FAQs

In Concrete

ZINCALUME® steel (and COLORBOND® steel manufactured with a ZINCALUME® steel substrate), are NOT recommended for immersion in wet cement as rapid corrosion and degradation of the coating alloy will occur. The recommended product for use with uncured concrete and highly alkaline bonding materials is galvanised steel. COLORBOND® steel is available with a galvanised substrate - one common use being posts for fencing.

In Soil

The construction of gardens adjacent to buildings or fencing by placing soil directly against ZINCALUME® steel or COLORBOND® steel sheeting is strongly discouraged as corrosion of the sheeting will rapidly occur about the area covered with soil.

Moisture or moisture retaining materials should not be permitted to remain in intimate contact with ZINCALUME® steel, COLORBOND® steel or galvanized steel. Such contact will ultimately result in corrosion of the material.

The major factors influencing corrosion are the continual retention of moisture and the differential concentration of oxygen at the material surface. Gutters are frequent victims, with insufficient fall leading to ponding of water.

The accumulation of debris (leaf matter, dirt etc) which results in continual immersion, is the most common reason for unsatisfactory performance of guttering.

In typical garden applications such as fence panels, garden sheds and walling the build up of grass cuttings, leaves, soil from gardens, mulch, compost, sand and ashes must be avoided.

For more information, please Download Corrosion Technical Bulletin CTB 16 - Immersion.

Please view our page:  Avoid corrosion from contact with concrete or soil.

In Concrete

ZINCALUME® steel (and COLORBOND® steel manufactured with a ZINCALUME® steel substrate), are NOT recommended for immersion in wet cement as rapid corrosion and degradation of the coating alloy will occur. The recommended product for use with uncured concrete and highly alkaline bonding materials is galvanised steel. COLORBOND® steel is available with a galvanised substrate - one common use being posts for fencing.

In Soil

The construction of gardens adjacent to buildings or fencing by placing soil directly against ZINCALUME® steel or COLORBOND® steel sheeting is strongly discouraged as corrosion of the sheeting will rapidly occur about the area covered with soil.

Moisture or moisture retaining materials should not be permitted to remain in intimate contact with ZINCALUME® steel, COLORBOND® steel or galvanized steel. Such contact will ultimately result in corrosion of the material.

The major factors influencing corrosion are the continual retention of moisture and the differential concentration of oxygen at the material surface. Gutters are frequent victims, with insufficient fall leading to ponding of water.

The accumulation of debris (leaf matter, dirt etc) which results in continual immersion, is the most common reason for unsatisfactory performance of guttering.

In typical garden applications such as fence panels, garden sheds and walling the build up of grass cuttings, leaves, soil from gardens, mulch, compost, sand and ashes must be avoided.

For more information, please Download Corrosion Technical Bulletin CTB 16 - Immersion.

Green timber or timber treated with copper chromium arsenic (CCA) should not come into direct contact with galvanized steel, ZINCALUME® steel or COLORBOND® steel because acidic substances from these timbers have a corrosive effect on the metallic coating. The time of wetness of the metal surface is a factor in the overall corrosion mechanism (the longer the product is wet, the greater the corrosion).

Even run off from CCA treated timber can contain corrosive leachate which will cause corrosion if it contacts galvanized steel, ZINCALUME® steel or COLORBOND® steel.

BlueScope Steel recommend against the use of CCA treated timbers for high moisture situations such as roof and ceiling batons, composite fence constructions and built up flooring or external decking which may utilise a metallic coated steel structural support system.

If CCA treated timbers must be used, the timber and/or steelwork must be sealed by fully painting the material prior to installation.

The use of kiln dried or appropriate dried timber species is recommended for any situation where intimate contact between the metallic coated steel and timber is considered.

For more information, please Download Corrosion Technical Bulletin CTB 13 - Contact With Timber

When sheets need to be cut on site the most suitable technique is with nibblers or power saws with metal cutting blades (tin snips can be used although they are difficult to use on profiled sheeting). The use of cutting discs and grinding wheels is not recommended as they generate very hot particles which can damage the coating.

BlueScope Steel recommends the use of cold cutting saw with appropriate blades

• Don't forget to clean up each day. Offcuts and other metal scraps, such as pop rivet stems and fasteners, if left on COLORBOND® steel, may cause rust stains which detract from the finished appearance. Swarf (steel debris produced by drilling and cutting etc) should be swept or hosed from the job each day.
• Care should be taken if hosing off a roof into gutters already installed. The swarf should not be left to sit in the gutters. Maximum care should be taken when attempting to detach swarf which has become stuck. This can be done, but no action which is likely to remove the paint or metal coatings should be attempted. For critical applications, inspection of the job should be made after two weeks when rain or condensation will have caused any remaining swarf to rust, and will highlight affected areas for a more thorough cleanup.
• Sheets should not be dragged across others as scratching will result. Spray packs should not be used to repair any scratches. The paint fades differently. Small scratches are best left alone. If the damage is severe it is best to replace the panel.
• Never use black lead pencils for marking galvanised, ZINCALUME® steel or COLORBOND® steel. Black lead pencils are made from graphite which will react with the coating on these products resulting in corrosion of the coating. The answer is to use any colour pencil but black and clean off any markings as soon as possible.
• This information is intended as a guide only. For detailed assistance with your particular application, please contact us.

When brickwork is completed it is usual to clean excess mortar from the brick surface with an acid solution. If this acid contacts prepainted steel sheeting and gutters, early failure of the paint and corrosion of the metal can occur. The acid can pass through the paint coating at tension bends and attack the metallic coating below.

Acid leaching of pigment directly from paint coatings subjected to acid splash will result in unsightly "bleached" stained areas which will further deteriorate and lead to corrosion.

Acid cleaning of brickwork associated with two storey construction may often pick up lead from lead flashings and re-deposit with sand from the mortar, within the roof gutters. Corrosion of the guttering rapidly follows.

BlueScope Steel recommends that wherever possible acid cleaning should not be conducted after the installation of metallic coated and prepainted steel building components (eg roofing & guttering). However, when this is not possible it is recommended that the areas be appropriately masked during the acid cleaning operation. Where the possibility of splashing the steel component with acid appears to be present, the item should be thoroughly wetted prior to the application of the acid to the adjacent brickwork and then thoroughly washed a number of times, working from the top of the brickwork to allow complete removal of the spent acid products.

For further information, please Download Corrosion Technical Bulletin CTB 15 - Acid Cleaning Brickwork.

Please view our page:  Maintain COLORBOND® steel and ZINCALUME® steel

No. The fence will not burn or act as a fire source, although the paint finish may be damaged. In fact, new research conducted by the CSIRO and the Bushfire CRC shows steel fences can assist in the protection of your home in the event of a bushfire. To find out more, Download Research & Investigation into the Performance of Residential Boundary Fencing in Bushfires.

Steel panels do get warm in hot weather but the fence panels are vertical and air circulates around them. However, BlueScope Steel does not recommend using the fence as a trellis.

BlueScope Steel does not recommend the use of touch up paints on COLORBOND® steel. The manufacturing process that gives COLORBOND® steel its colour and gloss retention properties means that the surface weathers differently to air-drying paint. After weathering, the areas which have been touched up will look different and can leave a blotchy look.