ACM panels are among the most popular construction materials architects use for modern building designs. Although ACP itself is a modern-looking system, you can enhance their elegancy by choosing various hues for them equivalent to your home’s design. In this article, you will learn about the 13 best aluminum composite colors and designs that you can choose to create a beautiful and modern facade for your home.
But, first of all, let’s see how color can affect any architectural project.
How do Colors Affect Your Building Design?
Just as the colors and hues of a painting or photograph can produce a mood, the aluminum composite colors can also influence how people feel when they see it.
Years of research in psychology have shown that some colors will make you feel relaxed, some will keep you alerted, and some will attract you with a pleasant feeling.
You or your architect should choose aluminum composite panel colors that can attract human eyes while increasing your home’s aesthetics. You can also combine different hues and colors to create an excellent feel for your modern facade. In the next section, you will learn the best colors for aluminum composite panels.
Use These Aluminum Composite Colors and Create an Unforgettable Facade
You can use earthly brown hues for your aluminum composite colors if you give your home a sense of reliability and strength. With this color, you can create the illusion of natural elements.
With wood sidings and brown ACM panels, your home will look extraordinary.
Grey and White ACM Panels
If you want to create a modern, minimal, and beautiful building facade, the best aluminum composite panel colors are a mixture of grey and white.
The combination of these colors looks sleek on the modern building facade. You can ask your architect to use various shades of white and grey to deck up the exterior cladding of your house.
You can enhance your grey and white ACM panel’s beauty with black framed glass windows.
You Can Combine Grey and White with Brown
When architects want to create a stunning effect for modern residential properties, they opt for the combination of white and grey with a reddish-brown shade.
This color combination is perfect for homeowners who want to create a style that appears both modern and traditional.
Add Light and Shade to Your Aluminum Composite Colors
Although adding light and shades is not among the colors you can choose for your aluminum cladding, it is a perfect way to make your home look stunning.
This designing method works perfectly with facades with dark grey and white ACM colors.
Multiple Shades Will Create Unique Appearance for Your Modern Facade
With a little bit of creativity, you and your architect can deck up your modern home’s design with various shades. However, if you want to enhance your home’s aesthetic with this method, you should opt for ACM panels colors with brown, black, grey, and white color finishes.
ACM Panels with Green Accents are Unique
Green is another modern color in the architectural world. However, you can create a relaxing and soothing feel with the greenish aluminum composite panel. But the important thing is that you should combine the green accents with other dark colors such as dark grey or black.
Light Blue Aluminum Composite Colors
Architects use blue aluminum composite colors to offer a calm, soothing, secure, and dignified feeling. One of the best ways to use light blue ACM panels is for the ceiling or roofing applications.
Additionally, you can add lights to your blue ACM panels to create an inviting and modern aura for your home.
Combine Various Materials to Create Unique Colors
One of the best ways to create a stunning home facade is by combining various materials with aluminum composite material. For example, with dark composite panels and brick or stone, you can vary the hues of the exterior cladding.
Charcoal Grey is Trendy and Classy
Charcoal grey is one of the trendiest aluminum composite colors that you can choose for your modern house. With this unique color, you can create a facade that will look neat.
Note: If you have a green lawn, backyard, or front yard in your home, this color is the best choice.
Dark Aluminum Composite Colors Will Make You Feel Rich
Another stylish choice for ACM colors is dark hues. With these colors, your home will look sleek and trendy. However, the monochromatic color should be enhanced with a beautiful contemporary home design.
Add Red Accents to Your Facade for More Attractiveness
Research has shown that Red is the color that attracts the human eyes the most. So, if you want to enhance your home’s attractiveness, you should add some accents of Red.
You can use red aluminum cladding panels or combine dark panels with red materials such as brick or terracotta tiles.
A Few Orange Accents Will Change Your Home’s Feel
Orange is the color that creates a luminous space and friendly feel. With orange accents in your paneling system, you can create a calmer design and if you want to enhance its beauty, add some lighting system.
Yellow Accents are Suitable for Aluminum Composite Panels
If you have a design element on your home’s exterior and want to highlight it, choosing yellowish ACM colors is best. This color is cheerful and radiant, and it does not overwhelm as much as Red.
Currently, architects focus on designing buildings that are energy-efficient and beautiful. One of the essential components of any building and home is its cladding system. Building cladding is the exterior element of a facility that protects the structure from external factors. All types of buildings require an efficient and functional cladding material from commercial to residential. One of the standards and popular cladding materials is an aluminum composite material. This aluminum cladding adds insulation and protects the building from weather conditions while enhancing the aesthetic characteristics of the facility.
What is Aluminum Composite Material?
Thealuminum composite panelis a metal cladding system that is produced with aluminum. Composite panel manufacturers utilize various methods of fabrication and production to create these materials for building facades.
Unlike other conventional cladding materials, aluminum composite material is entirely recyclable. Manufacturers use continuous bonding between two aluminum plates and one fire-retardant core to provide the highest quality aluminum composite panels.
The exterior layer of aluminum composite panels is often pre-painted, adding extra protection and aesthetics and making it perfect for exterior and interior applications.
An Aluminum composite material is primarily made from various aluminum plate systems. However, today’s building material suppliers provide composite panels with other finishes, including wood grains. Thus, this cladding system can be suitable for homeowners who want to create a modern or traditional facade.
Traditional ACM panelsconsisted of polyurethane core that is banned in most countries, including Canada, due to its fire-safety issues. Thus, modern composite panels feature an FR core following international building codes and regulations.
Additionally, aluminum composite material manufacturers manage to produce nano aluminum composite panels that offer extra protection against water and increase the lifespan of your metal cladding system.
History of ACP Material
Aluminum composite material development has a long history. The story of ACM panels goes back to the 1960s when metal researchers from Swiss proposed the idea of combining aluminum plates with other materials.
