Pros And Cons Of Ornamental Steel Over Ornamental Iron
Shopping for ornamental pieces as a commercial consumer will bring about one major question: is steel or iron better? These metal types are perhaps two of the most common ones used for things like an ornamental railing or ornamental fencing. It is helpful to get to know the pros and cons of ornamental steel to help you determine which choice is the best.
Pro: Steel stands up better to the elements over time if finished properly.
One of the main reasons that modern industrial consumers will opt for steel over iron is that it is less prone to corrosion. It will also stand up better over time when used outdoors. Something like stainless steel is not going to degrade and rust if it is placed out in the rain and sun, but iron definitely can.
Con: Iron can be slightly less expensive than steel.
If you are placing a large piece of ornamental metal on your business property, such as a gate or fence, you may be more tempted by iron than steel because iron can be a little less expensive. Steel is a metal alloy derived from iron, and the process to create it can take more time and equipment, so steel pieces can naturally be a bit more expensive.
Pro: Steel is more malleable and more design options may be available.
Steel is not as hard as iron, which means that it is more malleable during production processes and more intricate designs can be developed. You can find some pretty intricate ornamental steel pieces to pick from because of this fact, but your design choices with iron can be slightly more limited.
Con: Iron is harder than steel due to a higher carbon content.
Iron has a higher carbon content than steel, which makes it a little harder in composition even though steel can be more resilient. While this can be preferred in some applications, the hardness of iron can also make it slightly more brittle than steel, so it can be easier to break.
Pro: Steel is more resilient to impact than iron.
If you are going for a fence to put around the perimeter of your property, steel may be the better choice because it is more resilient to impact than iron. For instance, if a car were to run into a steel fence it would be less likely to break than if it were to run into an iron fence.
Contact a steel supplier, like MISSCO, to learn more.
