MATERIALS AND FINISHES
SUITABLE MATERIALS
SkyProof metal roofing System can be manufactured using various commercial metallic materials available. Each material has its own specific properties that can impact the aesthetics, durability, and cost of the system. Therefore, architects and builders have the flexibility to choose the material that best suits their project’s requirements and budget, without compromising the system’s performance. The SkyProof System’s innovative design features and manufacturing processes ensure consistent high-quality standards, regardless of the chosen material.
The utilization of AA5754 alloy in the SkyProof metal roofing system is an evidence of the company’s commitment to offering a roofing solution that combines both cost-effectiveness and high performance. This particular alloy boasts excellent mechanical properties, while still maintaining a relatively low weight, making it an ideal choice for roofing applications. In the absence of specific corrosive agents, the AA5754 alloy has a virtually unlimited lifespan, ensuring long-term durability and protection against harsh weather conditions.
At the end of its useful life, the AA5754 alloy used in the SkyProof system can be recycled in an environmentally responsible manner, as it is 100% recyclable. However, the alloy’s high magnesium content and low iron content can limit its recycling origin to 30%. The use of AA5754 alloy in the SkyProof metal roofing system offers architects and builders an efficient, sustainable, and high-performing roofing solution that is built to last
The alloys commonly used in construction, belonging to the AA3000 series, show lower values in terms of mechanical strength and corrosion resistance compared to the AA5754 alloy. However, they do retain other positive characteristics and are more economical as they can be 100% recycled. To maximize their mechanical properties, these alloys can only be used in a hard physical state for very wide bending radii to avoid fracture.
It is important to note that the use of AA5754 in the SkyProof metal roofing system sets a new standard in the industry for both durability and sustainability. Its combination of excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance makes it an ideal material for long-lasting roofing solutions. Additionally, the ability to recycle the AA5754 alloy at the end of its life means that the SkyProof system has minimal impact on the environment.
Aluminium mill finish, an alloy, showcases brilliance with its raw, untreated surface, balancing aesthetics and functionality. Renowned for corrosion resistance, it offers a clean, contemporary look without coatings, making it eco-friendly and cost-effective.
Pre-painted aluminum roofing offers a wide range of color options,allowing you to achieve the desired aesthetics while benefiting from the lightweight and
low-maintenance properties of aluminum.
Steel is the most prevalent material used in construction in Anglo-Saxon countries (including the USA and Australia) and in northern Europe. It is commonly used in its galvanized (zinc-coated) or aluzinc form and then painted in any available finish. Steel can have excellent mechanical properties and is highly bendable without issue. However, its high elongation capacity can result in aesthetic defects due to buckling. While it is cheaper than aluminum, it has almost triple the weight, which ultimately results in only a slightly lower cost and requires the building’s structure to support a greater weight. Nonetheless, steel is 100% recyclable and recycled, making it an environmentally friendly choice.
Stainless steel has virtually unlimited durability and superior properties. Nevertheless, its application in construction is often restricted due to challenges associated with paint adhesion and high costs, which may be prohibitive to clients. Consequently, it is seldom employed and reserved for use only in bespoke applications at the request of clients.
Often referred to as zinc-titanium, titanium-zinc is a material composed of 99% zinc. It is highly valued in architecture for its unique ability to develop a characteristic patina over time. However, despite its aesthetic appeal, titanium-zinc has poor mechanical and chemical properties, it is very heavy, and it can be prohibitively expensive. It is also highly susceptible to corrosion when water is allowed to stagnate on its surface.
The raw version of copper is typically used to achieve the best mechanical performance. In fact, it is highly bendable, and it is aesthetically appreciated. Copper does not have any significant chemical issues and guarantees a long lifespan. However, it has a weight comparable to steel and can be expensive, which may be justified only by the client’s express request.
Finishes
A range of finishing choices is available for the external weather sheets, encompassing plain surface, stucco embossed finish, stainless steel, PVDF coating, Polyester coating, and Anodized treatment to enhance both protection and aesthetics.
Coating Horizons:
– Polyester
Polyesters and Superpoluesters are the workhorse coatings of pre-painted metal. At their most basic, polyesters can offer an economical product with reasonably good performance across the board.
A standard polyester product would have a 20–25 µm coating with limited flexibility and good durability when exposed as the top-weathering surface.
Polyesters are used for both internal and exterior products.
– Polyurethanes (PUR/PA)
Polyurethane coatings are chemically similar to polyesters with the addition of isocyanates in the formulation. Being chemically similar, polyurethanes exhibit many of the same properties
Compared to polyesters, polyurethanes are capable of producing thicker coatings and so where durability is important, high-build polyurethane coatings are finding increasing use. These thicker versions also offer improved corrosion resistance to the metal substrate. Polyurethane coatings generally cost slightly more than polyesters, so they are used where the benefits outweigh the cost differential. The high-build products are widely used in roof and wall cladding because of their improved corrosion and UV resistance, coupled with the scratch-resistant properties of the polyamide-modified varieties.
– Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)
PVDF is a highly stable resin which is actually not cured in the paint in the same way as polyesters, but is fused in the paint layer, a so-called thermoplastic coating. Unlike most polymers, the PVDF resin is not affected by UV radiation, so it remains very stable for long periods in sunlight. PVDF products tend to have coatings in the thickness range of 25 µm to 28 µm, although multi-layer systems can have higher thicknesses up to 55 µm. Unlike for polyurethanes, high-build PVDF is made up of up to 5 layers of paint rather than the usual 2.
PVDF is almost exclusively used for external roofing, wall cladding and facades. where the long-term colour durability will be appreciated, particularly for cladding and facades on prestigious buildings. PVDF attracts a cost premium over polyester.
– Anodizing
Anodizing is a simple electrochemical process. It forms a protective coating of aluminum oxide on the surface of the aluminum. The lifetime of the finish is proportional to the thickness of the anodic coating applied.
Aluminum oxide is a hard, durable, weather resistant substance that protects the base metal. The coating may be colored by dyeing or may exhibit color tones through diffraction phenomena produced by the coating. The coating grows from the base aluminum metal by this electrochemical process. The coating is integral to the metal and can not peel or flake. The structure of the coating is many small hexagonal pores, which are filled with a “”seal”” that hydrolyzes these pores to fill them with inert aluminum oxide.
