Why Stainless Steel Kick Plates?

Stainless steel is one of the most popular choices for kick plates due to its modern chrome-like appearance. It offers incredible versatility and has a contemporary style. The material is strongest in the market, so it will give the highest level of protection for your door to prevent damage and add security. The high strength aspect makes stainless steel kick plates suitable for high traffic areas. They can be fitted everywhere from schools, hospitals, apartments, and warehouses.

What's the difference between the different grades?

There are three different grades of stainless steel to choose from, so we will most certainly have one to suit your needs.
Budget Grade 430: Our entry-level grade is for internal applications only. A cost-effective solution where the aesthetic is more important than overall strength.

Standard Grade 304: This grade is our most popular as it can be used on internal and external doors. 304 Grade is often used public buildings and hospitals that get a lot of footfall through the doors.
Premium Grade 316: The highest quality, offering the highest level of performance and protection against rust. It can be used anywhere and is the recommended choice for coastal properties or areas with harsh weather. It's also the most robust material so that it will offer the best level of security. This grade is also known as 'Marine Grade.'

Chrome Kick Plates Or Stainless Steel Kick Plates?

Although their appearance is very similar, Stainless steel kick plates perform better than chrome kick plates in many ways.
Firstly, Stainless steel plates are much cheaper than chrome. This is because both satin chrome and polished chrome have a solid brass core, which is a more expensive material. On top of that, the chrome plating must be applied, which is also a costly and time-consuming process meaning chrome kick plates take longer to manufacture than stainless steel ones.

Since chrome kick plates have a brass core, they will also be less resistant to high impact when compared with solid stainless steel kick plates. Similarly, when a chrome kick plate is subject to heavy impact, the chrome surface can chip off, which will expose the brass sheet underneath. A further benefit is stainless steel is lower maintenance than chrome as it will show fewer marks such as fingerprints.

Caring For Stainless Steel

Routinely wipe the kickplate down with a soft cloth and warm soapy water. Try to avoid using an abrasive sponge, as this may result in scratching the kick plate and damaging the surface. Be sure to dry the kick plate after cleaning to avoid water spots emerging.
As this kickplate has a grain finish, you should wipe along the length of the grain.

To finish off the cleaning process, you can also use a domestic glass cleaner on this item. Be sure to dry the kick plate after cleaning to avoid water spots emerging.
If the surface begins to age or tarnishes, you can apply a specialist metal polish such as 'Brasso,' which should rejuvenate the kick plate to its former glory.

How to Remove Rust From Stainless Steel

Unfortunately, no stainless steel can guarantee against rust on the face; if this does happen, you can apply a specialist rust removal solution which can be found at most good hardware stores. T

There's also some primary action you can take with products you may already have at home. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with two cups of water.
Apply baking soda solution on the surface with a soft brush. We use Baking soda as it is non- abrasive and will gently lift the rusting off the stainless plate.

Wipe the surface down with a fresh damp cloth. You may see the rust transfer to this damp cloth. Now dry the steel with a towel to prevent water spots.

As with general stainless steel maintenance, you should avoid abrasive sponges and products such as wire wool as it will scratch the surface.