As good as metal materials are in construction and for other purposes, over time, they too are subject to many risk factors that can affect them and so measures must be taken to help us protect an area as well as possible. We can do this by treating it, painting it or other methods to ensure even greater resistance where it is needed.
If it is used for example in resistance structures, where it will be completely covered with other materials, such as concrete, metal, iron or stainless steel, it can also be used in a simple, untreated or painted version. The same can be said for objects and constructions that are indoors and protected from moisture, the main factor that can affect metals. However, when it comes to outdoor objects and constructions, they need a certain degree of protection.
Over time, through exposure to moisture as well as other weather conditions and not only, metals can oxidize or rust and thus lose their properties and require remediation or even replacement and this will require time and a fairly large investment. However, by effectively protecting the surface, the lifetime can be increased and extended for a long time. And besides, the best results, where possible, are offered by galvanised steel. This is metal material over which a zinc-based compound is blown to give it resistance to oxidation and rusting and which, like other methods of protection, is very effective and lasts for many years.
About galvanized metal materials
Like any other types of pipes, they can be round, square, rectangular but can also be found in other geometrical shapes and of course with different thicknesses, which make them suitable for certain tasks, in many industries but also for domestic uses, because metal is quite easy to use and adapt if we have the necessary equipment at hand, even at home. With the help of a good welding tool, a flex and a grinder we can make various, resistant and practical structures. A good example is handrails, both for stairs and balconies. They can be made of both stainless steel and galvanized pipes, which thanks to their colour and medium shine do not necessarily need to be painted unless we want them to look like the whole space in which we use them.
With the use of good equipment a strong structure can be obtained and it is necessary to do so, especially to provide safety in use, in a home and any other space where a railing can be installed. They can therefore be created by anyone with some experience, even at home. Knowing the necessary techniques, the metal pipes can be adapted as required, not only straight but also curved to the angles that are allowed or bent to various angles and shapes. This is possible with both round and other shapes.
A risk factor, we could say, is that zinc blowing is usually only done on the outside, which means that as far as the inside is concerned, it has to be properly protected, so metal caps can be welded on to cover the loose ends, to prevent water or other materials from penetrating. If this aspect is always kept in mind, whatever we make using this type of material will obtain the necessary resistance.
The zinc coating applied to a pipe is very resistant, both to the factors mentioned above, such as humidity or excessive heat, and to mechanical actions that can be carried out by man, such as accidental blows, where, for example, paint applied incorrectly could come off the surface, like the enamel on cooking pots. This is not the case here however, as the protective material has a very strong adhesion to the metal surface and so even if we hit a pipe with a hammer or when cutting it to size with a flex or saw, no damage will occur.
In terms of price, a galvanised pipe is not much more expensive than a plain one.
And after all, if we think about it, in the case of simple ones we have to use paint or other protective materials afterwards, and so we can make a bigger expense and waste more time in the process. Of course, we have to make sure that we purchase such building materials from specialized shops. As in other cases, the metal can also be of poor quality. Although thick, it can bend easily and be damaged just as easily, and this is not good every time. This is either due to poor manufacturing methods or to alloying with other materials, metallic and non-metallic, but even then, choices must be made carefully.
Not only pipes but also other metallic materials can be galvanised, such as profiles, perfect for metal profile storage halls but also for sheet metal. These sheets can also be used to make railings, with the right machine, and can be processed in beautiful, elegant, even unique ways. In the same category we can also include construction sheet, for example thicker ones, used as flooring, where something strong and practical is needed. They can also be used for other purposes, such as gates, trailers or other equipment that needs to be as strong as possible.
