Steel was, is and will always be the most important engineering material and the most widely used metallic material on earth. This is because its mechanical, physical and chemical properties, low cost, availability and recyclability makes it stand out from other materials. Unfortunately, steel is always quick to corrode (rust) and this makes it important to build in such a manner to resist corrosion/rusting.

This thread is meant to expose people to important considerations when getting steel products for their buildings. Please bear with me as I will break this information into parts in order for me to be able to post all the pictures I have.

GATES

The importance of gates to a building is often downplayed. This is because the building normally takes away 98% - 100% of our attention. Even when we pay equal attention to all parts of our project, when we get to the gate, we concern ourselves with only how beautiful the gate should appear without checking all other factors.

I went around (building to another) and took pictures of gates that have being put to service for some years. These pictures are meant to show potential homeowners and others what and what not to do when getting their gates.
Consider the following points:

1. Materials

Ensure that only thick tubings, H-channels or angle iron are used for your gates. They're more expensive and will make your gate cost more but trust me, they are the best.

2. Environment

If you're building in a swampy area, or worst still, an area that is surrounded by polluted or hard water, ensure to put that into consideration when negotiating with your welder on the kind of gate you want.

Cast the surrounding areas that will house your gate appropriately and do ensure that your gate don't come in contact with the ground (leave a clearance of about 1cm between the gate and the concrete flour), because this will ensure that the bottom doesn't corrode on time.

3. Design

a. Sharp Edges: there shouldn't be any sharp edges left on any part of the gate. Make sure your welder grinds all surfaces appropriately as sharp edges are much more vulnerable to corrosion than smooth surfaces.

b. Openings: Most welders makes gates without ensuring that all openings are filled up (first picture below). These openings easily collect moisture which increases corrosion rate around the regions of openings. I will rather charge a customer an extra N8,000 - N10,000 and apply body filler all round the corners, joints, and points of contacts between steel tubings and plates of a gate than give him/her a finished gate that will not take up to 6 months before corroding (I've seen one that started corroding within just a month of usage during rainy season). The second and third pictures below are consequences of using thin tubing and openings between tube and plate after production.

c. Appearance: Remember, your gate is not only your first line of defence but also the first thing to attract one to your building, so ensure you make it stand out.

The more the designs on your gate, the more the amount of money you'd spend to acquire such gate. The drawback of this, is that these designs (done with flat bars, square rods or cast aluminium) retain water, hence increasing the rate of corrosion. I'd advice you to spend your money on a simple gate (especially if you reside in a waterlogged area) with double plate rather than on one with too much design. The fourth picture below shows a gate with too much design in an area that contains salty/hard water.

The plate doesn't have to necessarily be thick (1.5mm plates will do for both sides of the gate frame). These type of gates will effectively protect the tube frame of your gate and thus, make the whole gate last longer in service.

4. Finishing

Do you know that it is more economical for you to spend more on a gate which has undergone all the necessary procedures to prevent corrosion than spending less on one made in a haste or made economically?

I'd prefer to charge my clients extra N20,000 and deliver a gate with double coatings of red oxide (single coating is ok for doors, some burglar proof and staircase railings but not so good for gates and veranda railings). After the double coatings, the main paint can then be applied enough to cover the red oxide coatings completely. The top and bottom of the gate should not be neglected when body filler, red oxide and paints are been applied (very important).

The pictures below shows a double plate gate that underwent double coatings of red oxide (without a final painting applied). This gate will last for ages.

