Covered walkways can be an ideal solution for a wide range of locations. From protecting pupils in poor weather as they move between different buildings to attend classes to creating protective corridors for those queuing outside supermarkets, the main job of covered walkways is to keep the pedestrians who use them dry.

Stationed outside and built to provide shelter, covered walkways used here in the UK are often exposed to wet weather. Required to be hardwearing, these solutions are often made using a metal framework. However, while metals like steel can be durable, they are not always ideal for wet weather and can rust over time. Steel is an iron alloy, which means it’s susceptible to rust. When iron-based metals are exposed to air and water, inescapable elements in an outdoor environment, a process called oxidation, commonly known as rusting, will occur.

In the following sections, we’ll show you three ways of ensuring you can have rust-free covered walkways on site.

Using rust preventatives

Available in lubricating sprays and protective paints, there are dedicated rust preventative solutions that you can use to protect covered walkways, however, there are some points to consider. Rust preventative treatments may be costly, especially if you’re covering a large area. Factor in the time and labour costs involved in the task of treating your walkways and remember this will not be a one-time-only fix. Repeated applications will be required to keep the rust at bay.

Powder coating

Powder coating the metal parts of your walkways can also offer them protection from being corroded by rust, but this can be a costly choice and again, is only a temporary measure. Over time, the coating will peel and flake when exposed to the weather, allowing rust to take root. It must also be applied by professionals to be effective, adding to expenses.

Opting for aluminium

By far the easiest and most cost-effective solution is to purchase a new covered walkway that is made from aluminium that never rusts. While it might seem an unwanted expense to replace your sheltered areas, in the long term, you will more than make your money back on the investment and you can make certain you’ll never need to worry about rust again.

Specialists in covered walkways

At Shelter Solutions, we supply a wide range of covered walkways in various different styles to suit your site needs and individual tastes. From wall-mounted canopies to dome-covered walkways, our products are manufactured from high-quality aluminium, making them entirely rustproof and ideal for outdoor use.

By selecting covered walkways with an aluminium frame, you can be certain that the solutions for shelter on your premises always appear in ideal condition and will remain rust-free no matter how hard it rains.

Browse our extensive selection of covered walkways online or contact our expert team today for advice on the products we have available in aluminium.