It’s no secret that we are huge fans of galvanized steel at Advantage Industries. It is very tough and long-lived, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. So, when it comes to industrial, commercial, and even residential staircases they can all be made of steel. Reasons for utilizing steel for building staircases include its strength, reliability, longevity, and durability.
Let’s start with the basics…
Galvanized steel is made by first thoroughly cleaning plain carbon steel and then dipping it into a bath of molten zinc. When the steel is immersed in the zinc, a metallurgic reaction happens between the iron in the steel and the molten zinc. This reaction forms a thin coating that bonds to the steel to prevent corrosive substances, like acid rain, from reaching the steel below. With hot-dip galvanizing, it only takes a few minutes to apply a full protective layer of zinc.
Durability?
Galvanized steel staircases are extremely durable because the underlying base metal – steel – is the strongest material that can be used for staircase construction. Galvanized steel staircases can endure high traffic and are heavyweight. Not to mention that any dents or scratches won’t compromise its protective layer ensuring that the steel is not exposed to the ill effects of the environment.
What about environmental issues?
Galvanized steel is environmentally friendly and considered to be a reusable raw material. It is considered to hold up well to all types of environmental conditions including extreme temperatures, as well as exposure to sunlight, moisture, salt, and other corrosive materials.
A staircase made of galvanized steel can last more than 100 years, making it the easiest decision when choosing your new factory staircases.
As for rust and corrosion?
Of course, galvanized steel provides corrosion protection. After all, that is the reason the steel was galvanized in the first place.
Galvanized steel’s corrosion resistance depends on the type and thickness of the protective zinc coating used in the galvanizing process. Its slower corrosion rate combined with its self-healing properties are what make it a popular choice. They help the projects that use galvanized steel maintain their strength and integrity longer than the other options. For this reason, galvanized steel is often the better choice for exterior steel stairs.
But what about the look?
It is true, galvanized steel only comes in one colour, matte grey, but we can assure you, that won’t be a deterrent when choosing a prefabricated staircase from Advantage Industries. So, can you paint them? Usually, paints do not adhere the best on galvanized steel. The layer of zinc often rejects paint. However, you can paint galvanized sheet metal with the right tools and methods.
Conclusion
While galvanized steel might be initially more costly, it does offer many advantages. It is durable, long-lasting, and maintenance-free. Therefore, it might be the best choice for stairs in outdoor or heavy industrial environments.
If you would like to learn more about our processes or discuss your options in choosing the right staircase, get in touch with our team today.
