Powder coating and electroplating are two of the most commonly used methods for colouring matte black mixer taps.
Gloss finish or brushed effect black taps may have been made using PVD. PVD and electroplating give your taps a thin black coating that can get scratched just like any other. Powder-coated black taps scratch more easily than electroplated ones and need greater attention.
At a cursory glance, a black tap will look clean and good. But you'll notice stains only when you look closely because its colour is dark. Black taps tend to fade over time, regardless of the finish. As a result, they may develop a greyish tinge if you don't clean them often.
To keep your black taps limescale-free and looking their best, it is advised to wash them regularly with warm, soapy water. Stubborn limescale stains are more difficult to remove, but applying vinegar or lemon juice onto a cloth and scrubbing gently will produce good results.
If you notice a white chalky buildup on your faucets—it's not dried toothpaste. It is most likely calcium build up from hard water. Water is classified as hard when it contains high amounts of minerals.
Limescale can be quite stubborn, especially on surfaces like black taps.
Avoid using other types of cleansers or chemicals on matte black finishes. Fill one of your spray bottles with distilled water and add a four-second squirt of dish soap. If needed, also add in a half cup of vinegar. The second spray bottle should be filled with only distilled water for rinsing.
Black bathroom sink taps are very functional and long-lasting. They are available in high-quality fixtures which come with a matte or brushed finish. Because of this characteristic, black faucets are less likely than their chrome or stainless steel counterparts to exhibit water stains, fingerprints, and smudges.
Soak several paper towels or strips of rags in the white vinegar. Wrap the vinegar-soaked paper towels around all the problem areas of the faucet and secure them with rubber bands. Let them sit for at least an hour. Wipe the faucet clean with a wet sponge or cloth.
Hendlex Tap and Sink protection set is designed to prevent buildup of limescale, grease, soap scum, and other grime on taps and metal or ceramic sinks. Included nano coating forms a thin hydrophobic layer that repels water, dirt, and oil, ensuring effortless cleaning of coated surfaces.
Most bathroom taps are manufactured from cast brass that has been plated with chrome or gold. Other finishes include black, brushed steel and nickel. Generally speaking, chrome plating is the most popular tap finish on the market, and offers excellent durability.
Yet despite its durability, PVD coating can become damaged due to hard knocks or repeated rubbing with abrasive materials. For daily cleaning, wipe with a soft and clean cotton or microfibre cloth.
Cons of Black Tapware
The matte black detractors may point to how black will fade or get damaged or scratched easily. However, the occasional wipe of your black tapware with a microfiber cloth and warm, soapy water will allow the tapware to retain its hue for many years.
Powder coating is based on polymer resin combined with pigments, curative, flow modifiers, leveling agents, and several other additives. All ingredients are melt mixed together, then cooled and ground into a powder. Preheating achieves a uniform finish, and cooling helps form a hard coating.
Black bathroom faucets may be harder to find than their polished chrome or brushed brass counterparts. Because they're less common, they can also be more expensive. The powder-coated finish and the base material can also contribute to higher bathroom faucet replacement costs.
Whether you are looking for a modern, traditional, or contemporary look, black bathroom taps will look great in any style. They will never look outdated and they can easily be incorporated into any design. Black is a classic color that has been used throughout history and will always be in style.
Why is my black tap paint coming off? Using cleaning products with harsh chemicals, abrasive sponges, or scourers can damage the finish of your taps, causing black paint to peel or scratch.
The best way to describe gunmetal as a finish is to take a brushed nickel finish and make it three-quarters as darker falling a quarter short of matt black tapware. It's dark but not crazy dark adding a softness to the finish where black tapware is super aggressive and final.
Avoid Most Cleaning Products
Almost every cleaning product in the bathroom or kitchen will damage the matte black finish. Only mild dish soap mixed with water is recommended for cleaning. Use a soft sponge or a microfiber cloth to softly scrub the faucet clean and rinse it.
To avoid water stains and soap residue, wipe your faucets regularly with a soft microfiber cloth. This will help prevent limescale build-up that could dull the black finish.
Most matte black taps will be hard to scratch but accidents can occur. To counteract scratching as much as possible, look for scratch resistant coating, such as the type that we use for our tapware ranges, being a double-coat electroplated finish.
One effective method is to pour some vinegar into a small lightweight cup, like plastic, and place it over the spout. Then, secure the cup with a tea towel or cloth tied around the tap to ensure the vinegar stays in contact with the limescale overnight. This will help dissolve the build-up and make it easier to remove.
YES! You can spray paint bathroom faucets! We took the sink faucets off and lightly sanded them and then spray painted them with a textured flat black spray paint. We used Krylon Outdoor textured finish to give it an iron look.