You've noticed your taps starting to pit and discolour. It's frustrating and makes your space look old before its time. The right tapware can prevent this. Tapware should last you decades, but cheaper options can show wear in just a few years — let us show you how to pick taps with corrosion resistance that will last way longer.
Corrosion resistance is how well your tapware stands up to use. It's about the tap's ability to resist chemical breakdown from water, cleaning products and environmental factors. Good corrosion resistance means your taps look the same in a decade as they do now.
Most tapware problems start small. You might see water spots that won't clean off or slight discolouration around the spout. These are early signs of corrosion, which will get worse if left unchecked.
Water is the main culprit because it contains minerals that build up on surfaces. Harsh cleaning products are another. Even the air can hurt your taps — especially if you live near the coast.
The science behind it is simple. Metal reacts with oxygen in water and air and creates oxides that eat away at the surface. Everything made from metal will oxidise at some point, but lower-quality materials will do it sooner.
Salt spray testing is the industry standard. Manufacturers put tapware in a chamber that sprays saltwater continuously and measures how many hours it takes for corrosion to start. Good test results mean that after many hours, there’s not much surface damage, pitting or colour changes and the functionality and base metal isn’t affected.
The point is to mimic years of regular use in a short time, but as you might expect, this doesn’t always translate in real life. So what you should be looking at is the construction and coating.
A solid base metal plus a protective coating equals tapware that lasts. Most tapware uses either PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating or electroplating. PVD turns coating material into vapour, which bonds with the metal surface and makes it resist damage. Electroplated finishes use electrical energy to coat the tap and give it corrosion resistance.
Our tapware comes in six colours that are electroplated or PVD coated:
Rest assured, all our products are thoroughly tested and proven to stand up very well over time. For extra peace of mind, we offer a generous warranty against any manufacturer defects, such as five years for the surface finish.
If you want to keep your taps and towel rails looking their best, take care of them properly. Here’s what we recommend:
High-quality corrosion resistant tapware may cost more upfront, but it’ll save you money over time by lasting longer. See our corrosion resistant tapware and hardware for your bathroom, kitchen and laundry. Or, visit our showroom to see them and talk through which colour you might prefer.
