Metal siding makes an attractive, durable, and sustainable alternative to vinyl, wood, and composite sidings. It’s important to choose the right type of metal siding for your house. With that in mind, here is a quick guide to the different types of metal siding for houses and other properties.
Why use metal sidings for houses?
Metal sidings are more sustainable than vinyl, composites, or even most wood. Vinyl and composites both use plastic. Currently, they are very difficult if not impossible to recycle. Wood is a natural material but is often sourced unsustainably.
Types of metal sidings for houses
At present, the main type of metal siding for houses is steel, specifically galvanized steel. This has long been popular for metal sidings on industrial buildings due to its robustness. Historically, it was one of the most popular types of metal siding for houses. It then fell out of favor before finally making a comeback over recent years.
Galvanized steel is extremely robust. That means it requires practically no maintenance. It can withstand just about any weather condition from extreme heat to extreme cold. It’s also highly resistant to water and sunlight so it’s safe from mildew and fading. Despite its robustness, however, it’s easy to shape into different designs.
Steel versus aluminum
Steel, even galvanized steel, has one major weakness. It is vulnerable to rust. This means that it’s generally not the best choice in coastal areas. Aluminum, by contrast, is impervious to rust. It, therefore, tends to be the preferred choice in coastal areas.
The main reason why aluminum has not gained widespread popularity is that it is nowhere near as robust as steel. Firstly, it reacts to heat and cold much more than steel does. They don’t damage the metal (at least not if it’s installed properly). They do, however, make the metal “ping” and this can be very annoying.
Secondly, aluminum is very soft and hence vulnerable to being dinged and scratched. Again, this is unlikely to cause any meaningful damage. In particular, scratches will not cause rust. It can, however, be unattractive to look at but not cost-effective to repair.
In coastal areas, however, the drawbacks of aluminum tend to be outweighed by its benefits. Coastal areas generally have fairly moderate, stable temperatures. The main concern is protecting against salt damage.
Copper sidings
In principle, copper is an excellent material for metal sidings for houses. In practice, it’s rarely used due to the high cost. This cost is partly due to the demand for the metal itself and partly due to the skill needed to install it. If budget is not an issue, copper can be both effective and beautiful.
Different types of metal siding
There are different types of metal siding for houses and other properties. Currently, the two most popular styles are corrugated metal sidings and snap batten panel metal sidings. Snap batten panel metal sidings can be installed either vertically or horizontally. Both types of metal sidings can be made out of steel or aluminum (or copper).
Corrugated metal sidings are simple to install and work well in all settings, from highly traditional to super-modern. Snap batten panel metal sidings are more complex to use but can deliver a totally customized appearance.