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Corten for decorative purposes in the garden


Savi

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Hi all, 

 

Very much a novice with a small project here but this looks like the place to come to get some great advice and experience. 

 

We are landscaping our garden and have just finished decking outside the kitchen door area. There is a very ugly block concrete wall directly opposite the door, running down our lovely new decking which is an eyesore but cannot be changed. It is north facing and gets 0 sun exposure all year round so I cannot hide with planting. We looked at timber cladding it but the opposite side of the house will be timber, as is the decking so I thought that might be too much wood. We have decided to go with Corten to cover it as I really like the look once it has 'weathered'. I think it will work well alongside the timber as well. 

 

My question is, how to I fix it to the concrete block wall? Ideally I do not want to have to put timber framing up as it will eat into the decking space. Can I just screw/ nail it to the wall? Do I need special screws/ nails for this? I would like them to bend in with the Corten once it has weathered. 

 

I have trawled through Google but have only found one vaguely useful video on how to put it up (attached directly onto the concrete (not block) wall with "Hammer-set" Heavy duty nail drive anchors.). These stand out against the rust colour though and i would like to avoid that. 

 

Has anyone else done anything similar? Any advice very welcome. 

 

Thank you

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A building near me has used this.  They have perforated fence panels with metal posts.  A guy I know did some of the house cladding.  No fun to work with.  It is very heavy , the rust gets everywhere and it may pollute your garden.

 

Can you not render the concrete wall or build a brick facing and finish the top with some alu or stone copings?

 

image.png.41517cff5acdaf7b08d0e53c136865a1.png

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If it is so dark, I would be more inclined to go for white, or light (eg cream or pale yellow or blue or pink), render. Or stainless. Or even mirror. Done carfully, you could make it look like a secret garden through a doorway.

 

Though plenty  of plants grow in complete absence of sunlight.


A photo would probably help us.

 

Garden-Mirror-Illusion-Open-Garden-Gate-

 

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/design/lideas/mirrors-in-garden-design.htm

https://empressofdirt.net/garden-mirrors/

https://www.gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk/blog/11-amazing-ways-to-use-garden-mirrors/

 

 

 

Edited by Ferdinand
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On 12/08/2020 at 20:10, Ferdinand said:

If it is so dark, I would be more inclined to go for white, or light (eg cream or pale yellow or blue or pink), render. Or stainless. Or even mirror. Done carfully, you could make it look like a secret garden through a doorway.

 

Though plenty  of plants grow in complete absence of sunlight.


A photo would probably help us.

 

Garden-Mirror-Illusion-Open-Garden-Gate-

 

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/design/lideas/mirrors-in-garden-design.htm

https://empressofdirt.net/garden-mirrors/

https://www.gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk/blog/11-amazing-ways-to-use-garden-mirrors/

 

 

 

That is brilliant. Not sure I could re-create that but great idea. 

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On 12/08/2020 at 18:13, Mr Punter said:

A building near me has used this.  They have perforated fence panels with metal posts.  A guy I know did some of the house cladding.  No fun to work with.  It is very heavy , the rust gets everywhere and it may pollute your garden.

 

Can you not render the concrete wall or build a brick facing and finish the top with some alu or stone copings?

 

image.png.41517cff5acdaf7b08d0e53c136865a1.png

 

I had thought to render but I want something a bit more impactful. I had considered the rust but it is not anywhere near any grass or planting and I have left a gap for any rust runoff between the wall and decking. Hopefully that will be enough. 

 

Love the house cladding!

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On 12/08/2020 at 18:14, Hobbiniho said:

Unless you use some kind of hidden fixing anything you use will be seen. You could use masonary screws for the smallest fixing, or use a hilti dx 460 and just nail the steel straight to the blocks

Thanks. I might just have to go with visible ones. If I line everything up well then it might add it's own interest. 

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