The choice of pole barn roofing material depends on the building’s use. Do you want to house animals in the barn or build a home with a modern design? When you select the sheet metal for your pole barn building, you could choose between galvanized metal and Galvalume metal. But what are the differences, and which one is more affordable?
What Is The Difference
Galvalume and galvanized metal roofing might look similar to the untrained eye, but there are several differences. The greatest difference lies in the manufacturing process. Galvanized metal is a corrugated sheet of carbon steel with a galvanized coating created by dipping the straight sheet in hot, molten zinc. What does the zinc do? The zinc ions bond with the iron molecules in the steel to create a shiny, rust-resistant surface finish called galvanization.
The manufacturing process of Galvalume is the same as galvanized metal, but instead of only a zinc coating, aluminum and silicon are also added. Aluminum provides corrosion resistance, and the silicon helps the coating adhere to the underlying metal even when rolled or cut into a corrugated shape. Galvalume is a quality material for pole barns that will not be an animal confinement building. Its protective surface coatings provide better protection against snow, rain, and ice than galvanized steel.
Have you ever wondered what the purpose of the corrugated look is? The “corrugations” provide more stability and strength to the sheets.
Which One Is More Affordable
Although galvanized metal is a traditional material for pole barn roofing and is still preferred for agricultural buildings housing animals, it is not as widely available as Galvalume, so becomes more expensive. If you want to paint galvanized metal, it requires a primer, adding to the cost, while Galvalume metal is available in multiple colors already.
Another factor that makes Galvalume a better long-term financial investment is the warranties. Galvanized metal is generally not warrantied, as it can be unpredictable and likely to only last twenty years. Galvalume is often offered with weathertight, substrate, and paint warranty options.
Although Galvalume shows more resistance to corrosion than galvanized metal, it does not perform well when in contact with concrete, iron, treated lumber, bricks, lead or copper, as these materials cause corrosion of the Galvalume metal. Galvalume is heat reflexive and has an enhanced heat resistance, so could save costs on an energy bill. When we balance out all these factors, Galvalume is the more affordable metal type for pole barn roofing.
Where Are They Used Best
You might be wondering why Galvalume should not be used for buildings that house animals. Manure breaks down and releases ammonia over time and reacts negatively with the Galvalume coating. Galvalume does work well with modern chicken houses built with a vapor barrier between the roof and chicken area for adequate ventilation.
Do you want to build a pole barn on a piece of land along the coast? Neither Galvalume or galvanized metal should be used in coastal environments as salt water degrades the galvanized coating causing premature rusting. In other areas, architects sometimes use galvanized metal roofs to give new buildings a traditional, rusted appearance.
Galvalume looks matte and is ideal for modern, industrial, or rustic design projects that require subtle finishes and can be used for roofs, walls, trim, accents and more. It is a product ideally suited for pole barn homes, agricultural storage, garages, and airplane hangars.
Peak Pole Barns and Manufacturing are barn builders in Colorado Springs. Every client is important to us, and we strive to provide the best pole barn building solutions along with excellent customer service. Do you want a new agricultural building on your property? Are you wondering which pole barn roofing is best for your design? Contact us today.