structural steel - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

galla35 · 08-25-2009, 09:22 PM

I was talking to a h.o. today after setting steal and i was asked 'Why is the metal red?' i honestly didnt have an answer so why is structural steel always red?

bwalley · 08-25-2009, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galla35

I was talking to a h.o. today after setting steal and i was asked 'Why is the metal red?' i honestly didnt have an answer so why is structural steel always red?

Because it is painted with Red Oxide primer.

I am doing a building remodel that had green primer on the steel, the guy doing my stairs said it is an old style primer that was banned due to being bad for the environment, but it worked real good.

Joe Carola · 08-25-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galla35

I was talking to a h.o. today after setting steal and i was asked 'Why is the metal red?' i honestly didnt have an answer so why is structural steel always red?

The only time I've seen it red is when I got it from "Better Header".

ParadigmShift · 08-30-2009, 04:17 PM

The red primer is a red oxide that won't interfere with onsite welding and mildly protects the metal from flash rusting