Engineers carried out numerous inspections before starting the large production of aluminum composite panels. They started testing their ideas on aluminum siding panels.
After ensuring all aspects of the material, in 1969, a German metal company launched a brand named ALUCOBOND to produce aluminum composite material on a larger scale.
Why Manufacturers Started Developing Aluminum Composite material?
The primary reason for producing aluminum composite material was to meet the unique requirements of industrial projects. Due to the advantages of this metal panel, the early targeted applications were marked by the transportation industry.
With the growth of researching technology, the functionality of aluminum composite panels was recognized for architectural projects. Currently, the most usage of composite material is in the cladding systems.
What are the Advantages of ACM Panels?
Aluminum composite material and ACM panel manufacturing process made them suitable construction materials for various industrial projects. Thanks to the current equipment and technology, manufacturers improved their characteristics.
If you want to use aluminum composite panels for your following projects, knowing their primary advantages over other construction materials is essential, which are:
ACP is a Cost-Effective Cladding System.
ACM panels are Durable
Composite Panels are Versatile Construction Materials
ACM Panels Feature Flat Surface
ACM Installation is Straightforward
Aluminum Composite Material is Lightweight
You Can Ensure Your Building’s Safety with ACM Panels
Composite Materials Do Not Require Regular Maintenance
Aluminum Composite Panels are Perfect Sound Insulators
ACP is an Energy Efficient Construction Material
Building claddings that are made from aluminum composite material are among the most economical building materials in the market. Since they are long-lasting cladding systems, they are considered an investment. After they are correctly installed, ACM panels will serve your building for decades without causing additional expenses.
Since aluminum composite material is lightweight, installing it on the building facade is more accessible than most traditional cladding materials. Additionally, the labor cost is less than other systems. Moreover, builders can use various installation methods depending on the project.
The aluminum composite panel’s structural details offer efficient thermal performance, making it one of the best solutions for the cladding systems in energy-efficiency terms.
Thanks to the unique structure of ACM panels, these metal claddings are resistant to the harshest weather conditions. The anti-corrosion characteristic of these panels makes them one of the best rainscreen cladding materials in the construction industry.
Another advantage of aluminum composite material is its fire-resistant characteristic which will be discussed in the next sections.
Is it Possible to Recycle Aluminum Composite material?
Today’s best aluminum composite material manufacturers use various methods to recycle this valuable material to reproduce new ACM panels for new projects.
Although ACM panels are economical construction materials, recycling the old or damaged ones is better to prevent them from being wasted in the land fields. Additionally, the high value of ACP influences manufacturers to recycle them without causing changes in their main physical properties.
Another crucial reason that pushes manufacturers to recycle aluminum composite panels is that producing them consumes more energy than recycling.
Aluminum Composite Material Manufacturers Recycle these Cladding Systems With the Steps Below:
They start with crushing old aluminum composite material panels.
Then they grind the crushed metal panels.
Manufacturers utilize circulating water as the cooling system of the process.
They sieve the composite panels.
The last step is to do the electrostatic separation of the components.
Manufacturers offer a unique type of aluminum composite material that features spectra coating. This panel has a different appearance compared to standard ones.
The spectra coating for ACM panels is the final layer of the product that is special in both color and style.
ACM panels with spectra coating have a mixture of colors that you can find in rainbows which consists of a color spectrum instead of a solid hue. In an aluminum composite panel of a specific size, the color purity gradually decreases or increases, or the color darkens and lightens.
The unique appearance of ACM panels with spectra coating allows architects to design extraordinary building facades that will stand out. However, they are more suitable for more dynamic locations with intimate atmospheres such as malls, hotels, art schools, or offices.
With the spectra coated aluminum composite material, the building will be known as a place worth visiting. The only issue with this coating system is that it cannot be used for residential facilities due to the most local building codes that demand the architects to design a building that can blend into the overall style of the neighborhood.
How to Clean Aluminum Composite Material?
Although aluminum composite material does not need regular maintenance and can last long, you will have to clean them once in two to three years to maintain their beauty.
Cleaning aluminum composite panels is not a challenging task. However, there are some essential things to know before cleaning your ACM panels.
Never use strong alkaline or acid detergents.
Never consider using abrasive materials.
Using items that can scrub the painted surface of the aluminum composite material is forbidden.
Never clean your aluminum cladding in the hottest hours of the day or direct sunlight.
Before beginning the thorough cleaning process, choosing a small spot for testing your cleaning method is recommended.
Is it Possible to Fabricate or Bend Aluminum Composite Panels?
Since aluminum composite material is flexible (with robust characteristics), manufacturers can fabricate them in any demanding shape or design. It is possible to bend and cut ACM panels with various industrial machines, including:
Three Roll Bending
Press Brakes
Each fabrication method has its unique principles, and if you want to know more about the details, check out the How to Cut ACM Panelsarticle.
Three Roll Bending Machine
Press Brake
What is the Difference Between Aluminum Composite Material and Aluminum Plates?
Many people think that an aluminum plate is the same as an aluminum composite material which is a big mistake. Aluminum composite panels are made from solid aluminum plates, and there is a big difference between them when it comes to using them as the cladding material. The primary differences are:
Building Codes and Regulations
Color Finishes and Coatings
Structure
Fabrication and Production Process
Installation Process
Aluminum panels are just solid pieces of metal product that are non-laminated. On the other hand, ACM panels are produced by the composition of aluminum plates and a mineral-filled core. Most aluminum panels are available in their natural and solid color, while ACP materials come with various colors and finishes. Additionally, aluminum composite material is a safer cladding system than concrete panels.
Is Aluminum Composite Panel Flammable?
Almost all modern aluminum composite panels are fire-rated. however, the national standard of GB8624-97 divides these materials into the following classes for their fire-safety characteristics:
A2: Non-combustible Panels
B1: Fire-Retardant Panels
B2: Traditional ACM Panels that Were Combustible
B3: Flammable Composite Panels (not recommended for large buildings)
Now that you know the different classes of aluminum composite panels, it is evident that choosing A2 or B1 for your next project will be the best choice.
