Chrome plating in Highland for homes in East Highlands Ranch, older houses near the historic citrus district, and the cabins people keep up the mountain off Route 330. Box up your pieces for our Oceanside shop and we'll strip, plate and polish them, then insure the return.
Citrus groves once, foothill neighborhoods now.
Highland sits at the eastern end of the San Bernardino Valley, tucked against the foothills. Citrus packing once ran the local economy, and a few old groves and homes from that time remain. East Highlands Ranch filled in with newer houses, the Santa Ana River wash runs along the south, and Route 330 climbs from town toward the mountain communities.
Here's a cabin door handle's trip with us. It shows up rusty from snow and damp. We pull the latch parts out, strip the old plating and grind off the rust. Then comes sanding, copper, a buff, nickel, another buff, and chrome. One last inspection, and it heads back up the hill.
Highland sends us door and cabinet hardware from mountain cabins, faucets and lights from foothill homes, truck and jeep trim from people who spend weekends up the 330, and old pieces from citrus era houses.
Send photos of what you have. We will tell you what the substrate is, what it will take to bring it back, what it will cost and how long it will sit in the shop. If a part is not worth the money we will say so, because a straight answer costs us less than an unhappy customer.
Chrome is the right answer for a lot of parts, but not all of them. Here is how it compares with the two finishes customers ask us about most.
A hard, bright mirror with the cool blue white tone everyone recognizes. The classic choice for fixtures, hardware and trim that people see and touch every day.
Softer and warmer than chrome, with a faint golden glow. A favorite for antiques, vintage hardware and pieces that need to look true to their era.
A tough coating baked onto the metal instead of a plated layer. The practical choice when you want color or texture rather than a mirror finish.
Cabin and outdoor hardware needs triple plate for snow and damp. Inside the house, polished chrome is the usual pick.
Our highest standard. Copper, nickel and chrome with hand polishing between every stage, built for concours cars, custom builds and pieces that will be looked at closely under lights.
Three separate layers for a finish that lasts. Copper levels the base, nickel adds brightness and corrosion protection, and chrome seals it all with a hard, bright top coat built to hold up for decades.
The classic mirror finish. Each layer is buffed to a high reflection before the chrome goes on, giving bumpers, trim, wheels and hardware a bright, clear surface that stands out.
A soft, low glare finish with a brushed look. The part keeps the protection of chrome while hiding fingerprints and small marks, ideal for fixtures, interior trim and everyday hardware.
A smooth, matte sheen with a subtle glow instead of a mirror reflection. A popular choice for motorcycle parts, custom builds and pieces that call for an understated, modern look.
Highland customers usually email us a photo first, often from the cabin itself.
Upload or email photos of your parts using our quote form. The more angles, the better.
We review and send a detailed written quote within 24 business hours. No obligation.
Pull the latch parts and springs, bag them, and wrap the handles and plates. Slide a list of what's in the box on top. Highland parcels on ground service tend to arrive at our Oceanside shop after a single business day.
Our platers strip, prep, plate and inspect every surface before it moves on.
Pick up in person or we ship your finished parts back, carefully packed and insured.
You don't have to live nearby to work with us.
Customers all over the country pack their parts and ship them to our Oceanside shop. We finish them, inspect them and send them back insured. It starts with a few photos.
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.
The workhorse substrate. Takes chrome, nickel, copper, powder coating and electroless nickel with excellent adhesion. Pitted or rusted steel is stripped and copper filled first so the finish goes on smooth.
Naturally resists corrosion, but its protective oxide layer blocks adhesion. We activate the surface with a nickel strike before plating, so chrome, nickel and electroless nickel bond properly instead of flaking off.
Requires a zincate pretreatment before plating. We chrome plate, powder coat and polish wheels, intake manifolds, valve covers and architectural extrusions.
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.
Polishes beautifully and plates cleanly. Common on marine hardware, lighting, plumbing fixtures and architectural pieces.
A soft, highly conductive base that plates beautifully. After cleaning and removing tarnish, it takes nickel, chrome, silver and gold directly with strong adhesion. We polish carefully, since copper scratches and dents easily.
Every quote is built part by part. These six things move the price up or down, so you know what to expect before you send photos.
Pits, rust, dents and cracks all have to be repaired before plating. A clean part costs far less than one that needs hours of metal work first.
Steel and brass plate easily. Pot metal, aluminum and stainless need extra steps so the layers bond, and that adds time to the job.
Large pieces take more tank space and more polishing. Deep recesses, tight corners and detailed castings take longer to buff by hand.
Show chrome gets the most polishing between layers. Satin and pearl finishes need a different prep, so each finish is priced on its own.
Sets and production runs are plated together, so the cost per piece usually goes down as the quantity goes up.
Standard orders take 3 to 5 weeks. Expedited orders in 5 to 7 business days depend on shop availability, so ask when you request your quote.
Every chrome finish we run in house, the base metals we plate, and the prep and repair work that makes the finish last.
Drag the handle on any photo to see the part as it arrived and as it left the shop. Every piece below came in written off by someone else.
Before
Pitting and salt corrosion from years of exposure on the water. Cleats, pull rings, hinges and fittings were stripped, repaired and replated with a heavy nickel base under a bright chrome finish built to resist salt air.
Before
Flaking chrome, mineral buildup and rust from a bathroom nobody had touched in decades. The tub filler, hand shower, supply lines, drain, overflow plate and claw feet were stripped, repaired, buffed and triple plated in copper, nickel and chrome so the whole set matches again.
