The Difference Between Indoor and Outdoor Metal Table Legs

Certain products often use the term “outdoor” in their title, but what really is the difference and what makes one product suitable for outdoor applications and the other for indoor use only?

When looking for a set of metal table legs or a metal table base for an outdoor application, there are two main factors to consider: Material and finish. The type of metal the product is made from can drastically affect its long term outdoor durability. Same with the finish applied to the metal table legs. Certain finishes can prolong a products lifespan in the outdoor elements, and some finishes can actually accelerate corrosion when exposed to moisture. Below, we’ll talk about the different options and which should be used and when.

Material

The specific metal a product is made from is probably the most obvious determining factor when considering outdoor suitability. Most people understand that steel will rust if left unprotected. A raw steel product will develop a deep, dark brown and textured rusty finish if left outside in just a matter of months, possibly weeks or even days depending on the weather conditions. This is not the case with stainless steel and aluminum. While they will both corrode over time, they do not “rust” like steel does. Stainless steel and aluminum will typically develop a light white finish on the surface that can be easily cleaned off.

Each material type has its own set of pros and cons. Steel is significantly less expensive to purchase and work on. But it is also the least corrosion resistant. Aluminum is only marginally more expensive, but it is more expensive to work on, and the metal is relatively soft, and easy to scratch and dent. However it is much lighter, and significantly more corrosion resistant than steel. Stainless steel has similar mechanical properties to steel, it is similar in weight and strength, but it is the most expensive material choice, and is a little more expensive to work with as well, but it also has a significantly higher level of corrosion resistance.

Generally speaking the weight of the table legs or metal table base is not part of the consideration. So if budget allows, going with stainless steel material is your best choice here. You will maintain superior strength and corrosion resistance with this choice. We only recommend aluminum in certain cases, mainly where the weight is of consideration, such as with outdoor coffee tables or side tables that are frequently relocated based on seating arrangements. You can see our Outdoor Patio Furniture category to see some of our standard design methods for products specifically designed for exterior applications.

Steel can still be used for outdoor applications if it is finished properly, which leads to the next topic:

Finish

Most people think of stainless steel as either brushed or polished stainless steel. But if budget allows, there is no reason why you can’t get a set of stainless steel table legs and still have them painted or powder coated any color you choose. The same is true with aluminum. The finish may still get damaged, but with the base metal being stainless steel or aluminum, the metal will not start to rust if the finish is damaged.

For a more budget friendly option, steel can be used for outdoor applications as long as it is finished properly. We only recommend powder coated finishes on our steel table legs or bases. Powder coating is graded and rated based on its weather resistant properties, and is usually made to resist the elements. However this is not true for all finish options. Powder coated finish with metallic elements will actually start rusting on top of the metal base, since the metallic elements in the powder are made from iron. This rusting on the surface of the metal legs can allow the base metal to start rusting even quicker and faster. That is why we do not recommend metallic powder coated finishes for exterior applications. You can read more about powder coating here.

Other Considerations for Exterior Applications

While material and finish are by far the most common topics to touch on when selecting a set of metal table legs, there are some other unique applications that warrant additional consideration.

If your metal base will be under direct rainfall, such as under a slatted tabletop, or any other application where waterfall will be in direct contact with the metal should not use a steel table base. Most of our products are made from square or rectangular tubing, and when these are painted or powder coated, the finish does not coat the inside of the steel tubing. Water will find its way inside the metal tubing and start to cause the metal to rust from the inside out. You will usually start to see brown staining at the corners and joints of the design, and rusty water will leak out of the bottom of the base and stain your patio. These applications should use a different material choice.

Certain saltwater applications should also consider using a different material. Standard grade 304 stainless steel is typically not the best option for saltwater corrosion resistance. Grade 316 stainless steel is considered “marine grade”, and has superior corrosion resistance for saltwater applications. Many beachfront property owners get disappointed when their stainless steel products start to rust after they are exposed to saltwater. However grade 316 stainless steel comes with a much higher price tag. Aluminum is often the best choice here since the cost for a set of 316 stainless steel table legs is usually out of reach for most customers.

If you have any questions or concerns about your particular application, we always recommend reaching out to us to get our opinion and recommendation for the best suited product and finish.

Metal Table Legs and Bases: Made in the USA vs Overseas

Products made overseas tend to have a negative stigma applied to them, whereas people are often willing to pay considerable more for a product made in the United States, but is that mentality warranted?

Just because a product is made overseas does not necessarily mean it is any different than a product made in the USA. In fact, there are some commodities that are only made overseas due to availability of certain raw materials. However having products shipped from a different hemisphere is very expensive, so why do people buy products manufactured overseas? It all comes down to price. Most people will associate this cheaper price due to lower labor wages in other countries, and while this is true, the average percentage of a product price manufactured in the USA is roughly 12%. So that means apples to apples, a product made overseas vs a product made in the USA should only be able to be 12% less, and that’s not even taking intercontinental shipping charges into account. So how are products made overseas able to be so much cheaper?

