When ‘Cheaper’ Costs You More: Mild vs Stainless Steel
Go Stainless: The Hidden Costs of Mild Steel
Results of a corrosion test exposing powder coated mild steel to salt water.
While mild steel may seem budget-friendly at first glance, its tendency to corrode, chip and degrade under real-world conditions leads to higher lifecycle costs – financial and environmental.
That’s why Street Furniture Australia has transitioned all powder coated frames from mild steel to stainless steel over the past eight years.
The switch delivers more than just better corrosion resistance – it’s about ensuring a refined finish, clean design lines, reduced maintenance and delivering sustainable products that endure for decades.
Public Realm Performance
Stainless steel offers excellent resistance to corrosion and rust.
Grade 316, often called marine-grade, is particularly suited for coastal environments (within 10km of the ocean). Its chemical composition resists pitting and crevice corrosion, caused by salt and even urban pollution.
Mild steel is galvanised, coated or painted to prevent rust. However, as it is softer and more ductile, it is prone to chipping. Even a small chip causes the exposed steel to rust quickly, leading to blistering, flaking and peeling.
Stainless steel resists corrosion even when the coating is breached, due to a protective oxide layer.
Linea seating, tables, bollards and bicycle parking feature stainless steel frames for strength and true minimalism.
Why are corrosion and rust so bad?
Rust is sharp, brittle, flaky and can cause total material failure over time, including weak joints, bent or broken frames, and collapsed parts under weight. Rust can be a public health and safety hazard, and liability risk for the custodian.
Additionally, neglected products contribute to poor public perception of a space, which may lead to increased vandalism and antisocial behaviour.
Over the product lifecycle, increased maintenance and part or total replacements cost more than using higher-grade materials like stainless steel up front. See life-cycle costing comparison by ASSDA.
Environmental Impact
Over the total product lifecycle, stainless steel delivers a lower lifetime environmental cost than mild steel due to low maintenance needs, longer lifespan (can last decades) and infinite recycling potential.
Mild steel requires frequent recoating to seal it from air and moisture, and shield it from corrosion – which increases chemical and fuel use by maintenance crews – all adding to the environmental impact. In recycling, it often loses performance or ends up in lower-grade products.
All Street Furniture Australia products are additionally certified carbon neutral by Climate Active.
Minimalist Precision
Stainless steel enables more minimalist, refined street furniture designs compared to mild steel and fabricated aluminium due to a combination of strength, durability and surface finish.
The Linea range showcases the superior finish and precision possible with stainless steel. Linea seating, tables, bollards and bicycle parking are constructed from 6-8mm thick stainless steel frames. This allows for a strong, streamlined frame. Fabricators can also achieve clean welds, which can be polished smooth.
Linea Seat, stainless steel frame.
The finish of mild steel is coarser than stainless, with bulkier welds. And aluminium alternatives, while lighter, require thicker sections and reinforcements, and lack the same level of refinement.
Product not by Street Furniture Australia. Not suitable for minimalist forms: aluminium frame requires bulk and additional gussets for reinforcement.
Street Furniture Australia began transitioning from mild steel to stainless steel with the Classic Plaza frame. The lift in finish quality is apparent.
Top: Mild Steel, galvanised and powder coated. Bottom: Stainless Steel, sandblasted and powder coated.
Classic Plaza Seat in situ at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra ACT.
Pre-treatment is Key to Make Powder Coating Last
In addition to replacing all mild steel frames with stainless steel, Street Furniture Australia implements a high-grade sandblasting process on stainless steel surfaces to achieve optimal surface profile prior to powder coating. This significantly improves mechanical adhesion and resistance to chipping, contributing to long-term aesthetic and structural integrity.
Aluminium components are subjected to a comprehensive multi-stage pretreatment – typically including degreasing, deoxidising, and chromate or zirconium conversion coating – prior to in-house powder coating application, ensuring maximum corrosion resistance and coating durability.
Material Comparison: Powder Coated Frames
If you would like to learn more, please book a presentation, or visit our factory. Factory Tours and Studio Presentations run regularly for specifiers, councils and other built environment professionals.
Street Furniture Australia’s entire product range and manufacturing operation has received carbon neutral certification through Climate Active™. Achieving carbon neutral certification marks a significant milestone in our operation and the culmination of a four year long process of detailed measurement and analysis. Climate Active™ is the only Australian government-backed carbon neutral certification programme for businesses to measure, reduce, and offsets their carbon emissions. It is one of the most rigorous carbon-neutral programs in the world. An approved Emissions Reduction Strategy (ERS) is central to achieving certification through Climate Active. Street Furniture Australia has elected to use SBTi validated science-based targets to ensure their ERS is meaningful and aligns with the 2015 Paris Agreement – to limit global temperature rises to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. For those emissions that can’t be …
Our Presentation Specialists, Tiffany and Melissa, bring a fun, interactive and informative workshop to your office. Accredited for 2 AILA CPD points, the experience can be tailored for landscape architects and Councils. In 30 minutes, plus Q&A, you will explore our Outdoor Dining range and enjoy delicious treats. There will also be a prize for a lucky winner (optional). Select from three catering options (also optional): Bookings can be made via the following links: For US customers, workshop bookings can be made via our US distributor agent Spruce and Gander. Testimonials ‘The presentation content was informative, engaging, interactive and relevant. Genuinely one of the better supplier workshops! It was efficient yet insightful. The interactive nature of it enhanced engagement with the team,’ Sam Westlake, Senior Associate, Hassell, Sydney. ‘Possibly our …
