Corrosion Protection and Repair of Steel Structures on the Coast
On the Caribbean coast, salt air turns ordinary paint into flaking rust in a few seasons. Canopies, warehouse frames, hotel railings, stairs, pergolas and rooftop equipment frames all suffer, and corrosion that starts as a cosmetic stain ends as lost steel section. We inspect, repair and protect steel structures with coating systems specified for marine exposure, and we reinforce what has already lost strength.
What We Do
Inspection & Report
Visual and thickness readings, section loss measured, and a prioritised repair plan with costs.
Surface Preparation
Abrasive blasting or mechanical cleaning to the standard the coating needs, with containment near guests.
Marine Coating Systems
Zinc-rich primer, epoxy intermediate and polyurethane topcoat, with film thickness checked and recorded.
Galvanizing & Duplex
Hot-dip galvanizing for new or removable parts, and duplex systems for the harshest exposure.
Structural Reinforcement
Plates, new members or replacement where section loss affects safety, designed by a structural engineer.
Maintenance Plans
Inspection calendar and touch-up programme so protection lasts and costs stay predictable.
Why paint fails on the coast
Most corroded steel we inspect was painted, just with the wrong system. A single coat of alkyd enamel over poorly cleaned steel lasts one or two seasons at the beach. A marine system starts with proper surface preparation, then a zinc-rich primer, an epoxy build coat and a UV-resistant polyurethane, each at a measured thickness. Detailing matters just as much: drain holes, sealed joints and no pockets where salt water collects.
When it is more than cosmetic
- Flaking and pitting at connections, base plates and welds can mean real section loss.
- Swollen layers of rust between plates (pack rust) bend connections and break welds.
- Base plates and anchor bolts sitting in water or buried in soil corrode hidden from view.
- Railings and canopies in public areas are a safety and liability issue for hotels and condos.
We measure, report and fix in priority order, and work in phases so hotels and condos keep operating.
Corrosion Repair Prices (2026)
| Service | Includes | Price (MXN) |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection and report | Readings, photos, priorities, budget | From $8,000 |
| Blasting + marine coating | Zinc-rich primer, epoxy, polyurethane | $650–$1,400 / m² surface |
| Hot-dip galvanizing | New or removable parts | $12–$22 / kg |
| Reinforcement / replacement | Engineered repair of corroded members | Per project |
Useful pages: Structural Steel · Steel Roofs & Canopies · Mezzanines & Floor Additions · Steel Frame Homes · Architectural Metalwork · Warehouse construction · Steel in the tropics: guide
Why Hotels and Condos Choose Recrea
- 18+ years and 196 projects in the Riviera Maya, written warranty
- Own metal workshop in Playa del Carmen: fabrication, welding and finishing under our control
- Engineered for hurricanes: wind design to the CFE 2020 manual, calculations signed by a structural engineer and DRO
- Coastal corrosion protection as standard: galvanizing or duplex systems specified for marine exposure
- Fixed price per kg, per m² or per piece, with shop drawings approved before fabrication
Tell us about the corrosion
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with a corrosion inspection
Readings, priorities and a budget before the rust gets structural. Reply in 2 minutes.
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