Corten Steel

This beautiful home on Wellington Crescent is a great representation of how different styles can come together to create a unique design!  Corten Weathering Steel is a type of metal that has been around for many years, but it is only recently becoming more popular.  The idea with the Corten is that no painting is required to create a protected finish.  The metal itself is considered to be a “raw steel” and when it is first manufactured, it has the appearance of a rough, dull, silver material.  This is only just the beginning though!

Over time, Corten Weathering Steel will do just as its name implies… it weathers.  As rain and snow hit the Corten, it will begin the patining process.  This is also known as an oxidization process.  Some manufactures will either “cold roll” or “hot roll” Corten but regardless of how it was created, it will always eventually patina.  Usually in a cold rolled manufacturing process, the metal is coated with an oil substance to protect it from patining too quickly.  This method is sometimes referred to as “pickling.”  In the case of a cold rolled steel, the patina process may simply take a little longer to kick in.  Water has to break down the oil first before reaching the raw steel beneath.

The amazing thing about Corten is that it is meant to last indefinitely with little-to-no maintenance.  The patina is the protection against the elements.  When the steel has fully “rusted”, it is now considered to be protected.  The Wellington Crescent home was done years ago and it looks the same today as it did in the first year of install!

A great source of information on Corten Weathering Steel: www.corten.com shares more of the science behind the benefits of this type of metal.

***New project starting Spring 2023 with custom, water-jetted Corten Weathering Steel panels.  Check back soon for updates!***

February 22, 2022

Private Homeowner

Residential

SM Construction