Durability and long-term use

What can you expect from steel solutions?

When choosing steel solutions, questions often arise about durability, wear and maintenance. How does the material age? What is considered normal – and what is not? And how much work does it require in everyday use?

This page is written to bring together answers to the questions we encounter most often. Many people associate steel with rust, extensive maintenance and rapid wear – in practice, the reality is different, and this page addresses exactly that. The purpose is to create clarity and confidence – before, during and after your purchase.

How does steel age over time?

Steel is a stable and robust material, but like all materials, it changes over time. This does not mean that functionality is compromised.

Depending on material type and surface treatment, you may experience:

• light patination or colour changes
• minor signs of use
• variations in the surface

These changes are a natural part of the material’s life and have no impact on strength or stability. On the contrary, they are often a sign that the solution is being used as intended.

Rust – problem or material characteristic?

Rust is often perceived as a sign of poor quality, but in many cases it is a matter of material type and application – not durability.

Rust is frequently associated with something negative, but it is important to distinguish between different types of steel.

Corten steel develops a controlled surface rust that protects the underlying steel. The patina is part of the material’s function and requires no treatment.

Galvanised steel is protected against rust through its surface treatment and is well suited for environments with high moisture and heavy use.

Wet-lacquered steel is protected by a flexible surface that withstands daily use and weather exposure. Minor signs of use may occur over time, but they do not affect function or durability.

Rust is therefore not necessarily a sign of deterioration – but a question of material choice and application.

What is normal wear – and what is not?

Normal wear may include:

• minor scratches
• patination
• traces of everyday use

It is not normal for:

• the construction to flex
• profiles to lose their shape
• joints to become unstable

Here, correct material thickness and construction play a decisive role.

How much maintenance is required?

Most steel solutions require minimal maintenance.

In practice, this often means:

• regular cleaning as needed
• removal of dirt and soil for outdoor use
• no ongoing treatment or re-treatment

With correct material selection, maintenance is not a task – but part of normal use.

Indoor and outdoor use – different types of exposure

Indoor solutions are primarily exposed to mechanical wear from everyday use.

Outdoor solutions are affected by:

• rain and moisture
• temperature changes
• UV exposure

For this reason, material selection, surface treatment and construction are adapted to the environment in which the product will be used.

A solution designed for use

At byJEMA, we design solutions that are meant to be used – not protected. When materials, construction and surface treatment are chosen correctly, products emerge that perform reliably for many years without losing their properties.

Durability is not about avoiding signs of use, but about ensuring that function and stability are maintained over time.