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Most Used Metals in the Construction Industry

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Most used metals in construction projects are more demanding than ever, with modern projects often utilizing several different types of metal, mortar, and lumber to create a bespoke design that will stand the test of time.

Each metal you will find on the construction site has a purpose and an application that is necessary for that particular job. Metals offer versatility, aesthetic, function, and strength to each structure and facade. Let’s take a closer look at the metals used most often in modern construction projects and the benefits each brings.

Steel

Steel is one of the most widely used and often-recycled metals used in construction. 

Because of this, it is one of the most eco-friendly materials to use as well. Steel produces sustainable constructions, able to be built quickly at relatively low prices. Steel is seen in many different types of construction, such as office buildings, hospitals, stadiums, fencing, high rises, metal homes, bridge decks, just to name a few. 

Due to its ability to withstand high winds, fires, blizzards and earthquakes, steel is also seen as one of the best ways to protect your investment from the start.

Aluminum

Aluminum is lightweight and strong with the addition of also being highly resistant to corrosion and harsh climates. It is used for many kinds of projects and because of its fluidity in function, designers and architects enjoy using it to create different types of results from use. You can see aluminum in all types of applications such as walls, ceilings, roof covers, HVAC ducts, wire, doors, and windows, as well as some structural components. Its physical properties make it a perfect material for a broad range of construction projects.

This metal and its alloys are durable, malleable and infinitely recyclable. In fact, nearly 75 percent of all aluminum produced is still in use today.

Zinc

Sometimes called architectural zinc, as well as titanium-zinc alloy, rolled zinc, and zinc strip, is a soft, natural-weathering metal that has been used for centuries in various building envelope applications due to it being one of the most non-corrosive metals on the market. It is malleable, soft yet strong, and lightweight. Zinc can be cut, curved and folded to produce a wide range of shapes, making it quite popular with architects. 

You can see this metal in many applications, such as roofing, gutters, facades, building ornamentation, and trimming. Another major use of zinc is in coating or galvanizing other metals that are prone to corrosion such as steel and iron in order to prevent deterioration and extend their longevity.

Copper

Copper is the oldest known metal that is still in use today in the construction industry, as well as one of the most versatile engineering materials on the planet. Copper’s physical properties, such as its corrosion resistance, durability, flexibility, conductivity and strength make it great for an almost unlimited number of projects and uses. Copper is used heavily in the construction industry for heating systems, gas and oil lines, electrical wiring, roofing, cladding and rainwater systems. 

Copper tubing is famous for its use in pipes and inflexible copper tubing is used as cold and hot water tap pipes. Copper’s continued popularity doesn’t show signs of stopping as the base metal remains in high demand, due to its need in green energy projects and electric cars.

Iron

Iron has two different applications in the construction industry, broken down into the categories of wrought iron and cast iron. Cast iron is poured, modeled and melted, whereas wrought iron is rolled. For heavier construction projects, the use of iron rods is very common. Wrought iron is one of the major types of iron rod used in construction. Cast-iron is a particularly strong type of iron whose use in construction allows buildings to be built out wider and take up more space.

Iron is used in the construction of bridges and houses because it is capable of lifting the weight of different things at one time. Iron is a strong metal and has a high resisting power, which helps it resist high load, stress and strain. Wrought iron is easy to rivet and is used to make sturdy rafters, trusses and beams. Cast iron is typically used in large architectural products (the dome of the U.S. Capitol is a famous example).

Consult the Metal Experts for Your Next Project

MetalTech Global is the nation’s premiere distributor and fabricator of coil, sheet and finished architectural metals products. Working with our affiliates, we are promoting the use of sustainable metal products in the building. 

We envision that home and commercial construction will be committed to using only durable and reusable products. MetalTech Global can help your commitment be successful as durability, reusability, and sustainability is our area of expertise. We work with companies like elZinc America, VMZinc, Lorin Industries, and Hussey Copper to provide the highest quality architectural products in natural metals. 

While zinc has been used extensively in Europe for hundreds of years, it is a relatively new building metal in North America, and its potential for robust, beautiful structures is unmatched. As of 2021, MetalTech Global is the largest stocking center of architectural zinc in North America, with the capability of re-processing sheets and coils for customers on demand.

Contact us today for architectural metals, coils, panels, metal fabrication and cutting, folding, and more.

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Perforated Sheet Metals: What You Need to Know

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Perforated Sheet Metals: What You Need to Know

Have you considered which perforated metal would be best for your first project? When making this decision, the first thing you should keep in mind is your application. The qualities you pick for your perforated metal will significantly affect how you can use the finished product. 

