Skip to content

    PVD vs Electroplating: Choosing Hardware Finishes

    By Faura ·

    PVD vs Electroplating: Choosing Hardware Finishes

    PVD (physical vapour deposition) is generally the harder, more wear-resistant finish, while electroplating is the older wet process that builds thicker, more ductile layers. For most high-touch interior hardware in London projects, such as taps, handles and door furniture, PVD is the usual specification when you want a durable non-chrome colour. Electroplating remains the standard route for conventional chrome, and the base metal underneath matters as much as either coating.

    This guide is for interior designers, architects, developers and contractors who write finish schedules. It covers how each process works, how they wear, how powder coating fits in, how solid brass differs from brass-plated pieces, and what to ask for in a specification.

    Faura
    Compare Hardware Finishes In Person
    Explore architectural hardware and other material samples across Faura’s two floors of finished interiors, with visits by appointment.
    Visit

    TL;DR

    • PVD is a vacuum process that deposits a very thin, hard film; electroplating builds metal layers in a chemical bath. Academic review evidence describes PVD as typically harder and more wear-resistant, and galvanic coatings as better for adhesion, ductility and thickness control.
    • Powder coating is a thicker polymer film for large architectural elements. PVD suits precision, high-touch hardware.
    • Solid brass is brass throughout and can be polished. Brass-plated hardware has a different core under a thin brass layer.
    • Specify the base material, the process, the test standard and the warranty terms, not just a finish name.

    Table of Contents

    How the two processes work

    Electroplating

    Electroplating deposits metal from a chemical bath onto a conductive part. Decorative chrome is the familiar example. A UK regulatory document on chromium trioxide describes the chromium electroplated coating as typically built from copper, nickel and chromium layers, as set out in BS EN ISO 1456. That layered build is why a good plated chrome tap has depth and a consistent mirror finish.

    The same document notes that chromium trioxide is a regulated substance. If you specify chrome in volume, it is reasonable to ask the manufacturer how it manages the process. Regulation of these chemicals is specialised, so confirm any compliance questions with the manufacturer and your own adviser.

    PVD

    PVD happens in a vacuum chamber. The coating material is deposited atom by atom by condensation from the vapour phase, and sputtering and thermal evaporation are the two most common routes, according to the same regulatory analysis. It is a line-of-sight process and needs vacuum coating machinery, so part geometry and racking matter.

    The film is very thin. The British Stainless Steel Association describes PVD as a very thin ceramic layer, typically 0.3 micron in the context of coloured stainless steel. Other suppliers quote 0.5 to 5 microns, depending on the process and colour. Treat any single thickness as a property of a specific product, and ask the manufacturer for theirs.

    PVD vs electroplating: how they compare

    Criterion PVD Electroplating
    Process Vacuum deposition, atom by atom Wet chemical bath, layered metals
    Typical hardness and wear Typically harder and more wear-resistant Good, but generally less hard than PVD
    Ductility Can be less ductile, with cracking or peeling possible under certain conditions Good adhesion and ductility
    Thickness control Very thin film Greater control over thickness and morphology
    Colour range Brass, bronze, gold, black and gunmetal tones Chrome, nickel and some gold and brass tones
    Surface preparation Needs an atomically clean substrate Needs a clean, well-prepared substrate

    The hardness and ductility points come from a 2023 academic review of PVD for decorative applications. The practical reading for a specifier: PVD resists daily abrasion well, while plating tolerates flexing and impact on the part more forgivingly.

    How durable is a PVD finish?

    PVD durability depends less on the label than on the chain behind it. Three things decide it.

    1. Cleanliness before coating. PVD coatings are highly sensitive to contaminants. A manufacturing source on zinc die cast notes that inadequate or non-uniform ion bombardment can lead to weak, porous coatings and is the most common cause of failure.
    2. Substrate finish. University of Nottingham research found that finer substrate surface finishes gave lower coating defect density and better corrosion-barrier properties. A well-polished base gives the film a better start.
    3. Process control and base material. Manufacturers consistently describe base material quality, polishing, cleaning and process control as the variables that set performance.

