Stainless Steel 101: General Info and Applications

Installing a balcony railing, balustrade, staircase railing, etc. requires effort, money, and time. Most property owners want these installations to last for several years without becoming damaged. The longevity of any structure depends largely on the type of material used in its construction. At Boston Ironworks, we always recommend stainless steel because this material has proven its merit in real life conditions. Here are some applications and general information on stainless steel:

What is stainless steel?

This metal was discovered back in 1913 by Harry Brearley while he was experimenting with increasing the levels of chromium. During his experimentation, he found that adding 12% chromium made steel resistant to corrosion. By 1920, there are two types of stainless steel compositions available -martensitic and austenitic stainless steel. For a material to be identified as stainless steel, it needs to contain at least 11.5% chromium. Martensitic stainless steel is a little less corrosion-resistant while a combination of nickel and chromium austenitic steel has high levels of corrosion-resistance.

Where can stainless steel be used?

Stainless steel is used in a number of applications because it’s such a versatile material. It can be shaped and formed into different designs and is highly customizable. Stainless steel is also very durable and doesn’t require as much maintenance as some of the other metal products available in the market, which makes them the perfect choice for structures like a balcony railing and staircase railings.

As stainless steel is relatively resistant to corrosion, it performs well in outdoor environments and in moisture-heavy environments as well. This means stainless steel railings and structures installed on beach-side houses and properties will last for a long time. Unlike wrought iron, stainless steel doesn’t require frequent sanding and repainting as it is less likely to develop rust.

Maintenance is the key to durability

While stainless steel is a low-maintenance material, it still does need some maintenance to last for a long time. Regular cleaning removes all corrosive dust, debris, and other factors from the surface. This reduces the likelihood of the stainless steel railings or structures developing corrosion. Just wiping down the balcony railing every once in a while is enough to keep it in a good condition for a long time.

For questions and enquiries regarding balcony railing, you can call Boston Ironworks at 617 657 3117. You can also fill in this contact us form. We’ll get in touch with you as soon as possible.