The choice of metal depends on many factors related to the application, region and personal preference. Photo of the rolling mill
Galvalume or galvanized? 26 or 29 specifications? Many contractors have strong opinions about the products they like. As the seller of the two companies, Mill Steel’s Bob Kula said it usually depends on the application or region.
He said: “Builders in the Midwestern states, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska are still galvanized like galvanized sheets.” “I think it’s related to their products. Familiarity is related and I don’t want to switch to Galvalume. As the saying goes: “If it’s not damaged, why repair it. ”
Some obvious reasons for its popularity: the strong agricultural roots in the area. Galvanizing performs better in confined animal spaces (such as the Midwestern region).
However, with the reduction of agricultural buildings in recent years, builders have become more and more familiar with the cooperation with Galvalume to cope with the growing residential market, and as a result, new niche markets are growing.
Kula admits to his prejudice against Galvalume because of its long-term quality after exposure to all weather conditions compared to galvanizing.
Kula pointed out that there are multiple Galvalume steel producers on the market. Other companies, mainly new foreign suppliers, have developed aluminum and zinc products sold under other brand names. Their quality may be the same, or they may not be comparable. Please note that Galvalume sold under this name is only manufactured and sold by licensed companies, and it is illegal to knowingly attempt to sell a product under this name.
Kula explained that one of the positive aspects of Gavaluum is that it weighs less per linear foot than galvanized wire. Building panels”.
However, when talking to the contractor, he said that the price difference was not enough to attract the attention of smaller buildings. This varies with the size of the project. “Galvalume has become the product of choice for residential, commercial and industrial applications because of the cost savings per linear foot compared to galvanizing,” he said. “Given the huge scale of some industrial buildings, the savings are substantial.”
“Alabama and Mississippi use a lot of 29 gauge thin steel. In Florida and some coastal areas, they use 26 or 24 gauge thickness gauges, which are thicker. In the Midwest, they really I like the 29 and 26 gauges of wrinkled jacket steel (Indiana, Ohio, Michigan); in the western part of Nebraska, Dakota, Idaho, they use a lot more 26 gauges.”
Another ongoing debate concerns whether domestic steel or foreign steel. Kura said: “Foreign steel is cheap and inferior, so it doesn’t exist at all. This is an old adage,” he added: “Some [foreign] steel mills have better quality, and some steel mills have better quality. . It’s a bit skeptical, but the same is true in the United States.”
He said it really comes down to the base material: “When it comes to the steel used for roll forming roofs and walls, everything starts with the base material,” he said. Whether it is galvanized or silver-plated, the problem of dripping through painting and roll forming starts with a good substrate. If you encounter problems with the substrate, it is difficult to avoid these problems. ”
Building codes affect which type of steel should be used, and these codes usually coincide with Mother Nature: snow loads in Wisconsin, hurricanes and salt fog in Florida. In these language environments, what can best reflect?
Building codes may also specify the grade of steel. Kura said: “There are hundreds of steels involving yield strength.” “Usually, grade 50 is more flexible and easier to roll. It is used for guttering and trimming. Grade 80 is a harder product. When you build a room, For buildings with high spans, you want the panels to have greater rigidity instead of being so flexible.”
Kura encountered many new roll forming machines. They considered the purchase price of roll forming machines a lot, but did not consider the cost of steel coils. He said: “They bought a roll forming machine at a price of US$100,000 to US$500,000. They felt they could afford it, but then they realized that the cost of the first batch of steel (5 or 6 coils) For 30,000-35,000 US dollars,” he said. . “I think people will be shocked, like’oh my goodness, I don’t think it will be that big!” Then they have to provide all these different colors. ”
Fluctuations in steel prices can make maintaining excessive inventories an expensive job. Aware of this, today’s coil suppliers have positioned themselves to deliver products quickly, thereby helping the rolling mill reduce the need for large inventories.
However, as always, please pay attention to the reputation of the supplier. What if the coil does not work? In the case of Mill Steel, they have a quality department that can respond to problems when needed. Kura explained the process. “Once the customer informs the sales representative or internal sales representative that there is a problem, you will have a team jump in and get samples. They want to solve the problem as soon as possible, whether it is changing materials or adjusting the tools of the roll forming machine. We have a large staff The team, they have a good understanding of roll forming and how to deal with problems that arise on site or in the factory.”
Koala warned: “The difference between a good supplier and a bad supplier is how they respond to customers when they encounter problems.” RF