Metal Siding Contractors

We all face choices in our daily life. Do we buy cheap domestic beer or a more expensive special craft beer? Do we buy a small economical sedan or go for the BMW? Much less exciting than the choice of beverage or vehicle is the serious decision as to what kind of siding will go on your house. The college student on a budget will not worry too much about his or her beer choice but the homeowner must weigh the pros and cons to use vinyl or metal siding.

The main advantage of vinyl is the cost. If you choose to pay more for metal, the choices are aluminum or steel.

This article will compare the pros and cons of aluminum and steel siding that will help the homeowner and his metal siding contractor come up with the best selection

Both aluminum and steel are metals that can be shaped and textured to look like wood or almost any pattern. They can be cut to any desired length eliminating the need for any seams that can deter from the appearance. Both materials can be painted, are low maintenance with high durability and free from decay and rot. They both are good materials for reflecting sunlight so houses in warm climates will remain cooler with metal siding. Metals are not affected by ignition sources so will not burst into flames if struck by lightning. Any homeowner should check with their insurance agent to see if their premiums can be reduced by having fire resistant siding.

Aluminum and steel have their disadvantages as well. The weight alone will discourage anyone from attempting a DIY installation and it is harder to cut than vinyl

Both metals can become dented if impacted by a rock or other projectile. Steel can rust but paints and coating can control this if the homeowner is diligent with the upkeep. While both metals are good at keeping a house cool in hot climates, just the opposite is true in cold weather because the warming rays of sunlight are still deflected away instead of into the house. Proper insulation is important and will also provide added soundproofing because metals are not very sound resistant.

We have compared metal siding to vinyl siding but what about the difference between the metals themselves? The following list will help you choose between the less expensive aluminum or go for that BMW and opt for steel.

As mentioned, steel costs more than aluminum and is also heavier. This leads to a more difficult installation and the necessity to use the services of a professional experienced in the cutting and installation of steel siding. Steel does have a longer lifetime than aluminum to compensate for the higher initial cost.

Aluminum is softer than steel and will warp and dent more easily than steel of the same thickness. Aluminum siding is made thicker than steel to compensate for its relative softness.

Pre-colored aluminum has the tendency to fade or develop a chalky like appearance after a few years of exposure to the elements. Steel does not exhibit this quality but as mentioned before is subject to rust if a scratch exposes bare metal. The simple solution is to use rust resistant paint.

To conclude, if you choose metal siding over vinyl and think you can do it yourself, do you have a special machine at your house to cut each heavy metal panel or will you have to measure each area, pay someone to cut off site and then pay to have the panels delivered? The metal siding contractor will have the machinery and experience to do the job correctly and can hopefully recover the panels that you ruined when you tried to cut them with a hacksaw.