Material Selection
Main material: It is usually made of Corten steel or domestic Q235NH, Q355NH weathering steel. For general garden scenarios, 0.6 - 5mm thick plates are selected; if it needs to bear a certain external force or be used for large - scale enclosures, 5 - 8mm thick plates can be used. The material can form a dense oxide protective layer after natural oxidation, which has good corrosion resistance and can avoid frequent replacement. Pre - rusted treatment is recommended for the surface, which not only maintains the unique rust color aesthetics, but also avoids the pollution of rust water in the initial rusting stage.
Auxiliary materials: Special welding wires matching weathering steel are used for splicing parts; 304 stainless steel clips, buckles or bolts are used for detachable connections to prevent auxiliary parts from rusting and affecting the splicing effect. EPDM waterproof gaskets can be configured at the joints to enhance the tightness.
Splicing and Folding Structural Design
Splicing structure: Two common designs are available. One is the buckle - type splicing. A convex slot is designed at one end of each edging plate, and a matching concave interface at the other end. When splicing, the convex part is directly embedded into the concave interface, and then fixed with stainless steel clips. It is suitable for straight - line enclosures and can be quickly assembled and disassembled. The other is the flange - type splicing. A small flange with bolt holes is reserved on both sides of the end of the edging. When connecting, two adjacent flanges are aligned and fixed with bolts. This method is firm and stable, and is suitable for curved or large - span garden enclosures. In addition, some products will be equipped with special corner connectors to realize the splicing of corner positions.
Folding performance realization: The folding property mainly depends on the material thickness and structural pre - design. Thin plates with a thickness of less than 3mm have good flexibility and can be manually bent to adapt to the curved outline of flower beds and lawns. For thicker plates, folding creases can be pre - processed during factory processing, and the crease radius is not less than 3 times the plate thickness to ensure that the plate will not crack when folded. At the same time, the length of each single edging is controlled within 1 - 1.2 meters, which is convenient for folding and storage and transportation.
Installation Points
Pre - installation preparation: First, sort out the installation area, level the ground, and mark the installation line according to the garden design drawing. If the soil is soft, a thin layer of gravel can be paved at the bottom of the edging to enhance stability and prevent settlement.
Installation steps: For non - digging installation, edging with sharp serrated bottoms can be selected and directly hammered into the soil with a rubber hammer to a depth of 10 - 15cm. For areas with hard soil, small trenches with a depth of 8 - 10cm can be dug first, the edging can be placed, and then the soil can be backfilled and compacted. After the single piece is fixed, splice them one by one in sequence. After the whole splicing is completed, check whether the connection parts are tight and whether the overall line is smooth.
Post - use Maintenance
Daily maintenance: Clean the surface dust and dirt every quarter. Use a soft brush or a high - pressure water gun with a pressure of 2 - 3MPa to rinse. Do not use acid - base cleaners or steel wire balls to avoid damaging the rust protective layer.
Node maintenance: Check the splicing parts every 1 - 2 years. If the clips or bolts are loose, tighten them in time. For the rusted parts of the joints, touch up with weathering steel - specific rust repair agent.
Mid - term maintenance: After 3 - 5 years of use, if the surface rust layer is loose or partially damaged, polish the damaged area with 240 - mesh sandpaper, and then apply a layer of matte transparent fluorocarbon varnish to lock the rust layer and extend the service life.
