It probably comes as no surprise to learn that aluminum wall cladding is one of the most popular materials in the construction industry. Across the United States and Canada, countless commercial buildings feature aluminum wall cladding products and system assemblies in the exterior design. Not only does aluminum add a modern aesthetic to even the most streamlined of buildings, but these wall products are durable and easy to maintain.
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Plus, aluminum helps buildings be more energy efficient, is versatile, and comes in at a lower installed cost than many other alternatives. Below we’re taking a quick yet informative look at these popular materials to get you started in understanding the product options and finishes available for your architectural building project.
At the most fundamental level, wall cladding is any material used in the construction industry that’s installed on the exterior of a building and serves as part of the building envelope. The wall system provides numerous functions and advantages, from providing thermal insulation and air and moisture resistance, to adding design and aesthetic character to a building’s appearance and structure.
Wall cladding finishes may vary from a material’s natural finish to painted, treated, or physically altered to meet a specific design intent. In recent years however, there’s been a huge shift towards product and finish selection based on factors related to sustainability, building performance, and the safety and wellbeing of its occupants.
Aluminum wall cladding is a material of choice in numerous configurations including single skin sheet, thicker solid aluminum plate, and aluminum composite material (ACM) consisting of two aluminum skins bonded to a solid fire-retardant core. There are a number of reasons why aluminum wall cladding is the preferred choice.
First, let’s talk about sustainability. Aluminum is a continuously recycled metal with almost 75% of all the aluminum ever produced still in use today. Plus, according to the IAI regional GARC model, available online at www.world-aluminium.org, in North America at least 85% of aluminum shipped for use in the building and construction market is still in use today.
The next point is its versatility in function. Finished aluminum wall cladding can be formed into various shapes and configurations, and with a natural light weight and high strength to weight ratio, can be installed faster and more economically than heavier wall cladding choices. This enables architects to design buildings that meet their vision while taking advantage of the functional benefits of the material.
When properly designed and installed, aluminum wall cladding, as part of the exterior wall assembly, is an integral part of a building’s weather resistance, preventing unwanted air and water intrusion while providing specific energy performance.
It also contributes to the safety and welfare of a building’s occupants as wall assemblies must comply with fire safety requirements stipulated in national building codes as well as specific state, province, and municipal requirements across North America.
Finally, aluminum wall cladding can be finished with a wide range of options from physical texturing, such as embossing or roll-forming sheet, to anodizing, spray coating, and coil coating sheet and plate. The type of finishing employed depends on the needs of the application as well as the limitations of the wall cladding product itself.
For pre-finished aluminum wall cladding, such as single skin sheet, ACM aluminum composite material, and solid aluminum plate, coil coated finishing is the typical application process of choice.
Architects specify coil coated finishes because of their color consistency and durability. When utilizing AAMA compliant paint coatings such as 70% resin kynar, the material can be backed by industry standard finish warranties spanning 20 or 30 years from installation.
In addition to industry standard solid colors to finishes that are more metallic in appearance, coil coating opens up a plethora of finishes, from solid color, metallic like colors, and specialty finish options that mimic wood, natural metals, and even stone finishes.
Alfrex is a domestic manufacturer of Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) located in Buford, Georgia USA. Alfrex is unique in offering a complimentary line of pre-finished 100% solid aluminum plate for applications requiring non-combustible or high structural performance wall cladding. Both product lines are coil coated utilizing 70% PVDF Kynar resin paint systems from PPG Industries and are available in both standard and custom color finishes, as well as specialty finishes.
The benefit of coil coated Alfrex Plate is that it can be cut, routed, folded, and installed with virtually the same techniques as Alfrex FR core ACM eliminating the need for post-painting plate wall cladding panels which may lower costs and decrease product lead times. Alfrex also stocks matching 0.040” pre-finished aluminum flat sheet in all standard paint finish colors for use as trim, flashing, and accessories in coordination with Alfrex MCM or Plate.
