Despite the popularity of finishes like stainless steel, chrome, and nickel in modern home hardware, the dark oil-rubbed bronze option remains rather distinguished. Its deep, rich traditional appearance adds character to any fixture on which it’s used. Whether it's framed shower doors, a semi-frameless shower door, or even a mirrored cabinet, styling your home with bronze accessories adds a unique touch and remains great looking for ages.

What is Oil-Rubbed Bronze?

Oil-rubbed bronze is a brown to dark brown finish that is good for accent or complimenting a darker style tile or enclosure. In the past, the finish was made from a true hand-rubbed finish that gave the hardware a traditional, antique look. Today, the finish is powder-coated, which is a finishing process that yields a thick, hard finish that is tougher than conventional paints. Oil-rubbed bronze is a very dark finish with colors varying from a deep chocolate brown to almost black. However, because there are varieties of this finish in the hardware industry, not all oil-rubbed bronze finishes match.

Why Don’t all Oil-Rubbed Bronze Finishes Match?

The oil-rubbed bronze finish isn’t consistent from one manufacturer to the next because of several factors:

• The composition of the metal being used
• The temperature of the chemical solution
• And, the duration of the application

For example, the finish will appear darker on metals with higher copper content. During the actual oil rub process, the amount of oil applied and the conditions in which it dries introduce even more variables that can affect the final finish.

Oil-Rubbed Bronze Benefits

The oil-rubbed bronze powder coating makes this matte finish very durable. It doesn’t get scratched easily like anodized aluminum, or traditional painted metal parts because its thick coating is applied electrostatically. It’s also a strong finish in terms of longevity as it’s not going to fade for a very long time. Lastly, this finish is a great complementary color, whether it’s a color to match or be used in tandem with a different color. A common combination is to get the shower door frame in oil-rubbed bronze and the hinges and handles in brushed nickel. 

Key Takeaways:

• The oil-rubbed bronze finish isn’t consistent from one manufacturer to the next because of several factors including the composition of the metal being used, the temperature of the chemical solution, and the duration of application.
• The oil-rubbed bronze finish offers many benefits to the end-user such as longevity and durability. 

Getting the Right Finish for Your Next Home Project

The oil-rubbed bronze finish is unlike any other hardware finish out there. It creates a traditional look into your home, in an age dominated by contemporary finishes. Furthermore, the oil-rubbed bronze finish can be applied to most hardware out there, be it a bronze framed shower door, bronze sliding door, cabinet, or semi-frameless shower door.

Thus, if you want the unique, traditional appearance of the oil-rubbed bronze finish, without the color wear associated with it, GlassCrafters has you covered. Our powder-coated oil-rubbed bronze finish is highly durable and will ensure your accessories retain their color for a very long time. Contact us to get your desired oil-rubbed bronze-finished framed shower doors, or framed medicine cabinets to truly pull together the design look and feel of your home.