Connection Methods for ACM Panels
As told, the installation process of ACM panels is straightforward compared to most of the current metal cladding systems. However, builders utilize some supplies and connection methods to provide a stable cladding system for their homes or commercial buildings. The list of builders’ connection methods to install your aluminum composite material is here.
Rivet Connection
Threaded Fasteners
Plastic Welding
Card Connector
Interior Designing with ACP Material
Although aluminum composite material is best for cladding systems, it is possible to use the panel for interior design.
Most interior designers utilize aluminum composite panels for modern furniture designs, including cabinets, tables, shelves, and chairs.
Due to the contemporary appearance of these metal panels, designers can create beautiful and industrial-looking bathrooms and kitchens for people who want to create modern interiors for their homes or offices.
Additionally, ACM panels can be used for interior elements such as ceilings and columns to offer unique characteristics to the area.
The price of aluminum composite panels mainly depends on the finishes you choose and the size your project requires. Additionally, the grades of ACM panels (fire-resistant grades), which we discussed earlier, can also affect the price of your cladding material. With this said, suppliers offer both expensive and cheap panels. Check our guide about ACM Panels: Cheap vs. Expensive if you want to know their differences.
You are an intelligent buyer if you want to know more about your metal building supplier than just their product’s price. Cheap construction material is not always the best choice and deals on steel or aluminum buildings.
We have provided some essential questions for you to ask your metal building supplier that will help you determine whether you are getting your investment’s worth with a specific company.
Metal Building Supplier Reliability
First of all, you should ensure that you deal with a reliable and reputable company that provides ACM panelsor other metal materials that you want to use for your metal building. The following is a list of questions to ask your metal building supplier to ensure its reliability.
Where are You Located? Although a nearby office is unnecessary, it could be convenient for more complicated and more extensive projects.
How Long Have You Been a Metal Building Supplier? If the company is new and has little verifiable history, it is better to reconsider buying aluminum cladding and other metal materials from them.
Do You Have a Factory Nearby? It will be better for you to find a aluminum or steel building supplier near your construction locations since you will have to pay less for shipping.
Does the Metal Building Supplier Offer References? If the company avoids answering this question or refuses to provide references, it would be best to cut the deal.
How Experienced is the Sales Team? An experienced metal building supplier will offer tips and shortcuts to save you time and money. Moreover, the best sales team in the industry will treat you with courtesy and respect, answering your questions without pushing for an immediate sale.
Metal Building Kit’s Quality
A second essential thing to check is determining the building material’s quality that the supplier offers, whether it is cladding systems such as aluminum siding or other supplies and attachments.
What Type of Metal Building do You Sell? Not all metal buildings are the same. So it is essential to know the company’s products and their types to see which one is will be the best choice for your project.
How Versatile is Your Metal Framing System? You should ensure that the system will fulfill your needs.
Can You Customize My Metal Cladding? Ensure that your demands are not beyond the metal building supplier’s capability. Even if they do, you should know if the company can customize its products for you.
Is it Easy to Enlarge Your Metal Building? If you have plans for home expansions, the metal building supplier can make it possible with reasonable prices.
What Warranties Does the Metal Building Supplier Carry? If the company you choose for your metal building does not stand behind its product, you should shop elsewhere.
What Type of Metal Sheathing Do You Use? Some companies utilize thin metal sheets. But, if you want your building to be stable, go for companies that offer sheet metal equivalent to your needs.
What Other Claddings are Possible? Better aluminum cladding systems allow the use of any traditional materials, including stone and brick.
Is The Framing Prefabricated? For quicker assembly, all the cladding components welded, drilled, painted, etc., for faster assembly are the better choice.
What are the Special Features of Your Building Kits? Higher-quality metal claddings and building supplies offer water-resistant and easy maintenance features.
Do Your Products Include All the Fasteners? Most pre-engineered metal materials like aluminum composite panels include nuts, bolts, and screws.
What Other Options Do You Offer As Metal Building Supplier? Check if the metal building supplier provides insulations and high-quality sealers.
Limitations of the Metal Building Supplier
Next, you should discover if the systems and products of the metal building supplier fit your demands.
What are the Cladding Sizes?
Are there Any Size Limitations?
Will You Design My Building Equivalent to My Specific Use and Location?
Material and Installation Pricing
Once you ensure the reliability of the metal building supplier and their product’s quality, you can finally get to the bottom line: the pricing. So, it would help if you asked the following questions from the company you desire to work with.
How Much Will My Metal Building Cost?
What Exactly is Included in the Price You Offer?
How Long is the Price Locked In?
How Long Will It Take to Send or Ship the Metal Building Products?
Alumtech Bond Challenges You to Test Our Metal Buildings
Alumtech Bond invites you to look us over. Our experienced metal building specialists will answer all your questions precisely. We offer the best metal buildings at the most reasonable prices.
Alumtech Bond has built its reputation one structure at a time over many years. Our returning buyers have proven we are doing it right. Our aluminum composite panelsare guaranteed to meet or even exceed all your building codes for the lifetime of your home.
Aluminum cladding systems are durable building materials applied to a facade to protect the facility from exterior elements. In the construction industry, the term “cladding” means a building covering system that protects the building by offering an extra layer while providing aesthetics. Since architects and building contractors utilize metal cladding systems for current projects, manufacturers are developing modern aluminum cladding systems with high functionality and beautiful finishes. Thanks to modern technologies and development methods, today’s aluminum panels experience quality improvements and can last for a long.
