METAL

Steel offers many advantages to landscape furnishings + components. In addition to being the most highly recycled material available today, steel is strong, highly configurable + long-lasting.

FLAT PLATES

flat bar: long strips of steel up to 20′ long available in the following widths (1/2″, 3/4″, 1″, 1 1/2″, 2″, 3″, 4″, 5″, 6″, 8″, 10″ + 12″). Ecotopes commonly uses flat bar steel in the following thicknesses (1/8″, 3/16″ + 1/4″).

plate steel: flat panels of steel that can be specified in dimensions from 12″ x 12″ up to 60″ x 120″. Ecotopes commonly uses plate steel in the following thicknesses (1/8″, 3/16″ + 1/4″).

STRUCTURAL

angle: versatile segments of 90-degree angled steel up to 20′ long available in various configurations of the following widths (1/2″, 3/4″, 1″, 1 1/2″, 2″, 3″, 4″, 5″ + 6″). Ecotopes commonly uses angle steel in the following thicknesses (1/8″, 3/16″ + 1/4″).

channel: strong structural “C” shape which can be used in the landscape to support built components, as a running track for rolling doors, or even as a water channel in fountains. Our most commonly used sizes range from 1″ to 4″ wide.

beam: junior “I” beams, which are 6″ or 8″ tall, are most commonly used in the landscape for certain structural components

TUBE

square + rectangular: even stronger than angle or channel, these boxy tubes are available in a nice variety of configurations + thicknesses for muliple applications in the landscape.

round tube vs. pipe: while similar to one another, round tube + pipe mostly differ on the sizes of dimensions available. Pipe is often available at a slightly lower price.

PANELS

expanded: steel sheet that’s been slit + stretched to a diamond-shaped array of openings — this is the steel you often used on BBQ grills — with a wide variety of thicknesses + opening sizes

perforated: punched steel sheet with a variety of hole patterns + thicknesses

bar-grate: catwalk steel — used to make walking thresholds, elevated spaces or drainage while providing pedestrian access

welded-wire: grid of strong galvanized wire, welded at the intersections — grid can be 2×2, 2×4 or 4×4

roofing: a wide variety of metal roofing options are available — these panels are usually corrugated to provide structural rigidity

GUAGE GUIDE

16GA: 0.065 inches

14GA: 0.083 inches

12GA: 0.109 inches

11GA: 0.120 inches (about 1/8″)

DESIGN SUPPORT

Raw steel in the urban landscape has grown in popularity in recent years. While the aesthetic of rusted steel has been initially associated with modern landscape styles, use of this material should be considered regardless of this fashion trend. Ecotopes tends to utilize steel with subtlety, seeking to exploit the form + function benefits of this material.