Desert Rain finish stainless steel

Desert Rain is named for the look of a sudden downpour striking sand: long fine streaks of varying length and weight, all running in one direction but not evenly spaced. On the sheet these streaks are a texture in the surface that catches light, not a printed pattern. From a distance the panel reads as a brushed directional finish; close up the streaks separate into individual lines with plain metal between them.

The base finish underneath decides the character. On a mirror base the untouched metal between streaks stays reflective, so the lines flash bright against a dark reflection and the effect is strong. On a matte base the contrast is quieter and the panel is more forgiving of fingerprints and site handling. The group also shows the texture on a Scotch Brite base. Colour is added by PVD, a hard, thin ceramic coating; the colour is in the coating, not a paint layer, so the streaks stay visible under it.

• Grades: stainless steel 201, 304 and 316
• Thickness: 0.5 mm onwards
• PVD colours: Gold, Bronze, Copper and Black, plus Blue, Purple, Pink and Green

The page describes the finish as suited to indoor and outdoor use, including humid and coastal locations. Take that as a statement about the texture, not the grade: durability outdoors comes from the alloy. For external facades in Jeddah or Dammam specify 316, since 304 tea-stains in chloride-laden air; 304 is the usual choice inland and for interiors, and 201 belongs indoors in dry, low-risk positions.

Wipe along the direction of the streaks with a soft cloth, warm water and a mild detergent, then rinse and dry; wiping across the grain leaves smears in the lines. Mirror-based sheet shows fingerprints readily and benefits from a final dry buff with a clean microfibre cloth. Avoid abrasive pads, scouring powder, bleach and acid descalers. On external panels, a periodic freshwater rinse clears dust and, on the coast, salt before it dries into the texture; when summer surface temperatures reach 45 °C, let the panel cool before washing so the cleaner does not dry on contact.