How To Tell The Difference Between Steel And Aluminum Siding

Vinyl and aluminum siding colors fade so over time so even if you are able to locate the manufacturer the colors will probably not match.

How to tell the difference between steel and aluminum siding.

Aluminum siding and steel siding are both popular materials for residential construction. It is immune to insects and offers an excellent long term value at 7 per sq. No matter how low the temperatures get steel siding will stand up to the cold. Although both are high performance options you might find that when it comes to the steel versus fiber.

General differences between aluminum and stainless steel. Both steel siding and fiber cement siding are renowned for their longevity toughness and resilience while still working beautifully as residential cladding. Vinyl siding is an extruded plastic material. Steel siding is a great alternative to both aluminum or vinyl.

And 30 years of service. It usually ranges in thickness from 040 046. For homeowners who live in areas of extreme cold aluminum is a better choice than vinyl due to the fact that aluminum is not affected by extreme cold whereas vinyl can become brittle during severe cold snaps and can easily crack. Aluminum siding costs range up to 7 per square foot installed.

The largest manufacturer of aluminum siding was alcoa. Unlike steel siding aluminum does not rust. It is stronger and harder than aluminum and can better withstand hailstorms and low velocity impacts. Steel and fiber cement.

However there are differences to consider when purchasing aluminum or steel siding. I am not sure if they still produce aluminum siding. What is the difference between vinyl and aluminum siding. Steel siding doesn t absorb moisture like other siding materials do as it s non porous so the panels won t freeze or crack.

Is there an easy way to tell if you have aluminum or steel siding. I was told you could use a magnet. You can purchase either one in a variety of finishes and both products cost less than proprietary composite board siding. Vinyl siding has a solid color while aluminum siding has a baked on the enamel paint finish.

In fact aluminum is completely waterproof and provides excellent home protection against moisture problems. Aluminum siding is a formed material typically 019 thick. Steel siding offers excellent protection and the best durability. Here s a short helpful article on how to tell the difference.

However telling the difference between aluminum and stainless steel can be very challenging especially when you re out in the field without a ton of tools to help you in identifying different metals. Homeowners searching for the most durable exterior siding often end up torn between two major materials. If your siding is over 10 years old it will be very difficult to find a proper match.