Subsidized by their Government

In many underdeveloped, and even in some developed, countries, if laborers don’t have any work to do, their family starves. It is in their countries best interest to keep these workers working, and getting paid. It is common to see part of a products cost or the shipping costs paid for by the government so the manufacturer can offer a lower price to the consumer. While this aspect doesn’t directly affect the quality of a manufactured product, it definitely sets a standard of quantity over quality. This is true even for metal table legs.

Cutting costs wherever possible

We are frequently contacted by overseas suppliers of metal table legs trying to get us to buy and resell their products here. There are products they are offering to us for $17/Each for something that we sell for $140/Each. Even with cheaper labor rates and government funding, how can these companies offer a product that is almost 90% cheaper than our products? Some of the biggest differences are in the quality of the materials. We have seen products that based on the spec sheet are apples to apples identical to our product, but you can see the metal flexing under any amount of applied weight on the foreign product. We even had one that you could dent and bend the metal just by pressing it hard enough with a finger. These manufactures use very low grade materials, usually scrap metal that does not comply with any kind of standard. In 2023, China used more than 3x the amount of scrap metal produced in the United States alone. What do you think they are doing with all this scrap metal?

Mass Production

Most people understand that making 100,000 of a piece is going to have a cheaper cost per item than simply making 1. Overseas manufacturers try to constantly keep their workers and machines running to avoid downtime. Many of these manufacturing facilities surprisingly use state of the art machinery and technology, but this equipment is selected and implemented to increase production, even if it is as the expense of product quality. Think about how many novelty toys or trinkets kids get from easter eggs, goodie bags, etc that simply do not work. These are cheap, mass produced items that are manufactured knowingly as non-functional items and people buy them because they are cheap but have little to no expectations that these items will even work. Mass production does not always mean a compromise on quality, but with lower priced metal table legs and bases, the equipment utilized is design to get the product in the desired shape and hold it there as quickly as possible. The joints are often sloppy and very pronounced. We’ve seen foreign products where the welds missed the seam, and some where the products were glued together instead of being welded. Don’t expect any kind of longevity on a product like that.

Sales Support and Product Warranty

Generally speaking, when someone buys the cheapest price they can find on a certain product, they are not expecting any kind of support or warranty on their purchase. If the product fails, or is defective, they will often throw the product away and try again somewhere else. Product and sales support costs money, so cutting these out of your business offering will allow you to offer a lower product price to your customer.

How are we Different?

Here at ECon Welding, all of our metal table legs and bases are hand-made here in the United States. The material we use is also sourced and made in the USA, conforming to standards in the metal industry. We don’t cut corners and our products are not mass-produced. Each item is custom made by a metalworker who takes pride in their work. We all love to see our products in use and know that we can be part of supplying a high end, heirloom quality piece of metal furniture to your custom build. We go the extra mile in making sure you are completely satisfied with your purchase. That is why we offer a LIFETIME ECon Satisfaction Guarantee. We know we aren’t the cheapest, but we guarantee you will be completely satisfied with your order from us.

Browse through our Metal Table Legs or our Metal Table Bases to see which design will work the best for your application or Contact Us with any questions.

Metal Table Legs or a Metal Table Base: Which is right for you?

The terms “Metal Table Legs” and “Metal Table Base” get tossed around a lot, sometimes interchangeably, but what really is the difference and is one better suited than the other?

Terminology and Definitions

“Metal Table Legs” and “Metal Table Base” can refer to the exact same thing. One refers to “legs” for a table and one refers to a “base” for a table, but the base can be legs and legs can be a base, so the terms can be used interchangeably. However, unofficial industry standards typically will refer to “metal table legs” as individual pieces that make up the support for a tabletop and a “metal table base” as a single piece base that the tabletop can rest on or is secured to. Hairpin legs, post legs, or H or X-Frame metal table legs would fall under the “Metal Table Legs” category, for example. Similarly, a parsons table base, spider base, or pedestal bases all would fall under the “Metal Table Base” category. For simplicity, we here at ECon Welding will typically refer to any product that is a free-standing design as a “base”, and any product that relies on the connection to the tabletop to maintain stability as “legs”.

Metal Table Legs

As stated above, metal table legs rely on the connection to the tabletop for the assembly to work. For example, our H-Frame style metal table legs could not be used for a glass top application. Even if you could balance the legs to keep them standing up with the glass on top, as soon as the table is bumped into, the entire assembly would come crashing to the ground catastrophically. However since a connection to the tabletop is assumed, table legs can be made much smaller in profile since they don’t need to be free-standing. This usually allows for the legs to be able to be flat packed, and shipped via common courier, which equates to a more budget friendly product.

