Living Finish Guide
What is a living finish?
A living finish is a surface that evolves naturally over time. Unlike sealed or electroplated finishes, living finishes respond to their environment, developing a patina, deepening in tone, and acquiring subtle variation through everyday use.
This is intentional. It is not a defect. Architects and designers choose living finishes precisely because they age with character. No two fixtures will develop identically, and over time yours will become genuinely unique to your home.
What to expect
Colour variation:
Your finish will shift in tone over months and years. Warm brass tones may deepen or mellow. Copper may develop green or brown patina in areas exposed to moisture. This variation is the nature of the material.
Touch and contact:
Areas touched frequently, handle grips, tap heads will often develop a different patina to surrounding surfaces. This is consistent with how all living metal surfaces behave and is considered part of the finish story.
Environment:
Living finishes respond to their environment. Higher humidity, coastal air, and frequent water contact will accelerate patina development. Drier, more controlled environments will slow it.
Cleaning:
Clean with a soft damp cloth only. Avoid abrasive cleaners, acidic products, or anything containing bleach. Harsh chemicals will damage the finish surface and are not covered under warranty. Do not use steel wool, scouring pads, or abrasive sponges.
Living Plus Oxiguard
Living Plus Oxiguard finishes carry an additional protective layer that slows the rate of patina development and provides greater resistance to water spotting and surface oxidisation.
The finish will still evolve over time, that is its nature, but the Oxiguard treatment extends the period before visible change becomes apparent, and makes the finish more forgiving in wet area applications. The same cleaning guidelines apply.
What is not covered by warranty
The following are natural characteristics of living finishes and are not manufacturing defects:
- Colour shift, darkening, or patina development over time;
- Variation between fixtures in the same installation;
- Accelerated patina in high-humidity or coastal environments;
- Surface changes resulting from contact with harsh cleaning products;
- Variation from sample swatches shown at specification stage.
Our commitment
Par Taps has been designing and handcrafting architectural tapware in Melbourne since 1980. Every living finish leaves our workshop meeting our standard, the patina that follows is the finish doing what it is made to do.
If you have questions about the care of your finish at any time, contact us directly. We are always available to advise.