Colorbond cladding

The Ultimate Guide – Colorbond Or Zinc Cladding?

If you are up to the stage of choosing the cladding for your shed, the two main choices available are Colorbond® or Zincalume® (often referred to as Zinc).

Both these cladding products have been tested and developed over the years to create a material that can stand up to the Australian environment.

It is a good idea to have a grasp of the pros and cons of both products before making your decision.

Colorbond®

A pre-painted, strong and durable steel cladding material, Colorbond® was developed to eliminate the need to frequently paint corrugated iron to keep it in good condition and combat corrosion.

Colorbond® is a popular choice, particularly for residential and commercial projects.

Colorbond cladding

 Advantages

  • The wide range of colour options available for Colorbond® provides room to customise a project, or to match any existing Colorbond® buildings.
  • Colorbond® can also be used when Zincalume® does not meet certain permit requirements or overlays on the land e.g. the reflection from a Zincalume® shed in an airport zone.
  • Thermally efficient.
  • Easy care and minimal maintenance, saving both time and money.

 

Disadvantages

  • Price is the most significant downside to Colorbond® as it is more expensive than other steel materials available, including Zincalume®.

 

Zincalume®

Zincalume® is a very durable metal – a combination of aluminium, zinc and silicon – that has a lifetime of around 4 times longer than that of galvanised steel cladding.

Advantages

  • The activated aluminium coating on Zincalume® makes it tough and highly resistant to scratches during transport and installation, and in weather conditions such as hail.
  • Zincalume’s durability means it rarely needs replacing which has obvious cost-saving advantages as well as being environmentally friendly.
  • Recyclable.
  • Zincalume® is a cost-effective option, compared to Colorbond®, which helps when you are working to a budget but don’t want to compromise on quality.
  • Easy care and minimal maintenance, saving both time and money.
open front shed

Disadvantages

  • The main disadvantage of Zincalume® is its appearance. The shiny aluminium aesthetics of Zincalume® will often mean that it is not compatible with overlays on a property e.g. nearby airport.

 

Verdict

If you can’t justify the extra cost of Colorbond®, Zincalume® is the way to go. After going through stringent testing and proving its durability, Zincalume®is a sensible option. Most of the sheds that we build are clad with Zincalume® for this reason.

Use Colorbond® if it is needed to meet permit requirements, to match in with existing buildings or for environments such as dairies.

Whether you choose Colorbond® or Zincalume®, with Action Steel you have the assurance of 100% Australian-made material.

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