How To Tell If Siding Is Aluminum Or Galvanized Steel

This is due in part to the fact that the steel is coated in a thin layer of zinc to prevent rusting.

How to tell if siding is aluminum or galvanized steel. You can purchase either one in a variety of finishes and both products cost less than proprietary composite board siding. How can i tell if a piece of steel has been galvanized. The two most popular choices for a rustic siding look are galvanized or weathered steel siding. Galvanized steel has a porous and rough surface which is difficult to clean.

Also worth noting is that a properly installed aluminum siding does not touch the ground. Attaching aluminum siding to steel should be done with non metallic ed. However aluminum resists it slightly better than galvanized steel. Aluminum is a metal whereas galvanized steel is obtained by a hot dipping process in which carbon steel is dipped into zinc.

This zinc is easily scratched off and the scratches are difficult to see. The question came from an original equipment manufacturer oem of trailers wanting to promote their trailers as using hot dip galvanized steel in the construction. Also if rust spots are present in the siding it is an indication that it is steel. Someone might need to use a magnet to give a more conclusive result.

There are many aluminum understructures with galvanized steel exteriors built over the past half century. If your steel sample shows variations in color and pattern and lacks the presence of rust it is probable that the sample has been galvanized. Both aluminum and steel gutters resist rust. The owners found that the metal held up wonderfully and the tin siding gave off a warm glow as an added.

This question was actually received by one of the aga staff and is a bit out of the ordinary. Assess the results of your tests and look closely at the color of your samples. Galvanized steel is expected to last about 15 to 20 years but aluminum should last over 20 years in the right environment cons aluminium is durable but it has a tendency to dent if hit by ladders tree limbs ice or hail. You may consider using an isolator between the aluminum and steel as well it will serve.

Aluminium should last longer than galvanized steel. I e insulated stainless steel fasteners or a specially coated grade 5 fastener to prevent not only normal corrosion of the fastener but also a phenomena called hydrogen assisted stress cracking corrosion. If the sample is uniform in color and it rusts it is safe to assume that it is untreated steel. However there are differences to consider when purchasing aluminum or steel siding.

Galvanized siding has its rustic roots dating back to resourceful homeowners in the 1800s taking empty cans and rolling them into small sheets. Aluminum siding and steel siding are both popular materials for residential construction.