How To Tell Difference Between Steel And Aluminum Roof

Aluminum is a silvery white soft nonmagnetic ductile metal.

How to tell difference between steel and aluminum roof.

Aluminum is the lighter material if weight is a critical factor in choosing a metal roofing material. Aluminum roofing however can run 20 percent higher compared to steel roofing depending upon the exact product chosen. Corrugated metal roofing has come a long way from the days when it was only found on barns many homeowners are choosing to use metal materials for their roof. Chances are that if you are on this page you already understand the benefits of metal roofing vs asphalt what you may not know is that not all metal roofs are created equal.

Steel is a hard strong gray or bluish gray alloy of iron with carbon and usually other elements used extensively as a structural and fabricating material. Steel and aluminum both perform well as a metal roofing material. Traditional galvanized metal roofing is a corrugated sheet of carbon steel with a galvanized coating. Both aluminum and steel are very light in comparison to other materials like asphalt shingles much to the surprise of homeowners.

Metal is more durable than other materials can be installed quickly compared to non metal roofs and will last a lot longer than traditional roofing systems. When selecting a roofing material there are many factors to take into consideration beyond installation cost. Steel is susceptible to seawater damage overtime while aluminum is extremely resistant to corrosion caused by seawater. Both metals can be used for roofing.

The zinc ions bond with iron molecules in the steel to create a shiny rust resistant finish on its surface. Aluminum roofing s thickness is measured in decimals and typically comes between 023 to 040 thicknesses. The answer lies in the difference between the two. While the initial investment of a metal roof is higher the value it offers over a lifetime is substantial.

However aluminum roofing depending upon the exact product chosen can run up to 20 percent higher in price compared to steel roofing. Steel roofing in canada is gaining popularity but did you know that architectural grade aluminum roofing stands head and shoulders above steel roofing. Aluminum is extremely resistant to corrosion caused by seawater while steel is bit more susceptible to seawater damage over time. Here s a side by side comparison of metal roofs and other common roofing materials.