Chrome plating in Richmond for rowhouse owners in the Fan, restorers along Monument Avenue and the shops and restaurants in Carytown and Shockoe Bottom. Richmond parts make a ground trip across the country to Oceanside, California, where we rebuild them in copper, nickel and chrome and buff each coat by hand before the insured trip back.
A river capital with layers of history.
Richmond is the Virginia capital, set along the falls of the James River. Its Capitol was designed by Thomas Jefferson, the Fan District is packed with rowhouses, and Church Hill and Shockoe Bottom hold some of the city's oldest streets. Carytown is lined with shops and restaurants, and VCU sits near downtown.
Let's follow a light fixture from a Fan rowhouse. It shows up in Oceanside, gets photographed and taken apart, and the old finish comes off in the strip tank. We polish the brass, then plate copper, nickel and chrome, buffing in between. It's inspected under bright light, wrapped and shipped home insured.
Richmond keeps us busy with rowhouse sconces and faucets, mansion door sets, warehouse light cages turned loft decor, and restaurant pieces from Shockoe Bottom to the Museum District.
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.
Historic houses split between polished chrome and nickel. Loft conversions lean satin or black, and anything a restaurant crowd touches gets triple plate.
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.
No trip anywhere: Richmond customers send photos, talk to us by phone and print a shipping label.
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.
Old sconces have fragile arms, so cradle them in foam and keep shades, sockets and glass at home. Screws and small trim go in a labeled bag. Seal the carton, address it to Oceanside, and let UPS or FedEx ground carry it, typically 3 to 5 business days from Richmond.
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.
Big order or a single knob, same care.
Homeowners send us one faucet. Companies in and out of state send production runs of hundreds or thousands of parts. Both get a written quote and the same inspection before anything ships back.
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.
State government, banking, health care, VCU and a busy food scene keep Richmond working.
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.
Long, humid summers by the James.
Richmond summers are hot and humid, and chrome on porches and in bathrooms stays damp. Wipe it dry, keep fans running and wax outdoor pieces a few times a year. After summer storms, towel off railings and door hardware.
Ice storms are rarer here than up north, though they happen. When the steps have been salted, hose off the railings once it melts. A capful of dish soap in warm water is enough for indoor fixtures.
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.
Packing advice for Richmond customers.
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.
Our tanks and polishing wheels are all in Oceanside, California. Richmond boxes reach them by ground in about 3 to 5 business days, and we write back the day yours is unpacked. Tracking for the insured return follows when the work is done.
Virginia cities near Richmond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Old house and restaurant questions from Richmond.
Yes. Many Fan rowhouses went up in the early 1900s and still have brass bath fixtures and gas era light fittings under tired plating. Those castings are worth saving. We take them back to bare brass, fill the pitting and put new layers on. For the oldest ones, nickel can look more period correct.
It depends on the room and when the fixtures were made. Bathrooms redone from the late 1920s on often had chrome, while earlier rooms used nickel or unlacquered brass. Email photos of each space and we'll tell you which finish we think fits the house.
Yes. Old pulleys, door hardware, light cages and pipe fittings from the warehouses along the river are usually steel or brass. People turning those buildings into lofts often choose satin or black chrome so the metal sits comfortably next to the brick. Measure long pieces before you ship.
August air along the James holds a lot of water, and that film sits on fixtures longer than you'd think. Chrome resists it, but any scratch lets moisture reach the steel beneath. A bathroom fan, a dry towel and a coat of wax on porch hardware go a long way.
Sure. Shop owners send display rods, door pulls, bar rails and kitchen trim. Pieces that get grabbed all day do best with triple plate, which uses heavier copper and nickel underneath. Group them by spot in the store so they go back up exactly where they came from.
Not at all. Most of what comes through our door is home and business hardware: faucets, light fixtures, door handles, cabinet pulls, railings and decorative pieces. We also work for hotels, restaurants, boat owners and manufacturers.
Tell us what the part is, roughly how big it is, how many pieces you have and the finish you're after. If you know the metal, mention it. If not, that's fine. We can usually tell from the photos.
Every part is quoted on its own. The biggest factors are condition, the base metal, size and shape, the finish you choose and how many pieces you send. A part with deep pits or broken spots takes more work before it can be plated.
