When most people think about modern uses for aluminum they think about industries like aerospace, automotive, electronics, appliances and even advances made in the solar energy industry. However, another industry that has benefited greatly from the inherent qualities of aluminum is building and construction. While you might think that the use of extruded aluminum in construction is new, it has actually been in use since the 1920s.
However, the greatest use of this amazing metal that got people excited about rod and bar aluminum, as well as custom and standard extrusions, was the Empire State Building. Yes, the famous spire and many interior structures of this well-known structure, were made from aluminum. There are many advantages to using aluminum. Today, extruded aluminum is used to create sustainable and energy efficient materials that are in-demand by today’s designers and builders.
Smart Designs for the Future
Custom design allows manufacturers to prevent corrosion through design, creating even more valuable parts and materials for the construction industry. Because aluminum is the number one most recycled metal on the planet due to its ability to be recycled over and over again without losing any of its essential qualities, approximately 50-85 percent of all building materials used today that are made out of aluminum are made from recycled materials.
This helps to make aluminum even more valuable in terms of LEED certified buildings, in addition to its other sustainable qualities. The Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards rank building projects according to their “green building status.” Aluminum helps projects to qualify for this program because of its efficiency, sustainability and ability to be recycled. While there are many other reasons to choose custom extruded aluminum and standard extrusions for building projects, architects and builders seeking a LEED certification have made it a more popular choice.
Long-Lasting and Durable
Construction projects that use rod and bar aluminum or custom extrusion, will find that it is quick and easy to use. Extruded aluminum can effectively prevent corrosion through design, creating projects that require minimal maintenance. In fact, aluminum bridge decks do not require any painting to protect the surface of the metal. Other materials, such as concrete, require a lot of cure time and extension framework, but aluminum doesn’t need any of those extra steps. This makes it even more cost-effective and helps construction crews to meet deadlines without compromising quality.
Aluminum is strengthened through the extrusion process and can be constructed to support solar panels and large glass structures to allow more daylight into buildings for a friendlier, more natural environment. There are many advantages to choosing aluminum as your metal of choice for building and construction. It is an extremely versatile metal, yet is also very durable and long-lasting. These are just some of the reasons why it is considered to be one of the most sustainable metals on the planet. It is used by schools, airports, municipal structures, and LEED certified buildings, due to its low weight to strength ratio both as framing and structural support.
Infrastructure Repairs and Rebuilding
Due to the ability to prevent corrosion through design in custom extruded aluminum and standard extrusions as well, rod and bar aluminum and other shapes and configurations of this popular metal, are now being used as an important material in rebuilding the infrastructure here in the United States. With so many bridge decks needing replacement as the concrete and steel materials have broken down over time, many builders are turning to aluminum because it is light in weight, corrosion resistant, recyclable and extremely durable. It is the perfect choice for upgrading a failing infrastructure for so many reasons.
When it is used for construction purposes, extruded aluminum has many advantages over the once popular steel. Today’s modern buildings could not be as successful as they are without the use of rod and bar aluminum and other custom and standard extrusions. Aluminum structures weigh up to 65 percent less than steel structures, depending on how much of the metal is being used in the building. Despite its lighter weight, aluminum can provide the equivalent strength of steel and a much longer lasting sustainability due to its other inherent qualities.
Silver City Aluminum in Massachusetts
If you are looking to design your own custom aluminum extrusions or are in need of standard extrusions for your building and construction project, look no further than Silver City Aluminum. We can help show you tips on how to prevent corrosion through design for custom profiles, as well as point you to our basic offerings for rod and bar aluminum, which are used across many different industries. Give us a call at 508-824-8631 for more information about the services we provide or to get a FREE QUOTE on hiring our services for your next project.