Metal Edging Strips
£123.00
- Plain metal strips cut to size available in mild steel or corten steel.
- Get an instant price using the calculator below.
Current lead time is 1 week
Product Information
Transform your garden with our custom Metal Edging Strips, available in mild steel and corten steel with thicknesses of 3mm and 5mm. Cut to your exact specifications, these versatile strips are perfect for defining borders, creating clean lines, and separating garden spaces. Ideal for DIY enthusiasts, they offer a sleek, durable solution for a variety of landscaping and design needs.
Information
| Finish | Natural Finish – Please refer to the 'About' tabs for more info. |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | No maintenance required |
| Material | Mild Steel, Corten Steel |
| Steel Thickness | 3mm, 5mm |
About Corten
Please note that we may dispatch a Corten Steel product at any stage of its weathering process.
What is Corten Steel?
Corten steel, which is also known as ‘weathering steel’, is a group of steel alloys that were originally developed to eliminate the need for painting or applying protective coatings to steel surfaces. So, what truly sets Corten Steel apart from its peers? When subjected to atmospheric elements, this remarkable material develops a protective layer resembling rust on its surface. This unique characteristic makes it highly resistant to corrosion.
This innovative material was first brought to life back in the 1930s. Its primary application was within the railroad industry, and it was subsequently patented by the well-known U.S. Steel (USS). Interestingly, the name “COR-TEN” stands for the material’s two primary properties. ‘Cor’ signifies Corrosion Resistance, while ‘Ten’ indicates Tensile Strength.
What is Corten Steel Made of?
Primarily composed of iron and a small amount of carbon, Corten steel sets itself apart due to the inclusion of unique alloying elements: chromium, nickel, copper and added phosphorous which gives the steel its self-protecting properties. A particularly noteworthy feature of this composition is the ability of the materials outer layer to naturally repair itself when subjected to scratches or damage, demonstrating its resilience and longevity.
Is Corten Steel Expensive?
Although Corten steel might come with a higher upfront cost when compared to mild steel, it turns out to be an economical choice in the long run. Given its resilience and low maintenance requirements, your investment in Corten steel recoups itself as time goes by.
Furthermore, when you consider the expenses associated with protecting other sheet metals via processes like painting or galvanizing, the price difference starts to level out, reaffirming the cost-effectiveness of Corten steel.
How does Corten Steel Weather?
One of the fascinating aspects of Corten steel is its weathering process, which typically takes around 6-9 months, depending on the prevailing weather conditions. At the start of the process, the steel develops an orange patina. As time goes on, this turns into a darker brown hue, providing Corten steel its iconic look. It’s important to note that Corten steel requires a cycle of alternating wet and dry conditions to form this protective layer effectively.
Step 1 – Newly created Corten Steel. At this point, a dark, oily coating is visible on the Corten Steel.
Step 2 – The dark coating starts to degrade, marking the start of Corten Steel’s weathering process.
Steps 3 & 4 – The “Run-Off” phase. This stage can take between 3 to 9 months, depending on weather conditions and location.
Steps 5 & 6 – During these final phases of weathering, occasional ‘run-off’ may still occur. Meanwhile, Corten Steel’s patina evolves towards a more uniform and striking appearance.
Where is Corten Steel used?
Corten steel’s unique properties have led to its use across a range of industries, including architecture, construction, and landscape. You’ve probably seen it in the form of large structures like bridges, or even the Angel of the North, a renowned sculpture. But Corten steel isn’t limited to grand structures alone. It’s also become very popular in recent years for creating outdoor garden products such as corten planters, edging, artwork, water features, and street furniture, adding a natural and rustic aesthetic to any outdoor space.
Run-Off
Another significant aspect to understand about Corten steel is the occurrence of ‘run-off’ during the initial stages of its weathering process. ‘Run off’ refers to the rusty water that can drain off from Corten steel, potentially causing staining on the surfaces upon which it is placed.
To ensure that run-off doesn’t become a concern, there are several steps you can take:
- Complete Weathering Before Placement: You could allow the Corten steel product to undergo the complete weathering process and let any run-off occur before positioning it in its final location. If you’re aiming for a more rapid transition, you could apply a weathering treatment to speed up this process.
- Use Protective Layer: Alternatively, you might consider placing the Corten steel product on a slab or other protective material that can be moved or replaced once the product has fully weathered. This acts as a barrier, protecting your surfaces from potential staining.
- Opt for Easily Replaceable Materials: Lastly, you could choose to position the Corten steel product on grass or soil which won’t cause any issues or loose materials such as stone, slate, or wood chippings. These materials can easily be turned over or replaced to eliminate any run-off stains.
The weathering process of this product is integral to it and as such we will not accept any responsibility for damage caused to surrounding materials as a result of run-off.
About Mild Steel
Mild steel is the most commonly used and widely available low carbon steel on the market and is typically used in projects where a large quantity is required, such as in structural projects. The materials high strength, flexibility and low cost make it a very economical solution.
- Appearance
At the very beginning, both Corten steel and mild steel look very similar, and there is not much difference between the two. However, exposure to the elements begins the weathering process, and this is where the first major difference starts to appear.
Corten will develop a beautiful orange patina as the weathering process begins, while mild steel will produce a darker brown appearance instead. Over time, both will slowly develop a lovely brown patina when the weathering process is complete, but it will take mild steel a lot longer to reach this stage in comparison to Corten.
- Corrosion
Although both mild steel and Corten steel do look similar after the complete weathering process, they do have very different corrosion results.
Over time, Corten will develop its own unique layer of rust on the surface, which effectively acts as a protective barrier that prevents the steel itself from corroding. The weathering process takes around 6-9 months, and Corten steel products are incredibly durable and long-lasting, degrading at a significantly slower pace than other steel options.
