Corten steel siding is a siding option unlike any other that will turn heads and make sure that your home stands out no matter where in the country you’re located. It’s unlike anything you have ever seen, which is why it is increasingly being used by architects and designers for incredible architectural constructions.
You can now also put it on your own home, although you should beware of the fact that this option will cause your neighbors to end up becoming jealous in the process. Corten steel is a rusted metal option that includes steel nickel, chromium, and copper. All of them together merge to form the marvelous Corten steel siding. Its standard name is A606, so if you ever hear that term, that is the thin sheets of Corten.
On this page:
- So What Exactly is Corten Steel Siding?
- Is Corten Steel and Weathering Steel the Same Thing?
- Benefits of Using Corten Steel Siding
- Choosing Corten Steel – Is it the Right Decision?
- Corten Steel Price Per Square Foot For Siding – Price Per Panel
- Free Estimates & Quotes
The material is installed to create true architectural marvel, and despite of it its price tag is not outrageous. In fact, it is rather competitive. The corten steel price per square foot falls in the range of $2.5 to $3, although that excludes the cost of working with siding contractors to have it properly installed. Certain factors may affect the amount that they will charge, and we can only encourage you to get quotes from competing contractors for your project.
We have made that process easy, as you simply need to fill out the form at the top of the page, whereby we’ll be able to connect you with the most relevant contractors in your area. They can then reach out to you to hear more about your project to be able to bid on it. Getting quotes like that is entirely free for you.
So What Exactly is Corten Steel Siding?
Corten, or in fact more accuratly Cor-Ten, is a trademarked product consisting of weathering steel, although its trademarked name has simply become the way that people refer to the product. Common ways of referring to it also includes weathered steel and cor 10 steel. Some people even mistakenly call it core ten steel, although it’s easy to see where the misspelling would come from. This is also as close to weatherproof steel as you will get.
Due to its uniqueness, it’s become popular in the construction industry for buildings truly wanting to stand out. Not only is it going on commercial buildings, but residential buildings are seeing what the hype is about also.
As such, it has been included on a number of notable buildings and structures such as the Broadcasting tower in Leeds in the United Kingdom. The Abetxuko Bridge in Spain also uses the material to look unique. The Fulcrum sculpture in Liverpool is another example of how the material can be used.
Alloy steel sheets were originally used with the intention of creating a beautiful product requiring barely any maintenance, since other types of material such as wood siding requires periodic finishing such as painting or sealing. Corten produces a thin, protective layer of rust that will help in protecting it against the harsh that water, wind and humidity can be.
The product has also come a long way since its initial introduction, yet it provides the possibility of a great appearance.
The protective outer layer helps in preserving the inner layers of the material. It comes both in panels and plates depending on the look and texture you are looking to have installed.
It’s been around since the 1960s, but it is really lately that it has gained prominence as a material more widely used by architects and installed by contractors. This also just means that your friends and neighbors will be even more fascinated by the material once you get it installed.
Its popularity is increasing, and there’s a good reason you have made it to this page today. The many benefits it has an its uniqueness is what has led you to want it for your own project. It has two characteristics and properties not shared by normal steel – tensile strength and the ability to be corrosion-resistant. In fact, the name stems from those two words put together. It’s rustic look and and these properties make it a strong contender for being put up and separating you from the elements.
It’s not limited to simply being used for siding. Corten is now also a popular material being used for retaining walls, fences, houses, planters, roofing, fire pits, edging, art, bridges and buildings. Next time you look around, you might just find it somewhere new!
Contemporary landscape also often includes the material in a myriad of different ways, and if you ask your local landscaping contractor, he will likely be using it already.
Is Corten Steel and Weathering Steel the Same Thing?
We often get asked the above question because people refer to them meaning the same thing, so a distinction between the two deserves its own section to clarify. There is a difference between the two which should be noted. Corten steel is also weathering steel, but weathering steel is not necessarily Corten. What does that mean?
Steel alloys that have been treated to create that protective patina is what weathering steel is, meaning that painting and other maintenance is no longer an issue. The steel will become stable with time and with the patina, which in part happens as a consequence of being exposed to the different elements. This is one time that you do not actually want to remove the rust.