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While the integrity of the cladding, including durability, is crucial to a building’s success, the actual appearance has a huge impact on how a project is perceived. From faux-terracotta, and rustic wood to shiny metal and sturdy concrete, there is no shortage of unique options for modern commercial buildings. Here are the different types of finishes offered on the Alfrex product:
Alfrex, LLC is a global architectural metal wall cladding manufacturer headquartered in Buford, GA USA. It is specialized in fire-resistant and non-combustible materials with a portfolio including Alfrex FR Metal Composite Material, matching 0.040″ Flat Sheet, coil coated (pre-finished) Alfrex Solid Aluminum Plate, and mill finish solid aluminum plate for post painting small lot, custom colors.
Our manufacturing philosophy is centered on maintaining healthy inventories of MCM sheets and painted coil in all standard paint finishes to enable a nimble and extremely flexible operation that can manufacture made-to-order MCM in both standard and custom colors.
Company highlights include:
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Aluminum Wall Panels Exterior.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include new information since its original publication.
If you’re new to metal construction or researching various types of exterior wall siding, you will find many styles of metal wall panels available. But what exactly are metal wall panels? And what are the advantages and disadvantages of using metal for walls?
Knowing the basics of metal wall panels, the various types you can use on residential and commercial building applications, and the pros and cons of using metal for wall cladding can help you decide if this is the best choice for your metal construction project.
Throughout this article we’ll cover:
Whether you’re considering rollforming your own metal panels or using a panel supplier, knowing how metal stacks up to other common exterior wall materials like vinyl, brick, stone, or wood is key. Here are some of the benefits of using metal wall panels:
While there are many advantages of using metal in a building’s architecture, there are some potential issues you may encounter when using metal as the main component in a structure’s wall panel.
Although there are numerous kinds of metal materials with which you can make metal wall panels, there are three common types of metal wall panel systems used in metal construction. Each one has unique properties, depending on the kind of structure you’re building, environment, installation, and properties.
Single skin metal panels are made of a single layer of metal that’s rollformed or preformed into a specific shape or profiles like a flush wall, WAV, or batten, and are typically made as concealed fastener or exposed fastener panels. Most wall panels of this type can be installed horizontally or vertically and in less time and cost than other metal wall panel systems.
Insulated or uninsulated, single skin metal panels can be made with protective coatings that help fight corrosion and fading. However, they are still susceptible to damage due to their being less rigid, unlike the MCM and IMP panels which have a core between the metal panels. Because of their higher flexibility, they also have a greater chance of oil canning.
Features of single skin metal wall panels include:
Metal composite material panels are formed by joining two sheets of painted or natural metal sheets (typically aluminum but can also utilize other materials like steel, zinc, copper, stainless steel, or titanium) and bonding them to a polyethylene center.
Why use an MCM panel?
As the name suggests, this lightweight metal wall system is made with two coated metal panels, typically aluminum or steel, formed on either side of an insulating foam center. Because of their insulation capabilities, lightweight design, and quicker installation, insulated metal panels are used in all sorts of building applications.
They make an excellent choice for commercial and institutional buildings, climate-controlled buildings or those used for cold storage, and architectural projects. IMPs can also be installed vertically or horizontally, in various colors, shapes, and panel widths. Because they have the insulation already integrated into the panel, IMPs can be installed in one step and create an effective barrier to air, water, and vapor.
Insulated metal wall panels may be the right choice for certain building applications because:
While metal wall panels are growing in popularity in all types of buildings, there is a lot that goes into their design and application. If you’re deciding to use metal for your exterior wall cladding, or want to know which metal wall panel system is right for you, just remember these key points.
At New Tech Machinery, we believe that education is the key to happy customers, so we strive to make sure we provide you with the right information and resources to help you determine the best materials, equipment, and profiles to use in your metal construction projects.
NTM has two rollforming machines capable of running metal wall panels.
The SSQ II™ MultiPro Roof and Wall Panel Machine can run flush wall and board and batten panel profiles. It can also run soffit and underdecking for residential or commercial projects. To read more about the SSQ II, click here.
The WAV™ Wall Panel Machine is built to fabricate industrial and commercial wall panels. It runs four different styles. To read more about the WAV, click here.
For more information, please visit Aluminum Honeycomb Panel.