What kind of impression do you get when you think of stainless steel exterior walls?
Many people have the impression that stainless steel is like a shiny polished mirror.
One of the reasons why stainless steel is often used is that it is extremely rust resistant and has a long service life.
In this article, I’d like to talk about “How to choose stainless steel exterior walls? In this article, I would like to focus on the theme of “How to choose a stainless steel exterior wall?
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
contents
What is stainless steel exterior wall?
In fact, in the 1980s, there were many buildings built with shiny, mirror-like stainless steel. The year 2000 saw the completion of one of the most famous buildings.
In 2000, a representative building was completed, the Disney Concert Hall by master artist Frank Gehry.
This exterior wall is made of stainless steel.
Based on SUS316, a highly corrosion resistant stainless steel, it is polished to maximize the effect of light. Reflections are captured by sharp-edged scratches, while other reflections are suppressed, and the design is a designing stainless steel that gives a unique impression.
What about stainless steel exterior walls these days?
In recent years, stainless steel exterior wall designs have shifted from a single design to an entire wall of stainless steel design.
For more information. →Metal panels in wall spaces
On the difference between heterogeneity and homogeneity in stainless steel panels
So what happens if you install it outdoors for a long time?
You are worried about what will happen to the stainless steel exterior panels installed outdoors over a long period of time. If it’s a painted exterior wall, the color may fade and become whitish, or it may peel off and reveal the ground.
Depending on the material used for the exterior walls, the changes may vary from rusting and turning the entire surface brown to a ragged surface. The price of stainless steel exterior walls is not cheap.
However, if you choose the right stainless steel grade at the time of construction, it will be sufficiently resistant without much maintenance.
This circular stainless steel exterior wall is over 30 years old. This is a panel from our factory. It is almost maintenance free; even after more than 30 years, it has not turned reddish brown or fallen apart. By the way, our factory is right next to a highway interchange.
The factory is located near a highway interchange, and PM2.5 and yellow sand come in from the continent, so it is not a good environment for stainless steel exterior walls. Even so, we have been able to keep it this clean.
Now, let’s take a look at the exterior of the stainless steel panels about 6 years after installation during outdoor exposure.
From a distance, it looks simple, but when you get closer, you can see
This is what the dust looks like on the surface. This is the result of no maintenance during outdoor exposure, but regular maintenance with a high-pressure washer will keep the surface clean.
The flat surface of the mirrored stainless steel panel makes dirt more noticeable, but the 3D panel makes it less noticeable.
What should I be careful about with stainless steel exterior walls?
Stainless steel exterior wall price, stainless steel exterior wall construction cost is not cheap.
So, what happens if you use cheap stainless steel grades to reduce the stainless steel exterior wall material price, thinking that any stainless steel exterior wall will do?
This is the stainless steel exterior wall panel that was installed right next to the stainless steel exterior wall panel that was just installed in our factory. Look closely (enlarged photo on the right) and you will see this is [red rust]. It is rusty.
If it gets this rusty, it cannot be restored. Even if you apply a commercial rust remover, it may help temporarily, but it will soon rust.
Why is there such a difference between the same environment and the same location?
The answer is that the stainless steel grade is different.
Stainless steel that is not rusted is austenitic SUS304.
Rusty stainless steel is ferritic SUS430.
The main difference between the two is the amount of chromium and nickel contained in the stainless steel. SUS430 is one of the cheapest grades of stainless steel. SUS430 is one of the cheapest types of stainless steel, so it rusts quickly when used outdoors.
Stainless steel is a rust-resistant metal. In other words, the major difference in the performance of stainless steel grades is the amount of time it takes to rust.
How to choose a stainless steel grade?
The following is an introduction to selecting the grade of stainless steel for stainless steel exterior walls. If you are in an inland area, far from the sea, or on a plain and there is no flying debris from mountains or volcanic ash, general-purpose stainless steel SUS304 will be fine.
However, if there are scrap factories, factories that emit acidic smoke, or facilities that use chlorine nearby, it is better to consult with us. Next, if the environment is close to the ocean or sea breezes, you will need a highly corrosion resistant steel grade.
SUS316 and NSSC220M are recommended. In particular, NSSC220M is an excellent steel grade for exterior wall applications.
Finally.
Stainless steel exterior walls can enhance the impression of a building and give it an unprecedented look. By using stainless steel exterior walls not only as a whole, but also in parts of the building, you can create a unique impression.
However, as we have mentioned, there are different grades of stainless steel. The most suitable stainless steel grade will vary depending on the location and environment where it is used. You don’t have to use a high-grade steel grade unnecessarily, so please consider the price of stainless steel exterior walls from a long-term perspective by choosing the appropriate performance.
If you have any questions about stainless steel exterior walls, please feel free to contact us. If you have any questions about stainless steel exterior walls, please feel free to contact us and we will work with the stainless steel manufacturer to provide the best solution for you.