Generally speaking, table legs are usually sold in sets of 2 or 4 depending on the design. Hairpin legs and post legs are designed to put one leg towards each corner of the top, needing 4 per table. More contemporary designs of metal table legs such as the H-Frame or X-Frame style legs only need 2 per table, one towards each end.

Since multiple pieces are needed to fully support the tabletop, table legs are significantly more versatile than a table base, as the leg location can be fine-tuned during final assembly to fit in the exact location that works best for your application. They can also be removed and reused on various length (and sometimes various width) tabletops.

There are some significant disadvantages with using metal table legs instead of a metal table base. Since the stability of the table relies on the connection to the tabletop, the overall rigidity of the table is dependent on how secure the connection to the tabletop is. Soft wood or plywood surfaces that the legs are mounted to will almost always have a small amount of flex to them, which causes the whole table to sway back and forth with the flexing surface.

Installation of the legs to the top is also significantly more time consuming with table legs, as typically the legs need to be installed on the top upside down, then the entire table needs to be flipped over.

Lastly, with any kind of lateral force or racking on the table assembly, the forces go directly through the fasteners holding the legs to the tabletop. This may not be an issue, especially at first, but typical installations using only wood screws to secure the legs to the top will almost always gradually loosen over time, creating more and more sway in the table. The solution to this problem is to use threaded inserts in the wood top and bolts to create a stronger connection. However this adds an additional expense and significantly more time and potential for error during the table assembly.

Metal Table Bases

Metal table bases as we manufacture them are typically single piece, fully welded bases that are completely free standing in design. The bases are made to work as-is, and do not rely on any other component of the final assembly to maintain their stability or rigidity. Table bases typically have an inverse list of pros and cons to metal table legs. The installation of a metal table base is about as simple as it gets: Simply set it in place, and place the top on the base. We don’t recommend relying on gravity alone to hold the top in place, so it’s still recommended to secure the top to the base either with a few screws or an adhesive. Glass top applications use a rubber bumper that goes in between the glass and the metal base to keep it from sliding around.

Our bases are fully welded, and do not rely on nuts and bolts to hold the base together, which creates a very rigid table that will never loosen or weaken over time with use. Since our bases are free standing, they are often used in applications where the tabletop requires additional support from the base.

Metal table legs typically only support the top where the legs are positioned, but a metal table base can have a full support frame, or contain significantly more contact points with the top, which can provide much more uniform support to the top. This can be especially useful for glass tops, thin stone tops, and thin or soft wood tops that may sag or break with a long unsupported span.

Unlike the advantages to table legs, table bases are usually large pieces that are costly to ship. They will have very little versatility to their application use since the base is manufactured to fit a specific size and type of top. They can also be difficult to maneuver to get in place, and we’ve had projects in the past where a customer ordered a base that was too large to fit through their doorway!

Should I Buy a Set of Metal Table Legs or a Metal Table Base?

There are some applications where one option is the obvious solution. Glass top applications or stone tops without a plywood underlayment are almost always recommended to be paired with a metal table base. Staging applications, products used strictly in photo shoots, projects on a tight budget, or any application requiring a total knock-down assembly should use metal table legs. But other than that, we tend to lean towards recommending metal tables bases for most applications. Most people who purchase custom made furniture do not plan on changing out the top only in the future, so the cons of a choosing a base over a set of legs are usually narrowed down to space constraints and upfront costs. The upfront cost difference of a metal table base over a set of metal table legs may seem substantial, but in the long run the long-term durability of a metal table base and the added support it gives your tabletop will likely more than make up for the difference in price. The extra cost is negligible considering the long-term application. Assuming the base can fit inside your doorway, we can almost guarantee you will be much more satisfied with a metal table base over a set of metal table legs.

If you like the idea of a base vs a set of legs, but are cautious about your ability to properly size the base for your table build, you can read through our Base Sizing Guide to be able to make a confident decision or Contact Us for our recommendation.

Importance of Slotted Mounting Holes on Metal Table Legs

Depending on the manufacturer, you will see the term “slotted mounting holes” tossed around quite a bit. In short, the gold rule is that slotted mounting holes on a set of metal table legs or base are a necessity for any kind of wood tabletop, but can still be very useful for other types of top materials.

What are slotted mounting holes?

This seems like a simple question, but believe it or not it is a common question we are asked. A slotted mounting hole is exactly as it sounds. Instead of a round hole for mounting the metal table legs or base to a tabletop, we include holes that are more of a “racetrack” shape. Adding this shape of hole to a piece of metal typically requires specialized metalworking equipment. Depending on the material and application, we will typically either punch out the hole using a punch and die in an iron worker which works very similar to a paper hole punch, or we will use a CNC plasma cutter which burns out the shape we input into the computer from the desired material.

