Most people have never stopped to consider that not all brass is created equal. Just like stainless steel comes in different alloys: 304, 306, 316, each with its own performance and price point, brass also comes in various grades that dramatically affect the quality and longevity of a landscape lighting fixture.
Recycled Brass: A Hidden Risk
Many fixtures in today’s landscape lighting market are made from recycled brass, because its cheapest. On the surface, that may sound like a win for sustainability, but there’s a trade off. Recycled brass often comes with batch inconsistencies, impurities, and even higher lead levels. These hidden variables can cause premature corrosion, surface leaching, and discoloration, making a fixture look aged and weathered long before its time.
At Hearthstone, we don’t take those risks.
Why We Use Virgin Bar Stock Brass
We’ve chosen to manufacture our fixtures with virgin bar stock brass. It’s more expensive, but it gives us complete control over quality, consistency, and longevity. Using pure, unadulterated metal means we avoid the impurities that cause surface blemishes and structural weaknesses, ensuring that every Hearthstone fixture maintains its integrity and patina for decades, not just seasons.
Thickness That Stands Up to Real Life
Beyond the purity of the material, thickness matters. A lot. Thin-gauge brass might look the same out of the box, but it doesn’t hold up to the abuse of real-world conditions — kids, dogs, landscapers, weather, and whatever else your property can throw at it.
That’s why we’ve deliberately overbuilt our fixtures. Hearthstone products are engineered to withstand impact, resist deformation, and continue performing year after year.
You Might Find Cheaper Brass Fixtures — But at What Cost?
Yes, you’ll see brass LED fixtures on the market that cost less than Hearthstone’s. But when you look closer, they’re often made with lower-grade recycled brass and thinner walls. That means faster wear, more frequent replacements, and a shorter overall lifespan.
We believe landscape lighting should be done once — and done right. That’s why we build Hearthstone to last.
