

You should consider choosing an alternative to Corten steel because it isn’t environmentally friendly, it’s more expensive than the alternatives, and it can stain nearby surfaces.Ĭorten steel is incredibly common in the construction industry as well as metal creative arts projects like outdoor sculptures. Why Choose An Alternative To Corten Steel?

From there decide if you’re willing to pay more for Corten Steel, which will last longer than Carbon Steel. To decide whether Corten Steel or Carbon Steel is right for you, consider your budget. For those of you that have had neighbors with Corten Steel outdoor products know that runoff ends up in nearby drains and ponds, which can ultimately cause significant damage to the local ecosystem. Lastly, Corten Steel is not overly environmentally friendly because the run-off is not great for the environment. The other downfall is that Corten Steel has staining issues where the rust can stain nearby surfaces, and potentially ruin walls and floors. While this looks great on steel, it’s not a great look on walls and pathways. Over time, Corten Steel will naturally develop a rust-like appearance. For smaller projects, this may not be a big deal, but for larger construction sites and infrastructure projects, the difference in price can be significant. The protective rust coating formed by weathering steel naturally, slows the corrosion rate enough to exceed its design life for other reasons.Ĭorten Steel is significantly more expensive than other metals with a similar finish. Weathering steel can outlast carbon steel in outdoor conditions, so it is used for exposed steel structures frequently because it removes the need for repainting and recoating of the steel. Carbon steel is sometimes referred to as a ‘low-alloy’ because of its very low alloy composition.Ĭarbon Steel is susceptible to rust due to the absence of corrosion resistant chemicals such as Chromium. If it has less than 10.5% Chromium, then it is considered Carbon Steel. This is iron with less than 1% carbon up to 2.5% carbon. With the protective rust that provides corrosion resistance, Corten steel can last upwards of a few decades to over 100 years. Steel.ĬOR-TEN® forms a coating of dark brown oxidation over the metal, which inhibits deeper penetration and eliminates painting needs and costly rust-prevention maintenance.

The term COR-TEN® is trademarked and owned by U.S. COR-TEN A or COR-TEN B are considered proprietary grades. Weathering steel is a family of low carbon alloy steels consisting of a variety of grades.

But did you know that not all weathered steel is corten steel? Read on to learn the difference between weathered steel or corten and carbon steel and determine which one is right for you. With patina or a weathered look as a new style for outdoor projects, we’ve received a lot of requests for corten steel projects such as planter boxes and edging.
