Coastal Bronze, Bronze Gate Hardware, Carriage Door Hardware and Door Hardware
Coastal Bronze offers a great
selection of solid bronze hardware
for gates, doors, carriage doors and more.
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Bronze Gate and Door Hardware
Patina Finishes
Most bronze hardware casted today is composed of 80% copper. Because of this, bronze castings and their patina finishes tend to darken with age.
Proper care can help maintain the beautiful patina surface that originally graced your gate or door hardware.
Basic Maintenance
Bronze door hardware that are placed indoors require minimal maintenance. Many newer bronze finishes have been sealed with a coat of wax, producing a shiny wax finish.
A thorough dusting and wiping away fingerprints with a clean, dry, cotton cloth is usually the only basic maintenance required.
Different Climates
In a relatively dry climate, low in pollutants, a super thin coat of Trewax® Brand Paste Wax should be applied once a year, or even every other year.
Never use spray or liquid furniture polishes to dust or clean a bronze hardware. These polishes may contain oils which could damage the original patina finish.
In climates with higher humidity, or if you live where there is a higher concentration of airborne pollutants, cleaning and waxing may be needed twice a year.
Applying Wax
All bronze hardware darkens with age, however waxing may slow the process of oxidation.
To apply the wax, you need two - one to two inch paint brushes that will be used only for cleaning your bronze gate hardware. Do not use brushes that you have used for other purposes as chemicals may remain in the bristles and if transferred to the patina finish, may cause permanent discoloration.
Start by applying a protective circle of tape around the metal ferrules that hold the bristles in the brushes you are using. This will help prevent scratching of the surface when applying the wax and when dusting.
Wipe your bronze door hardware free of any dust and fingerprints using a clean, dry, cotton cloth. Use one of the brushes to remove dust from small crevasses or hard to reach places.
When applying the wax to the second brush, use three or four, back and forth, sweeping strokes. Do not dab your brush in the wax. This could cause an abundance of wax to be applied to the bronze that could actually harm the patina surface. Dab your brush on the lid of the wax can to remove any excess wax. Lightly apply a super thin coat of wax to the surface of the bronze hardware using gentle sweeping motions.
Apply more wax to the brush as described, working it down into crevices.
Caution - Using too much wax may remove previous layers of wax. It is very important not to apply too much wax or work it into the surface to vigorously. Cover the entire surface with wax and let it dry according to the directions on the container.
Separate Brushes
Keep your brushes separately in labeled bags, free from other contaminants, for future use. Using a clean, dry, cotton cloth, gently rub in a circular motion, the dried wax from the bronze surface until you achieve the desired shine.
To achieve a better protective coating, you may want to re-apply a second coat using the same technique.
Outdoor Bronzes Hardware
Outdoor bronze gate hardware require a maintenance program which keeps their surfaces clean and waxed on a regular basis.
Antique Bronze Finishes
Most older bronze hardware, that have been indoors, already have darkened patina finishes that have become stabilized by time. It is not necessary to clean and re-wax these surfaces as often.
