How To Tell If Siding Is Steel Vs Aluminum

Steel and aluminum both perform well as a metal roofing material.

How to tell if siding is steel vs aluminum. Also worth noting is that a properly installed aluminum siding does not touch the ground. Steel siding offers excellent protection and the best durability. Simple take 1 piece of aluminium and 1 piece of stainless steel and hold it in ur hand they musy be the same size you can feel the weight different aluminium is much lighter while stainless is much heavier or a simple test take a needle file just file on the aluminium and you see that aluminium material can be remove easily by filing away with a needle file while stainless is. Stainless steel will still scratch but scratching it will require much more effort and it will not scratch as deeply.

Favorite answer yes just stick a magnet to it if it sticks its steel if it slides off you have aluminum. There are many shades of color and textures to choose from. However steel is generally cheaper per pound than aluminum see galvanized vs stainless for more info on steel. It is stronger and harder than aluminum and can better withstand hailstorms and low velocity impacts.

To do the test simply press the key down and drag it along a flat surface on a given piece of unidentified metal that may be aluminum or stainless steel. The price of steel and aluminum is continually fluctuating based on global supply and demand fuel costs and the price and availability of iron and bauxite ore. It is immune to insects and offers an excellent long term value at 7 per sq. Someone might need to use a magnet to give a more conclusive result.

Aluminum residential metal roofing is designated by decimal thickness and ranges from 023 to 040 thickness. But watch it there are stealing aluminum off of houses to sell it has got so high in price. Also if rust spots are present in the siding it is an indication that it is steel. However aluminum roofing depending upon the exact product chosen can run up to 20 percent higher in price compared to steel roofing.

Like steel it won t sag but it s much lighter and easier to handle making aluminum gutters easier to install than steel models. The drawback to steel siding is that it may not be available in the same number of styles and colors as vinyl or aluminum. This is due to the magnet will interact with steel but not with aluminum. In most climates aluminum gutters will hold up for 20 years or longer.

Steel siding is more durable then aluminum siding because of this architects and designers tend to use it for obtaining a more subtle look. Cost and price are always an essential factor to consider when making any product. What it does provide is superior protection to weather events like high winds or hail. If the piece is aluminum it will scratch fairly deeply without much pressure because aluminum is much softer than stainless steel.

Aluminum vs steel cost. Steel siding is a great alternative to both aluminum or vinyl. Aluminum siding costs range up to 7 per square foot installed.