Before
A full set of bar pulls, cup pulls, bow pulls and knobs, worn through to the base metal after years of daily use. Each piece was repaired, polished and replated in bright chrome so every size and style matches.
From custom builders to industrial manufacturers, our clients trust us to deliver the same result every time.
Family neighborhoods, mountain tourism, retail and a bit of farming history shape Highland.
Faucets, cabinet pulls, railings and home fixtures restored or refinished to a lasting mirror shine.
Door pulls, push plates, handrails, elevator and lobby trim for hotels, casinos and office buildings. We plate every piece of a project to the same finish so the whole building matches.
Faucets, valves, shower heads and drain fittings finished to resist water spots, corrosion and wear.
Handles, levers, hinges, knobs and plates in polished chrome, satin or custom finishes.
Lamp bases, sconces, chandelier arms and fixture parts refinished to reflect light beautifully.
Hotel fixtures, bath hardware and lobby accents finished to match a consistent, upscale look across every room.
Slot machine trim, bar rails, signage and gaming floor accents that shine under bright lights around the clock.
Equipment components, carts, rails and fittings plated for a clean, durable and easy to sanitize surface.
Rails, cleats, hinges and deck hardware finished to survive salt water and constant sun.
Founded over three decades ago, we have built a reputation as one of the most trusted metal finishing shops in the region. Automotive enthusiasts, motorcycle builders, marine clients and industrial manufacturers all get the same standard.
Send us a photo of your part and receive a no obligation quote within 24 hours. No guesswork, no surprises.
Every part leaves our shop backed by our craftsmanship guarantee. If you are not satisfied, we make it right.
We work with clients nationwide. Pack and ship your parts to us and we will handle the rest with white glove care.
We understand deadlines matter. Most projects are completed and ready for pickup or shipping within 3 to 5 weeks. Expedited orders take 5 to 7 business days. Contact us for availability.
Every part we process represents your time, your investment and your reputation. Our commitment is to deliver consistent workmanship through quality materials, trained personnel and careful inspection at every stage.
We use carefully selected materials and processes designed to produce a durable, consistent finish and professional results.
Our team is trained to handle each stage of the finishing process with attention to preparation, application and final presentation.
Finished parts are carefully inspected by our quality control team before they are packaged and prepared for shipment.
Parts are handled and packaged with care throughout our facility to help protect the finish before they leave our shop.
Hot valley, snowy cabin, two kinds of care.
Down in Highland, the problem is heat and hard water, which bake spots onto faucets and porch lights. Towel things dry and wax outdoor pieces. Up at a cabin, melting snow and damp air sit on chrome for weeks, so dry what you can and close things up well for winter.
Road salt and grit cling to trucks that go up the mountain in winter. Hose off chrome trim when you get home, not days later. Indoors, a soft cloth and some diluted vinegar is all faucets need.
It also pays to know what failing plating looks like. Small rust freckles mean moisture has found a pinhole and reached the base metal. A milky haze that will not wipe off means the surface is breaking down. Bubbles or flaking along edges mean the layers have lost their bond. None of these get better with polish, and the longer a part sits like that, the more metal repair it needs before it can be plated again.
If you are not sure whether a part needs cleaning or replating, send us a photo. Sometimes a careful cleaning is all it needs. When the plating is truly finished, we will explain why and what it takes to bring it back.
Chrome Plating Gallery
Mirror bright, satin and pearl chrome on hardware, fixtures, marine fittings and industrial parts, finished in our Oceanside shop.
How to pack Highland and cabin parts.
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.
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.
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.
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.
One shop, one set of tanks and one inspection standard. Everything on this page happens in this building.
San Diego's trusted chrome plating and metal finishing facility since 1989.
It's a long way from the foothills to our Oceanside shop, but ground service usually covers it in a day. We email when your box checks in, plate and inspect everything, and send the insured return with tracking.
Other valley cities we plate for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Highland and mountain cabin questions.
Yes. Cabin hardware is often steel or brass that has rusted from snow and damp. We strip it, remove the rust and rebuild with copper and nickel before chrome. For anything on an exterior door, triple plate gives the best protection through winter.
Yes, over time. Salt holds moisture against the surface and eats into any thin spot or scratch. Rinse trim soon after a mountain trip in winter, dry it and keep it waxed. Pitted trim needs stripping and replating to look right again.
Steel bumpers and handles plate well if they fit our tanks, so measure the longest piece. Remove lights, rubber and wiring. For trail use, triple plate or satin holds up better than polished, which shows every scratch.
Often. Hardware from early 1900s homes tends to be solid brass or bronze. We strip paint and worn plating, fix small dents and replate in chrome or polished nickel. If a piece is cracked or too thin, we'll tell you before starting.
It works well. Satin hides fingerprints, water spots and small scratches, which suits a place that gets heavy use on weekends and sits empty in between. Polished looks brighter but needs more wiping. Many cabins mix the two.
Yes, and most of our work starts that way. We strip the old plating down to the base metal, repair what needs repair, then plate it fresh. New plating over a failing layer never lasts, so we don't do it.
We do. Along with single pieces for homeowners, we run batches of hundreds or thousands of parts for companies in California and other states. Send a photo of a sample, the quantity and the finish, and we'll quote the whole run.
Steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, pot metal and zamak. Some of them need extra prep so the plating bonds well, and we'll tell you up front if your part does.