What is Wood Expansion and Contraction?

It is a somewhat known fact that wood expands and contracts with varying levels of humidity. The specifics of this can be pretty complicated, and a lot of variables play into the amount, and rate at which the wood expands and contracts, such as wood species, thickness, temperature, exposed edge, and any finish/stain applied to the wood. A good example of an extreme visual shown in

hyperlapse can be seen here from the Oregon State University:

Maple veneer shrinkage – OSU MediaSpace (oregonstate.edu)

A roughly 12″ square piece of thin maple was exposed to extreme variations of humidity and contracted about 3% in under 1 hour. This doesn’t sound like much, but on a standard 42″ wide top, that equates to over 1″ of contraction. The forces of wood expansion and contraction CAN NOT be stopped by a stout set of metal table legs or bracing. The wood is going to move, and it will find a direction to go, no matter how securely it is held down. “Bowing” and “cupping” or common terms in the woodworking industry that describe a piece of wood expanding or contracting in a non-uniform direction, which causes the wood to bow (think of a rainbow). Selecting a wood top from a woodworker who knows what they are doing is the most important step here. Instead of ignoring, or trying to prevent the wood from expanding or contracting, a good wood worker will build a tabletop that can expand and contract naturally and uniformly to maintain a flat profile.

So Why are Slotted Mounting Holes Important?

If a wood top is constructed and sealed properly, you should see expansion and contraction of less than 1%. Which for a 42″ wide top, still works out to almost 1/2″ of movement. It is crucial for any set of metal table legs or a metal table base being paired with a wood top to have allowance built into the mounting holes for the top to expand and contract. The golden standard we go by is to include slotted mounted holes on almost all of our products, to allow the wood and screw to slide side-to-side in the mounting hole to move with the expansion and contraction of the wood. If this is not taken into account with the build, the top will expand or contract and either break the mounting screws, split the wood, or bend and deform the metal base. There are thousands of manufacturers and builders of metal table legs and bases out there, and by far the most common mistake we see with their builds is the lack of consideration for expansion and contraction.

If you have a tabletop that is stone, acrylic, or some other material that the metal table legs or base will be mounted to, it’s not critical for the mounting holes to be slotted since the top is likely not going to expand or contract at all, but the slotted mounting holes can still be beneficial to allow for some error in the pilot hole or threaded inserts used in the top for the legs to mount to.

Are Slotted Mounting Holes the Only Solution?

We offer some products that are either impossible or impractical to get slotted mounting holes. Such as products with a top plate that is too thick to punch the hole out or plasma cut the slot. Or

some products don’t have a defined mounting orientation, so there is no way for us to predict the direction of the mounting slots. In these cases, an oversized round hole and a large washer can be used with the mounting screws. This same option can be applied for existing legs where the manufacturer did not account for expansion and contraction of a wood top. If you have a set of metal table legs with a screw hole size not much larger than the screw diameter, we strongly recommend drilling the holes to a larger diameter, at least 3/8″ when used with standard #8 or #10 wood screws. A fender washer sized for the screw size you are using can be used with the screw to get a good grip on the mounting plate of the metal base.

How to Clean Brushed Stainless Steel

Brushed stainless steel often has a bad reputation for showing fingerprints, and smudges very easily. This is true on stainless kitchen appliances as well as metal table legs. The best way to understand how to keep it spot free is to first understand how a brushed stainless finish is made, and why it shows fingerprints so well.

What is a brushed stainless finish?

A brushed stainless finish is made by scratching the stainless steel, but controlling the scratches to all go in the same, linear direction. Typically, a relatively coarse grit sandpaper is used for the scratches, usually around 120 grit. The removes the mill finish on the raw stainless and exposes fresh cut material. The finer the grit of sandpaper used to create the brushed finish, the smoother, and more polished the finish will look. The coarser the sandpaper, the more “brushed” the finish will look, but the rougher it will feel. 120 grit is the industry standard as it shows prominent grain lines, but still feels smooth to the touch. We apply our brushed finishes on our metal table legs and bases in house with a specially formulated, custom-made abrasive belt that cuts like a 120 grit abrasive, but smooths it out to feel like a finer, 200 grit finish.

Why are fingerprints and smudges so bad on brushed stainless finishes?

