When your facility’s architectural metal surfaces—like elevator doors, handrails, or entrance frames—are outdated, scratched, or simply no longer match the building’s aesthetic, the instinct might be to replace them entirely. Our Metal Conversion System (MCS) offers a smarter alternative: transform existing bronze or brass into the look and feel of brushed stainless steel, all without demolition, disruptive replacement, or waste.
How the System Works
- Surface Preparation – Technicians start by removing any protective lacquer and deeply cleaning the bronze or brass surfaces. This restores a raw baseline metal surface.
- Mechanical Sanding and Re-graining – Rather than using paint, the team sands and textures the surface, recreating the familiar grain of stainless steel, even though the underlying metal remains bronze.
- Innovative Coating Application – A proprietary coating is then applied that follows the original metal grain, producing a natural, realistic brushed steel appearance—even up close—unlike flat paint.
- Protective Seal – Finally, the surface is finished with a clear protective lacquer, locking in the new appearance and providing ongoing durability.
Where It’s the Right Option
- Historic or high‑profile buildings where the appearance matters and original metals must remain in‑place.
- Elevator systems, handrails, doors, and other high‑touch surfaces that suffer wear and damage over time.
- Large facilities (office towers, hotels, municipal buildings) where full replacement would be prohibitively expensive and disruptive.
- Projects requiring minimal downtime, as MCS work can be performed onsite without removal, recladding, or replacing fixtures.
Why It’s Cost-Effective Compared to Replacement
- Dramatic cost savings: Instead of replacing fixtures, clients retain the existing structure, often saving tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. For example, one office‑tower upgrade totaling $19 million retained its bronze assets and still achieved a modern stainless‑steel look using MCS.
- Reduced waste and environmental impact: No need to demolish and discard metal fixtures; instead, materials are repurposed in place.
- Minimal operational disruption: Because work happens on site, elevator banks or entranceways typically remain functional during refinishing.
- Durability in high‑wear environments: After conversion, the coating is strong enough to withstand daily contact on surfaces like elevator call plates and handrails.
Visual and Aesthetic Impact
The transformation is often so convincing that property managers mistake the result for actual stainless steel. In Denver, one such manager said she didn’t even realize the handrails were converted—they looked like the upgraded replacement she had anticipated. Before-and-after galleries on massus.com show elevators and handrails transformed from bronze into sleek satin stainless steel.
When MCS Might Not Be Ideal
- If the underlying metal is structurally compromised—heavily corroded or damaged—replacement may be necessary.
- When a completely new aesthetic or base material is desired rather than evolving the existing bronze.
The Bottom Line
Our Metal Conversion System is more than refinishing—it’s a visual transformation that preserves value, reduces downtime, and slashes costs, delivering a high-end stainless steel aesthetic without the price tag and disruptions of full replacement. For property managers, facility teams, architects, or designers, MCS offers unmatched return: a modern gloss, retained structure, and exceptional institutional appeal—plus the satisfaction of seeing bronze restored as stainless steel, in a fraction of the time and cost.
Interested in turning your bronze surfaces stainless? Contact Mid America Specialty Services to explore how our MCS can refresh your facility’s metal without replacing it.
Contact us today to discuss your restoration needs!
You can reach us at 800-544-4576 or contact us online.
