How To Tell The Difference Between Steel And Aluminum Siding

No matter how low the temperatures get steel siding will stand up to the cold.

How to tell the difference between steel and aluminum siding.

I was told you could use a magnet. Aluminum siding and steel siding are both popular materials for residential construction. 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. Is there an easy way to tell if you have aluminum or steel siding.

Vinyl siding is an extruded plastic material. Steel siding is a great alternative to both aluminum or vinyl. Steel also protects against moisture and rot and might be a better solution if you re in a wet climate that s prone to flooding. What is the difference between vinyl and aluminum siding.

It is stronger and harder than aluminum and can better withstand hailstorms and low velocity impacts. Here s a short helpful article on how to tell the difference. Steel siding doesn t absorb moisture like other siding materials do as it s non porous so the panels won t freeze or crack. The drawback to steel siding is that it may not be available in the same number of styles and colors as vinyl or aluminum.

The largest manufacturer of aluminum siding was alcoa. In fact aluminum is completely waterproof and provides excellent home protection against moisture problems. Vinyl siding has a solid color while aluminum siding has a baked on the enamel paint finish. What it does provide is superior protection to weather events like high winds or hail.

Unlike steel siding aluminum does not rust. However there are differences to consider when purchasing aluminum or steel siding. It usually ranges in thickness from 040 046. If your siding is over 10 years old it will be very difficult to find a proper match.

Both steel siding and fiber cement siding are renowned for their longevity toughness and resilience while still working beautifully as residential cladding. Homeowners searching for the most durable exterior siding often end up torn between two major materials. You can purchase either one in a variety of finishes and both products cost less than proprietary composite board siding. General differences between aluminum and stainless steel.

Steel and fiber cement. Although both are high performance options you might find that when it comes to the steel versus fiber. 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. 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.

And 30 years of service. Aluminum siding costs range up to 7 per square foot installed. It is immune to insects and offers an excellent long term value at 7 per sq.