Earth Day: Stainless Steel and Environmental Protection

Earth Day comes once a year, and is a time to reflect on the planet and what we can do to make sure that we have a sustainable future. While there are a lot of things you might think about on Earth Day, such as conserving water, building solar panels on your home, or driving your car less to conserve gas, one thing you may not think about is steel. But in fact, using steel is a great way to be more earth-friendly. Here are just some of the reasons. 

Steel is Recyclable
Steel is one of the best metals you can use in the long term because it is theoretically 100 percent recyclable. In fact, when you purchase from Wasatch Steel, you may have choices between brand new steel and steel that contains some or all recycled materials. The reason it is so great for this purpose is that it can be recycled endlessly without losing any of its strength or durability properties. Some of the alloys in stainless steel, such as chromium, nickel, and molybdenum can even be extracted and separated to form new metals.

Steel is Durable
Another reason steel is so great for the planet is that it is extremely durable and will last a very long time. When you purchase from Wasatch Steel, you get items with a life span that could be decades, and it will continue to do the job by being strong and reliable throughout all those years.

Steel Improves Air Quality
This type of metal from a place like the steel supermarket is also great because it helps improve air quality by reducing emissions. Steel is light and strong, which means it can be transported from mill to consumer, or from one project to another, without burning excess fossil fuels. Plus when steel is used to build things like catalytic converters for diesel engines, it can filter out up to 95 percent of the black smoke and soot that the engine emits.

Steel Provides a Corrosive-Resistant Environment
When it comes to clean energy, steel is a great way to ensure that you have the highest quality products, from pipelines to transport efficient energy sources like liquefied gas to solar panels, steel’s corrosion resistance makes it uniquely fit for the job. Stainless steel from Wasatch Steel is also great for preventing water from becoming contaminated, and it’s low maintenance so you won’t have to worry about continual upkeep.

Steel Reduces Waste
Since steel is endlessly recyclable, it is also a great way to reduce the amount of waste that we have, whether it’s things thrown in a landfill, or the waste that comes as a byproduct of manufacturing new metals every time you need something built. With the ability to purchase recycled metal from Wasatch Steel and recycle this material when you are done, you can avoid overflowing landfills and dangers that come when metals are left near water sources or soils.

There are a lot of ways that steel can help make the earth happy. On this Earth Day, think about the benefits it could have for the future of our plant.

Building a Contemporary Steel Staircase

When it comes to home projects, there is nothing quite like a staircase to have some fun and add some flair to your living space. While stairs serve a specific functional purpose, many homeowners today use them as more than just a way to get up and down from one level to another. Many people are also moving past just the traditional wood or carpeted stairway to find creative ways to use steel in their homes. Here are six ways you can use steel to build a contemporary staircase in your home.

Open Staircase
Steel from Wasatch Steel is an extremely durable material, and makes a great surface for stairs. Many people today are building steel stairs in an “open” format, meaning that they are set in the middle of the room and have only the horizontal portion of each stair, leaving space between. This interesting architectural design can help to open up your space, allowing light in so you to use the area under the stairs rather than having it closed off and dark.

Floating Stairs
There are a few different ways to create a floating staircase with steel. One popular option is to have each stair affixed to the wall, but not connected to one another with any underlying structure. This gives the appearance of stairs that are “floating” in the air. Another creative option is to have steel cables that are attached to the ceiling with each stair suspended in the air but not actually connected to one another. Some architectural designs will combine these ideas, with stairs connected to a wall on one side and also suspended with steel cables on the opposite side.

Blackened Steel
If you want to go beyond just the traditional silver metal look, you can also build blackened steel stairs with materials from Wasatch Steel. This look can be achieved with some type of paint or powder coating, and can give your home and your stairs a very dramatic look. When the look of stainless steel is not quite right for your home, blackened steel stairs can open a whole new world of design possibilities.

Spiral Staircase
A spiral staircase is a great way to add fun and flair to a small space. If you have multiple levels in your home but no room to build a long traditional staircase, spiral stairs are the way to go. Steel spiral staircases are chic and modern, giving you and effortless minimalist look. Plus you can use powder coating to get any color of spiral staircase that matches your decor.

Steel Rails & Balusters
Whether you plan to use steel for the stair surface or not, you can also add a modern vibe by using steel stair rails and balusters. There are endless possibilities when you start at the steel supermarket, whether you plan to do vertical or horizontal rails, a mesh look, thin or thick cables, square or round, a special design, or even beams and other large pieces for an industrial appeal. The selection at Wasatch Steel can get your imagination started.

Steel and Glass
Another trend in modern staircase design is the combination of steel and glass, using steel for the stair surface and then adding glass instead of traditional rails, spindles, or balusters. You can use different colored or tinted glass for additional flair, and create a masterpiece with your staircase.

There are so many ways to build an amazing and contemporary staircase with steel. Start your project at Wasatch Steel for the best selection.

5 Different Steel Fence Designs for Your Outdoor Space

There is a lot that you can do to make your yard look amazing now that good weather is coming, and one of the best ways to add flair and beauty, while still maintaining some privacy for your home, is to build a steel fence.

