How To Prevent Steel Buildings From Getting Rusty

Steel is a fantastic building material that can be used to create lightweight, sturdy and durable structures and steel frame buildings for a whole range of different uses.

While steel is incredibly strong and reliable, there are some downsides to using it. Steel is a metal which means it can be prone to rusting if exposed to water for long periods of time as it contains iron.

Rust occurs when iron reacts with water and oxygen and becomes iron oxide. The oxidation can cause a reddish-brown tint to the metal and over time it weakens the bonds between the metal, causing it to crumble and weaken.

Luckily there are many ways you can prevent steel from rusting, meaning it remains a fantastic material to use for constructing structures which will last for a long time with very few issues.

One of the most common ways to prevent rusting in steel structures is by using protective coatings. These work by protecting the steel and keeping it watertight, meaning no moisture can penetrate the metal and cause rust to form.

By preventing both water and oxygen from coming into contact with the metal, rust is unable to form as it requires both of these in order to be created.

Another great way to prevent rust is by galvanising your steel. This is another form of coating, however this is a layer of zinc oxide. The zinc protects the steel as it wears away from contact with oxygen and water first, leaving the steel untouched.

This is another great solution however coatings need to be reapplied every so often to prevent them from wearing away and exposing the steel to the elements.

Alloying your steel is another way to prevent rust, as this helps to build resilience as the introduction of other materials strengthens the metal, however, this can be expensive.