When looking for a home-building material, you’ll discover several available. You’ll find wood, bricks, concrete, steel, bamboo, and others. All these have their advantages and disadvantages. Even so, builders may prefer some more than others. For instance, aluminium building material has recently become a favorite for many. In the early revolution years, this metal wasn’t so popular in construction since it couldn’t be mass-produced and was quite expensive. However, with the introduction of processing and electrolysis, the cost of the material declined, making the metal largely and readily available. As a result, its usage in the construction industry rose.
That said, pure aluminium has low strength and is insufficient for construction. For this reason, alloying components like manganese, zinc, copper, and others are added to it. By doing so, aluminium gains the necessary mechanical and physical properties for building. This metal has various applications in construction. You’ll find aluminium windows and doors, roofs, wall panels, drains, etc. Besides, it’s also commonly used as a decorative element in buildings.
There are several reasons why many property owners may choose to build with aluminium building material. Below are some that could convince you to use the material in your next home-building project:
01. Durability:
Compared to some materials like wood, bricks, and others, aluminium offers a longer life span. This is due to several reasons. Aluminium building material is corrosion-resistant. Usually, the metal has a protective layer that can withstand moisture, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, and harsh weather conditions. Therefore, it doesn’t rust easily or need regular maintenance and gives higher strength.
For that reason, you’ll find that aluminium building material isn’t only used for home construction. It’s also preferable for commercial buildings like petroleum refineries, chemical plants, power plants, and paper mills. Besides being corrosion-resistant, rodents, insects, and other pests can’t damage this metal. This characteristic also makes aluminium a more durable building material than wood, bamboo, and others.
02. Low Maintenance:
As mentioned above, aluminium building material can withstand UV rays, moisture, and harsh weather conditions. Also, it’s resistant to pests. These characteristics make it an easily maintainable building material and energy efficient. This means you won’t have to do frequent repairs, repainting, and other maintenance activities, something common with bamboo, wood, bricks, and other building materials.
Essentially, the building material could serve you for 25-30 years without maintenance. This makes it preferable for homes and buildings with little or no maintenance access such as lighting and antenna towers.
03. Higher Strength To Weight Ratio:
Aluminium building material has a higher strength-to-weight ratio. This means that a small amount of this metal offers more structural strength. Aluminium is believed to weigh approximately 2.71 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3). Compared to steel, it’s three times lighter.
This factor makes aluminium a favorite home-building material. Even though some weight is shaved during construction, the strength of the metal isn’t compromised. Also, the characteristic makes aluminium building material to fabricate and assemble. Besides, it also makes it easier for you to transport more materials in one trip. Therefore, it can save you cash on the cost of building your home.
Aluminium’s higher strength also makes its structures easier to dismantle. So, if you plan to remodel your home in the future, the material will make your project more manageable. Besides, you’ll likely finish your renovations faster than you would with other materials.
04. Environmentally Friendly:
If you’re environmentally conscious, aluminium is friendly to the surroundings. This material is considered harmless to the environment because it’s fully recyclable and doesn’t lose any of its properties in the process. Usually, more energy is required during initial production. However, this significantly reduces during recycling.
This is because electrolysis isn’t needed during secondary production. Instead, since only melting is involved, little energy is used. Aluminium can also be recycled as several without losing its quality. In truth, its durability only increases in the process. The above factors make recycled aluminium more attractive than the primary produced type.
So, consider the recycled type if you plan to use this metal for home construction. As seen, it saves energy during production. Building with secondary-produced aluminium helps you lower the environmental damage caused by metal extraction. Also, you’ll reduce the energy needed for the process. Moreover, you’ll help decrease the amount of waste in landfills.
05. It’s Highly Reflective:
Aluminium building material is also highly reflective. So, during winter, it helps keep your house warmer. Also, in summer, it allows you to maintain a cooler space. This characteristic makes aluminium an energy efficient building material. This is because it saves the energy your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system uses to cool or warm your house. This helps save more money in your house by reducing your energy bill.
06. Helps With Soundproofing:
Aside from making your home soundproof, it also prevents external noise from getting into your house. As a result, it becomes a better material to consider if you plan to build your home in an urban area where noise pollution is high. This way, you provide a conducive environment for your school-going kids since they can study without outside interference. If you work from home, you’ll also have a favorable setting that allows you to perform better and increase your productivity.
Final Thoughts:
Several construction materials are available if you plan to build your home soon. Even though they all have unique advantages and disadvantages, some builders may prefer some more. Aluminium building material is one such material that’s a favorite to many commercial and residential property owners. In this article, you’ve learned why many homeowners may prefer building with aluminium. As seen, it’s because it’s more durable, requires low maintenance, and has a higher strength-to-weight ratio. This metal is also environmentally friendly, helps save energy, and provides better soundproofing. So, if you’re looking for reasons to build with aluminium, here are some to assure you that you’re making the right decision choosing the metal.
Before you leave, make sure to check detailed guides on Building Materials :
Characteristics & Properties of Glass as Building Material
Advantages and Disadvantages of Glass as a Building Material