5. Maintenance

I cannot emphasize the importance of maintenance enough. This is because, a gate that is scrubbed (with wire brush and sand paper) and painted once in 1 - 3 years will last way longer than one which doesn't undergo any maintenance. Focus on the areas that have rusted and the ones about to.
All you need do is; purchase red oxide; same color of paint your welder used to produce the gate; painting brush, wire brush (just N300) and sand paper (rough and smooth). Use the wire brush to remove the oxide (rust) on your gate, use rough and smooth sand paper to scrub same areas you scrubbed with the wire brush (use rough first). Then apply red oxide (mix with petrol or paint thinner if too thick), before painting (mix paint with small quantity of petrol to reduce thickness/viscosity).
Always lubricate the hinges, say 3 - 6 monthly basis. The grease/condemned engine oil will not only reduce friction in the hinges (enable free movement of the gate), it will also act as corrosion inhibitor (prevent rusting).

DOORS

Ensure all steel doors you purchase were pre-coated with red oxide before painting. Single red oxide coating is good enough for your doors. Do also ensure that your welder gives you good finishing. Grease your doors on yearly basis.

BURGLAR PROOF

You may not need red oxide coatings for burglar proof in your bedroom, sitting room, etc, but ensure double coating of red oxide is applied to that of toilet and kitchen.

VERANDA RAILINGS

This is normally placed outside so it won't be a bad idea if you have double coatings of red oxide applied before the main paint. Best material for veranda rails is galvanized tubings. Avoid the practice of spreading wet cloth on it. If you can't, then ensure then ensure it's well protected against corrosion before use. First two pictures below shows excellent finishing of railings built with galvanized tubing and elbow joint

STAIRCASE RAILINGS

Single coating is OK for this even though it's not usually exposed to much moisture. Also use galvanized tubings especially if you used same for your veranda rails. Last picture below shows staircase railings also with excellent finishing.

CONCLUSION

It's wise to spend a little more for quality products than having regrets later. Do not also forget to use the services of reliable and sincere welders. Even if they don't charge for all the extra stuff stated here, make sure you tell them to do these things and have them charge you for it. A few of them that knows the importance of all I've written here will probably not charge a client for the above listed neither will he include it in his services because the owner may leave him for another welder (cheap stuff).
God bless..

Cc: mufutau55, Shawls, abdulwastecx, EgunMogaji, spyder880, ANBAKO, erico2k2, lalasticlala, mavverick

Anywhere there is learning, we shall answer the call...

What is press iron, and what makes it different from other irons? I have seen it mentioned in making of iron doors.
Thanks.

Hajji M.

mufutau55:
Anywhere there is learning, we shall answer the call...

What is press iron, and what makes it different from other irons? I have seen it mentioned in making of iron doors.
Thanks.

Hajji M.

Hearing of press iron for the first time. What I know basically is hydraulically pressed steel plates with different types of designs. This is usually achieved with hydraulic press or manually by beating the shapes onto the metal plates. An example is the one in the pic below

WeldHome:

Hearing of press iron for the first time. What I know basically is hydraulically pressed steel plates with different types of designs. This is usually achieved with hydraulic press or manually by beating the shapes onto the metal plates. An example is the one in the pic below

Thank you very much sir. Better than what I thought. I actually thought it's a quality thing but only more of a design method.

I believe you fabricate iron doors? If so, do you have any fabricated iron doors with burglary as like in door-in-door style.
Please if you have any post the pics. I have seen some, but just like to see varieties in design fabrication.
Thanks.

Hajji M.

mufutau55:


Thank you very much sir. Better than what I thought. I actually thought it's a quality thing but only more of a design method.

I believe you fabricate iron doors? If so, do you have any fabricated iron doors with burglary as like in door-in-door style.
Please if you have any post the pics. I have seen some, but just like to see varieties in design fabrication.
Thanks.

Hajji M.

I'm pretty much aware of the kind of door you're talking about. However, I do not have pictures of it since I'm just starting up and no one has requested for it yet. Those kinds can be done with either steel door + burglar proof or steel door + steel framed net.

WeldHome:

I'm pretty much aware of the kind of door you're talking about. However, I do not have pictures of it since I'm just starting up and no one has requested for it yet. Those kinds can be done with either steel door + burglar proof or steel door + steel framed net.

Thanks all the same.

Hajji M.