What is Corten steel?

Yes, Corten steel and weatherproof steel are actually synonymous. In the 1960s, its use spread from America to Europe. Back then, it was only available under the name COR-TEN. Now it is available under different names.

COR= Corrosion resistance

TEN= Tensile strength

In summary = a material with good resistance to (atmospheric) corrosion with high strength.

When placing a flower box in Corten steel, you must absolutely avoid it being wet all the time as this can lead to peeling. Therefore do not use substrates that retain water such as clay granules or hydro pellets (lava). Corten steel gets its protected patina layer by alternating dry and wet. By using these water-retaining materials, the planter remains continuously wet and the rusting process will not stop.

At the start of the rusting process, the Corten steel may give off rust on your terrace. We therefore recommend not placing the products on a light-coloured terrace in the initial phase. Once the oxidation process has been completed (maximum 1.5 years) you can place the product anywhere.

Should you still have rust deposits, these can be more or less successfully removed using a suitable rust remover. Success mainly depends on the agent used and the frequency and quality of cleaning.

On delivery, our products often do not yet have the beautiful typical orange-brown colour. The formation of the rust layer starts after 2 to 3 weeks and is only completed after approximately 1.5 years. The change between wet and dry weather is important for the formation of the protective layer. The exact duration depends very much on the weather and the place where you place the product.

Corten steel is extremely durable. The rusting process ensures that a protective layer is applied to the corten steel. Your product therefore does not require any further maintenance. Oiling or painting is not necessary.

Corten steel does not require specific maintenance because it is able to restore the oxidised layer in the event that it is scratched, for example. Nevertheless, during this phase it is possible that the CORTEN® steel gives off iron oxide and causes red drops. It is recommended not to place the elements on transparent or porous surfaces.

You don’t want to wait for the product to get its rusty colour? That is possible! Mix some salt with water and spray it on with a plant sprayer. Mixing vinegar with water also helps speed up the rusting process.

Throughout the rusting process, the orange-brown colour changes. At first, the colour is rather light and darkens over time. However, it is possible to coat the corten steel so that the colour is preserved. Contact us if you would like more information about this.

Dissolving cooking salt in water and spraying it on your product to speed up the rusting process is no problem. However, continuous exposure to large quantities of salt is. The use of Corten steel in an environment of 1.5 km from the coast is not recommended. Also be careful with exposure to products that contain large amounts of chlorine. Do not put chlorine in a Corten steel water element. The protective patina layer will be affected and may flake off.

Corten steel is also used as a material in bridge building or shipbuilding and has a very long lifespan. Moreover, Corten steel is a pure type of steel without extra protective layers. This makes it easy to recycle again.

Yes, this is possible if the Corten steel stays wet all the time. This is why we coat our ponds, water tables and other water elements on the inside so that they will not rust through. It is also important that no water remains in the planters. For this reason, we provide drainage holes as standard. Hydro pellets must not be used either, as these ensure that the planters remain moist, which must be avoided at all costs.