An important aspect when making a corten steel facade is the location of the project. The type of environment, exposure and the degree of relative humidity are parameters that affect the oxidation process of the material.

Humid subtropical climates, maritime or with high rainfall cycles are detrimental due to the continuous washing of the protective patina, leading to a greater than expected reduction in thickness in the long term.

Another aspect to consider is the type of materials that will be in contact with the corten steel. It is important to avoid contact with more noble materials such as copper or zinc and also contact with less noble materials such as aluminum. The contact between them could accelerate oxidation, affecting the stability of the system. Instead, corten steel is perfectly complemented by concrete, stone, wood and glass.

The patina is generated naturally depending on the conditions presented by atmospheric agents. Under normal conditions, corten steel achieves an optimal aesthetic appearance in the course of a year, although the final chemical process can take up to 4-6 years. During this process, the façade will suffer detachments of oxide particles. If the runoff water evacuation routes are not carefully studied, the adjacent elements or the pavement may be affected by rust stains. It is possible to provide a water collection system integrated into the façade itself to avoid the appearance of stains on the rest of the materials.

In order to obtain homogeneous oxidation on the entire corten steel surface, it must be taken into account that all the façade planes are exposed to similar atmospheric conditions. If it is an irregular façade, a subsequent treatment of wet and dry cycles must be guaranteed on the least exposed planes in order to guarantee a similar oxidation on all façades.

These are the most important considerations to guarantee the correct use of this material. Incoperfil’s technical department will be able to advise you on other issues that may arise in your projects.