METAL ROOF AND SIDING MATERIAL SELECTION OVERVIEW

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There’s More To Metal Than Meets The Eye
Did you know there are several important attributes to consider when selecting metal for your home?
Here is an overview of important considerations when selecting metal siding and roofs for your home.

BASE METAL		

COMMON OPTIONS...
✔ Metal
✔ Aluminum	WHAT TO LOOK FOR: The most common material for metal roofing is steel, due to its mix of performance, longevity, and price. Aluminum is a popular alternative, and often used in applications requiring heightened corrosion resistance. See the next section for more detail on corrosion resistance.

Aluminum is a softer material compared to steel. As it is softer, a thicker aluminum may be required to provide the needed performance and this can drive up product price.	
HOW TO LEARN MORE: ➜ Metal Roof Buyer’s Guide - see page 11  ➜ Ask Steelscape  ➜ Check with your product manufacturer for the types of metal they offer.	
RESISTANCE FROM RUST		
COMMON OPTIONS...
✔ Zinc Coating
(TruZinc®, also called galvanized)
✔ Aluminum-Zinc Coating
(ZINCALUME®, also called Galvalume®)
✔ Thicker paint for extreme environments
✔ Aluminum	WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Steel is coated with one of two options to provide long term resistance from corrosion. These are either zinc coating (Steelscape’s TruZinc®) and aluminum-zinc coating (Steelscape’s ZINCALUME®). This added layer underpins why steel can last so long once properly installed.

In most environments, aluminum-zinc coating provides longer protection than galvanized and carries the benefit of a warranty. This warranty guarantees the metal will not rupture or fail structurally.

For locations with extreme corrosion resistance needs, such as those very close to salt water, it is often recommended to use a thicker paint or aluminum as the base metal. For these applications we recommend consulting Steelscape or a product fabricator prior to selecting your material.	
HOW TO LEARN MORE: ➜ ZINCALUME (PDF)	➜ TruZinc (PDF)  ➜ Ask Steelscape	
MATERIAL STRENGTH		

COMMON OPTIONS...
✔ Steel:
29ga (Thinnest)
26ga 24ga
✔ Aluminum: 0.032" (Thinnest)
0.040"	WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Metal thickness influences product performance by making the metal more resistant to bending and flexing. Roofs in high wind or snow environments may require a thicker material to achieve building code requirements.

Steel and aluminum are available in a variety of thicknesses called ‘gauge’. Common gauges (ga) for residential installations are 26ga and 24ga for their favorable combination of performance and price. For some value conscious applications, such as sheds, which trade off performance for price, thinner 29ga material is used.
Aluminum thickness is represented in inches and common thicknesses are 0.032" and 0.040".

Your roofing contractor should know the needs of your location or local building codes and which material thickness is suitable.

Homeowners should note, the metal thickness can be a driver of product price – the thicker the metal, the more expensive the solution.	
HOW TO LEARN MORE: ➜ Talk to your roofer and product fabricator for a solution that meets your performance and budget needs.	

PAINT		

COMMON OPTIONS...
✔ Good  -  Polyester
✔ Better -  SMP
✔ Best	-  PVDF
✔ Is it a “Cool” paint?	WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Paints provide visual appeal and resistance from damage, such as UV light and corrosion. There are three paint families for metal roof and siding products ranging from good to best. Each system varies by performance, cost, longevity, and warranty coverage. The most common for residential applications, is the middle ground product called SMP.

Most paints used on metal come standard with “cool” technology which offers improved sunlight reflectance, reducing the build up of heat within homes.

When selecting a color, note there is no industry standard for color names. Always compare physical samples to make sure you are selecting the right color for your project.	
HOW TO LEARN MORE: ➜ Metal Roof and Siding Color Guide  ➜ Metal Roof Buyer’s Guide	➜ Single Skin Metal Siding Design Guide	➜ Product Guide	
DESIGN OPTIONS		
COMMON OPTIONS...
✔ Metallic Paint, such as
Copper Penny or Silver Metallic.

✔ Texture, such as Steelscape’s Rawhide and Rustic Rawhide®.

✔ Prints, such as Steelscape’s Rustic, Aged Metallics and Textured Rustics.

✔ Specialty Clears, such as Steelscape’s Vintage®	WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Modern paint technology has evolved significantly to provide homeowners with greater color and finish choices to help fulfill their visions.

Metallic Paint – When illuminated by sunlight, these have a noticeable sparkle due to mica pigments. Common colors are silver, copper and champagne.

Textured Paint – Some paints have a textured finish to provide a distinct look and to help reduce the glare from the sun.

Print Designs – Printed designs can be applied to metal to create distinctive finishes or to create finishes that recreate other natural effects, such as rust, without the performance drawbacks.

Specialty Clears – Translucent colored resins provide visual depth and a unique finish that interacts dynamically with natural light.

Matte Finishes – Matte finishes feature microscopic texture to significantly reduce gloss and sheen.	
HOW TO LEARN MORE: ➜ Virtual Color Palette  ➜ Product Guide	➜ Metal Roof and Siding Color Guide	➜ Request Samples  ➜ Ask Steelscape	
WARRANTY		

COMMON OPTIONS...
✔ How long is the warranty?
✔ What is covered?	WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Specifiers should always ensure they understand the length of the warranty being offered and what it covers. Material based warranties, such as those offered by Steelscape, cover finish performance or corrosion resistance only. Warranty length and coverage will vary based on the paint system used. Finish warranty coverage may include film integrity (painted finish is consistent and is free from blistering or cracking), and resistance to color fade or chalking (the loss of pigments in the color).

Warranties for panel performance, panel quality, or roof weathertightness, are the responsibility of the panel fabricator and roofing contractor. To avoid confusion, request a summary of the end-user warranties being offered by the contractor as part of the bid process.	
HOW TO LEARN MORE: ➜ Documentation Library - see Warranties	➜ Talk to your roofer about the warranties offered as part of the bid.  ➜ Ask Steelscape	

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE LINKS:
Metal Roof and Siding Glossary and FAQ
Project Gallery
Color Visualizer
Service Offer Manual
Steelscape YouTube Channel
Sustainability and Regulatory Guides
Request Samples
Ask Steelscape

QUICK TIP
Always ensure you understand the environment of the installation.
Most metal is interchangeable between roofs and siding, however specific environmental conditions or structural performance needs may directly affect material selection. For example, proximity to salt water may
impact the paint system selected. Alternatively, a thicker base metal may be needed to achieve minimum snow or wind load building code requirements. Always discuss these considerations
when selecting a preferred material.

©2024 Steelcape, LLC. All rights reserved. ZINCALUME® is a registered trademark of BlueScope Steel Ltd. Galvalume® is a registered trademark of BIEC International 0924