Ferro Studio

ENPL

material

Corten steel

Weathers in a controlled way. Ages with the building.

Weathering steel. It rusts on purpose, but only on the surface: the patina layer seals off the metal underneath and stops the process. Instead of destroying the material, it becomes its finish.

The patina matures over months and shifts in colour from orange through brick to deep brown. This is a material that looks different in its first year than in its fifth — and that is the point, not a defect.

One thing to plan for: in the first months the patina runs off with rain and can stain light render or concrete below the piece. On a light façade we allow for a standoff and a drip edge.

density (catalogue)
7,85 g/cm³
available thicknesses
[data needed: Maksymalna grubość — cortenu]
thinnest element
[data needed: Najcieńszy element — cortenu]
maintenance
[data needed: Konserwacja — cortenu]
interior
yes
façade
yes
Order a sample of this material
01 / finishes

How we finish corten steel

The finish decides how the piece looks a year in, not on the day it goes up.

Ferro Raw

raw, straight off the cutting bed

wipe with a dry cloth; no abrasives

Ferro Patina

controlled corten patina

none needed; the patina keeps maturing on its own

Lakier bezbarwny

protective clear coat

water with a mild detergent

All finishes
02 / time

How the patina matures

Corten looks different in its first month than in its fifth year. That is not a flaw in the material, it is the point — but it has to be planned for, because in the early months the patina runs off with the rain.

--
day 0
Bare sheet straight off the stock. Silver, with no trace of the process yet.
03 / decision

When to choose it, when not to

Choose it if

  • no painting, no maintenance — the patina is the finish
  • looks better with time, unlike any coating
  • the most recognisable material in contemporary architecture

Skip it if

  • stains light surfaces beneath it during the first months
  • the colour matures over months — mounting day is not the final look
  • not for interiors where the piece will be touched often
04 / portfolio

Projects in this material

Case studies are currently available in Polish only.

Logo na elewacji ze stali corten

Elewacje

Logotyp firmowy na ścianie recepcji

Logotypy

Detal elewacyjny z ciętego metalu

Elewacje
05 / alternatives

Or perhaps something else

Decided?

Describe the project — we come back with a quote in 1–2 working days. If corten steel turns out to be the wrong choice, we will say so straight away.

Get a quoteOrder a sample