Care & Maintenance Guide

Any item that is kept or being used outside, will require regular care and maintenance. This regularity of maintenance will be dependent on location and where the items is placed. Please note that in areas of high pollution or within proximity to the coast, components will always require greater maintenance due to the corrosive atmospheric conditions. This yearly maintenance programme will provide the necessary protection, ensuring your purchase will remain reliable for years to come. We recommend taking the advice of a tradesperson with specific knowledge of your location for additional information.  Each product material will require different degrees of attention but as a rule of thumb:

All exterior metals that are treated with either paint, lacquer or beeswax should have that same coating reapplied annually or as and when required.

Do not use chemical cleaners on any metals or finished products in case they harm the finish or remove any protective coatings. This includes all household cleaners.

If you are in doubt as to the material or finish of a product on our website, please call us for further advice. 

LIGHT FIXTURES

All lighting fixtures come unwired and will need to be installed and wired by a professional tradesperson, who may make product adaptations where required. We recommend that routine periodic electrical inspection is completed annually to ensure safety and peace of mind.  To keep your light fixture in pristine condition, we recommend following an annual maintenance schedule, whereby repainting all metal components with a metal-based paint. This will heal any aesthetic issues and UV damage (dulling).  It is not possible to avoid paint degradation over time and various external factors can exacerbate the process, including living near coastal regions. Each aspect of your lamp posts will require different degrees of attention based on the materials.

Lamp Post:

As with any steel structure, some parts may be susceptible to corrosion over time. Black lanterns and posts are manufactured for pre-galvanised metal and painted in a midnight black base paint finish- RAL 9004. For optimum finishes, we recommend that these sections are painted with a metal-based paint after installation and then yearly, or as and when required. Upon installation we always advise grub screw locking points, and any nicks in the paintwork, are sealed with a metal based protective paint.  It is important to note that as the lamp post is manufactured from such heavy-duty materials, surface rusting will not affect the structural integrity of the lamp post in any way. Due to the nature of the product, we recommend the use of a qualified tradesperson when installing.

Bases & Ladder Bars:

Cast iron, if left untreated, will take on a beautiful, aged patina effect relatively quickly, however all our lamp post bases have been finished in a sleek midnight black finish, which can be repainted annually or when required, using a metal-based protective paint of your choice. It must be noted that cast iron is brittle and can be damaged easily when dropped from heights or collided with.

Please note, ladder bars are for decorative purposes only and should not be leaned on or climbed up. 

Lantern Brackets:

Crafted from aluminium, lantern brackets will require routine maintenance and painting dependent on preference. Aluminium, as it ages, will have a surface rust which will not affect the structural integrity. Aluminium is used as it can provide more detailing and more defined castings which can be achieved when using this material, making it the ideal material to use for bracketry on buildings and exterior walls.  It is therefore best to use aluminium paint to ensure correct maintenance.

Perspex:

We supply all lanterns will Perspex as it offers a very similar level of transparency of glass, without the breakages. Perspex has the benefit of being a much stronger material, however, like all items, if left untreated and maintained, the Perspex will turn cloudy, especially in areas of high pollution or within the proximity of the coast. To keep your Perspex being as transparent as possible, each pane can be removed when required. Much of the discolouration can be removed by washing with warm soapy water, however for more embedded dirt, a plastic restorer or polisher solution can be used when buffing.

Please note that Perspex is prone to being scratched, therefore it is highly important that any qualified tradesperson installing the lantern, due care and attention must be given to avoid damages.

MATERIALS

Copper:

All copper items are finished with a surface layer of wet lacquer, which provides a protective layer which will break down over time, allowing the copper to gradually patina when exposed to the elements. This patina process will be accelerated when the copper reacts to chemicals and salt content in the air, for example living near costal regions. The once polished copper finish will therefore age with a rich dark green colour. If you would like to preserve the polished copper finish appearance, we recommend the use of yacht varnish, which should be applied annually or as required. For more information about copper maintenance and the ageing process, click here. 

Brass and Antique Brass:

Coated with a lacquer, brass does not age in the same way copper does, however it will dull and tarnish over time. With regular cleaning with a damp cloth or specific treatment solutions and finished with a yacht varnish, it will preserve the finish. Please note, chemical cleaning products and agents should not be used as it will break down the protective lacquer coating, allowing the brass to become susceptible to the elements.  

Polished Nickel & Bright Chrome:

With polished nickel, this these finishes are laid over brass, and will age over time when exposed to the outside elements, creating a dull tone to the once initial highly mirrored shine.  This rate of aging will be affected by pollution levels, the proximity to the coast and other factors such as humidity and high temperatures.

To keep the highly polished finish, light cleaning with a damp cloth will be required annually or when required to remove dirt and water marks.  It is best to use specialist products with the use of a soft cloth, however, with most metals, the signs of aging over time are generally unescapable but can be preserved.

Cast Iron:  

Cast iron requires as little or as much maintenance depending on your personal preference. By nature, cast iron will naturally patina and age over time, this surface rust will not affect the structural integrity of the piece. If finished in a painted finish, this will require annual maintenance to remain in a ‘like-new’ condition and to seal any chips or scratches with a metal-based paint of your choice.

Aluminium (die cast):  

Die cast aluminium is a lightweight method of creating highly detailed items without high material or delivery costs.   Whilst die cast aluminium will not rust in the same way as iron, a white powdery substance will appear on the surface where the bare aluminium is starting to oxidise. We recommend maintaining die cast aluminium frequently ensuring it always has complete coverage.

Cast Aluminium:

Cast aluminium offers advantages over both die cast aluminium and cast iron. Aluminium requires little maintenance as it does not rust or corrode in the same way as other metals. However, if left untreated, grime and dirt built- up can occur on the surface of the metal.  To avoid this, regularly clean using a damp cloth. In order to keep your item in a “like-new” condition, we recommend repainting annually or as and when required. We do not recommend using a metal-based paint on aluminium products or pieces. Instead, we advise that your product is sanded down using a wire brush to ensure that all loose paint and powder is fully removed. We then advise three coats of BEDEC Multi-Surface Paint (available from most good hardware stores) mixed to your desired shade. Please ensure that any green algae is removed before re-painting. When handling aluminium products, be careful of scraping them against any sharp items as this will damage or scratch the surface of the metal.