Naturally, you want to make a COR-TEN® façade look as good as possible during the years. Since COR-TEN® is self-protecting it needs no regular attention or maintenance, as is the case for almost all other façade materials.
The speed of change and the final color of the steel depend on the atmospheric conditions of a site and the surrounding air quality. Sulfur dense atmospheres will speed up the oxidation process and result in a darker patina. Frequent cycles of wet and dry weather conditions will also speed up oxidation.
Bend it. Perforate it. Mix it. There are endless opportunities to bring a natural beauty to the environment it is located in. COR-TEN® steel is now becoming the trend setting material in all aspects of architecture. Buildings that use COR-TEN® steel have been rewarded many times over for innovative and sustainable design.
At first, the steel begins to rust in the same fashion as any other carbon steel, when exposed to wet and dry weather conditions. However, as time passes, the rust layer transforms into a dense patina layer, sealing-off the steel surface, resisting further corrosion. The color changes from fresh, newly developed orange-brown, to light and eventually dark brown. The speed of change and the final color of the steel depend on the atmospheric conditions of a site and the surrounding air quality. Sulfur dense atmospheres will speed up the oxidation process and result in a darker patina. Frequent cycles of wet and dry weather conditions will also speed up oxidation.