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.

How to tell difference between steel and aluminum roof. Both aluminum and steel are very light in comparison to other materials like asphalt shingles much to the surprise of homeowners. Steel and aluminum both perform well as a metal roofing material. Aluminum is a silvery white soft nonmagnetic ductile metal. Here s a side by side comparison of metal roofs and other common roofing materials.

However aluminum roofing depending upon the exact product chosen can run up to 20 percent higher in price compared to steel roofing. Traditional galvanized metal roofing is a corrugated sheet of carbon steel with a galvanized coating. Steel roofing in canada is gaining popularity but did you know that architectural grade aluminum roofing stands head and shoulders above steel roofing. 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.

Aluminum roofing s thickness is measured in decimals and typically comes between 023 to 040 thicknesses. 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. Both metals can be used for roofing. 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.

When selecting a roofing material there are many factors to take into consideration beyond installation cost. The coating is created by dipping the straight sheet in hot molten zinc. Aluminum roofing however can run 20 percent higher compared to steel roofing depending upon the exact product chosen. Aluminum is extremely resistant to corrosion caused by seawater while steel is bit more susceptible to seawater damage over time.

We will focus on two widely used base metals used in roofing. 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. The zinc ions bond with iron molecules in the steel to create a shiny rust resistant finish on its surface.