Zinc FAQ

Zinc FAQ

  • What does it look like?
    Zinc is a reactive metal that will develop a patina and change over time. Matte zinc has a distinctive blue-gray hue and will develop a darker hue over time. Professionally patinated zinc will be darker and more uniform than zinc left to naturally patina.
  • What can i expect?
    Zinc is food safe and anti-bacterial making it a great option for food prep surfaces. Zinc surfaces are not meant to represent a monolithic surface. Slight scratches, pinholes and soldering marks can be expected on zinc surfaces. Slight imperfections are what makes zinc have such charm. Hammered zinc will have a wavy undulated surface and will not be machine flat. Depending on the size and shape of your surface, a non-welded butt seam or silicone filled field joint may be necessary. While it is durable, zinc may be scratched by heavy daily use.
  • Where can zinc be used?
    Zinc can be used on kitchen surfaces such as counters, bars, back splashes and range hoods. Zinc can also be used as paneling on doors and around fireplaces.
  • What are the finish options?
    Zinc is available in mirror-polished, matte and patina finishes. Zinc can also be machined to have a hammered, quilted or textured finish.
  • What are the dimensions that zinc can accomodate?
    We use 14-gauge (approx. 1/16") metal sheets mounted to waterproof MDF. Finished edges can be built up to any height, but the standard is 1-1/2".
  • Can a sink be built into the design?
    YES! We can fabricate a custom integral sink (rectangle or square) and weld it for a seamless part of any surface. We can also under-mount or cut-in any sink that you provide. Holes for faucets and accessories such as soap dispensers are also possibilities.
  • Can I cut on a zinc surface?
    Cutting on zinc is not recommended. If you wish to minimize scratch marks and preserve your knife blades we recommend using a cutting board for chopping.
  • Can I put hot items on zinc surface?
    We recommend that you always use a trivet when transferring hot items from the stove or oven onto your zinc surface.
  • What is the warranty?
    Our zinc products come with a one year warranty. Brooks Custom will repair or replace, at our option, any faulty product deemed to have been caused by manufacturing defects. Items must be returned to our Mt. Kisco showroom if not installed by us. Incidental work or adjacent materials are not included in warranty coverage. Warranty is nontransferable and only covers the original purchaser. All shipped zinc products must be removed from their crate and inspected within 24 hours of their arrival to your site. Any claims for shipping damage must be made during this window. Sales are final on all items left in our showroom for over 90 days.