COR-TEN is the U.S. Steel’s trade name for atmospheric, corrosion resistant steel while weathering steel and corrosion-resistant steel are the generic terms.  The name is a combination of its two main features: “cor-rosion resistance” and “ten-sile strength.”

Today, while the terms “corten” and “weathering steel” are used interchangeably

With corten steels, the rusting process occurs in a similar fashion, but instead produces a stable rust layer known as the patina, which adheres to the base metal and is much less porous. This naturally-developed patina regenerates continuously when exposed to weather and produces a protective barrier that impedes further access of oxygen, moisture and pollutants. 

So, does this make corten steel rust proof? No, it does not. Corten steel is allowed to rust in order to form the protective patina coating. See below image depicting the typical weathering process.

Corten steel, unlike other steels, does not require post-treatment. It should not be painted as protection against corrosion. Thus, no toxic substances are released during application, and there will be no paint waste products during maintenance or recycling.

Corten steel is also used as a material in bridge construction or Shipbuilding and has a very long service life. In addition, Corten steel is a pure type of steel without additional [chemical] layers of protection. This means that it can be melted down again and can therefore be reused.

In addition to the attractiveness of corten steel, there are several other huge advantages. As discussed above, the outside rust layer protects it from further weathering, meaning it is essentially weather-resistant. The weather-resistance means it is perfect for use in garden planters, outdoor log burners and other accessories such as water features and fire bowls.

It is also important to remember that corten steel is still part of the steel family and so has many of the same beneficial properties such as high strength and durability, which means you don’t need huge amounts to have a strong structure. Therefore, you can have a lightweight yet incredibly strong garden planter that will last. Combining all of these advantages means that corten steel is the ideal material to be used for both domestic and commercial landscaping projects, whether that is building raised beds with retaining walls or edging, adding water into your garden with a water feature or joining different levels with some gorgeous garden stairs.

If you do not want to wait until the product has its rust colour? Then there are ways to speed up the process! Mix some salt with water and spray it with a plant sprayer. Mixing natural vinegar with water also helps speed up the rusting process.

Quality and customer service are of utmost importance to us here at Corten Steel Ireland. All items are crafted with passion and care to ensure that you receive only the finest garments every time.

Yes of course, we are more than happy and capable of working from drawings. We have worked on many large projects over the years.

A big advantage of Corten Steel is that it lasts up to 10x longer than regular Steels.

Our specialty is making high quality products at a very competitive price.

Most of our products are also customization possible. For example: planters, walls, pedestals, columns and water tables.

We accept returns or exchanges on products with 14 days of purchase.

For order inquiries and questions, please contact us. Please note that our customer service is available 9 am - 5 pm Monday - Friday and 9am to 1pm Saturday.

We offer courier deliver.Please allow 1-3 business days to process orders. Please note that our customer service is available 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday.

We accept all major credit cards and PayPal. For your convenience, we also offer Pay in 4 instalments with PayPal Credit to make online shopping more accessible.

We also accept cash on collection or delivery.