At first

Proper preparation is needed to make your steel structure last for a long time. Definitely, the strongest adhesion of protective layer is when the edges of the steel structure are rounded and well-covered surface is the best way to prevent rust. Fit for that purpose is a special type of bevelling process – metal rounding. In most applications bevelling is removing certain volume of metal at required angle along an edge prior to welding. Rounding is removing metal from a sharp edge to create uniform radius. The larger bonding surface for paint and coatings, the lower risk of peeling and corrosion.

 Secondly

The proper corrosion protection is crucial. Currently, there are two most common ways to prevent rust:

1. Application of zinc coating – steel galvanization it’s a process which creates a coating of zinc over metals surface.
2. Application of paint coating – painting creates coating barrier to moisture (which also beautifies metal structures).
3. Choosing your coating is inherent on the containers purpose and on the location (e.g. close to the coast or in the country).  

Thirdly

Using Primers is strongly recommended. Primers and finished coatings protect metal surfaces by providing a barrier between the steel and the corroding elements. They also prevent moisture from reaching the surface of the steel. A coating film protects underlying metal substrates in three ways.

1. Coatings can slow the rate of diffusion of water and oxygen from the environment to the metal surface. This slows the corrosion process.
2. The paint film can slow the rate of diffusion of corrosion products from the metal surface through the paint film. This also slows the corrosion process.
3. The anti-corrosive pigments contained in quality primers change the surface properties of the base metal. The metal develops a high electrical resistance as a result. Different pigments accomplish this reaction in different ways. Primers absorb and tie up moisture so that it does not react with the steel.