Even though the brushed finish may feel smooth, it is composed of countless small gouges and scratches in the surface of the metal. No matter what cleaning supply you use or how hard you scrub, it is nearly impossible to clean every angle and groove of each microscopic scratch in the metal. Dry debris, such as crumbs or other materials, are easy to clean as they can simply be wiped off. Especially with brushed stainless metal table legs, it is easy to get food debris on the metal legs. But anything greasy will sit on the metal and create a small wet spot that will not dry out. The wet spot looks darker than the surrounding dry metal, so it stands out as a dirty smudge on the finish. Even products designed to remove grease will have a very hard time completely removing all the grease from the scratches in the metal. Our body creates a natural oil-like substance called Sebum to keep our skin from drying out, but this oil acts as another grease-like contaminate that will cause a smudge on brushed stainless finishes by simply touching it. To make matters worse, this natural oil is less affected by household degreasers, so fingerprints can be one of the hardest marks to remove. Metal table legs and bases are a common touch-point while sitting at a table, so it’s expected that any metal furniture base with a brushed stainless finish will show frequent fingerprints and smudges.

So how do I clean smudges and keep them from coming back?

There are 2 common ways we like to address this problem, each with its own set of pros and cons:

1. The first solution is more of a proactive solution and that is to coat the brushed stainless finish with a clear powder coated finish. This fills in all the scratches with a clear coat and leaves a smooth surface on top to easily wipe off and clean. This is essentially what appliance manufacturers do when you see them offering “smudge-proof” or “fingerprint shield” options to their brushed finish options. This option adds an additional expense to your project, and while it is a maintenance free solution, it can potentially cause significantly more problems if the clear coated finish gets damaged, as there is no easy way to repair a small section of damaged powder coat. If you are considering purchasing on of our Brushed Stainless Metal Table Legs or Bases and are reading this first and would like the clear powder coated option, Contact Us for an estimate on the cost for powder coating.
2. The second option goes along with the saying: “If you can’t beat them, join them”. Instead of constantly fighting to remove the grease or oil stains, it can be much easier to simply cover the product with an oily finish, to give the entire product a uniform finish. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you already have brushed stainless metal table legs or a base, or any other brushed stainless product that you are trying to clean, so the proactive solution of coating this is probably no longer possible. Wiping an oily substance over the entire product seems counterproductive, but it actually creates a uniform finish that looks brand new and freshly cleaned. This does require re-doing on occasion, but it’s such a quick and easy process, and as long as the finish is on the metal, you won’t see new smudges or fingerprints. WD-40 is the magic ingredient here. Simply spray the WD-40 onto the brushed stainless and rub it in with a clean, microfiber towel. You’ll have a brand-new, fresh-looking piece in no time! Olive oil also works, but in our experience doesn’t work as well, requires more oil, and requires more frequent applications. But it is a much more common household item, so if you’re in a rush and don’t have any WD-40, give olive oil a try.

If you have a set of brushed stainless table legs or a brushed stainless base and are sick of the fingerprints and smudges and the idea of olive oil or WD-40 going on the base doesn’t sound appealing to you, reach out to us to see if powder coating your existing base is an option. Even if you didn’t purchase the product from us, we may still be able to apply a clear powder coated finish to your metal furniture base to prevent future markings on the brushed finish. You can read about some of the general benefits of powder coating in our Powder Coating Guide if powder coating is new to you.

Polished vs Brushed Stainless Steel

Every home has a style because it directly reflects your personality or certain characteristics for a period of time. As an owner, you get to choose and decorate your home however you like, and with new trends developing every year, you have plenty of options to pick from. Thinking about your needs and what works best for your home will create an understanding of elements and special qualities.

Adding or complementing your home with metal details will transform your space while adding functionality benefits. If you are considering using stainless steel, you can choose from options, especially between the two finishes. Learning the difference between polished and brushed stainless steel will give you the necessary information to make the best decision.

Polished Stainless Steel

As the name suggests, polished stainless steel is flat, shiny, and smooth and will enhance your home’s clean appearance. Depending on the type of usage you will get to where you want to have polished stainless steel, you could enjoy great benefits, from cleaning to visual appeal. This is similar to chrome, but polished stainless steel is not an applied finish, it is, as the name suggests, a stainless steel material that is polished to a mirror finish.

Polished stainless steel is ideal applications where matching chrome, or a contemporary, high end look is important. This finish makes cleaning very simple and easy because you can remove stains and dirt quickly without any problem. It’s resistant to water and requires little maintenance, except for the occasional cleaning. You can take advantage of these characteristics, especially when you have kids at home.

Brushed Stainless Steel

Friction creates this type of stainless steel that removes most of its natural shine and makes the surface rugged and texturized. The brushed finish is a process of controlled scratches on the stainless material that all follow the same, linear direction. This type of finish is very common on kitchen appliances, so it’s easy to visualize what this finish looks like. This look works perfectly as visually attractive, creating a more attractive finish when you use it for decorations or focus points. You can find brushed stainless steel mostly in tables and decorative items; simply by looking at it, you can perceive a unique and interesting look.

