Trust the rust

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/08/2020 (2215 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Weathering steel’s crossover into the garden landscape is reaching new heights of popularity for the same reasons that make it one of the most predominant materials used in architecture today. Weathering steel is made with alloys that develop a handsome patina of rust over time with exposure to the elements. The natural oxidation process is only on the surface and never rusts through. The aged patina has an authentic feel that resonates in a way that a synthetic material never could. Frost and crack resistant, weathering steel is an ideal material in our winter climate. I admit, I’m wild about weathering steel.

In Winnipeg, the most prominent example is the dramatic 400-foot-long interpretive wall built of layered steel at Upper Fort Garry Provincial Park. Place Louis Riel Parkade features a contemporary extension clad in perforated weathering steel panels. A weathering steel streetcar sculpture, an iconic image of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike sits, tipped, in front of the Pantages Playhouse Theatre.

Weathering steel brings an organic modern style to the landscape and lends itself to many useful and attractive garden elements from arbours to wall art, sculpture, planters, window boxes, fences, retaining walls, gates, water features, trellises, privacy screens, landscape edging, frames for garden mirrors, and more. It’s possible even to have weathering steel rusted roofing or siding panels for your house or garden shed.

Veradek is a Canadian company located in Ontario that sells a line of weathering steel planters and a privacy screen series made from laser cut steel. James Manley, sales manager at Veradek, says the steel has become a big part of the company’s business because of how well it holds up in all types of weather conditions compared to other types of metal and materials such as plastic, fibreglass or even concrete. Blemishes that you might see over time on other types of materials are minimized on weathering steel because of the rust finish, says Manley. “The renewed interest in weathering steel in both the architecture and design community spurred the interest in developing our line of COR-TEN steel planters,” says Manley, referencing the trademarked name held by U.S. Steel.

Veradek’s planters are crafted from heavy gauge, fully seam-welded weathering steel using recycled materials. The planters have a distinctively modern feel and come in a range of sizes and shapes. The product line is sold across Canada and the U.S. and is available through Amazon, Houzz, Pottery Barn, Wayfair, etc. The planters are also available for purchase online at www.veradek.com.

The planters and window boxes include Styrofoam liners that help to insulate plant roots from extreme heat in the summer months. Some of the planters are equipped with a removable insert shelf for easy planting while others are set on feet for aeration and drainage. Unlike terracotta or glazed ceramic planters, which need to be stored away for the winter to prevent cracking, weathering steel planters can stay outdoors year-round. This makes it easy to transition your container designs to seasonal or holiday arrangements.

The products are shipped in their raw state — natural, bare steel — but exposure to the elements over time gradually develops the deep brown-orange rust patina that is characteristic of weathering steel. It’s easy to accelerate the rusting process using a mixture of white vinegar, table salt, hydrogen peroxide (three per cent), and degreaser. Follow the instructions on the bottle of degreaser. Rinse well after degreasing. To pickle the metal, spray your steel item with white vinegar using a spray bottle. Next, combine 16 ounces of hydrogen peroxide, two ounces white vinegar, and one-half tablespoon of salt into a spray bottle. Shake thoroughly and begin applying. Repeat approximately seven times, allowing your steel to dry each time. Direct sunlight and summer’s sizzling heat help to speed up the rusting process.

In addition to ready-made items, why not try creating your own weathering steel garden accents? Metal Supermarkets at 130 Midland St. in Winnipeg is a popular destination for contractors, architects, artists and do-it-yourselfers. With 80 stores across North America, Metal Supermarkets carries steel in flat sheets or plates in a variety of different sizes and gauges. “Weathering steel is a great product for the garden,” says manager Scott Rasksen. “There are endless possibilities.”

This year, some of Metal Supermarkets’ customers purchased weathering steel to build retaining walls or to make their own sculptures. “We have a plasma cutter which we can use to cut different shapes,” says Rasksen. “We also have access to laser and water jets. Plasma gives a good cut on thinner material. Water jets (pressurized water) can do some very refined or intricate designs.”

Weathering steel panels can be used to create a unique fence. A stunning example to inspire your imagination is the weathering steel fence that serves as the entrance to German designer Peter Janke’s herb garden in Hilden.

Earlier this year, one customer wanted a sign for his cabin that illustrated a loon with a tree-lined lake together with his family name. Steel plates can be laser cut with almost any custom design from flowers to bulrushes, turtles, frogs, birds or even a moose. If you are creating a steel sculpture, for example, pipes can be cut to size and used as legs. In addition to flat sheets, plates, flat bars, and pipes, there are also weathering steel components such as angles, channels, rounds, and squares.

“If you have the imagination, we have the steel and will try to fabricate it for you,” says Rasksen. “If we can’t do it, we will find someone who can.”

On my recent visit, Rasksen showed me bins with offcuts that can be used to make almost anything. The best part is that there is no minimum purchase — you can buy as small a piece as you need.

Many people like to use heavy gauge weathering steel to make an outdoor fire pit, says Rasksen. Hot rolled plate is used to make the edges and expanded metal (a type of sheet metal that has been cut and stretched to form a mesh-like pattern) is used for the fire grate.

Other metals such as copper and brass can also be used to accent your weathering steel designs, says Rasksen. “Copper is a very soft material and can be hammered into shape to make bowls, for example.”

Weathering steel with a rusty patina goes well with cedar wood that has been charred using an ancient Japanese preservation technique called shou sugi ban, which is enjoying a resurgence of interest. A perfect marriage, weathering steel and charred wood both withstand weather extremes. Shou sugi ban waterproofs and preserves wood just as weathering steel with its rusty patina resists corrosion and never needs painting. A project idea might be to combine the rich brown-orange of weathering steel and deep charcoal-black of charred cedar to build a traditional Versailles planter.

Whether it is combined with other materials such as charred wood or contrasting metals or used as a standalone feature, the rusty patina of weathering steel complements flowers and foliage beautifully and makes a stunning backdrop in the garden landscape.

 

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