Chrome Plating
Durable, mirror like chrome over copper and nickel that adds shine and corrosion resistance to decorative and industrial parts.
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What We Do
Our Coating Services
From architectural facades to precision industrial components, we deliver superior metal finishing tailored to every application and environment.
Electroless Nickel
Uniform nickel coating applied without electrical current, ideal for corrosion resistance and wear protection on complex geometry.
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Copper Plating
Copper finishes for decorative appearance and conductivity, and as the foundation layer under other metal finishes.
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Brass Plating
Warm, elegant brass for lighting, hardware, fixtures and architectural details, in polished, satin or antique tones.
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Nickel Plating
Smooth, durable nickel that resists corrosion and wear, from bright and satin to black and vintage finishes.
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Gold 24k Plating
Real 24k gold for luxury fixtures, casino trim, awards and heirlooms, with a rich color that does not tarnish.
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Silver Plating
Silver for tableware, heirlooms and conductive parts, restored to a bright or satin finish.
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Powder Coating
Tough, scratch and weather resistant color coats in a wide range of colors, gloss levels and textures.
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Patinas
Oil rubbed bronze, antique brass, verdigris and other hand applied patinas for an aged, character rich look.
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Home Decor Restoration
Lighting, door and cabinet hardware, bath fixtures and heirlooms refinished to look right in your home again.
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Refurbishing
Railings, gates, furniture, sculptures, signs and antiques stripped, repaired and refinished instead of thrown away.
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Boat and Yacht Parts
Cleats, rails, helm wheels and deck fittings restored and plated to stand up to salt water and sun.
Read moreHow It Works
Our Simple Five Step Process
Getting your parts professionally finished has never been easier. Here is how we take them from worn to showroom ready.
1
Send a Photo
Upload or email photos of your parts using our quote form. The more angles, the better.
2
Receive Your Quote
We review and send a detailed written quote within 24 business hours. No obligation.
3
Ship or Drop Off
Ship your parts to our facility or drop them off in person. We provide packing guidance.
4
Plating and Finishing
Our platers strip, prep, plate and inspect every surface before it moves on.
5
Delivery
Pick up in person or we ship your finished parts back, carefully packed and insured.
What We Can Finish
Materials We Plate and Finish
Not every metal accepts every finish. After more than three decades we know what each substrate can take, and we tell you before you ship it.
Steel and Stainless Steel
The workhorse substrate. Takes chrome, nickel, copper, powder coating and electroless nickel with excellent adhesion. Pitted steel is stripped and copper filled first.
Aluminum
Requires a zincate pretreatment before plating. We chrome plate, powder coat and polish wheels, intake manifolds, valve covers and architectural extrusions.
Pot Metal and Zamak
The hardest material in the trade and the one most shops turn away. Trim, grilles and bezels are stripped, welded, copper filled and hand buffed before chrome.
Brass and Bronze
Polishes beautifully and plates cleanly. Common on marine hardware, lighting, plumbing fixtures and architectural pieces.
ABS Plastic
Chrome look finishes on trim and emblems. Only certain grades of ABS accept plating, so send a photo and we will confirm before you ship the part.
Specialty Alloys
Titanium, magnesium, Inconel and mixed assemblies. Send the alloy designation with your photo and we will confirm the process and the lead time.
Complete Catalog
All Available Finishes
Every tone we run in house, across plating, powder coating and specialty work.
Polished and Satin
- Polished Chrome
- Polished Nickel
- Polished Brass
- Polished Copper
- Polished Bronze
- Satin Chrome
- Satin Nickel
- Satin Brass
- Satin Copper
- Satin Bronze
- Polished Gold 24k
- Satin Gold 24k
Antique and Specialty
- Oil Rubbed Bronze
- Venetian Bronze
- Antique Pewter
- Antique Brass
- Antique Copper
- Tumble Brass
- Tumble Nickel
- Tumble Copper
- Champagne Bronze
- German Bronze
- Gun Metal
- Black Nickel
Powder Coating and Colors
- Gloss and Matte Black
- Textured Black
- Gloss White
- Metallic Silver
- Metallic Charcoal
- Candy Red
- Candy Blue
- Copper Vein
- Bronze Vein
- Clear Over Polish
- Custom RAL Match
- Custom Sample Match
Restoration Results
Before and After
Drag the handle on any photo to see the piece as it arrived and as it left the shop. Every one of them was close to being thrown away.
Before
Clawfoot Tub Hardware
Pitted, flaking fixtures from an original bathroom. Stripped, copper filled, buffed smooth and finished in bright triple plated chrome.
Chrome
Brass
Bath
Before
Casino Slot Machine Trim
Trim worn down to bare metal by years of play on the casino floor. Refinished and plated in 24k gold to match the rest of the bank.
24k Gold
Casino
Set Match
Before
Five Arm Chandelier
Dark, blotchy brass with failed lacquer on every arm. Taken apart, polished, replated in bright brass and sealed to hold its color.
Brass
Lighting
Lacquered
What Our Clients Say
Trusted by Professionals
From custom builders to industrial manufacturers, our clients trust us to deliver the same result every time.
Who We Serve
Industries We Specialize In
Manufacturers, architects, casino resorts, hospitality groups and boatyards, held to the same standard on every part that comes through the door.
Industrial
Hydraulic rods, shafts, tooling and machined parts plated to a specified thickness for wear and corrosion resistance.
Architectural and Decorative
Architectural hardware, fixtures, railings and decorative metalwork finished to match across an entire building.
Casinos and Gaming
Slot machine trim, table rails, bar fixtures and signage refinished in matched sets. Trusted by casino resorts across North County San Diego.
