The Difference Between Polished and Brushed Stainless Steel
Polished vs Brushed Stainless Steel
Every home has a style because it directly reflects your personality or certain characteristics for a period of time. As an owner, you get to choose and decorate your home however you like, and with new trends developing every year, you have plenty of options to pick from. Thinking about your needs and what works best for your home will create an understanding of elements and special qualities.
Adding or complementing your home with metal details will transform your space while adding functionality benefits. If you are considering using stainless steel, you can choose from options, especially between the two finishes. Learning the difference between polished and brushed stainless steel will give you the necessary information to make the best decision.
Polished Stainless Steel
As the name suggests, polished stainless steel is flat, shiny, and smooth and will enhance your home’s clean appearance. Depending on the type of usage you will get to where you want to have polished stainless steel, you could enjoy great benefits, from cleaning to visual appeal. This is similar to chrome, but polished stainless steel is not an applied finish, it is, as the name suggests, a stainless steel material that is polished to a mirror finish.
Polished stainless steel is ideal applications where matching chrome, or a contemporary, high end look is important. This finish makes cleaning very simple and easy because you can remove stains and dirt quickly without any problem. It’s resistant to water and requires little maintenance, except for the occasional cleaning. You can take advantage of these characteristics, especially when you have kids at home.
Brushed Stainless Steel
Friction creates this type of stainless steel that removes most of its natural shine and makes the surface rugged and texturized. The brushed finish is a process of controlled scratches on the stainless material that all follow the same, linear direction. This type of finish is very common on kitchen appliances, so it’s easy to visualize what this finish looks like. This look works perfectly as visually attractive, creating a more attractive finish when you use it for decorations or focus points. You can find brushed stainless steel mostly in tables and decorative items; simply by looking at it, you can perceive a unique and interesting look.
The finish on this type of steel is best kept from constant use because the lines from the brushing procedure keep smaller particles stuck inside if not constantly cleaned. The lines are not deep but tend to keep stains and watermarks for longer because of their nature. Choosing the right options depends on your interest, usage, and time management.
Practical Uses
When thinking about which finish of stainless steel to get for your home, you must think about the endless possibilities of each type. Use and functionality are two main characteristics that determine whether you should use one or the other, but it all depends on where you want it.
A clever way to use either one of these is on stainless steel table legs, as they provide the same level of resistance with great functionality but a different view. You can subtly transform a space with details that will make a big difference. Adding unique touches of steel to your home will elevate the look of a room and make it a more pleasant experience.
Industrial Look
A trendy way of using stainless steel is by transforming your space into an industrial space style. Other elements that you need to consider are brick, wood, and metal fixtures. An industrial look makes it easier to implement stainless steel elements, so you don’t have to overthink them. A simple transformation will elevate your space, giving you the opportunity to update it.
You don’t need extreme industrial elements; if you prefer to keep the style more subtle, you can always only add stainless steel to areas like the kitchen or the bathroom. The items for these areas of your house commonly use steel because they are resistant to water and humidity, as well as being easy to clean.
Stainless Steel Characteristics
Aside from the visual effects and feeling of the two different finishes, the main characteristics of steel make it a unique material. It is highly resistant to corrosion and very simple to clean. This material is ideal for kitchens because it can resist high temperatures without suffering from damage. Most restaurants have stainless steel throughout their kitchens because it’s clean, safe, and resistant.
Its versatility allows different products to exist, and its malleability can produce large items and smaller details. The production time is short, so you can get any product you want in a timely fashion. Choosing stainless steel will bring special characteristics to your home while saving you time and money. The process of stainless steel appears, uplifts, and naturally enhances some of these characteristics.
Steel Classifications
There are various classifications for steel depending on the number of elements used to create a special type. Depending on usage, some are better suited than others. Even with similar characteristics, some offer better optimizations for usage.
- Ferritic Steel—This type is mainly used in the automotive industry for car components and home furnaces.
- Austenitic Steel—The most common type of steel used for textiles, medical equipment, house decorations, and food preparation.
- Martensitic Steel—This is another common type found in kitchenware, engines, knives, and screws.
- Duplex Steel—This is a more complex type used mainly for construction, transportation, and desalination plants.
Commercial steel for everyday items is easy to find and apply to areas like home spaces, decorations, and patio furniture. Some companies provide you with the opportunity to incorporate elements into your daily life, from details like table legs to bed frames.
Environmentally Friendly
When it comes to environmentally friendly materials, steel is at the top of the list. There are no differences between brushed and polished stainless steel because both are eligible for recycling. Every element and detail, from screws to large kitchen counters, has properties that allow it to go to the process plant and become a new and fresh item.
Reusing materials, especially recycled ones, adds a special value to every product. Working with metals and materials that melt only at high temperatures is risky, but decreasing the over-exploitation of mines and minerals has no comparison.
Plenty of benefits come with using products made with stainless steel, and whether it’s brushed or polished, steel can make your life easier and upgrade your home. Finding what you need from the experts will allow you to implement anything you want with the help and guidance of professionals.
