FINISH
COR-TEN® STEEL PRE-WEATHERED SURFACE FINISH
Form and Fiber now offers pre-weathered Cor-Ten® steel planters in our Essentials, Cypress, and Box Series. These options use ASTM A606 Type 4 Cor-Ten® steel and are available in two finish options including 1) un-weathered; all mill scale in tact for on-site weathering; finish is raw and no exterior sealant is applied, or option 2) pre-weathered; finish achieves an advanced level of oxidation.
Metal sealant is available for pre-weathered finish which allows units to continue oxidation while reducing rust leaching to minimal amounts. For this reason, designers should still exercise caution in placement of units in exterior environments. This sealant is meant to reduce any residual rust leaching while visually enhancing the natural patina of the planters and further allowing units to be handled.
ACCELERATED PROCESS
Form and Fiber’s process for pre-weathering our Cor-Ten® planters takes approximately 2-3 weeks, once the planters have been fabricated. The oxidation process can vary greatly based on individual locations and climates, taking 6-9 months under normal weather conditions and environmental exposure. By offering our Cor-Ten® planters “pre-weathered”, the time frame for achieving a 6-9 month oxidation level has been compressed. Additionally, pre-weathering greatly reduces the amount of on-site rust leaching often associated with this typically long process.
