There's nothing quite like a metal bar top for adding a modern look to bar areas. By far the best thing about brass, zinc and copper is they take on more character with use, but it's still important to give them the TLC they require in order for them to remain an attractive focal point for your bar area.

Here’s our five-minute guide on how to keep your metal bar tops looking great for years to come:

Bars get sticky on a regular basis thanks to spillages from hot and cold beverages, so to keep this hygienic and looking great you’ll need to clean your brass, zinc or copper bar top regularly.

Bar tops using live metals including brass, zinc and copper have been pre-treated with beeswax to help protect the surface, but this will eventually wash away in time leaving the bare metal underneath.

Some cleaning products can damage the live metal surface, especially if they contain ammonia that can corrode and stain the bar top, so it’s best to use warm soapy water or liquid detergent to clean the area and remove any spillages or glass marks.

Heat can damage the surface of live metal bar tops, so if your bar serves hot drinks make sure that any tea or coffee cups are served on a protective mat to avoid lasting damage. Also, the acids in some fruit juices can stain the bar top, so make sure that there's something in place to protect the patina of your brass, zinc or copper.

To maintain a transparent protective barrier to the entire bar top, reapply beeswax on a regular basis as this will help slow the development of the metal’s patina that is created during exposure to air. This will also serve to protect it against any unsightly marks.

If your bar top has been treated with a matt lacquer, then avoid products such as Brasso if you want to maintain a high shine finish as this can damage the surface.

The main reason why so many bars opt for a live metal bar top is that over time and exposure to air they develop a distinctive patina that adds character and interest to the surface.

If you want to slow down this process, reapply beeswax on a monthly basis or opt for a re-lacquering service to help keep that brand-new finish. Otherwise, embrace that beautiful patina!