    On the site, the failure modes are mostly about care. Chemical cleaners can permanently damage a finish, and one UK architectural ironmongery maker advises that newly plastered or painted rooms should be fully cured before hardware is fitted, because moisture can tarnish or rust a finish. That is a useful line for a programme: hardware goes on late, after wet trades.

    What about gold PVD?

    Gold-coloured PVD is widely used where the look of gold is wanted without the maintenance of lacquered or solid gold. One manufacturer describes its gold PVD as extremely resistant to corrosion and abrasion, with very easy cleaning. That is a manufacturer’s own claim about its own range, so ask any maker for the equivalent evidence for the specific product you are specifying.

    PVD vs powder coating

    The two are different tools. Powder coating is a heat-cured polymer film, while PVD is an ultra-thin metallic film. A coating specialist’s comparison puts powder coating forward for large, cost-effective architectural elements, with a wider range of solid colours and textures, and PVD for high-touch precision hardware where metallic depth and hardness count.

    A metal fabrication guide gives typical figures of 0.5 to 5 microns for PVD and 50 to 150 microns for powder coating. The consequence is that PVD preserves tight tolerances, while powder coating can mask minor surface imperfections but can also fill threads and clearances.

    A simple rule for a London fit-out schedule:

    • Powder coating: external balustrades, metal screens, shelving frames, large flat or fabricated elements.
    • PVD: taps, shower controls, lever handles, pull handles, cabinet hardware, anything touched many times a day where a metallic look is the point.
    • Electroplating: polished chrome and nickel where the classic mirror finish is wanted.

    Solid brass vs brass-plated

    The coating question sits on top of a more basic one: what is underneath.

    Solid brass is a copper-zinc alloy throughout. A UK hardware retailer’s guide describes it as consistent in colour throughout, patinating with age and able to be polished. Brass-plated hardware has a core of another metal, such as steel or zinc, under a thin layer of brass.

    The same guide lists practical ways to tell them apart:

    • Plated pieces are often lighter in the hand.
    • A different colour may show in worn areas.
    • A magnet will pull on a steel core, though brass itself is not magnetic. Zinc cores will not respond, so a magnet only rules one case in.

    Why it matters when the surface wears: a metal plating guide says that when plating wears through, the piece generally needs stripping and replating, whereas solid brass can be polished almost indefinitely. On a heavily used door in a long-life residential or hospitality scheme, that difference shows up over years rather than months.

    It is also worth separating three things that are often confused. Solid brass can itself carry a PVD or lacquer finish. A PVD brass colour can be applied over stainless steel or another base. And a brass-plated item is a different product from both. On a schedule, write the base material and the finish as two lines.

    What to put in a finish specification

    A finish name such as “brushed brass” is a colour, not a specification. For hardware and brassware, record:

    1. Base material: solid brass, stainless steel, zinc alloy, and so on.
    2. Process: PVD, electroplated, lacquered, powder coated.
    3. Colour and sheen reference, with the manufacturer’s code, and an approved sample.
    4. Test evidence: which standard and what grade. For example, one UK maker states its finishes achieved BS EN 1670:2007 Grade 5, including 480 hours of salt spray testing. That is the sort of claim to request in writing for the exact finish you are specifying.
    5. Warranty terms: what is covered, what voids it, and what proof is needed. One UK manufacturer, for instance, says mechanical failures may be replaced free of charge with proof of purchase and correct application, while chemical cleaners can damage the finish. Warranties differ by maker.
    6. Care instructions, passed on to the client or facilities team at handover.
    7. Environment: coastal homes, pool areas, steam rooms and hard-water postcodes are tougher on finishes than a dry living room.

