Product Care
Raw Cor-ten Steel:
For raw Cor-ten steel products, these will arrive to you with a mill finish appearance (the un-rusted state). Cor-ten steel also known as weathering steel creates a rust patina, giving it rich, brown, and orange earthy colours. This beautiful patina forms a protective coating hence there is no loss in the structural integrity of the product that is commonly associated with rust. You can expect to see the rusting process begin within 6 months depending on the outdoor environment. To speed up this process, the frequency of wet and dry cycles can be increased. This can be done by lightly spraying the Cor-ten steel with a salt water solution and allowing it to dry. Repeat this daily in order to see an expedited rust formation and stop once a desired look has been achieved. For fire pits, please cover the internal liner from the outdoor elements even after patina formation. This will prevent uneven corrosion due to pooling water hence extending the lifespan.
Be sure to prevent pooling water from rain as this will aggressively rust the surface if left unattended especially, within fire pit liners. Please note that if you do buy a raw Cor-ten steel product that water run off in the early stage of the rusting process will stain vulnerable surrounding surfaces like concrete, stone, render and painted surfaces. Please consider this when positioning your product within your outdoor setup. However, after the patina has matured, this rust run off will discontinue.
High Heat Powder Coat:
High heat powder is unique as it can handle high heat temperature cycles as opposed to standard powder coating services that you might see on common outdoor furniture. The powder can handle repeated temperatures of up to 650 C° while boasting excellent UV stability. Colour options currently avaliable include black, titanium and silver.
Some of the influencing factors that can affect the longevity of the powder coat include pollution of salts, grime and dirt that can accumulate on surfaces. A maintenance plan is recommended to wipe down the fire pit surfaces when debris and pollutants appear to be building up. When surface is cool to touch, use warm water and a PH neutral soap for bird droppings and other marks.
Please note the internal liner will also be powder coated. Since the base of the liner will be exposed to direct flame and coals, the paint will wear with time. This will expose the raw Cor-ten steel but further corrosion will come to a halt due to the patina. The remainder of the firepit however will keep its finish for years to come. Investing in a firepit cover will help prolong the rich colour of the finish as bird droppings and constant exposure to the outdoor elements will all play a part in reducing its longevity. If several years later you decide you would like a colour change, paint freshen up, or even convert it back to Cor-ten steel, please see your local powder coater for a quote.
Standard Powder Coat:
Applied to our timber storage units only, this powder coat finish is similar to the above, minus the high heat capabilities. However, due to it not being a speciality powder, a large range of colours and textures is available. For custom powder colours, please browse those on offer from Dulux, Jotun & Interpon and get in touch with us to arrange this service. As above, adhere to a maintenance plan for cleaning of all surfaces.
Usage
Fire Pits:
For outdoor use only and not under a roof or overhang.
Must be at least 2.5 metres away from adjacent buildings and flammable or combustible materials.
Use only clean, dry, untreated wood to reduce smoke output.
Burning rubbish or excessively large fires will damage the fire pit structure.
Remove cold ash after use with a cup or dustpan.
Dumping large amounts of water to extinguish the fire will warp the fire pit steel.
Install on a flat stable surface.
Install on a non-combustible surface and one that is not affected by heat damage.
Keep children and animals away from the outer shell of the fire pit as its surface will be hot to touch.
Cover firepit when not in use unless trying to achieve a rust patina in the early months.
For painted fire pits, follow a maintenance plan as mentioned above in the product care section.
Please check your local council laws and current fire ban status before using one of our firepits.
Timber Storage:
Install on a flat stable surface.
When fully loaded with timber, ensure no children climb the structure causing it to fall.
Do not load timber lengths that are too long and overhanging, causing stability issues.
For painted units, follow a maintenance plan as mentioned above in the product care section.