The Cost of Getting Ironmongery Wrong: Why Stainless Steel Specification Matters

For architects, contractors and architectural ironmongery professionals, getting the specification right from the start is about far more than choosing a product that looks the part.

The right ironmongery needs to be fit for purpose, appropriate for its environment and specified with the correct material grade. Get it wrong, and a relatively small purchasing decision can quickly become an expensive and frustrating maintenance problem.

Coastal environments are particularly challenging for stainless steel ironmongery, if used at the incorrect grade.

When the wrong stainless steel ironmongery becomes a costly problem

Our Managing Director, Alex Mamas, recently spoke to a contractor who had been called to a well-known hotel chain in Poole, Dorset, three times in just four months to replace a push plate.

The problem? Heavy flash rust staining.

The hotel is located approximately 300 metres from the sea, meaning the external environment is particularly challenging for metal products. And while a rusty push plate might seem like a minor issue, consider where it is located: the entrance to a hotel reception.

For guests arriving at the hotel, a visibly rust-stained piece of stainless steel ironmongery immediately creates the wrong impression.

More importantly, repeated replacement visits create an unnecessary cost for the contractor and the client.

Visibly rust-stained ironmongery does not create a good first impression to guests of this hotel

The importance of specifying the correct grade

So, what went wrong?

Based on the circumstances, Alex believes the push plate was likely purchased online through a supplier without the relevant standards and was almost certainly manufactured from Grade 430 stainless steel.

Grade 430 has its place. It can be a perfectly suitable material for certain internal applications, particularly where there is an appropriate regular cleaning regime.

But it is not the material we would recommend for exposed external applications in challenging coastal environments.

For external ironmongery close to the coast, Grade 316 stainless steel ironmongery is generally the preferred choice because of its superior corrosion resistance.

That distinction might not be obvious when looking at a product online. Two push plates can look virtually identical yet perform very differently once installed in the real world.

The wrong stainless steel grade can lead to corrosion in coastal areas

The cheapest option isn't always the most cost-effective

This is where professional ironmongery specification can make a significant difference. A product may appear cheaper at the point of purchase, but what happens when it fails prematurely?

In this instance, the contractor has already made three visits to replace the same item. Add labour, travel, replacement products and disruption to the client, and the original saving can quickly disappear.

We estimate that this particular mistake has probably cost the company £500+ in time and unsuitable replacement products, and the issue may still not have been resolved until the correct grade is specified.

This is a classic example of why the whole-life cost of ironmongery should be considered, rather than simply the initial purchase price.

Knowledge saves time and money

This is precisely why having an experienced architectural ironmongery specialist involved early in a project can pay dividends in the long term.

At Poole Waite, our team has extensive knowledge of architectural ironmongery and the materials, finishes and products available for different applications.

Our role isn't simply to supply a product. It's to understand the project, consider the environment and help ensure that the ironmongery specified is fit for purpose from day one.

Because sometimes, spending a little more on the right product at the specification stage can save hundreds, or potentially thousands, of pounds further down the line.

Poole Waite & Co Ltd offer hundreds of ironmongery options and our technical staff can advise you as to which product is best suited to your project and environment.

Get the specification right first time

The Poole hotel example is a useful reminder that the right ironmongery isn't necessarily the cheapest ironmongery.

For architects and contractors, involving a knowledgeable ironmongery specialist from the start can help avoid premature failures, costly replacements and unnecessary call-backs.

When the environment is challenging, make sure the specification is up to the challenge too.

Specify correctly. Install once. Save time and money.