A material that’s harder than steel, tough as sapphires, with the corrosion-resistance of aluminum? That’s what anodized aluminum can offer the construction industry. With a unique electrochemical process that actually grows a protective layer from the aluminum itself, anodized aluminum offers an intriguing new option for architects, contractors, and home and building owners.
But what actually is anodized aluminum, and what does it offer that other materials don’t? We recently sat down with Park Kersman from Lorin Industries to discuss this durable yet lightweight metal.
In this article, we’ll draw from that conversation and dive into the advantages of anodized aluminum, common misconceptions about it, and what its future looks like in the construction industry.
What Is Anodized Aluminum?
Anodized aluminum is not a coating — it’s an oxide layer that grows from the aluminum during an electrochemical process. The aluminum is run through various chemical baths to grow this layer, which creates a durable, highly resistant surface, preventing flaking, chipping, and peeling. Here’s a brief rundown of the main components of anodized aluminum:
- Architectual applications: Clean and modern, anodized aluminum can resist corrosion in all climates and requires little maintenance. It’s often used in marine environments because of its defense against salt spray. It works great for edge details, interior features, exterior accents, wall panels, and even metal roofs.
- Cost: The cost of anodized aluminum is similar to that of standard aluminum painted with a premium paint system like PVDF.
- Warranties: Anodized aluminum comes with a 20-year standard warranty, with options of up to 70 years, depending on the project’s unique application and finish. Color fade warranties are also available.
So what makes anodized aluminum an exciting option for the construction industry?
What Are the Advantages of Anodized Aluminum?
Hardness
On the pencil hardness scale, anodized aluminum is rated a nine out of 10 — one rating below diamonds. It’s three times harder than raw aluminum and 60% lighter than metals like stainless steel and copper.
The surface of anodized aluminum is composed of aluminum oxide, which is the same component found in sapphires. This hardness makes it extremely scratch-resistant and will defend against long-term wear. That means little maintenance and no need for repainting or refinishing.
Corrosion Resistance
Aluminum is already known for its corrosion-resistant properties. The electrochemical process that anodized aluminum goes through makes it even more effective in coastal environments, resisting the rust-inducing effects of saltwater. Its corrosion resistance is a main reason why anodized aluminum is commonly used in the marine industry and is now making inroads in coastal roofing applications.
Keep in mind that anodized aluminum is still at threat of common roofing problems such as galvanic corrosion, which occurs when dissimilar metals interact to create rust. Be sure to use zinc, aluminum, or galvanized fasteners when installing anodized aluminum.
Fabricator-Friendly
Lorin Industries specializes in coil anodizing, which means the material is treated in coil form. Contractors can use these pre-anodized coils for standing seam panels and other rollformed profiles without worrying about finish degradation. It’s easy to form and install — just like regular aluminum.
Design Versatility
“With our coil-anodized process, we’re able to keep things extremely consistent. A great example is the Louisiana Superdome . . . we designed the color to be consistent all the way around the building.”
– Park Kersman, Lorin Industries
Anodized aluminum has a translucent finish so you can see the metal underneath. This creates a crisp, modern aesthetic that could be appealing to many architects. Anodized can also simulate other metal materials like copper, brass, stainless steel, zinc, pewter, and more.
Large-batch coil anodizing also allows for consistent color control over an entire project — even large-scale projects. Lorin Industries worked with architects to develop the New Orleans Saints gold for the Louisiana Superdome, which still provides that signature gold shade that’s consistent across the entire stadium.
Sustainability
“We’ve been fortunate to be a part of projects that are over 35 years old and still functioning well and still look great.”
-Park Kersman, Lorin Industries
Like your typical aluminum, anodized aluminum is 100% recyclable, with no VOCs or harmful byproducts. The anodizing process is a clean, environmentally responsible process. Lorin Industries has in-house water and chemical recycling, so all chemical waste is neutralized on-site.
Common Misconceptions About Anodized Aluminum
Not Your Typical Aluminum
When people think of aluminum, they think of the aluminum they use on a daily basis — soda cans, foil, kitchen appliances. But aluminum is extremely durable, and its self-healing properties make it effective even in the harshest environments and applications — even space. Anodized aluminum takes it a step further, providing an improved version of the already widely used metal.
Not a Coating
One of the biggest misconceptions about anodized aluminum is that it’s a coating — similar to paint systems like SMP and PVDF or an alloy coating like Galvalume®. But as mentioned earlier in the article, anodized aluminum isn’t a coating — it’s a top layer grown from the aluminum itself through a chemical process. This oxide layer is a part of the metal itself, not just a coating, which is one of the main reasons it’s so durable and long-lasting.
Not Just Functional
“Whether it’s roofing, wall facades, fascia, ceiling panels, column covers, the list goes on and on. You have the opportunity to have the decorative side, but also the functional side with the durable surface and that natural metal look.”
– Park Kersman, Lorin Industries
A core advantage of anodized aluminum is its impressive functionality. It won’t chip, peel or fade like traditional finishes if it’s installed properly. It stands up well in coastal environments. And the anodized layer makes it scratch-resistant.
But anodized aluminum offers more than just functionality. Its translucent layer offers a versatile design benefit, as customers will be able to keep that signature metallic look for far longer than a traditional bare metal option. Home and building owners will be able to choose from a wide variety of color options.
The Future of Anodized Aluminum in the Construction Industry
Although anodized aluminum offers many advantages for building owners, contractors, and architects, its potential has so far been relatively untapped in the construction industry. While anodized aluminum has started gaining traction in marine environments and accent applications for metal roofing, it could soon become a widely used material.
As more information becomes available on anodized aluminum and the material becomes more well-known, the material could be poised to become a go-to material for the construction industry.
Learn More About Anodized Aluminum at Lorin Industries
At Sheffield Metals International, a leading provider of metal coils, sheets, and roofing accessories, we’re always looking for ways to support our customers with trusted materials.
Anodized aluminum presents an intriguing new option for metal roofing applications, and we’re excited to see how our industry begins to integrate it into future projects.
If you would like to learn more about anodized aluminum, feel free to visit the Lorin website, where you’ll find a variety of resources on the material and how you can integrate it into your project.
And if you need support for your metal roofing project, click the link below to get in contact with our knowledgeable team. Aside from offering quality materials, we also have comprehensive support through our Commercial, Architectural, and Technical (CAT) team, which provides support during projects, from start to finish.