The finish on this type of steel is best kept from constant use because the lines from the brushing procedure keep smaller particles stuck inside if not constantly cleaned. The lines are not deep but tend to keep stains and watermarks for longer because of their nature. Choosing the right options depends on your interest, usage, and time management.

Practical Uses

When thinking about which finish of stainless steel to get for your home, you must think about the endless possibilities of each type. Use and functionality are two main characteristics that determine whether you should use one or the other, but it all depends on where you want it.

A clever way to use either one of these is on stainless steel table legs, as they provide the same level of resistance with great functionality but a different view. You can subtly transform a space with details that will make a big difference. Adding unique touches of steel to your home will elevate the look of a room and make it a more pleasant experience.

Industrial Look

A trendy way of using stainless steel is by transforming your space into an industrial space style. Other elements that you need to consider are brick, wood, and metal fixtures. An industrial look makes it easier to implement stainless steel elements, so you don’t have to overthink them. A simple transformation will elevate your space, giving you the opportunity to update it.

You don’t need extreme industrial elements; if you prefer to keep the style more subtle, you can always only add stainless steel to areas like the kitchen or the bathroom. The items for these areas of your house commonly use steel because they are resistant to water and humidity, as well as being easy to clean.

Stainless Steel Characteristics

Aside from the visual effects and feeling of the two different finishes, the main characteristics of steel make it a unique material. It is highly resistant to corrosion and very simple to clean. This material is ideal for kitchens because it can resist high temperatures without suffering from damage. Most restaurants have stainless steel throughout their kitchens because it’s clean, safe, and resistant.

Its versatility allows different products to exist, and its malleability can produce large items and smaller details. The production time is short, so you can get any product you want in a timely fashion. Choosing stainless steel will bring special characteristics to your home while saving you time and money. The process of stainless steel appears, uplifts, and naturally enhances some of these characteristics.

Steel Classifications

There are various classifications for steel depending on the number of elements used to create a special type. Depending on usage, some are better suited than others. Even with similar characteristics, some offer better optimizations for usage.

• Ferritic Steel—This type is mainly used in the automotive industry for car components and home furnaces.
• Austenitic Steel—The most common type of steel used for textiles, medical equipment, house decorations, and food preparation.
• Martensitic Steel—This is another common type found in kitchenware, engines, knives, and screws.
• Duplex Steel—This is a more complex type used mainly for construction, transportation, and desalination plants.

Commercial steel for everyday items is easy to find and apply to areas like home spaces, decorations, and patio furniture. Some companies provide you with the opportunity to incorporate elements into your daily life, from details like table legs to bed frames.

Environmentally Friendly

When it comes to environmentally friendly materials, steel is at the top of the list. There are no differences between brushed and polished stainless steel because both are eligible for recycling. Every element and detail, from screws to large kitchen counters, has properties that allow it to go to the process plant and become a new and fresh item.

Reusing materials, especially recycled ones, adds a special value to every product. Working with metals and materials that melt only at high temperatures is risky, but decreasing the over-exploitation of mines and minerals has no comparison.

Plenty of benefits come with using products made with stainless steel, and whether it’s brushed or polished, steel can make your life easier and upgrade your home. Finding what you need from the experts will allow you to implement anything you want with the help and guidance of professionals.

Cleaning Products Not to Use on Stainless Steel

Cleaning is essential to prevent health problems and make everything look nice and fresh, especially at home. Cleaning products have different properties that focus on detailing various objects, some of which could cause damage.

Learning to take care of certain objects like furniture or kitchen appliances is essential to ensure functionality and extend a product’s lifespan. There are various cleaning products you should never use on stainless steel to optimize and avoid problems with these products.

Steel Wool Balls

Steel wool is the perfect object to deep clean some products and remove stains left from different liquids like oil and grease because of its strong and durable qualities. Steel is a resistant metal, but it is easy to scratch and damage with the wrong products; steel wool balls will leave marks all over your stainless steel that are almost impossible to remove.

Abrasive Solutions

Some liquids can damage and weaken your stainless steel products, especially when they contain abrasive solutions. Quartz, marble, and sometimes even volcanic ash come in cleaning products to remove any stains or contaminants in your space. Scrubbing powders are another example of abrasive solutions that immediately damage stainless steel.

Chlorine Products

Cleaners for everyday processes normally contain chlorine because it is an effective and quick way of getting rid of viruses and bacteria that could cause sickness. Chlorine is the best cleaner for floors. When you mix it with an ambiance refresher, your home will look and smell clean for days. Be careful when cleaning around your furniture, especially the ones with brushed stainless steel legs, because you could mildly damage them, taking away their shine.

