13 Apr The Metals in Metal Roofing 4: What is Aluminum Metal Roofing?
Lightweight, durable, and corrosion resistant, aluminum is a good option for almost any residential metal roofing system, including standing seam, shake, shingle, tile and slate profiles. Aluminum will never rust, so it is an ideal metal for coastal applications and other areas where steel might be in danger. Aluminum’s propensity to resist rust gives it an extremely long life span. One of the first architectural aluminum applications was the cap on the Washington Monument in 1885. It was around this time that processes to separate aluminum from bauxite and then manufacture building grade aluminum alloys became efficient enough to make aluminum a viable option for the building industry. Prior to that, aluminum had been considered a precious metal.
Nowadays, virtually all aluminum roofing is prepainted, and aluminum can be found in just about any profile in which metal roofing is manufactured. In fact, more heavily formed products lend themselves very well to aluminum due to its high malleability and the fact that heavy forming adds additional structural strength. Aluminum roofing is usually manufactured from a large percentage of recycled material, the majority of which is post-consumer material such as used beverage cans. The recycled content of aluminum roofing will usually be 90 – 95%. One square of aluminum roofing (.019″ thick) can use as many as 1,152 aluminum beverage cans—closing the recycling loop for the consumer. Classic Metal Roofing Systems produces several product lines aluminum. Many homeowners easily make the decision that aluminum is the best choice they can make in terms of overall value for their roof.
Aluminum Summary
- Advantages: Lightweight, rust free, attractive, energy efficient.
- Disadvantages: More expensive than steel. Not as hail resistant, particularly in less- formed profiles.
- Thicknesses: .019″ for shake, shingle and tile. Minimum .032″ for standing seam. . 032″ for some heavier tile profiles.
- Weight: As low as 45 lbs. per square.
- Recycled Content: Usually around 95% (mostly post-consumer).
So, if it’s good enough for the Washington Monument, is it good enough for your North Carolina home? We think so. With multiple styles and colors, Classic Metal Roofing’s offerings of fine aluminum roofing products outshines the rest.
Contact us today, your North Carolina metal roofing experts. We love aluminum roofing…and think you will, too.