    For coordination, keep finishes consistent across a room. Mixing PVD brass taps with plated brass accessories from another maker can leave slight differences in tone. Order all pieces in one finish family where you can, and check physical samples together under the room’s lighting. Our finishes and coatings guide covers the wider palette, and the inspection day checklist helps you catch finish defects before handover.

    Seeing finishes in person in Westminster

    Swatches and photographs flatten metal. A PVD brass can read warmer or cooler depending on the light, and brushed against polished finishes behave differently on a basin mixer. Faura opened in Westminster in September 2026 as a trade-only showroom and residency, with samples, technical files and a materials library on site, and finished interiors across two floors.

    For taps, showers and bathroom fittings, our bathroom showroom is the place to start. Brassware ranges from AXOR, Hansgrohe and Zucchetti are presented there, and Plank Hardware covers architectural hardware. Finish and coating information for each product is held in the technical files.

    The Faura perspective

    We see the same pattern on London projects: the finish is chosen from a sample board, and the questions about base metal, process and aftercare come late, usually when a handle is already on a door.

    Our view is that these questions belong at specification stage. Seeing a PVD tap, a plated accessory and a solid brass lever side by side, in a room dressed to the project, answers more than a data sheet can.

    That is why the residency is built around specifying in person, with technical files and a materials library alongside finished interiors. You can compare finishes, take samples, and present the scheme to your client in the same place.

    Trade terms are agreed individually with each approved trade account, and our team handles procurement, logistics and delivery, so a hardware schedule becomes one order and one invoice.

    Faura Editorial

    Choosing by project type

    Residential bathrooms in hard-water areas. Many London postcodes have hard water, so limescale on a finish is a real aftercare matter. Choose a finish with a manufacturer’s cleaning guidance you can hand to the client, and avoid abrasive or chemical cleaners.

    Hospitality and commercial high-touch areas. Prioritise tested wear and corrosion evidence, solid or stainless bases, and a warranty that covers the installed environment. Ask for the test standard and grade in writing.

    Period properties and refurbishments. Solid brass that can be re-polished or allowed to patinate suits spaces where a lived-in look is wanted. Where a consistent factory finish is wanted for years, PVD over a robust base is the common choice.

    Large architectural metalwork. Powder coating is usually the practical route for big components, with colour matched to the scheme.

    Choosing by project type

    Work with a trade account

    If you specify hardware, brassware and lighting across several projects, a trade account gives you access to the showroom, samples and procurement support. Interior designers can find more on the residency and client hosting, and architects and developers on specification support and FF&E procurement. Visits are by appointment, Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 18:00.

    FAQ

    Is PVD better than electroplating?

    For hardness and wear resistance, PVD is typically the stronger option, according to an academic review of decorative PVD. Electroplating offers good adhesion, ductility and thickness control, and remains the standard route for chrome. The better choice depends on the finish, the base metal and where the piece will be used.

    What is the difference between PVD and powder coating?

    PVD is an ultra-thin metallic film suited to precision, high-touch hardware. Powder coating is a thicker, heat-cured polymer film that suits large architectural elements and offers a broader range of colours and textures, as a coating specialist explains.

    How can I tell solid brass from brass-plated hardware?

    Solid brass is usually heavier and keeps a consistent colour where it wears. Plated pieces are often lighter and can show a different metal in worn areas, and a magnet may pull on a steel core. A UK hardware guide sets out these checks. Confirm the base material with the manufacturer’s data sheet.

    What should I ask a manufacturer before specifying a finish?

    Ask for the base material, the process, the colour code, the test standard and grade, the warranty terms and the care instructions. Request these in writing for the exact product and finish. Keep the answers in your specification file for handover.

    Can I see PVD and plated finishes side by side in London?

    Yes. Faura’s Westminster showroom is open to approved trade by appointment, Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 18:00. You can compare finishes on brassware and hardware and take samples for your scheme.

    Sources

    Related on Faura

    More from the journal