Metal Blackening for Aesthetics and Protection

San Francisco’s Uber office staircase gets a makeover

Metal Blackening is an easy and popular process that improves the aesthetics of metal and helps prevent corrosion. Depending on the final treatments, black oxide coating can offer resistance equivalent to 144 hours of salt spray exposure. This means your metals will stay sharp and free of rust and deterioration much longer!

Baker’s Floor and Metal recently completed a metal blackening job at the Uber offices in San Francisco. For this job, we blackened the metal surrounding a spiral staircase. Before we began, we taped out the project area and stripped the existing finish. We cleaned the metal using carefully selected metal cleaners and lightly scuffed and highlighted the surface with a fine grit red pad. Then, we black cold field oxidized to match a pre-determined sample. Finally, we rinsed and applied three coats of clear flat metal protective with black tint. The work area was left in a clean orderly condition and free of the debris that accumulated during the refinishing process.

Uber was happy with the final results because the metal surrounding the staircase is now visually appealing and better protected from harmful elements. Additionally, the blackened metal reduces light glare, has dimensional stability, and improved lubricity.

Blackened metal can be the final product or, as some clients prefer, a pre-treatment for paint. Blackened metal improves the adhesion qualities of metal, allowing paint to hold better and last longer. Metal that has black oxide also has less paint chipping and flaking.

If you would like to learn more about metal blackening or get an estimate for your project, contact Baker’s Floor and Metal today. We’d be happy to answer your questions, visit your property and offer an estimate for the project.