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Lamp Posts & Lanterns Maintenance Guide

Each section of your lamp post will require slightly different degrees of attention. Some sections require very little maintenance but, for others, more routine attention may be needed.  Generally an annual maintenance schedule is recommend. Follow this guide for tips on how to maintain specific lantern and lamp post types.

Lamp Post Maintenance

In Summary

We recommend a routine periodic electrical inspection is completed to ensure safety and peace of mind. 

To keep your lamp post in prestine condition we recommend following an annual maintenance schedule, repainting all metal components in a metal based paint yearly.  This will heal any aesthetic or UV damage (dulling).   It is not possible to avoid paint degradation over time and various external factors can exarcerbate the process.  This yearly mainatenance program will provide the necessary protection ensuring your lamp post will provide reliable service for years to come. 

Iron Bases & Ladder Bars

The iron bases and ladder bar centre require as little or as much care as you feel necessary. Iron, by its very makeup, does not corrode in the same way as other metals and must not be confused with steel. However, even with no care at all, very little else will occur other than the dulling and cracking of paintwork or rusting of the surface over time.

Some of our customers prefer the natural ageing of iron and actually desire the antique/period look that uncared for iron can offer. If you’re looking to keep iron in perfect condition, we recommend painting after installation followed by yearly maintenance, or as required. 

Please note the iron bases are prone to cracking as cast iron is brittle, especially if dropped or if something collides with the base.

Cast Iron Lamp Post Base + Ladder Bar

Aluminium Lamp Posts & Bracketry

For aluminium, routine painting may be necessary depending on your preference. You may prefer the rustic look that aluminium acquires as it ages, or you may wish to keep it in its original condition. Aluminium paints are commonly available but if you should need assistance finding a suitable brand, our team is always on hand to help if you give us a call.

The main benefit of aluminium is the high detail and more defined castings which can be achieved when using it as a material.  Also if aluminium corrodes, it generally forms a white powder which is less noticeable than the brown marks normally associated with steel or iron. This property of aluminium makes it ideal for use with bracketry on buildings or walls, especially when they are painted.  

Lamp Post Bracketry

Steel Posts & Victorian Lanterns

As with any steel structure, elements and moisture in the air will cause corrosion over time. Even where these components have been galvanised or painted, this will only prolong the life of the product and does not provide a final fix.

All steel posts and lanterns are manufactured from pre-galvanised steel and then painted in a ‘Signal Black’ base paint finish - RAL 9004. For optimum performance we recommend these sections are painted with metal based paint after installation and then yearly, or as required.  

Upon installation we always advise grub screw locking points, and any nicks in the paintwork, are sealed with a metal based protective paint.

Steel Post of Lamp Post

Although we have mentioned the various sections of the posts individually, there are paints available which can be applied to iron, steel and aluminium, so maintenance can easily be completed on the entire post in a single session.

Lantern Maintenance

Copper Lanterns

All of our copper lanterns are coated in a tough stove lacquer. This protective layer is designed to break down slowly over time, allowing the copper gradual exposure to the elements. Depending on the chemicals and salt content in the air, the lanterns will gradually patina down to a rich dark green colour. If you would like to try and preserve the bright polished copper appearance, we recommend the use of a yacht varnish.  For more information about maintenance care for your copper lantern, please click here.

Copper Victorian Lanterns

Polished Nickel Lanterns

Polished nickel is a beautifully delicate polished finish which ages over time as exposed to the outside elements.

Polished nickel generally dulls down over time darkening the initial high mirrored shine. The rate of aging is affected by pollution, proximity to the coast and other factors such as humidity and temperature.

To help maintained the polished finished, light cleaning is required to remove dirt and water marks.  It is important that this is done gently and without the use of abrasive polishes or cleaning products. It is best to use a specialist nickel product in combination with a soft clean cloth. As with most metals it will show signs of aging overtime which is generally unescapable.

Antique Brass Lanterns

Our antique Brass Lanterns are also coated in a tough stove lacquer. Whilst brass does not age in the same way as copper, it will tarnish over time. We recommend regular cleaning with a damp cloth or brass specific treatments only. It is important to ensure that cleaning chemicals and agents should not be used. As with our copper lanterns, a protective coat of yacht varnish can be used to preserve the finish.

Antique Brass Lanterns

Acrylic & Perspex Panes

The Perspex supplied with our lanterns offers a very similar level of transparency to glass, but with the added benefit of being much stronger. However, if left uncleaned and maintained, the Perspex panes can tend to go cloudy over time (especially in areas of high pollution or within proximity to the coast).

It is possible to remove these panes for them to be cleaned when and if necessary. Very often, much of the discolouration can be removed by first washing with warm, soapy water. Additionally, a plastic restorer or polisher solution can be used to get an even better finish.

Please note that in areas of high pollution or within proximity to the coast, the metalwork will always require greater maintenance due to the corrosive atmospheric conditions.

Vinyl Lettering

The vinyl lettering that is supplied with any of our signposts will need to be replaced every 3 years. Please follow the above lamp post care and maintenance schedule for all metal components.

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