Commercial and Hospitality
Hotels, restaurants, retail and offices: bar rails, door hardware, lighting and fixtures restored instead of replaced.
Custom Projects
One off pieces, furniture, art and anything that does not fit a category.
Marine
Rails, cleats and fittings finished to survive salt water and constant sun.
35+
Years of Expertise
Take a Moment to Learn More
About Decorative Metal Coatings
Founded over three decades ago, we have built a reputation as one of the most trusted metal finishing shops in the region. Designers, restorers, casino and hospitality clients, marine owners and industrial manufacturers all get the same standard.
Free Estimates
Send a photo of your part and receive a quote within 24 hours. No guesswork, no surprises.
Quality Guaranteed
Every part leaves backed by our craftsmanship guarantee. If you are not satisfied, we make it right.
Ship From Anywhere
We work with clients nationwide. Pack and ship your parts and we handle the rest.
Fast Turnaround
Most projects are completed within 3 to 5 weeks. Expedited Orders: 5 to 7 business days.
Peace of Mind
Our Guarantee and Rework Policy
You are handing over a part you cannot replace. Here is exactly what we commit to, in plain language, before you box it up.
12 Month Workmanship Guarantee
Every finish is covered for twelve months against peeling, blistering and adhesion failure caused by our work.
Free Rework, No Argument
If a defect traces back to our process we strip the part and run it again at no cost, including return freight.
Inspected Before It Ships
Every piece is checked under inspection lighting and photographed. You approve the photos before it leaves.
Your Part Is Insured With Us
Parts are logged, tagged and covered by our facility insurance from arrival until they ship back.
What the guarantee covers
- Peeling, flaking or blistering of the finish under normal use
- Adhesion failure traced to surface preparation or process error
- Color, gloss or texture that does not match the approved sample
- Buffing or polishing marks left visible under the plating
- Damage that occurs in our shop or in our packing
What it does not cover
- Impact damage, road debris, scratches or abrasive cleaning after delivery
- Corrosion bleeding out of porous castings plated as is by request
- Parts modified, welded or repainted by a third party after we finish them
- Underlying cracks or pitting the customer declined to have repaired
- Damage caused by the freight carrier on inbound shipments
Ready to Get Started?
Transform Your Metal Parts Today
Get a written quote within 24 hours. Our team will help you pick the finish that fits the part, the budget and the environment it lives in.
Nationwide Service
Ship Us Your Parts From Anywhere in the US
You do not need to live in California to work with us. About a third of the parts in our shop arrive by freight, and the process is simple.
01
Get your quote first
Send photos of every part with a short description. We reply with a written quote and a lead time, usually the same business day. Never ship before you have a quote number.
02
Pack it like it will be dropped
Wrap each piece individually, keep metal from touching metal, and use at least three inches of padding on every side. Double box long trim and bumpers.
03
Insure and send the tracking
Declare the real replacement value with the carrier. Email us the tracking number so we can watch for the delivery and log your parts the day they land.
04
Approve, then we ship back
When the work is done we photograph every piece and send the images for your approval. Once you sign off we pack it in fresh materials and ship it back insured.
Chrome Plating San Diego
San Diego's Trusted Metal Finishing Experts Since 1989
At Decorative Metal Coatings we believe finishing is more than a process. It is a combination of craftsmanship, surface preparation and experience that turns ordinary metal into a polished, durable and striking part.
Our team works with automotive enthusiasts, restoration specialists, manufacturers, custom fabricators and commercial clients who need reliable quality. Whether it is a complete chrome restoration or decorative finishing on custom components, every project gets the same attention.
We serve the entire San Diego area and accept shipped parts from across the United States. The process starts with a free estimate, continues with clear communication while the part is in the shop, and ends with a finish that holds up.
Metal Plating Gallery
Metal Finishing Gallery
A look at recent work from our Oceanside shop: plated hardware, lighting, hospitality and casino pieces, marine fittings and industrial parts.
Visit Us
Our Location
One shop, one set of tanks and one inspection standard. Everything on this page happens in this building.
Decorative Metal Coatings
San Diego's trusted chrome plating and metal finishing facility since 1989.
- Address 2613 Temple Heights Dr, Ste G, Oceanside, CA 92056
- Phone (760) 746 3378
- Quotes Send photos and get a price
Business Hours
- Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Sunday Closed
Serving all of San Diego County and beyond
We serve Chula Vista, Oceanside, El Cajon, Carlsbad, Escondido, La Mesa, National City and the greater San Diego metro. Cannot make it in person? We accept shipped parts from anywhere in the United States.
Cities We Serve
Our facility sits in Oceanside, in North County San Diego, and we cover the county every week. Select your city for turnaround times and drop off options in your area.
North County San Diego
City of San Diego and South Bay
San Diego
Chula Vista
National City
Imperial Beach
Coronado
La Mesa
El Cajon
Santee
La Jolla
Otay Mesa
Riverside and Orange County
Do You Have Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
We have answered the questions customers ask most before getting started. Still need help? Call the shop or send a message.
The easiest way is to send clear photos of your parts through our quote form or by email. Include dimensions if you can. We review the submission and send back a written quote within 24 business hours, with no obligation.
Yes. Many parts we receive are heavily corroded or pitted. Our preparation includes stripping, buffing, copper fill and polishing before plating. Severely damaged pieces may need additional copper buildup, which is quoted separately.
Decorative chrome is built for appearance and moderate exposure. For harsh marine or outdoor environments we recommend trivalent chrome, electroless nickel or powder coating, which hold up better against salt water and UV.
Standard parts in good condition run five to ten business days. Restoration work with metal repair and heavy polishing runs three to five weeks. Your quote always includes the lead time for your specific parts.