Aluminum cladding systems are made from the lightest metal material on the earth. However, these metal panels are robust, providing a high level of stability and durability. Since aluminum is a flexible material, manufacturers can fabricate them in any desired shape and design, allowing architects to create limitless building facade styles. Additionally, homeowners can easily replace them with other products whenever they want. The vast array of aluminum cladding systems benefits and advantages make them the dominant metal building materials in the market. Here are the primary advantages of aluminum panels that are used for the building cladding system:
Durability and Sustainability
Safety
Fire-Resistance
Water-Resistance
Easy Installation
Lightweight Characteristics
Versatility
Low-Maintenance
Recyclability and Environmentally-Friendliness
Affordability
Style and Finishes Variety
Energy Efficiency
Investors in the building industry and homeowners prefer to buy metal cladding systems that last for long. Aluminum cladding systems are highly durable and sustainable and can withstand even the worst weather conditions. Additionally, these building facade materials provide structural stability. Although aluminum panels do not get damaged easily, in some cases, homeowners may prefer to replace them with other materials. However, there is no need to throw old panels in landfills since aluminum claddings are fully recyclable. It is essential to mention that modern manufacturers recycle ACP materials to produce new aluminum composite panels that are functional, sustainable, and beautiful.
Aluminum panels used for building claddings are considered rainscreen systems and can improve the building’s envelope’s thermal insulation and energy efficiency. Additionally, ACM or aluminum composite panels are among the most popular aluminum cladding systems and are perfect sound insulating materials, making them ideal for industrial and crowded cities.
Safety and functionality are essential factors to current building codes and regulations. Thus, manufacturers developed their aluminum claddings by adding fire-resistance characteristics to their products. For instance, aluminum composite panels are both fire and water-resistant materials. Moreover, aluminum is an anti-corrosion metal and does not rust or corrode when exposed to rainwater and humidity. Since metal building manufacturers apply an extra coating to these products, the durability of modern aluminum sidings is improved. Unlike other metal claddings such as copper, the humidity will not affect aluminum building facades.
Due to aluminum’s lightweight and durable nature, extra pressure cannot be placed on the construction’s structure. For example, ACM panels can withstand even the most potent wind loads without folding and denting. Since aluminum composite panels and sidings are lightweight construction materials, installing these panels for new or renovation projects is straightforward and cost-effective. Old buildings that have serious structural issues cannot facilitate complex development. However, building contractors can install aluminum claddings to the building exterior wall system to create attractive facades without putting the structural stability at risk.
Aluminum cladding systems are incredibly versatile construction materials. These metal building facades do not provide only a vast array of hues and color choices but also a choice of shapes, patterns, styles, sizes, and visual effects. ACP manufacturers can fabricate and customize aluminum composite panels into any demanding shape. This advantage of aluminum cladding materials is due to their melting point, which is considered low. Architects and designers appreciate using ACM panels for projects that require curves and unusual shapes for building facades.
Aluminum sidings and ACM panels require simple periodic cleaning, only for aesthetic reasons. Over the lifespan of aluminum claddings, the product translates into an ecological and cost-effective solution for new and renovation applications. Cleaning aluminum composite panels can be done by simple water rising and standard cleaning tools.
Aluminum Cladding System with ACM panels
Different Types of Aluminum Cladding Systems
Building material suppliers and manufacturers provide various types of aluminum cladding systems. Each system has its unique characteristics, pros, and cons. However, there are two common and popular aluminum cladding systems: aluminum sidings and aluminum composite panels known as ACM panels or ACP materials. Both cladding systems are beneficial for current construction projects.
Aluminum Composite Panels (ACM Panels or ACP Material)
ACM panelsor aluminum composite materials are among the most modern aluminum cladding systems widely used in contemporary architectural and building projects. The usage of ACM panels is growing day by day due to their various beneficial characteristics. These building materials consist of two layers of coated aluminum sheets and one fire-resistant core material, making them the durable cladding system for today’s homes and buildings. Unlike traditional aluminum panels, ACP materials do not require repair and come with various sustainable finishes. For homeowners who prefer to have facilities with a more natural and classic feel, ACP manufacturers produce ACM panels with a wood pattern finish. There is no other metal cladding system in the market that can compete with ACM panels in durability, stability, maintainability, energy efficiency, and versatility.
Aluminum Siding
Aluminum sidingis considered the traditional type of aluminum cladding system that architects and builders have used for decades. Although aluminum sidings are not as beneficial as aluminum composite panels, they have unique advantages and characteristics. For instance, it is easy to repair or repaint aluminum siding, they are water-resistant cladding materials, and it is easy to install on the building facade. However, they lack noise insulation and paint durability. With this said, it is better to buy aluminum composite panels for modern buildings. However, the price of aluminum siding is lower than modern ACM panels, making them more budget-friendly. It is essential to mention that traditional or contemporary aluminum siding claddings are the best choice for industrial facilities.
Aluminum Cladding System with Aluminum Siding
Aluminum Cladding Panels Installation Process
As told, aluminum cladding panels are lightweight materials, and installing them is considerably easy. Anyone can install ACM panels and sidings to their building’s facade by following the steps below. However, it is better to hire contractors or builders for better results.
Snap a chalk line about 16 cm above the ground.
Fasten a metal starter strip with metal nails with large heads.
Place the nails and supplies in the center of the slots and do not drive them completely to allow the aluminum cladding systems to expand and contract easily.
Nail the J channel at the corners.
Push the first aluminum panel firmly up into the starter strip and nail it to the wall studs.
Add other aluminum siding or ACM panels to the structure.
Nail the top of all aluminum panels.
Install door and window trim at the openings.
Caulk around the openings.
Nail on top edges and then the sides and bottom.
Slip the aluminum cladding panels into the trim pieces.
Install the F and J channel at the top wall panels.
Measure and cut the aluminum cladding panels to fit the designs perfectly.
