Faucet & Accessory Finish Guide
How PVD, powder-coated and living finishes are made, how each ages, and where each belongs.
The finish shapes how a fitting looks on day one and how it reads years later. Use this guide to choose the right surface for faucets, showers and accessories.
PVD
Physical Vapor Deposition bonds a very thin layer of metal to the fitting in a vacuum chamber. The color comes from the metal itself, so tones stay stable through daily touch and cleaning.
Best for: high-touch fittings, shared and hospitality bathrooms, and outdoor faucets and showers.
Powder-coated
A dry polymer powder is applied electrostatically and cured with heat into a continuous film. It's thicker than PVD and can carry real texture, from deep matte to structured surfaces.
Best for: textured and matte design languages, architectural metalwork, and poolside settings.
Living finishes
Unlacquered brass, raw bronze and untreated copper are left without a protective layer, so the surface keeps evolving. Touched areas stay bright while recesses deepen into a natural patina.
Best for: single-owner residences, heritage renovations and character-led hospitality projects.
At a glance
| PVD | Powder-coated | Living finish | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Color comes from | Deposited metal | Pigmented polymer | The metal and its patina |
| Texture | Follows the surface | Smooth to pronounced | Follows the metal and polish |
| Over time | Holds its color | Holds color and texture | Deepens and varies |
| Consistency across a suite | High | High | Varies piece by piece |
Caring for coated finishes
- Clean with a soft cloth, water and a mild, neutral detergent.
- Skip acidic, chlorine and abrasive cleaners, scouring pads and metal brushes.
- Wipe away hair dye, perfume, aftershave and nail polish promptly.
- Dry and buff after cleaning to keep limescale from forming.
Finishes at Pontem
JEE-O crafts its fixtures in stainless steel, in finishes including Brushed, Gun Metal and PVD Gold, Structured Black, Hammercoated Black and Dark Steel. Décor Walther offers PVD finishes such as Black Chrome, Dark Metal Matte and Copper Matte across collections including Mikado, DW Soho and Vision.