![]() ![]() One should also remember the copper or brass will continue to patina regardless of where a fixture is placed. Please note that while stains can be removed, they will most likely reoccur over time unless the fixture is relocated to an area that is protected from the issues that caused the staining. If that is the case, owners can temporarily reverse these issues by cleaning the surface of the fixture using one of the processes we have outlined below. How to clean your fixturesĪll that being said, there are those who prefer the more polished look their outdoor fixtures had before the patina or surface stains began to form. Some will even try to accelerate the patination by treating the copper or brass with chemicals prior to installation in order to gain the advantages previously listed. Additionally, many people actually desire a patina on their landscape lights as it gives the fixture a natural beauty that helps it blend into their landscape. That means the patina will help prevent the growth of unsightly fungus on your outdoor lighting fixture. One unique attribute of copper and brass patina is its anti-fungal properties. ![]() Without its protective green patina, the monument would have been structurally compromised and collapsed years ago due to the corrosive saltwater surrounding it. The prime example of this being the Statue of Liberty, the American landmark that is constructed almost entirely of copper. The value of a patina as a protective layer has been known in the architectural community for centuries. For example, patinas actually prolong the life of the metal by adding a harder protective layer which combats the metal’s corrosion. In fact, patinas actually enhance a fixture in a number of ways. Patinas do not compromise the integrity of the metal in any way. Patinas typically result in a light green tint to the exterior of a fixture, but this should not be a cause for concern. This is why patina is practically unavoidable, as the only way to completely prevent a patina forming would be if the fixture was in an area that had absolutely no moisture or exposure to our carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere. This process occurs slowly over time but can be accelerated if saltwater or other corrosive substances are present. On copper and brass, patinas are a result of the surface layer of the metal chemically reacting to the carbon dioxide, sulfates, and water found in the surrounding environment and atmosphere. Patina is the term used to describe this phenomenon in a variety of metallic compounds, but the most common patina encountered in landscape lighting is on the exposed surfaces of brass and copper fixtures. Patination is the process that causes the surface of a material to change color over time. The deposits only impact the cosmetics of the landscape lighting fixture and can be removed using one of the techniques below. However, they are often seen on landscape lights since fixtures are typically placed in close proximity to potential surface stain sources like sprinkler systems. ![]() Nearly any surface exposed to these conditions can form surface stains. Minerals dissolved in the water build-up on the fixture over time results in deposits of calcium and magnesium carbonates, which many find unappealing. Surface stains usually occur due to a fixture placement near a source of untreated water. These discolorations are purely superficial and do not indicate any compromise or defect in the product. Surface stains are a result of residue that is resting on the surface of the product. The two most common aesthetic dilemmas that can occur on landscape lighting fixtures are hard water stains and patination on the fixtures’ surface. ![]() VOLT Lighting designs all of its fixtures so they will continue to function through these environmental issues, but what we cannot prevent is some external cosmetic changes that can arise. Landscape lighting fixtures are usually placed in locations that leave them exposed to their environment and must be constructed with that in mind. ![]()
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