Glass Cleaners

This is the perfect example of a product that only works well with specific materials like glass. Glass cleaner is a product you should never use on stainless steel; it will leave your mirrors and windows looking new but will damage your stainless steel and leave dark stains. Some products might seem harmless, and the damage they produce is neither outstanding nor pleasant.

Salty Water

Depending on the area and state where you live, the water could contain high levels of sodium, damaging your stainless steel. Stainless steel is very resistant, that’s why many kitchen sinks are made with this material. However, stainless steel sinks will permanently stain if not cleaned properly. The best way to clean a kitchen sink is with a specialized stainless steel solution.

How to Use More Stainless Steel in Your Home

Your home and how you use your space reflect your personality, creating an area where you can enjoy some of the best moments. But that space needs to come with great decorations. There are many ways you can translate your style into physical objects that reflect more of who you are, especially if you like keeping up with current trends and materials.

These tips for using more stainless steel in your home décor will give you the information you need to try new and current elements. People generally relate stainless steel with an industrial look, but this is not the case; you can achieve different looks with the right items.

Wall Sheets

Creating a contemporary look in your home with current trends is simpler when you don’t have to get stuck with a decision forever. Wall sheets are the perfect option to transform a space with simple details; wall sheets come in different sizes to cover specific areas of your house. These sheets are removable but stay firmly attached to the walls without problems.

Use Small Elements

If you are unsure how much stainless steel you want to use, you can start with something small. Changing elements in your kitchen or bathroom, like hardware, knobs, or even appliances will give you a feel of what things would look like. Instead of using a regular backsplash, install a small stainless steel sheet or add steel towel hangers to your bathrooms.

Furniture Details

Incorporating details into existing elements is a quick and simple way to transform a space without overwhelming it. You can add stainless table legs to a wooden top to convert a piece of furniture into something unique. Smaller elements mixed with fabrics and softer materials will elevate the look of your room with a new view and functionality.

Steel Spray Paint

A trick to using more stainless steel in your home décor is painting smaller items like candlesticks or vases with shiny steel spray paint. This technique will allow you to decide which elements to use and simply transform them with just a can of paint. Spray paint is an effective way to add color, and its versatility also combines traditional methods with new possibilities.

Light Fixtures

Light is essential to any home, so why not make it extra special with the right elements? Stainless steel metal fixtures work perfectly for interiors and exteriors; using both can bring cohesiveness to your home. This is a safe way to incorporate certain elements that will noticeably transform your space, day and night.

Design Your Contemporary Style Home

Getting the right elements in your house will immediately transform its look and feel. There are simple ways you can complement the style you already have with simple features to enhance the reflection of your personality. To make your space trendier and more modern, here’s everything you need to design a contemporary-style home from which you can take inspiration. Play with different elements to achieve your desired look and stay true to your personality.

Keep It Minimum

When you have a blank canvas, you can draw anything to reflect your style and get a message across; the same happens with the space in your home. To achieve a contemporary look, you must have elements that will blend and match current trends, which means including a few pieces that will open those possibilities.

The right items are timeless and clean, with neutral colors that go well with almost everything. You can replace certain decorations constantly, usually, small ones like paintings or vases, but big elements must be versatile to help achieve a certain look.

Metal fixtures are small detail that gives your home a unique style inside and out. There are plenty of alloys you can choose from, especially ones that will let you match your furniture and home decorations.

Stylish Furniture

Some of the most important elements for a contemporary look are the pieces of furniture around your house. It is unnecessary to replace every item you own to change the style; instead, upgrade what you have with different elements, especially metal.

Welded steel table legs are the perfect option for desks, tables, and even beds to uplift the look and provide useful and comfortable details. You can choose different options, from custom-made pieces to the most popular supports that will give your home an expensive and unique look.

Good Lighting

Lighting is an essential feature inside every contemporary home. Dimmers allow you to quickly change the mood of a room. Track lights are a versatile option that provides enough lighting in a space with unique designs to match any interior.

Use Textiles

Textiles will bring a unique look to your home, from curtains to rogues and even bed sheets. Choose neutral colors with patterns to give extra details to a space without overwhelming the room. To design a contemporary style home, you must keep up with current trends, apply them wisely, and develop a personal style that adjusts to constant change. Textiles are a great way to convert a space with simple items available everywhere.

ECon Welding & Fabrication is a custom furniture welding shop that produces custom table legs for custom design contemporary style tables. If you are creating a custom contemporary-style table and need custom table legs or bases, please take a moment to browse our store.

You can also complete the form provided below to send us images of your tabletop and/or images of the space you wish to design for.

Industrial-Style Interior Design

Creating a space where you feel comfortable that reflects your personality and covers your needs has no comparison, which could ultimately transform your living area. Interior design has many different phases, and throughout history, new movements appear to transform simple decorations into a lifestyle.

