// buying guide
Garden metalwork buyer's guide.
Steel earns its place in a garden — a fire pit that becomes the centre of summer evenings, plant markers that bring order to a veg bed, a sculpture that catches the low autumn light. But the garden is hard on metal, so a few choices up front decide whether a piece ages beautifully or just ages. Here's what we'd weigh up.
1. Understand how steel weathers outdoors
This is the heart of buying garden metalwork. Left bare, mild steel rusts on the surface — but that's not necessarily a fault. For fire pits and rustic pieces, a warm weathered patina is the whole point: the rust layer is stable, it protects the steel beneath, and it deepens from grey to amber and russet over a season or two. No two pieces age exactly alike, which is part of the charm.
If you'd rather a piece stayed crisp and coloured, that's where powder coating comes in — a baked-on weatherproof shell that seals the steel and holds its finish through rain, frost and UV. The decision is really about the look you want: living-and-weathering, or fixed-and-protected. Our care guide covers both in depth.
The one downside of raw steel: in its first months, surface rust can run and stain porous paving, decking or pale render beneath it. Sit the piece on a slab or feet, stand it clear of anything you'd mind marking, or ask us to seal the base before it ships.
2. Fire pits — siting and safety
A fire pit is the showpiece of the range and the one where getting the setup right really matters. A few non-negotiables:
- Base: stand it on something stable and non-combustible — paving, gravel or bare earth. Never on decking, a lawn or grass that'll scorch, and never on or near anything that can catch.
- Clearance: keep clear space all around and above. Well away from fences, sheds, seating and overhanging branches.
- Wind: don't light it in a strong wind, which throws sparks and embers.
- Leaving it: always make sure it's fully cold before you walk away.
A heavier steel fire pit holds heat better and resists warping over many burns, which is why our pits are built from substantial plate rather than thin sheet. Grates and BBQ accessories let one pit double as a cooking setup.
3. Plant markers & sculpture — the finishing touches
Smaller pieces bring the same steel character to the planting itself. Plant markers label herbs and beds with a permanence that printed tags never have — laser-cut steel that won't fade, snap or wash out, and that weathers down to sit quietly among the foliage. Sculpture, like our allium and seed-head pieces, adds height and structure to a border and looks especially good silhouetted against a low sun or a frosty morning.
For these, raw or lightly-sealed steel usually looks best — the patina suits a planted setting. But if a piece sits over a paved area, consider powder coat or a sealed base to avoid staining.
4. Match the finish to the piece's life
Pulling it together — a quick rule of thumb for garden steel:
- Fire pits & rustic sculpture: raw steel, weathering naturally, is the classic choice.
- Pieces that must stay one colour (a gate, a coloured planter, anything coordinated): powder coat.
- Anything sitting on paving you care about: seal the base or choose powder coat to avoid rust run-off.
- Coastal or very exposed gardens: salt air is hard on everything — an occasional rinse and a finish chosen for durability makes a real difference.
5. Custom garden pieces
Planters, screens, trellis, a bespoke fire pit or a sculpture for a specific spot — garden commissions are some of our favourite work. We cut, fold, weld and finish in-house, so send a sketch or your dimensions and we'll quote it in the steel and finish that suits your garden.
Shop garden metalwork
Fire pits, markers and sculpture, made to order in Andover. A few to start with:
BBQ fire pit Rings fire pit Basil herb marker Allium sculpture
Keep reading
More from our workshop: the complete guide to metal wall art, choosing house numbers & signage, and the full guides & resources hub. For the metals and finishes behind every piece, see our materials guide.