Tag Archives: Corten

Cold Rolled Steel: Look like the Old West

Look like the Old West

In the past week, we had two clients specifically request “rusted” steel roofing.

Cold rolled steel - Looks like the Old West

If you have ever been to a theme park which had an “Old West” section (think Knott’s Berry Farm or portions of Disneyland), you’ve seen buildings and facades which have rusted steel roofs.

Well – they did not go tear down 100 year old barns and salvage the roofing.  It is actually available from us, here at Hansen Buildings.

There are a couple of products available to create this look, either bare cold rolled steel or A606 Type 4 (usually referred to as Corten). While both panels will look similar, over time, bare cold rolled will be less costly.

Corten is more expensive, as it contains copper, chromium, manganese and nickel. It will resist the corrosive effects of rain, snow and other atmospheric conditions by forming a coating of dark brown oxidation (rust).

While there is not a lifespan warranty on either of these products, many applications were installed in excess of forty years ago, with no problems. Corten is recommended for use in harsh environmental areas – such as exposure to salt spray or often damp climates.

The lifespan of these products is increased by it being a minimum of 22 gauge steel. Installing on a minimum 3/12 roof slope, and preventing moisture entrapment from poor drainage will prolong the life of these products.

Bare cold rolled steel does not arrive at your building site pre-rusted. Just install and leave exposed to the weather and it will rust all on its own. In no time at all, the roof of your new building can look like it is right out of the old west, or the backlot of Universal Studios!

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