If you are planning a remodel or want to try something new, you need to know about industrial interior design to expand your knowledge and possibilities. People relate industrial to warehouses, but for home design, some elements like metals and colors could create a completely different experience.

Historical Background

Industrial décor made its first appearance in empty warehouses that had to deal with a need for space and housing. After the Industrial Revolution, many buildings were left empty, with plenty of room to transform these empty industrial giants into apartments. Not a lot changed, except for installing interior walls to divide up the space and fitting the space with utilities and services to make it functional.

Industrial design stayed, and people gradually learned to live with it and love it, which soon became a part of their personal design style. Gaining popularity because of the uniqueness of the details, the industrial design kept growing and taking over more spaces and attracting new fans.

Main Characteristics

There are specific details that are common to industrial design; by adding some of these, you can transform a space into an industrial showcase with a mix of characteristics. Some of the basic design elements include color choices, textures, materials, and accessories.

Colors reflect the history of an era and the materials involved. The colors representing industrial characteristics are brown, gray, black, and white. Neutral colors found in nature can easily match and complement each other without changing them.

Textured walls hearken back to nature as well, featuring natural elements like wood or stone, which offer a soothing contrast to industrial fixtures. Metal, wood, stone, and their attendant colors harmonize perfectly. Stone boasts different shades of gray, gold, and tan that will add depth and light to a wall, while wood’s deep brown shades echo the forest.

Materials like metals and wood define functionality with quality. These materials were in common use during the Industrial Revolution because they provided reliable quality, ideal for heavy-duty work. Characteristics like rust and holes inherent in these materials are not flaws but rather desirable nuances.

Incorporating Details

Introducing new details into an existing style is simple when the details complement the existing ones. If you have a modern-style home, you can add details to existing elements to change the look or enhance function. Features like dining room tables or desks will benefit from custom metal table legs because they will add smart details that are noticeable but not overpowering.

Metal details are important to bring an industrial vision and feel to life because it’s a component that defines the industrial era. You don’t have to turn your home into a warehouse; you simply need to incorporate details like metal linings or metal light fixtures to add an elegant touch without transforming the whole space.

Other elements that are more subtle and versatile are metal headboards and bed frames. You can go for a traditional look with rounded shapes painted white, but you can expand wherever your imagination takes you. Custom metal bed frames and headboards give you a wide range of options when working on your vision, easily attainable with the help of professionals.

Use of Wood

Using wood in strategic places like ceilings and walls will optimize your space’s look without tearing down walls. You can add elements like beams that do not necessarily need to support anything; they serve only as decoration but will create the illusion of support.

Wooden furniture is common across many design styles, but when added to the other elements mentioned here, wood will elevate the industrial look you are trying to achieve. Using woods with different shades of brown and gray is also popular. You don’t need to have every tone match; leave the natural wood color for a more rustic look.

Exposed Pipes

For some, this might seem like an unfinished job, but the truth is that it will give your home a unique look as long as those pipes are strategically placed. Depending on what you want, you can paint the pipes black to keep them all uniform, or you can also keep the pipes unfinished to create an eye-catching highly industrialized look. You can find different sizes and styles of pipes and play with their proportions and locations.

Light Fixtures

Hanging metal light fixtures are the best elements to achieve an industrial look. Think of mining lanterns and the type of lights used in warehouses and translate them into elegant items by keeping the essence and colors but playing around with unusual finishes and bulb choices. This is an important detail to know about industrial interior design if you want to maintain subtle but characteristic elements.

If you want to make a bigger statement, you can find big metal chandeliers with pendant lights that deliver illumination that is both modern and sophisticated.

Concrete Floors

Concrete floors can look sleek and mod or practical and functional, depending on whether you opt for neutral colors, glazed effects, flecks of reflective zinc, or a thousand other elements that make a home look inspiring. This type of floor will not only give you an industrial look, but they are also easy to clean, resistant to damage, and versatile. It is an inexpensive option, unlike wooden floors, which also require much maintenance.

You can pair concrete flooring with bamboo floor coverings or soft rugs; they will protect the floor from metal table legs.

Open Space

Warehouses are big open spaces, especially industrial ones. An open floor plan or loft-style setup makes it easy to incorporate many different elements to achieve that wide-open look. Colors, textures, and furnishings really pop and draw the eye in an open floor plan. If you want to transform your space completely, you must knock down some walls, but this is not for everyone!

Having an already open space will allow you to enhance your home with chic, modern, industrial décor. An industrial style presents a big personality, and you need to make sure that it is what speaks to you.

You can add different touches to your house and gradually incorporate more, depending on how you feel and react to what you already have. Industrial interior design gives you a playground to experiment with, and having the right elements will enhance your own personal style. If you’re looking for more help with your industrial interior design, give ECon Welding a call.