What should I expect from Corten steel in the first 18 months?

Short Answer

All material from Tubeco is brought in new from the mill and stored indoors. You will see full patina coverage in 12-18 months. Expect color changes and uneven weathering at first. This is normal – the steel is doing what it’s designed to do. It will continue to weather for the life of the material (decades).

What You’ll See

Months 1-3: The steel turns from gray to light orange.

Months 3-6: Different areas weather at different rates, so coloring may look uneven. This is temporary.

Months 6-12: The orange deepens to rust-brown.

Months 12-18: The color evens out to a deep brown. The protective layer is formed.

A Note on New Material

Sometimes customers call and say their material “arrived rusted”. That’s normal – it’s weathering steel. It’s supposed to do that!

All Tubeco material ships new from the mill and is stored indoors at our warehouse. The weathering process begins after outdoor installation.

What Tubeco Supplies

Tubeco specializes in A847 Corten steel tube in square, rectangular, and round profiles.  All material is melted and manufactured in the United States.

If you need help choosing the right material for your project, give us a call.

Availability

Tubeco keeps a wide range of Corten steel tube sizes in stock, and ships across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from our warehouse near St. Louis, Missouri. We also offer laser cutting services for custom lengths.

If you have a specific size or timeline in mind, we can help confirm availability.