The aim of many architects and building designers is to create an exterior façade that is truly unique, stands out from the crowd and meets the needs and expectations of their client. There are many options available to achieve these objectives but Corten Steel is one way to guarantee that your design is 100% unique and cannot be replicated. It is also one of our favourite cladding materials.

This natural material is popular amongst the design community due to its many benefits. One of Corten’s main benefits is that it will age and weather naturally whilst creating an individual finish known as patina. Patina, the red or brown film on the surface, is produced by oxidation over time from weather and other environmental factors and gives the façade a uniquely raw, earthy look. Our team have put together a list of five more benefits to help you decide whether Corten Steel could be the right choice for your next project!

1  Strength and Durability

Corten Steel is known for its high durability and strength and can generally hold its own against any external exposures such as environmental factors. These can include air pollution, temperature, moisture, wind, and precipitation sunlight and ultraviolet rays. As the steel oxidizes it adds a layer of protection and this process increases its strength and durability meaning that as the material ages it actually gets stronger.

2  Aesthetic properties and contrasting

The unique, ever-changing, and evolving finish on Corten steel is a direct result of the location of the building, the environmental conditions and where the panels are installed. This is why you are likely to see a difference in the patina-effect from one elevation on one side of the building to another. In addition, the natural warm, earthy tones that are synonymous with Corten steel contrast particularly well with other cladding materials such as compressed fibre cement and solid aluminium cladding panels. Look at some of these examples, the iAccelerate project in Wollongong, Anitia’s at Jackson’s Landing in Pyrmont and most recently the Goulburn Marketplace.

Goulburn Marketplace, Goulburn, NSW

3  Corrosion resistance and longevity

As with strength and durability, the oxidization of the steel and the natural protective layer of rust that this creates provides a natural in-built corrosion resistance making Corten steel superior to aluminium panels in terms of rigidity as well as impact resistance. An additional benefit over aluminium is that there is no risk of the material fatiguing over time especially in the folds.  Corten steel is designed to last for several decades and, depending on location, climate and the environmental factors of your project, it can last up to and beyond 100 years.

4  Low maintenance

The main appeal of Corten steel is that it ages and wears naturally. Therefore, there is very little maintenance required as imperfections simply add to the aesthetic appeal and individual character of the façade.

5  Cost effective

Corten steel is an affordable option for your exterior cladding and a worthwhile investment. As the patina is every-changing, your building will always look new and interesting instead of increasingly dull and drab as it ages so there is no need for the typical 10-20 year façade refresh (or reclad). These photographs of the Goulbourn marketplace currently show a dark grey/black finish on the façade, but this will change to become an orange reddish tone after approximately 6 months when the patina has stabilised.

We hope that the above has helped to show you why Corten Steel is one of our favourite products to fabricate and install and why we think you should consider using it as a cladding option for your next construction project. If you would like to discuss this product further or if we can offer design assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our team online today or call us on 02 9521 3311.