Aluminum Sidings are products, which are designed specifically for protecting the construction from external factors. They can take the loads and damaging issues away, whether caused by wind or due to the sun and rain exposure. Depending on the construction’s location and other vital factors, aluminum siding can be the right choice for facades cladding materials. Just like many industrial products, aluminum sidings come with many advantages. The material is considered soft, and the thickness can make a tremendous difference. It is varied from the cheapest one, developed in 0.4 inches in thickness, to the most expensive materials with the 53-gauge characteristic. One of these products’ most essential factors is that they are produced in both horizontal and vertical formats, allowing the designer to create unique aesthetic exteriors and have limitless freedom in breathing life into their ideas. Aluminum sidings are also very popular for their insulation properties. They can save a considerable amount of heating and cooling energy cost over their long life span. Additionally, this type of siding is very lightweight and has an easy installation and fabrication procedure. Thus, the labor cost is lower in projects that are created from aluminum materials.
Aluminum sidings are the perfect choice for people who choose to live in coastal communities with lots of humidity, moisture, or even salt spray in the air. Other sidings such as wood can absorb the water and cause different types of issues for the homeowners, and they have a smaller life span than aluminum. This type of siding is entirely recyclable and insect-proof. However, they are many challenges when choosing a siding for any commercial or residential building. The most common challenge is deciding whether spending lots of money on the material that requires heavy maintenance or buying an inexpensive material that will need to be repaired over time is logical. The other factor, which is essential when choosing the best siding for the construction, is the products’ life span.
Aluminum Siding’s Life Span
As told, aluminum siding is a recyclable and long-lasting material and requires minimal maintenance. Its lifetime can exceed 30 years, and in some cases, it can provide 50 years of perfect service for architectural applications. It will work without any problems for up to 15 years. However, after that, it can start to show its age by flaking off and getting chalky. It contains a glaze of paint that is generally baked onto the material and creates a robust coating system. This coat is not eternal, but the good thing about the finish is that it can be repainted after proper preparations. The down part of the painted aluminum sidings is that they can be dented or scratched, making them not ideal for high traffic areas. The surface can become pitted and damaged. However, some of the imperfections can be repaired easily. In the case of replacement, it can be challenging to match the new product’s colour with the sidings that already exist. This is due to the presence of the shaded colors in old products. This issue can be solved by removing the less visible siding piece and put a new product in its place.
Factors that Will Affect the Lifetime of the Aluminum Sidings
Many factors will affect the life span of the aluminum sidings. Knowing them can help the homeowner improve the siding’s long-lasting characteristic, which is used in the building’s structure. The followings are the critical factors to know that will change the lifetime of the aluminum siding.
Thickness of Aluminum Sidings
Comparing siding panels by their thickness can help choose the approvable material for the building. This property of the product is also known as gauge or grade, and it can be the key to determining how long the aluminum siding will continue doing its job. The most common thickness is about 40mm, and the thickest one is 50mm. Low-grade sidings will crack and sag in a decade, and it will fade much sooner. On the other hand, heavy-gauge sidings are considered more durable and fade-resistant. Thicker products are better looking and often come with more extended warranties.
Aluminum Siding Maintenance
Due to the aluminum siding’s duty to protect the building from rain, wind, heat, cold, dust, etc., its life span depends on upkeep. It is correct that aluminum material does not require complicated cleaning and maintaining process. However, taking care of the material once in a few years can increase the product’s lifetime. They can be easily washed. It is essential to check them annually for cracks, moisture infiltration, and damages as they can speed up the deterioration and lead to costly repairing procedures.
Other
One of the benefits of aluminum sidings is their flexibility. They can take winds with a high amount of force that would deform any metal siding yet never show a mark. They can also contract and expand with temperature changes, and they are installed with different supplies that provide an accurate gap between the sidings for ensuing the movement. However, extreme temperature changes may cause aluminum sidings to become more brittle or warp over time. Some high-speed winds that carry stones or hailstones can break the old products. Thus, selecting a product with a warranty of 150 mph winds is recommended for all types of buildings.
No comment yet, add your voice below!