Functional Architectural Elements

There are few things in architecture more overlooked than corner guards. Big surprise right? Generally, they are thought of as utilitarian and pedestrian accents for your walls and corners. While that may be true, the impact that a good corner guard can have on the integrity of your building is unrivaled. Which got us thinking, what other seemingly invisible accents do we usually have in your homes or places of business that, although underappreciated, have a critical impact on either design or function?

Stainless Steel Corner Guards

Did you honestly think that we would lead off with anything else? Of course not. While there is an infinite variety of corner guards out of hundreds of materials, the most effective is the stainless steel variety from CAP Industries. Made of 304 Stainless Steel, the CAP Corner Guard is the premier corner guard for your home or business. No matter how large the project, we have a size and length to acquiesce your needs. Corner protection is often an element that is overlooked until the reality of the area sets in. Let's say you have a corner that receives heavy use, as the general flow of people is directed in that direction. Say, around a bathroom — generally, there is only one way that most people will go into the bathroom, returning the same way. For reasons unknown to most of us, the corner of that wall will suffer more wear than most. It is not as if your customers are intentionally running into the walls but heavy use is bound to take its toll on the corners of your walls. The stainless steel CAP Corner Guards is superior to other materials in that it has the ability to protect while looking professional. There are no sharp edges or the potential for creating a hazard due to the solid construction. There is an obvious choice in corner guards and CAP Corner Guards stand above the rest.

Moulding

Unlike corner guards, which have been a constant due to their usefulness, molding is one of those things that will go in and out of style. A hundred years ago all types of moulding were necessary because of the way walls were constructed. Back in those days there was no drywall or drywall mud to cover up blemishes and construction seams. These homes and businesses used slats and plaster. The construction was labor intensive but yielded beautiful results and moulding was one of those accents that helped highlight the craftsmanship. Moulding used to be everywhere in intricate patterns and many times halfway up the wall. It was on the ceiling, along baseboards, and around the windows. Now we are used to seeing moulding around windows and doors but not many other places. Does it serve a purpose? Not really, but used correctly it makes a gorgeous presentation.

Light Switch Covers

When was the last time you really paid attention to the lightswitch covers in your home? Unless you are into that sort of thing you probably have white or a shade of tan lightswitch covers. The run-of-the-mill plastic that is neither paintable or looks good the way it is. But lightswitch covers, for all of their vanilla aesthetic really do serve a purpose. In the old days, when not many people other than Thomas Edison had access to electricity, I imagine that lightswitch covers were a way to ensure that the electricity stayed where it was supposed to. Meaning that wiring was not as safe back then and flipping a switch could send a jolt of electricity into the user. Of course this is pure speculation and the original purpose of a light switch could have been purely decorative so who knows.

Backsplash in the Bathroom or Kitchen

Much more than the rest of these underappreciated home elements, the backsplash is not really something you need to think about. The purpose of the backsplash is to keep water from getting on the walls. That's it, end of story. Is a backsplash effective? Even if it was, it would not be missed until you need it. It is not like you are going to spill a gallon of milk on the counter and think, “Boy I am glad we had that backsplash there to prevent the milk from soaking the wall.” If there was no backsplash you would say, “Why is there no backsplash?” They are only something you notice if they are missing.

Vents and Registers

Some home and business owners really put a lot of thought into vents as a design feature. About the time when moulding was everywhere, vent covers and registers were crafted with exotic materials and made to be a piece of the architecture. They were beautiful as well as functional. These days pretty much everyone has the same vents in their home. The standard white rectangle that sits on the floor or in the ceiling, stoically pumping out heat and A/C to keep the environment cool.

Small Elements, Large Impact

As much as we like to think of things like lightswitch covers and floor registers as merely being design elements, think about how they impact your life and how much you would miss them if they were not present. You just may get a shock every time you turn on the bathroom light every time you wash the dog. The same is true for your corner guards — you may not miss them until they are gone and your wall is all dented up.

At CAP Industries, we make our corner guards tough and built to last so your never have to worry when that careless employee is in charge of moving your desk to the new office. If you are ready to experience the superior quality of CAP Corner Guards, please contact one of our staff and we will be happy to discuss the ideal corner guards for your business. The CAP Corner guard is constructed of 16 gauge 304 #4 brushed stainless steel finish for the perfect fit in almost every environment. We take great pride in crafting the finest stainless steel corner guards on the market today. Our commitment to quality and customer service is second to none and we will not rest if you are not happy with our product. We even can have your corner guards delivered the next day, if you need them that fast. Simply order before 11 am (Eastern) and we will do our best to get them to you by the following day. We would like to thank you for spending some time with us today and would like to thank you for your business. If you have any further questions about our corner guards please do not hesitate to contact us today.