Aluminum Cladding Installation Process for Commercial Building
Aluminum Claddings Maintenance and Cleaning
Cleaning aluminum cladding systems consist of four primary methods, which are:
Water Soluble Cleaning
Non-Water-Soluble Cleaning
Mild Solvent
Color and Shine
Debris and dust that cannot be washed by rainfall can be removed with simple water rinsing. However, if there are signs of residue left on the surface, mild soap and clean water solution can be applied with a soft brush. Wipe or air dry the panels with soft, line-free, dry cloths. More aggressive solvent cleaners will be required if the debris remains on the surface after cleaning with a water-soluble method. However, ethanol alcohol or methanol should be the first attempt to remove surface debris when a water-soluble solution has little or no effect. In case of unwanted color fades on aluminum cladding systems, homeowners can apply a high-quality, non-abrasive car was to the exterior layer.
Aluminum Cladding Systems Cost
Many people wonder why aluminum claddings are more affordable and popular than steel and iron. The primary reason for their exceptional price is the material’s availability. Additionally, it is easier to extract and obtain aluminum than other metal materials. It is essential to remember that the aluminum cladding systems installation process is much easier than other metal claddings resulting in lower labor costs.
Since aluminum cladding systems last for more than 20 years without requiring regular maintenance, they are considered an investment and add value to the facility. As told, aluminum building facades are energy-efficient materials and can decrease utility bills for homeowners reducing the overall expenditure. However, they are standard prices for flat aluminum claddings and ACM panels.
Price for flat aluminum cladding panels: Under $10 per sq.m.
Price for aluminum composite panels (ACM panels): $15-$30 per sq.m.
There are many reasons why having metal cladding systems such as aluminum siding, and ACM panelsis a huge plus for the cladding systems of any home. Aluminum cladding is not only waterproof and corrosion-resistant material, but homeowners can paint aluminum siding any color they want. However, ACM panels are slightly different as ACP manufacturers prepaint them. Generally, the color choices are endless with aluminum cladding systems since the finish used to paint aluminum siding will hold up over time.
People usually paint aluminum siding to allow the aluminum cladding to blend in with the house design and the exterior features. They often simply match up the hues with what would go best with more traditional building materials such as trims, doors, bricks, and windows. However, current architects recommend painting aluminum cladding to help the home’s design stand out. The hues and colors are more pronounced and powerful, and homeowners do not feel afraid to be bold, which is exciting.
Is it Reasonable to Paint Aluminum Siding?
One question comes up from time to time with most clients and homeowners. Most people wonder if it is good to paint aluminum siding, repair it, or replace it with a new one. It is definitely an excellent idea to paint aluminum claddings, which can last for a long. If appropriately maintained, a good quality aluminum cladding paint can last about seven to fifteen years. Since aluminum claddings do not absorb moisture in the same way that wood sidings do, these metal cladding systems can hold up well over time. In simple terms, the best aluminum sidings have the potential to last the whole duration of the time homeowners or occupants live in a home.
Paint Aluminum Siding and Window Trims
As long as the aluminum window trims are prepped well and have a clean surface, they can give you the green light to paint aluminum siding with the best results. If some funky things are happening with the window trims, such as tear or wear, it is essential to utilize a shellac-based primer.
Paint Eaves Troughs
Homeowners can paint eaves troughs when updating their aluminum siding. However, it is recommended to replace them if the cost is reasonable. Generally, the cost of painting the eaves troughs is often equal to the cost of replacing them. Thus, replacing them can be the more cost-effective solution.
Paint Aluminum Claddings and Soffits
If a homeowner wants to paint aluminum siding, it is better not to paint the soffits. Since the soffits are constantly exposed to moisture, it can be highly challenging to paint them. However, if a homeowner insists on painting the aluminum soffits, they should utilize a shellac-based primer.
Things to Consider for Painting Aluminum Siding
There are things to consider before painting aluminum siding, even if there is a demand for going bolder and playing up the style of the house. It is essential to consider the neighborhood’s overall look to get a sense of some of the color schemes that already exist and are appealing. Additionally, homeowners should consider the architecture and the aluminum cladding that the building features.
The size of the building will also play a crucial role since small swatches can be misleading when it comes to large exterior claddings. There will be all kinds of visual signals that the aluminum cladding system of a house will intuitively give off. Homeowners should listen to their guts, play up the features, and paint aluminum siding with their preferred color.
Top Colors for Aluminum Claddings
The type of painting material homeowners want to paint aluminum cladding will wish to utilize primers with flat or low luster. It is recommended to opt for low sheen paints for most quality paints. It is also essential to keep in mind that there will be a need for at least two coats of aluminum cladding paint. However, if the design requires a gradient color that goes from dark to light or even light to dark colors, homeowners will have to apply three to four coats for better results. Here are some of the top colors to paint aluminum siding with:
Kendall Charcoal
Medium Tucker Gray with Reddish Characteristics
Revere Pewter or Light Gray (goes well with sandstone or pink bricks)
ACM panels (aluminum composite material)are the most modern building cladding materials, beneficial for recent architectural projects. Aluminum cladding manufacturers utilize different fabrication and installation methods to complete a project with the best results. One of the most common ACP fabrication systemsis cutting them in any demanding dimensions equivalent to the project and client’s needs. Cutting these building materials is not as straightforward as many people think, and it is often challenging for manufacturers to fabricate them with precision when the exterior renovation is required. This particular process is considered the initial stage of any composite material fabrication process. Building material suppliers and manufacturers utilize various tools and equipment to cut ACM panels. For instance, circular milling cutters and saws are known as hand-held tools for this purpose. Other industrial tools include a CNC router, laser cutting machine, shears, and chisels used for cutting aluminum composite panels. By using these tools, fabricating different aluminum claddings is possible with precision.
Cutting ACM Panels with a Laser Cut
A fiber laser cut system can cut metal materials, including aluminum sidings (another suitable building material for facades) and ACM panels. Modern laser cutting devices can penetrate any metal material without creating tooling wear. When it comes to fabricating ACP materials, a CO2 laser cut machine can do a perfect job. The laser cutting technology is popular due to its unique ability to not leave any shadings on the product’s surface after completing the cutting procedure.