Metals are quickly becoming a very fashionable choice with a surge in popularity for both modern architecture and classic looks. Wasatch Steel has all the materials you need to create something amazing, whether you prefer more traditional looks or you want to go with something more modern. Here are five different ways you can add to your landscape with steel fences.

Corten Steel
This type of steel, also known as COR-TEN or weathering steel, was developed for the purpose of avoiding the need to paint to prevent rust. In fact, it is exposed to weather to give it a “rusted” look. This type of steel has become popular for fence designs because it offers a rustic, natural brown color when using it as a partition between your home and your neighbor’s. It has long been used in outdoor metal sculptures and has a very artistic appearance that many homeowners enjoy.

Painted Metal Panels
Another popular trend in steel fences is the use of painted metal panels. Steel is a great material to use when you want colored metal because it holds paint very well. Originally steel was painted as a way to protect it from rusting or being exposed to weather, but today it is often for style as well. Instead of the boring, traditional colors of outdoor fencing (white, beige, and brown), a painted metal panel fence can give you a splash of color in your yard.

Galvanized Metal
If you are looking for a truly unique and modern fence design, consider material like galvanized metal from Wasatch Steel. Whether you use it in horizontal or vertical sheets with wood or another material for balusters and rails, or you prefer to go with smaller sections designed to mimic the look of wood fencing, galvanized metal offers low cost, low maintenance, strength, and durability.

Powder Coating
Another reason that metal fencing has become so popular is the widespread use of powder coating. Like paint, powder coating provides a protective layer for your steel fence, but using it in powder form reduces air pollution that comes from solvents in liquid paint.

Iron & Steel Spindles
Of course, many homeowners still love the classic look of steel spindles for a fence. Today there are so many different colors, shapes, sizes, and styles that you can create a truly custom fence design with materials from Wasatch Steel. At the steel supermarket you can even bring your ideas and we can create custom spindles to make the vision for your yard a reality.

Think outside the box when it comes to boxing in your yard with a fence, and see all the options available at the steel supermarket.

8 Questions to Ask When Buying Steel

Steel is a versatile material that can be used for many different applications, whether it is for your business or just for your personal needs. Since there is such a wide variety of different types, grades, colors, and finishes for steel it is important to know a little bit about how you plan to use it and what kind you need so you can pick out the perfect items from Wasatch Steel. Here are 8 questions you can ask to get started before your next steel shopping trip.

1. What are you planning to use it for?
This is, of course, one of the most important determining factors for buying steel in Utah. Obviously you would buy different steel for building a staircase in your home than you would for laying pipe at work, but beyond that you should define exactly what you need so you get the right product. You may have a rough idea of what you plan to do with it, but in order to get the right steel, it’s important to be specific about your needs.

2. What grade of steel do you need?
In its basic form, all steel is made up of iron and carbon, but there are several different grades and alloys that you can purchase within this broad category. What you buy will often depend on what characteristics you want it to have:

• Carbon steel is the most common steel type available from places like Wasatch Steel. 
• Alloy steels included additional elements such as silicon, nickel, titanium, and aluminum to improve hardness, corrosion resistance, strength, and ductility. 
• Stainless steel has a “finished” look so it’s great for home appliances, building, do-it-yourself artwork, and more. 
• The addition of tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium and cobalt increase durability and strength, making them ideal for tools.

3. What type of steel will work best?
Once you have answered question #1, the next step is to figure out the type you need. At a place like Wasatch Steel, you can find just about any type you can image, from functional steel for buildings and support such as I-beams and angles to hollow steel such as circular and rectangular pipes or even sheet metals such as diamond plate.

4. Do you want a specific finish or patina?
Steel is an amazing material to use for a whole variety of projects because you can get it in so many different finishes and patinas. For example, if you are looking for a clean, modern look you might prefer stainless steel, or if you want a more weathered look you expose steel to water and air so it develops a green/brown patina over time. Steel is also great because you can add powder coating, galvanization, or even paint.

5. Will used steel work, or does it need to be new?
At the steel supermarket you can find both used and new steel, including “excess prime” steel, which is new but has been exposed to air, water, or some other type of weather and might have some signs of oxidation. If you don’t need brand new steel, you might be able to save some money buying used, recycled, or excess prime at Wasatch Steel.

6. What is your budget for buying steel?
Determining your budget in advance can also help you decide whether you want to buy new, used, excess prime, or some other type of steel. Be sure to include any additional costs for tools or other accessories that you might need in your budget as well.

7. How much steel do you need for this project?
Of course it’s always a good idea to know what you will need for your project before you go shopping. Wasatch Steel has a huge selection to choose from at all times, but if you need a large load of steel it is a good idea to call in advance so we can order it in if needed.

8. Are you looking for a custom design or item?
Many businesses and homeowners use custom steel designs today for signage, stair railings, and more, and if you want something that is made just for you, bring your design and we can help make it a reality. If your needs are more generic, come look at the huge selection we have laid out in our warehouse and throughout our facilities.