WoodCraft™ vs. Other Wood Grain Metal: What Makes It Unique?
Discover what sets WoodCraft™ apart from other wood grain metals — from its PVDF finish and realistic texture to its unmatched performance and design versatility. Continue Reading WoodCraft™ vs. Other...
Wood grain metal coatings – metal that mimics the look of real wood – has risen steadily in popularity over the last decade. Now you can find dozens of metal roofing suppliers offering their own brand of wood grain metal – such as Sheffield Metals WoodCraft™. With all the different options, it can be overwhelming trying to decide what product is best for you.
In this article, we’ll look at the four unique advantages that make Sheffield Metals WoodCraft stand out from the pack.
What Is Sheffield Metals WoodCraft™?
WoodCraft is Sheffield Metals’ line of four wood-look metal coatings, featuring four colors:
- Light Walnut
- Warm Gray
- Golden Oak
- Rosewood
WoodCraft answers a demand in the roofing market for durable metal siding that offers the rustic, traditional look of wood panels. WoodCraft is an excellent choice for both residential and commercial applications and can be used as accents, soffit, and pairings with board and batten panels to complete natural designs.
So what separates WoodCraft from all the other wood grain options on the market?
The 4 Unique Advantages of WoodCraft
1. PVDF Paint
Premium Defense Against Chalking and Fading
While other wood grain metal coatings use standard paint systems like SMP, WoodCraft uses the premium choice: PVDF paints, which offer enhanced defense against chalking and fading. PVDF coatings match great designs with impressive functionality.
Longevity
PVDF coatings use a special resin that offers superior performance when it comes to natural weathering factors like UV exposure, moisture, and pollutants. They have excellent color retention, which means you’ll be able to keep that brand-new look for decades.
Cool Metal Roofing
Cool metal roofing technology refers to specialized pigments found in PVDF coatings that reflect the sun’s energy to dissipate heat. Instead of absorbing the heat into the material and in turn the home or building, PVDF coatings reduce absorption to help lower energy costs. Cool metal roofing might sound like it’s only for roofs, but it works just as well for walls and siding, too.
2. ZAM® Substrate
Coastal Protection
ZAM®, an acronym for its three main alloys – Zinc, Aluminum, and Magnesium – is a hot dip coated steel, produced by Wheeling-Nippon Steel. Its unique metallic coating gives it exceptional corrosion resistance. ZAM has been proven to resist corrosion even in areas with a high volume of salt spray – even though it’s steel, it comes with coastal warranties to back its performance.
Self-Healing Properties
ZAM’s unique magnesium-enriched coating is actually self-protecting. When parts of the steel start to show through the coating, whether it be on cut edges, panel ends, or fastener holes, the coating will migrate over the exposed steel and lock it down, protecting it from rust.
3. 24-Gauge Steel
Long-Lasting Durability
One of the most significant ways WoodCraft separates itself from other wood grain coatings on the market is its 24-gauge steel. Most other metal wood grain coatings are paired with thinner substrates like 26-gauge, which, while still durable, does not offer the advantages that 24-gauge, with improved longevity and defense against even extreme weather, provides.
Reduces Oil Canning
Oil canning is a common aesthetic issue on metal panels. Though purely an appearance issue – not structural – it causes a distorted waviness to the look of the metal, which can be an eyesore for home and building owners. One way to counter this is to use thicker metals like 24-gauge steel. Thicker metals are more rigid and in turn are better at defending against oil canning.
Available Testing and Engineering
24-gauge steel has more available testing and engineering compared to thinner-gauge metal like 26-gauge steel. 24-gauge steel is very durable, making it a great option for both residential and commercial applications. You’ll be able to find testing that meets stringent standards for wind uplifts, water penetration, impact resistance, local codes, and more.
4. Comprehensive Support
CAT Team
Sheffield Metals is dedicated to more than just selling products – we look to support the metal roofing industry by assisting contractors, manufacturers, architects, and home and building owners through comprehensive support that starts at initial designs. Our CAT (Commercial, Architectural, and Technical) team offers guidance at every step of the design, bidding, and installation processes.
Plus, Sheffield Metals now has a Residential Referral Program, which links homeowners to qualified contractors in their region, eliminating the lengthy guesswork of researching and finding trusted metal roofing contractors.
Warranties
Sheffield Metals pairs high-quality products with comprehensive warranties. We offer paint and substrate warranties, plus weathertight warranties for commercial projects that are inspected and approved by our own Technical Department.
Free Resources
Visit the Metal Roofing Learning Center to view hundreds of free resources on all things metal roofing. Check out articles, videos, tools to help you understand products or improve your technical knowledge of the industry. New content is released weekly.
Interested in Buying Sheffield Metals WoodCraft?
WoodCraft’s four unique advantages – PVDF coatings, ZAM substrate, 24-gauge steel, and comprehensive support give it an edge over other metal wood grain brands. Looking for more information on WoodCraft? Check out the resources below:
And if you’re interested in buying WoodCraft, feel free to contact us today.