This metal fabricating machine generates a small laser beam, allowing manufacturers to cut ACM panels with higher precision than other router bits and die cutters. Additionally, laser cutting devices can complete complex patterns and provide more freedom than standard cutting tools. By using these particular machines, manufacturers can cut ACM panels with high yield points while delivering high quality and material waste reduction.
Cut ACM Panels with Shearing
One of the oldest metal cutting methods with machines is shearing. Cutting ACM panels with this method is almost similar to using scissors to cut paper. The shearing machine’s blades come together at a minimum offset for fabricating the boards in desired blank sizes, known as blade gap. The wider or thicker the ACM panel, the wider the blade gap between the cutting tools must be. This will decrease the required tonnage amount for fracturing the metal. The components of a shearing device are the mainframe, bed, hold-downs, square arm, gaging, control, and blades. Building material manufacturers utilize two types of sear: swing bear and guillotine, which are available in both mechanical and hydraulic mechanisms.
CNC Routing Machine
Another popular industrial machine that is used to cut ACM panels is the CNC router. This machine is also used to fabricate other metal cladding systems. The CNC cutter operator removes the material precisely to provide a better working flow and reduce the stickiness of the fabricating boards. Using lubricants can also minimize stickiness. Experts utilize a feed rate calculator due to tighter windows of the feed and speed when cutting aluminum composite materials.
Cutting Aluminum Composite Panels With Circular Saw
For creating straight line cuts on ACM panels, the most efficient tool is the circular saw. Cutting aluminum cladding with this method can be done with a DIY process. However, it is essential to follow safety protocols. The operator must evaluate the tool before starting the cutting process. This saw should never be turned on when the cutting blades face the composite panel. Wearing safety goggles is necessary to protect the eyes from dust or flying debris during the metal fabrication process.
Cut ACM Panels with a Jigsaw
Most experts prefer to cut ACM panels with a jigsaw when it comes to lower-budget projects. Jigsaw itself is a versatile industrial tool that can create straight cuts and fabricate sheet metals with any thicknesses. This tool allows experts to create curves and angles. However, it is essential to utilize A 24-toothed blade for a smoother cut for cutting aluminum cladding systems.
Cutting with Cold Chisels
For cutting ACP with cold chisels, the tool must be 2cm wider than the working piece. After choosing a suitable chisel, this tool must be sharpened to a 60 or 70-degree angle with a preferable guide. The alignment of the device is better to be done with screw and hammering. However, the operator should never use a claw hammer.
Aluminum siding cladding is one of the most common building materials used in the construction industry as a cladding system. These metal building claddings are perfect for clients who want durable and stylish exteriors for their homes or offices. Construction material suppliers provide aluminum sidings with various textures, paint finishes, and grades. Although other practical and functional cladding systems, such as durable ACM panels, are suitable for modern architecture, aluminum sidings are still used in the building industry. When buying quality aluminum sidings, it is essential to know their thicknesses and characteristics.
The Most Common Gauges or Grades of Aluminum Siding
The thickness of aluminum siding and other metal cladding systems is called “gauge” or “grade”. If you consider buying aluminum siding or cladding for your home, one of the most critical choices you will have to make is what grade your home will require. This decision plays an essential role in the durability of the siding and how well it will function during its life span.
The different grades of aluminum sidings are expressed by a number such as 26 gauge or 29 gauge. The difference in thickness between these two grades is about the thickness of a single sheet of paper. Although it does not seem much different, the 26 gauge aluminum siding is better suited and more popular for building claddings.
While aluminum siding panels can be customized to be at any gauge, they are most commonly available in 22, 24, 26, and 29 grades. As the gauge number gets higher, the metal siding panel gets thinner. Thus, a 22-grade board is thicker than all of the other gauges. The denser metal cladding systems are more durable. However, removing lower gauge aluminum siding can be challenging as they are heavier. Additionally, thick sidings are more costly.
The construction industry standard for residential facilities offers 26-grade siding. While this gauge is the most commonly used and recommended for building facades, there isn’t one thickness to fit all situations and applications. As told, extra strength from a lower grade metal siding is never a bad idea. However, not every siding situation will require the maximum thickness.
When is it Recommended to Use Lower Gauge Metal sidings?
There are some particular situations that homeowners should consider using thicker aluminum sidings for their homes which are:
Locations With Harsh Climate
Building Structure
Siding Profile Choice and Paint System
A metal siding with a heavier gauge means extra durability and strength. Home protection is critical if the building is located in an area frequently impacted by storms or where the elements are known to be damaging, such as heavy snow and high wind loads. The lower gauge aluminum siding can resist being bent, dented, punctured, or blown off during extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes.
The building’s structure and its spanning capabilities, or the distance between two supports for the facility, can help determine the aluminum siding grade. The thicker the metal panels, the further installers can span boards over open support.
Homeowners’ choice on the aluminum siding grades may be made easier depending on the cladding panel profile they choose. For instance, in the case of having flush wall panels for the siding material, it is not possible to utilize 29-gauge panels. Flush wall panels are only developed with thicker gauges. The paint finish that the client demands will also affect the grade of the siding. For example, for more expensive paint finishes, it is better to opt for heavier gauge systems.
The Advantages of Thicker Grade Aluminum Siding
The aluminum siding itself features various advantages. However, the thicker metal panels can be more beneficial generally.
Minimizing Denting
Reducing Oil Canning
Higher Durability
While a thicker metal cladding is very resistant to denting on impact, a thinner aluminum siding like 29-grade is easier to get scratched, dent or puncture.
One of the most notorious aluminum claddings problems is oil canning which can be overcome using thicker panels. The lower gauge panels make it harder for the claddings to change shape and helps reduce the strictness of oil canning.
