Parts Spotlight - What is Hardware Finish?
Hardware Finish is applied to hardware after it has been manufactured to give it the intended finished appearance. This includes color, texture, durability, etc.
Understanding and identifying hardware finish is important when considering whether new hardware should match the existing hardware in the building, and meet the aesthetic, decorative, or functional needs of the customer.
BHMA, or Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association, classified the finishes used in building hardware by assigning them a 3 digit code to provide a universal language in terms of finish. The BHMA chart can be found at the end of this article, along with a diagram of common finishes. This helps to avoid the common problem of ordering "Silver", for example, which could apply to Stainless Steel (630), Brushed Chrome (626), or Satin Nickel (619).
IMPORTANT: The most accurate way to identify these finishes in the field is by using a metal sample to compare. We keep a ”Finish Ring”(pictured below) of our most common finishes, labeled with the BHMA code, so that we can ensure the finishes we are requesting are accurate. If you Identify parts out in the field or in the shop and you do not have a finish ring, please let Sam know and he will get you one ASAP.