The distinction is that Cor-Ten is a registered trademark belonging to the United States Steel Corp, and is therefore one of the products that they offer.
Benefits of Using Corten Steel Siding
You probably know that steel will develop rust if it is left outside with no protection to it, and Corten has a bunch of benefits relative to simply installing steel and waiting for it to weather. If you were simply to install normal steel, you would quickly find that it would start unevenly corroding and it would leave you with a house with very little curb appeal. When installing Corten, active measures have been taken and are taken to ensure that it weathers evenly until the patina is done forming.
Normal steel does not have the same weather-resistance and is not meant to simply be left outside. The patina that is created is incredibly important to form the weather-resistance.
Another important question that those who plan on installing Corten siding have is about the indication of the steel’s properties. As the name suggests, the weathering steel siding has increased its resistance against atmospheric corrosion as compared to the other steel materials. This is mainly due to the protective layer of the steel that forms on the surface due to the influence of the weather.
The protective layer that arises is dark brown and it protects against all the different elements that you may be exposing the material to, which includes ice, fog, rain, snow, water and wind. If the patina was not created, weather would simply keep eating and further penetrating the inner layer of steel. For wood, the protective layer that it needs to prevent it from deteriorating is either paint or stain.
Other situations may call for rust prevention or removal, but it’s not the case with Corten, and you’ll consequently end up saving time on maintenance.
Choosing Corten Steel – Is it the Right Decision?
You’ve seen some of the advantages in the above section, and you may still be considering whether it’s the right choice or not, although the material is becoming so popular in both building and landscaping. Art installation, engineered constructions, roofs and much more – why shouldn’t you just go ahead and put it on your home too? It has become popular for all those mentioned reasons.
- Minimally thick plates with great weather-resistance, creating true works of art on whatever buildings they’re being put on.
- A wide availability in both plates, sheets and panels allow great integration to satisfy the different wishes you may have. Its warm, natural colors look great, especially in the fall when it will blend well with the darkening leaves on your landscape’s trees to create a continuous, appealing look.
It is fancy and contemporary, yet doesn’t have the price tag that you would expect and it can add uniqueness to your outdoor spaces in a way that other materials wouldn’t be able to. Concrete which can sometimes be used for a lot of the same purposes just doesn’t stack up against it.
If you need further inspiration after starting talks with contractors, all you have to do is look at the many beautiful buildings that are using the product to create timeless masterpieces. They can inspire the design you choose to go with.
Raised beds for vegetation? Use Corten. Its purposes in the backyard and many.
It’s not hard to see why so many people are flocking to make Corten a part of their own home. The material is simply superb for a lot of different purposes. Given these properties, are you ready to take the next step and start talking with siding contractors?
Corten Steel Price Per Square Foot For Siding – Price Per Panel
How much is the Corten steel price per square foot? We started out by mentioning that the reported price of Corten steel is $2.50 to $3 per square foot You can often find 32 square feet panels starting at $70 or so, which in fact comes in at slightly under $2.5 per square foot.
What that means is that if you’re covering an area of 2,000 square foot, the material will set you back $5,000 to $6,000, assuming a square foot price of $2.5. While you can choose an option like vinyl siding if your main objective is simply to have cheap siding installed on your home, you’re in for a treat if you choose to spend the additional money and actually install something that will significantly boost your property’s curb appeal.
Its uniqueness is comparable to charred wood siding, but this option is significantly more contemporary in its look. You’ll also be getting the benefits of a material with incredibly little maintenance in the process. The cost of the rusted metal siding is definitely worth it and if you choose to get it, it is something all your friends will long be envious of.
Do you want to have a special kind of pattern installed on your home? That’s not an issue since the material can be cut to accommodate those specific wishes you may have in order to better hide the seams. This material also creates great moisture-protection too once it’s been properly installed.
It is not a light material to work with, which is one of the reasons why our clear recommendation is that you make use of professional contractors to get the work done. It’s also not an easy material to cut, so the process is simply more likely to end up a success with the help of a pro.
Free Estimates & Quotes
It is best to consult with at least four siding contractors before you hire one of them. Ask them to come to your place for a site visit so they will be able to quote you with the most appropriate Corten steel siding installation cost. Simply head to the top of this page to get free, no-obligation quotes.