The thicker gauge metal cladding systems are more potent and can withstand gale forces, winds, and storms. They increase their wind uplift force and impact resistance, or the cladding’s ability to withstand intense exterior forces. However, it is crucial to note that aluminum sidings and claddings are naturally resistant to corrosion, fires, and rotting.
As a consequence of the industrial growth and revolution, modern architecture improved and evolved in response to new building materials and technologies, resulting in the sleek and beautiful building facades shunting ornamentation and taking over earlier traditional systems, products, and methods of construction. The building materials help architects in attaining the physical and final form of their design. Construction industry products are the only tangible that offers various intangible feelings and emotions. For instance, people who want a warm feeling can opt for claddings with wood pattern finishes, or the cold and contemporary feel can be obtained by utilizing metal wall cladding systems. The selection of suitable building facade materials holds an equal share in designing compared to functionality and aesthetics.
Aluminum Building Materials in Modern Architecture (ACM Panels and Aluminum Sidings)
Aluminum is a metal substance that is abundantly available in nature. Building materials manufacturers utilize them to produce various types of metal building claddings, including ACM panels. These modern systems possess high quality with strength and lightweight characteristics. The benefits of ACM panels made them famous among modern architects as they are airtight and feature easy installation procedures. Aluminum siding cladding materials are corrosion resistant and have a perfect behavior at extreme temperatures. Generally, the glass facade of modern buildings is supported by lightweight and robust aluminum frameworks. There are other new products made from this particular substance, known as transparent aluminum, which provide excellent transparency and form in contemporary architecture.
Glass in Modern Building Designs
Along with ACM panels and aluminum sidings which are metal cladding systems, glass is a modernistic building material that provides transparency and light while offering visibility and protection for the facility. Many modern architectural buildings justify the extent of the glass building designs. Construction materials manufacturers managed to develop the glass building facade with a lower U-value, high thermal insulation characteristic, suiting the environment and helping in the facility’s energy efficiency.
Steel Building Materials in Modern Architecture
Steel metal claddings are products that can be used as a structural element as well as visual material. They can withstand tensile forces, making them the effective structural material as an RCC reinforcement and space frames, trusses, section beams, etc. In addition to building cladding systems, steel is suitable for doors and window frames, handrails, door handles, balustrades, etc. Modern building materials made from steel possess qualities such as strength, lightweight, durability, recyclability and can withstand various climate conditions like Aluminum Composite Panels (ACM panels) and aluminum sidings.
Brick in Building Facades
Brick blocks used for building facades form a creative style through innovative ideas and skilled builders. Despite the robust and rigid form of brick products, they have proven that using them can develop beautiful specimens over some time. Modern building materials manufacturers are working towards transforming the small construction product into a durable facility unit.
Concrete Building Materials in Modern Architecture
Concrete building materials are the backbone of modern architecture. These materials are made of cement, dine, and coarse aggregates attached to each other in a specific ratio. Concrete can be fabricated and molded into any desired form easily by utilizing appropriate scaffolding, forming a beam slab, column, foundation, cladding, etc.
Natural Stone for Modern Designs
Natural stones have been in the building industry since the time of humanity’s evolution. However, they are still modern building materials. Despite their heavy and bulk properties, they are appreciated by modern architects in the building industry due to their prominent variety of colors, textures, and sizes.
Wood Pattern Finishes
Metal cladding systems with wood pattern finishes are one of the newest building materials used to create a warm feeling and comfort for the homeowner. These materials are perfect for people who want to have a more traditional-looking building while benefiting from advantageous characteristics of metal cladding systems such as ACM panels and aluminum sidings. Wood pattern metal claddings feature high tensile strength, sound absorption, heat, and electrical resistance, making them exceptional for modern architecture.
Tiles Designs with Unique Style in Modern Architecture
Tiles designs are modular units created from complex substances, including ceramic, glass, or stone. They are applied as covering products over walls, tabletops, and floors. These unique building materials are commonly used in modern building architecture due to their efficient finishing. The beneficial characteristics of these products, including easy repairing, size variety, accessible transportation, variety of colors, and texture, made them a popular choice among architects and interior designers.
The benefits of ACM panels are what the current building industry needs for attractive cities and durable construction projects. Aluminum Composite Panels ensure safety and satisfy building codes and regulations across the globe. These construction materials are sleek and modern systems that were first introduced in the 1960s. Due to the benefits of ACM panels, these cladding materials took over other products such as wood and cement in the market.
The benefits of aluminum composite panels compared to other building materials made them the dominant cladding material in the industry. It is essential to mention that traditional and older cladding materials are not environmentally friendly products and can be damaged or destroyed easily when exposed to harsh weather conditions. Thus, current builders and architects appreciate using new and valuable systems to improve facilities with higher quality and weather-resistant characteristics. The benefits of the metallic series of ACM panels are what everyone is looking for to build an aesthetic building facade with high functionality.
What are ACM Panels?
Aluminum Composite Panels or ACM panels, like other composite products, are made from different layers. However, these products feature three thin layers, including two layers of aluminum sheets attached to a fire retardant core material. Manufacturers utilize various types of core substances equivalent to the customers demanding project. The core material can change the fire exposure behavior of the cladding system. For instance, the center can be made of solid minerals or honeycomb filling, but the old ACP systems feature combustible polyethylene, which is unsafe for industrial cities.
The core material’s combustibility made few issues for past years when most builders were using traditional ACM panels. Thus, current aluminum composite manufacturers change the core substance of external cladding systems to prevent future disasters. Although ACM panels are more expensive than other cladding systems, ACP materials are perfect for projects that require a combination of high structural building materials. Thus, building material suppliers provide systems with different qualities and core substances. The benefits of ACM panels push suppliers and manufacturers into investing in the hybrid system production process. A reliable world statistics estimates that more than 200 companies are active in ACM panels production, and the numbers are still increasing as the need for modern and functional buildings grows.