A simple perforated metal sheet can fulfill a variety of architectural roles while being cost-effective, attractive, and functional. There are various applications of perforated metal, including outdoor furniture, balustrades, and acoustic applications. Perforated metal is a vital element in the development of large scale construction projects all over the world, and will continue to be an in-demand choice for the foreseeable future.

Today, we will go over some of the most prevalent uses of perforated sheet metal, and its applications in many of today’s major industries.

What Exactly Is Perforated Sheet Metal?

Perforated metal, also referred to as perforated screen or perforated sheet, is sheet metal that has been mechanically or manually punched or stamped to generate various shapes, sizes, holes, and patterns using CNC technology or, in some circumstances, laser cutting. 

Zinc, titanium, copper, stainless steel, and aluminum are just a few of the metals that are utilized in the perforating metal process. The kind of metals for the perforation process is selected according to their materials, gauge, size, and intended purpose. Some of the shapes that can be employed are hexagonal, slotted, square, and round holes.

Practical Constructive & Architectural Benefits of Perforated Metal

Reduction in Solar Radiation & Sun Shading

Sun rays can enter the room directly through common horizontal constructions dividing loggias and balconies, especially in the morning when the sun rays descend for a shorter period. By distributing the sun’s energy and eliminating excessive sunlight, perforated sheets provide a more comfortable environment. 

Additionally, perforated metal shutters can be placed on windows to control radiation from the sun. They drastically alter the facade view by allowing for a changing opening angle when closed or open, thereby managing the quantity of light that can enter your place.

Durability

Since perforated sheet metals are mainly composed of zinc, aluminum, steel, or any alloy combination you can conceive of, the ultimate result will be a long-lasting, hard-to-damage building material. Sheet metals can survive for up to five decades with minimal repair and maintenance once put in a structure.

Using durable materials reduces the long-term cost of repair and replacement. Although alloys and metals are preferable, sheet metals are changeable to have various wall thicknesses. The materials may also assist in mitigating damage caused by impact forces, which could compromise the safety of people inside a building.

Acoustic Performance

Perforated metal sheets with a high open area can effectively reduce noise in an environment and provide a pleasant experience. They can also be engineered to enable sound to travel through quickly, allowing them to be used as speaker grilles to safeguard speakers from damage without affecting the sound they produce. Perforated metal noise barriers constructed of aluminum are also employed to absorb and soften noise on highways and near rail tracks.

Energy Efficiency

Perforated metal can help architects reduce internal heat buildup from the sun by balancing light and ventilation. HVAC systems consume less energy because heat is deflected, resulting in a more consistent interior temperature. As a screening feature, perforated metal minimizes the amount of internal illumination required.

The Flexibility of Perforated Sheet Metal Design

Perforated metal variants rely on their material usage, thickness, dimensions, and application region. Perforated sheet metals are available in diverse shapes and sizes, including hexagonal holes, slotted holes, club-shaped holes, square holes, round holes, and other decorative forms. Metal sheets are available in architectural patterns that help with ventilation and contribute aesthetic appeal to buildings.

The Artistic Potential of Perforated Metal Imaging

An increasing number of artists are discovering the potential of perforated metal and its numerous advantages for artistic applications. Because of the variety of metal materials, hole patterns, and thinnest metal profiles, it can be molded into a wide range of forms and shapes. When particularly in comparison to solid metal components, perforated metal allows light to pass through, generating delicate and one-of-a-kind effects depending on the perforation pattern selected.

At MetalTech Global, we can custom-create functional 2D pixelated artwork in even the most intricate colors and patterns, thanks to cutting-edge production technology and extensive creative skills. Aside from that, we only employ the best semi-precious metals in the development of the metal artwork, making it the ideal artistic material for perforated metal art and sculptures for any building.

Why You Should Rely on MetalTech Global

Building materials must be exactly suited to their intended purpose and physical environment, as well as your budget and design specifications. 

MetalTech Global is able to create custom perforated patterns and shapes with our millimeter accurate CNC machine and other latest fabrication technology. With these tools, our architect support staff can realize an unlimited variety of folded and perforated panel designs.

We produce custom soffit systems, wall screens, cassettes, and panel inserts with any of our architectural metals. Perforation provides architects a way to create unique designs without restraint. Choose one of our standard patterns or customize a pattern specific for your design.

Our team takes a personalized approach to provide you with custom alternatives that are tailored to your specific requirements. We can make perforated plates, sheets, panels, and coils to your exact specifications. 

Contact us today for architectural metals, coils, panels, metal fabrication and cutting, folding, and more!

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