During this stage of maturation, the corten may leak oxide (“washout”), which may stain surfaces where the products are located. For corten, this is considered a natural and physiological behavior of the material.
To reduce wash-out above, Metalco has developed a specific treatment “ANTI-WASHOUT” the client may request, an extracost will be applied: this treatment does not completely stop the losses, but they will be significantly decreased, and will provide to the product a darker and “refinished” aspect.
For the reasons above, the installation of corten products on fine and/or porous surfaces (e.g. marble, granites, etc.) must be accurately considered, even in case of Anti-washout treatment: in such events it may be recommendable to use, as alternative, the painted steel “corten colored” developed by Metalco.
Also, in the vicinity of the sea, the violent assault of salty air, can lead to the formation of oxides on the surfaces that result in the appearance/colour looking different to normal. This does not affect good mechanical strength of the material.