ONTEAJournal
The FONTEA Journal.
Specification notes, finish guides and trade buying advice from FONTEA, importer of European stainless steel bathroom fittings.
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Specification
Stainless Steel Bathroom Fittings for Coastal and Seafront Developments: A Salt-Air Corrosion Guide
What actually governs whether bathroom fittings survive a seafront elevation: the chloride gradient, finish, joint design, drainage and ventilation, how corrosion appears, and what to schedule.
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Specification
Commercial vs residential taps: why cycle life and chemical resistance matter for hospitality fit-outs
Where the money genuinely belongs on a hospitality fit-out. How cycle life is measured, why exposed coatings see a harsher corrosion duty than concealed ones, and what a specifier should refuse to accept without a test standard.
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Materials
AISI 304 vs 304L vs 316L: what the "L" actually changes
The L suffix marks a lower carbon limit, not a stronger or more corrosion-resistant alloy. Here is exactly what it changes around welds, what it leaves alone, and whether it should change your order.
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Materials
Is Marine-Grade 316L Stainless Steel Worth It for a UK Bathroom?
Sometimes. 316L earns its premium where chlorides genuinely reach the fittings, and wastes money on a standard inland bathroom. Here is how to tell which situation you are in before you pay.
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Finishes
What tap finish hides limescale best in hard-water areas?
Brushed and satin stainless steel hides limescale best day to day. Glossy and PVD finishes show a white deposit far more, and matte black shows it worst. Here is why.
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Materials
Brushed stainless steel vs PVD vs chrome-plated brass: durability and cleaning compared
Brushed steel and PVD are two different decisions, not a menu of the same thing. Here is how each behaves with daily cleaning, limescale, scratches, and over a service life, and why our range is solid stainless throughout.
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Commercial projects
Bulk tap and fitting supply for build-to-rent and hotel developments: planning phased deliveries
How to phase tap and fitting deliveries against a construction programme, what a supplier needs to hit a phase, how site storage affects fittings, and what to agree in writing before the first order.
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Specification
Ceramic cartridge types and cycle life: what trade buyers should ask suppliers
Ceramic cartridge on a spec sheet says very little. Here is what the common cartridge types are, how cycle life is actually measured, and the questions that separate a tested figure from a marketing one.
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Maintenance
How to clean and care for PVD and brushed stainless steel taps without damaging the finish
A gentle routine of soft-cloth cleaning, warm water and mild detergent protects PVD and brushed stainless tap finishes, while acids, alkalis, chlorides and abrasives damage them.
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Tap Systems
Will European taps work on UK low-pressure and combi boiler systems?
European-style taps are often built to a higher pressure than a UK gravity-fed or combi system delivers. Here is what actually determines whether one will run properly, and how to check before you specify.