We have already commented on the advantages of stainless steel in construction in previous articles. These include faster construction times, lower maintenance and protection costs, to name but a few. To get the most out of your stainless steel building, you must protect it from corrosion. Here are four important ways to ensure this protection.
1. double-check-steel-no-rust-steel-building-inspection
When considering the potential for corrosion in stainless steel buildings, indoor and outdoor environments are key. When the steel is in a hot, dry environment, the risk of corrosion is irrelevant and there is no need for a protective coating. However, in humid environments, the exterior of stainless steel structures need protection. The same applies to the interior of a building if the activities inside the building involve moisture that could cause rusting.
We recommend that you employ an experienced building and corrosion professional to inspect stainless steel structures. A chloride test kit can be used to assess steel structures for chlorides, which are highly corrosive to steel and are a major cause of premature damage to stainless steel building envelopes. However, we do not recommend that you do this yourself as some of the chemicals used in the chloride test can be harmful if not handled correctly.
2. Removal of contaminants
All contaminants – surface contaminants such as grease and grime, as well as rust, mould and paint – must be removed before any protective coating is applied. Grease and grime can be easily removed with a pressure washer. Rust, mould and paint can be removed with a steel brush and an abrasive. You can do this yourself or you can hire a professional service.
3. Apply a protective coating
Once you have removed the contaminants, applied a protective coating and allowed the building to dry, you can apply an anti-corrosion primer or topcoat, followed by a primer or acrylic primer. Using a brush, roller or paint sprayer, this process may involve several coats to ensure protection. Again, you can do this yourself or hire a professional service.
4. Regular maintenance
Stainless steel buildings are easier to clean than concrete or wooden buildings. However, they must be properly maintained to provide long-lasting performance and to prevent corrosion. Regular cleaning and inspection is required. Monitoring of roof slabs, gutters and areas under the eaves is recommended as these areas are more susceptible to corrosion.
We hope these four points will help you to ensure that your stainless steel structures are protected from corrosion.