Benefits of Aluminum Composite Panels
When choosing and buying building materials for a project, clients demand to know the advantages of available products. Here is the list of the benefits of ACM panels that anyone should know before choosing the cladding system for the application.
Lightweight Characteristics and ACM Panels Installation
Aluminum composite panels are popular due to their lightweight characteristics in the building and construction industry. This property allows builders to benefit from the ACM panels installationprocess, which is relatively straightforward.
High-Quality
Aluminum Composite material suppliers and manufacturers apply a special coating to the materials, including polyester and fluorocarbon allowing developers to produce high-quality cladding systems with a perfect metallic surface. ACM panels metallic series are hard to break and can overcome different kinds of harsh weather conditions.
The Durability of ACM Panels
One of ACM panels’ best propertiesthat made them the perfect cladding material for cold areas is durability. Building cladding systems should last long, and ACP materials are ideal for the purpose as they consist of zinc, copper, and other metals that increase their durability. However, the homeowner may want to replace the cladding system with other systems such as aluminum siding. In this case, there should be no worries about throwing the composite panels in the landfill. On the other hand, there are various aluminum composite panels recyclingmethods that manufacturers utilize.
Fire-Resistant Characteristics
Modern building standards require fire-resistant characteristics for safety purposes. New Aluminum Composite Panels do not spread the fire or melt due to their FR core material.
Various Thicknesses
ACM panel manufacturers provide products in different thicknesses allowing architects to create limitless designs. Clients can choose the gauge they require for the project. However, there are standard sizes that most ACP materials come in. Generally, the materials that are utilized for cladding systems have a thickness of more than 4mm.
Flexibility and Versatility
The flexibility and versatility of aluminum composite panels are two of the beneficial characteristics that architects appreciate. Manufacturers can create cladding systems in any demanding shape by bending, cutting, and folding the panels.
Aluminum Composite Panel or ACM panels are popular construction materials that are used for cladding systems. Architects and builders have been utilizing these products to create aesthetic buildings for decades. However, due to the various beneficial properties of ACM panels,their popularity is still growing. Some of the few essential advantages of ACP materials are affordability, durability, versatility, lightweight characteristics, and functionality. Aluminum Composite Panels feature unique designs that can satisfy renovation projects with ventilated cladding systems. They can fit into all fields of architectural projects, including commercial and residential buildings. However, some issues will occur on aluminum composite boards after years of usage, needing to be repaired or replaced. What will happen to the old panels? Thanks to the recyclability of these panels, it is easy torecycle ACP materialsand use them in new projects. This article will provide everything that you should know about the aluminum composite panel recycling process.
Basics of Aluminum Composite Panel (ACP or ACM)
Aluminum composite panel suppliers and manufacturers use aluminum plate systemsfor developing ACM panels. Aluminum is one of the most found elements in mother nature, making it easier to extract it from the ground for industrial utilizations. The substance is available in many silicates, and then it is extracted from the mineral called bauxite. Manufacturers utilize complex and particular procedures to obtain pure aluminum. Due to the anti-corrosion characteristic of aluminum, building material suppliers use them to create various supplies and cladding systems to provide long-lasting building facades. One of the materials that are perfect for architectural application is aluminum composite panels made from the combination of aluminum and fire-retardant core (mineral fill).
ACM Panels Applications and Usages
ACM panels are famous for modern and contemporary building cladding systems or ventilated facades. Aluminum composite panels cladding systems consist of layers that solve insulation problems and make them facade materials for building facades. Additionally, they provide efficient thermal behavior for the buildings and can save a considerable amount of energy. ACP facade panels allow the construction to feature a chimney effect between its external layers, generating continuous ventilation. Meaning, during cold seasons, the air circulation pace will slow down and preserve the heat inside the building. In hot seasons, the heat gets evacuated, creating cool and comfortable interiors for office workers and home occupants.
Recycling Process
Aluminum composite panels (ACP) are fully recyclable. Despite their affordable price, ACM panels manufacturers and suppliers try to recycle old and damaged panels and do not prefer throwing them away. The high value of composite cladding panels is a significant economic influence for aluminum composite panel recycling. These claddings can be recycled repeatedly without losing their value and physical properties. Additionally, the energy that the recycling process consumes is a minor fraction of the production needs. The process is done by following essential stages and requires special devices to complete the procedure. The steps and phase are as follows:
Crushing
Grinding
Circulation Water Cooling
Sieving Stage
Electrostatic Separation
The aluminum composite panel recycling process starts with cutting the boards into more miniature sheets. This step is done to provide a more straightforward working process due to the large dimension of ACP materials. Without cutting ACM panels, it is impossible to complete the recycling procedure. Due to the robust bond between the aluminum sheets and the FR core, it is not easy to deal with the pre-cut panels of ACMs. Thus, grinding these materials into powder is crucial by using special grinding devices, making them easy to separate.
Girding ACM panels will generate considerable heat, resulting in burnt pieces and operation rate reduction. Thus, the aluminum composite recycling process requires a circulating water cooling system to lower the temperature of the workpiece during the grinding phase. The sieving stage features a screen that vibrates and involves sending the small pieces without grinding them back to the milling for further recycling. The powder produced in the grinding sage will need electrostatic separation, which is the last phase for developing new panels. The electrostatic separator can divide the core substance for the exterior layers according to the conductive differences between the aluminum and the mineral fill core.
Machines and Devices used for Aluminum Composite Panel Recycling Process
Waste ACM panels are the most valuable raw substance to recycle for complete PVC and high productivity properties. As told, manufacturers utilize various devices and machines to complete the aluminum composite panels recycling process. For example, YX-800 is an ACM recycling machine that features a high handling system. This industrial machine is primarily used to recycle aluminum composite scarps on old building facades and advertising billboards.
