What are the alternatives to corten steel? (in garden design)

Here at Lux Unique, you might’ve noticed that we’re really keen on corten steel! We love it for its unique rustic look, incredible lifespan, and versatility, among other things. However, we also offer other types of metal finishes. In particular, we like powder-coated steel, mild steel, and galvanised steel as alternatives to the rusted finish of corten. In this post, we’ll take a look at these alternatives and what they have to offer in case they are a better fit than corten for your garden or outdoor space.

Mild steel

Mild steel if left unprotected will look similar to corten steel in that it will develop a rusted coating quite quickly. Where it differs is that this coating does not help to protect the product in the same way as it does on corten steel. This is because mild steel does not contain the unique alloying elements like corten. Basically, the product slowly corrodes as it ages as steel usually does if it is left unprotected. It should still last for many years, but will probably not develop quite as attractive a patina as corten steel.

The major plus point of mild steel is that it is slightly cheaper. Most of our mild steel planters are about 10-20% cheaper than our corten steel ones – something that may be useful if you have a small budget or a large area you want to cover with steel planters, retaining walls, or other quality steel products.

There are steps you can take with mild steel to reduce the corrosion rate. These include using things like rust-resistant paint or rust inhibitors. You can also take steps to ensure that your rusted planters or beds don’t become water-logged and avoid using acidic compost which can speed up the rusting process. You might also consider lining the inside of your raised bed or planter to provide a barrier between it and the soil within.

Powder coated steel

The powder coating process is a three-stage one and results in a product that looks stylish and lasts a long time with very little maintenance. The first stage is that the 3mm mild steel that is used as standard is blast cleaned before being primed with a zinc-rich primer. A UV-stable polyester top coat is then baked on at 180-200°C; all of which results in a very hard-wearing product.

The only precaution that needs to be taken is to prevent this protective coating, which is partly scratch-resistant, from being scratched or worn off. This would then expose the mild steel underneath and let in water and oxygen to allow corrosion to take place if it wasn’t quickly repaired. The other option is to use stainless steel, rather than mild steel, as the base steel but this does come with a heftier price tag.

The huge range of colours and finishes available on your powder coated steel planter, powder coated raised garden bed, or powder coated steel trough is another great selling point. At Lux Unique, we offer planters in almost any RAL colour, from green to grey, and in a matt, satin, or gloss finish. We are also pleased to offer a variety of shapes and sizes and other optional extras.

Galvanised steel

Our galvanised steel planters and galvanised raised garden beds also come in a range of shapes and sizes that can be tailored to your requirements. The galvanising process produces an industrial-type appearance which is a bright silver-grey colour in a non-uniform pattern across the surface.

This galvanising process involves coating the steel with a protective layer of zinc by immersing it in a bath of the molten metal at a temperature of around 450°C. This ensures that a bonded coating is formed, which protects both the inside and the outside of the steel from harsh environments for decades.

We also offer the option of a ‘heritage finish’ where the product is then hand-finished with an etching solution which leaves a beautiful aged lead/zinc look. The finish will always vary from product to product and the overall look of this finish is to be not completely uniform but to give a more aged unique appearance.

Steel in garden design

As you can probably tell, steel offers a huge number of options when it comes to garden design. The sheer range of shapes and sizes on offer is one thing but the number of different styles and looks that steel products can help you pull off is quite another.

You can go for the rustic look of mild steel or corten steel, which can work well in either a contemporary urban space or even a cottage garden setting. There is then the classy high-end stately home look of our Hampton Range of galvanised steel planters and the almost endless array of colours that are available should you choose powder coated steel for your raised garden beds on your patio.

We hope this quick look at our range of premium steel products has given you food for thought and inspiration as you plan your garden. Be sure to take a look at our full range of products, which also includes bespoke options to make your garden truly unique.