Aluminum Roofing Materials
The popularity of metal roofs for homes has increased dramatically over the past two decades. The material is expensive but requires little or no maintenance. There are number of metal roofing materials but aluminum is the longest lasting. For this reason it is one of the most expensive types of metal roofing. Aluminum roofing materials do not corrode and come with variety of colours and types. Also, this is one of the lightest metals.
Types of Aluminum Roofing Materials
No matter what kind of aluminum roofing materials is used, the application is similar for all types. The portability, durability and lightweight are the key components of aluminum which often exceeds expectations for other metals. In the building industry there is a variety of aluminum roofing materials. Most commonly used are:
- Roofing Material Made of Aluminum
- Aluminum Composite Roofing Material
- Polyester Aluminum Composite Panel Roofing Material
The choice for each of these materials is governed by their price and properties.
Roofing Material Made of Aluminum
The pure aluminum is very good to maintain heat during winter and cool temperature during summer. Aluminum roofing materials are excellent to prevent moisture from penetrating. These materials come in variety of roll length: 60, 120, 300 and 500 meters. The width is usually a standard 1.25m-2m. The drawback is the price. The pure aluminum is expensive and more often the composite materials are the cost-effective choice.
Aluminum Composite Roofing Material
About $80/square meter cheaper than the pure aluminum. It is a type of aluminum roofing materials which is still rust proof, has good heat and sound insulation. This roofing material comes in variety of thicknesses (2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm) and almost all sizes. It is a light weight product which can cover large structures (not easily applicable to steel plates).
Polyester Aluminum Composite Panel Roofing Material
This is a great and inexpensive type of "green aluminum composite roofing material". The price is about $70/square meter cheaper than the ordinary aluminum. It is an environmentally friendly product, which is also waterproof, heat resistant and an exceptional insulator. The light weight and the ease of the installation further reduces the overall cost. The product is so good that suppliers rate it suitable for military applications (lucky soldiers can now be protected from all weather elements without large financial spending).
Is It Worth It?
On the longer run the aluminum roofing materials are exceptionally robust. No maintenance, long term guarantees and ease of installation should make this product the primary choice. However, the cost can be substantial. $650-$800 per square meter is not uncommon. Therefore, this should be a long term investment.