Mild steel does not have that same effect, which means when exposed to the elements, it will begin to corrode at a much faster rate and will require replacement sooner. The weathering process will take around 12-18 months to complete.
- Cost
Another major difference between Corten steel and mild steel is their price point. Mild steel is a very affordable solution, whereas our Corten products will typically cost around 50% more on average.
While this can require a higher initial investment, Corten steel is able to last longer and often has a more attractive finish, which makes it a popular choice for use in both commercial and residential settings.
Delivery
Delivery Information – FAQ’s
How much does it cost?
Due to the heavy nature and size of the products we offer, our delivery charges are based upon the size and weight of a product. Most of our products are dispatched on a pallet with a tail lift offload. Smaller items that can be boxed (such as log stores) are usually sent via DPD. Delivery charges are clearly stated at checkout.
Why do you charge for delivery?
The delivery charge covers the cost of processing, packing, checking and finally delivering your goods. Every order that we dispatch is processed then either selected from stock, or fabricated to order, quality checked and packaged to ensure it arrives with you in pristine condition. The costs of this process and the materials used are not added into the product cost and we simply charge what is needed to cover our costs.
Where do you deliver?
We only deliver to mainland UK at the prices set on our website. Unfortunately we are unable to ship to Northern Ireland or outside of mainland UK.
How long will I wait for my order to be delivered?
For stock items we aim to dispatch within 5 working days. Our usual dispatch days are Tuesday and Wednesday each week.
For non- stock (bespoke made to order) items our lead time is 4-5 weeks from order. We will notify you once the product has been fabricated and is ready to be dispatched.
We always endeavour to keep customers updated as to their delivery but once an item leaves us it is in the hands of the courier and we cannot be held responsible for any delays in delivery once the item has left us. Items that are shipped on a pallet usually take 2-3 days to arrive from dispatch. Tracking is available and customers will be sent a link to the tracking following dispatch of the order.
If items are larger than 2 metres in length we may deliver them using our own transport. We can only accept orders for items over 2 metres directly so please contact us for a quote.
I’d like my order to be left in a safe place or with a neighbour if I’m not in. Can you arrange this?
If you advise us of a safe place to leave the item in the event that you are not home, we will pass this information onto the courier. Since our deliveries require a signature; if you do choose to provide a safe place then we cannot accept responsibility for goods once they have been left.
Our Shipping Partners
DPD
Our log stores are shipped with DPD as these are smaller items than some of our other products. We dispatch items on Tuesdays and Wednesdays of each week with DPD on a next day service (Monday – Friday only). DPD offer a range of “in flight” options for customers who may not be home. They will text and email customers confirming a 1-hour time slot for delivery and provide other options if no-one is home. Sophisticated tracking is also available allowing a live map countdown to the final 15-minute time slot.
DPD have an app which is very useful for tracking deliveries, and we urge our customers to use the app to ensure the best delivery experience possible. DPD Local | Our App | Never miss a parcel delivery again!
For information regarding DPD tracking and delivery please see:-
Parcel Tracking UK | Track Package | DPD Local Online (dpdlocal-online.co.uk)
Pallet Delivery – The Pallet Network
Most of our items are so large that delivery on a pallet is necessary. We use the Pallet Network for our pallet deliveries and we normally ship items on a Tuesday or Wednesday of each week. Pallet services are usually delivered within 3 days of dispatch and we always ask the driver to call ahead to let you know 1 hour prior to arrival. Deliveries can take place Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
Pallet orders will be dropped kerbside only. We do not offer a two-man delivery service.
Pallet deliveries are not timed and as such usual delivery times are between 9am and 5pm. The tracking will be able to advise you when your order is “Out for Delivery” (OFD). Pallets can be left in a customer’s absence if there is a suitable place to do so. We will always ask the driver to call ahead but cannot guarantee a call.
Access for pallet deliveries
Is it important that a 7.5 tonne lorry (or larger) with a tail lift can access your property if pallet delivery of your item(s) is required. Some items can only be delivered on a pallet. We ask our customers to be aware of the access requirements and contact us should they have any queries prior to placing an order.
For more information on pallet deliveries see TPN. We are THE Pallet Network. | The Pallet Network (thepalletnetworkltd.co.uk)
Tracking
Once we have dispatched an order, we will provide you with a tracking link which will enable you to enquire with the Courier, should you experience any delays. Please note that where more than one item is expected, sometimes the couriers can deliver items separately so please allow a little extra time for additional items to arrive. Please be assured we always ship an order at the same time (unless we have agreed alternative arrangements with you).
General Guarantee – Returns Policy
We hope that all our customers are satisfied with their products. If you are unhappy with your purchase you can return it in perfect condition and in the original packaging within 14 days of purchase for a replacement or full refund (bespoke items are excluded from this unless they are damaged or faulty).
Returns postage will only be refunded if the item is damaged, faulty or if the wrong items have been sent. We do not accept responsibility for damaged or lost parcels on return. Please CONTACT US if you wish to return an item.
We reserve the right to deduct an amount from any refund due should there be any damage to the product caused by you, that makes the product unsaleable. For example, if the product had any obvious signs of use.
Damaged Goods
We go to great lengths to protect our products with protective wrapping and packaging to ensure that your purchase reaches you in perfect condition. In the unlikely event that your goods are damaged on arrival please CONTACT US with a picture of the damage as soon as possible so that we can raise this with our delivery partners and resolve the matter as soon as possible.
If you can see that an item has arrived ‘damaged’ upon delivery, please sign for the item as ‘damaged on arrival’. You must also notify us within 7 days of receipt, so that we may arrange for collection or replacement of the damaged item. Failure to notify us of any damage within 7 days of delivery will mean we are unable to proceed with a claim from our delivery partners and as such any replacements or refunds will be at our sole discretion.