Oil Rubbed Bronze is still all the rage currently but this product, and I don't care how many hundreds of dollars you pay for these fixtures have an inherent problem-they can be damaged easily. Scratching Oil Rubbed Bronze bath fixtures is so simple, a 5 year old can do it!. That's right, a child can damage this stuff easily.
So can a ham fisted plumber, an over zealous cleaning lady, an incorrect cleaning product, or normal wear and tear. But, when it comes to Oil Rubbed Bronze, you may have a cure for the common scratch. "What might that be?", you probably have it in you junk drawer. "A black Sharpie". If you own Oil Rubbed Bronze plumbing fixtures, your Sharpie will be your friend. Just swipe it over the offending scratch and rub it in. Scratch gone visually. Not so with Durable Chrome.
Think about it for a minute. The Iconic 1957 Chevy. Festooned with chrome fixtures from a massive chrome front bumper to chrome caps riding the top of those fashionable fins, to the rear chrome bumper. This product was chrome and meant to withstand the outside elements too.
Chrome also goes with just about anything and is more durable than Oil Rubbed Bronze and Brass. Chrome also comes in different grades. If your Chrome Plumbing Fixture is a coating on plastic then the life expectancy will be shallow. Chrome on plastic will separate eventually and peel off.
Good quality Chrome Plumbing Fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens are timeless, go with virtually any color and come in many new and old world designs. You can find a style to fit any taste. Maybe not at the local Home Store but look around a bit. Amazon and many other companies provide Chrome Fixtures.
In the top photo we have Chrome in a Travertine Shower, and the lower shot is of a Gleaming Chrome Fixture on a dark Uba-Tuba Granite Counter top.
Bottom line, in an all out war of wear and tear, durability, style, ease of cleaning, and maintenance, Chrome is the winner. Oil Rubbed Bronze and Brass will easily scratch, stain, and wear. Chrome will kill both of those surfaces in durability.
I understand the allure of the Oil Rubbed Bronze and maybe that is the proper application of the design you have in mind. But, if you have the option, you can't go wrong with a good Chrome product. If you install Oil Rubbed Bronze yourself, be very careful. It is very easy to scratch into the brass. You must not use an abrasive cleaning solution for the same reason. You can wear through it easily.
We end up installing a lot of plumbing fixtures in Bathroom Remodels, Granite Counter Top installs and kitchen remodels. When it comes to fixtures, we've seen just about everything from Italy, China, and the US. We kinda know what is good and what is not so good. Everyone has their own opinion and I am reluctant to disparage certain products. I will however offer this advice about Oil Rubbed Bronze. It is low on the durability and ease of maintenance department.
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