Stainless Steel Fabrication in Lebanon: Kitchens, Balustrades, and Architectural Work

Stainless steel is not one material but a family — 304 for most indoor work, 316 for coastal and chemical-exposure environments, 430 for cheap decorative work that may rust. Specifying the wrong grade on a $5,000 balustrade and seeing rust after one year is a costly Lebanese mistake.

Grades Demystified

• 304: the workhorse — kitchen counters, indoor handrails, general fab.
• 316: marine-grade — pools, seafront balustrades, chemical kitchens.
• 430: ferritic, magnetic, cheaper — appliance trim, decorative only. Will rust outdoors.
• 2205 duplex: high-strength — structural marine, oil & gas.

Finishes

• #4 brushed: the everyday "satin" look — kitchens, balustrades.
• Mirror polished: elevators, decorative — shows every fingerprint.
• Bead blast: matte uniform texture — modern architecture.
• PVD coating (gold, black, rose): trendy, durable color on stainless.

Weld Quality

• TIG welding only for visible joints — clean, narrow bead.
• Back-purging with argon prevents discoloration on tube interiors.
• Post-weld passivation (citric or nitric acid) restores corrosion resistance.
• Mechanical polish to match surrounding finish.

Common Applications

• Kitchen counters, hoods, sinks, prep tables — 304, #4 finish.
• Pool ladders, beach-house railings — 316, #4 or mirror.
• Industrial pipework (food, pharma) — 316L, electropolished.
• Decorative facades, signage — 304 or 430 depending on exposure.

What to Specify in a Quote

• Grade (304/316/430) explicitly.
• Sheet/tube thickness and section.
• Finish specification (#4, mirror, bead blast).
• Weld treatment (passivation, polishing).
• Origin (European, Indian, Chinese mill) — quality varies.