products, such as shampoos, come into contact with the finish, it may lead to fading and imperfections over time, eventually revealing the brass material underneath. Applying limescale remover directly to special finish products is strongly discouraged. To prevent limescale buildup, it's crucial to take proactive measures, such as thoroughly drying the product after use. In the case of shower heads, regular maintenance includes clearing the holes to prevent limescale accumulation.

Please be aware that the rate of change in the appearance of our products is influenced by multiple factors, including environmental conditions such as heat, moisture, and the presence of limescale. Additionally, the extent to which the products are handled plays a role; for instance, a basin tap frequently touched will tarnish and patinate more rapidly than a brass basin stand that encounters minimal handling and water exposure. 

Whilst we endeavor to create products of the highest quality, the hand finished nature of the products means there may be small minor distinctions that will make your purchase special and truly one of a kind.