The Benefits of Building with Aluminium
New technologies and changing consumer preferences are driving change in the architecture and construction industry. As designers and specifiers move away from construction materials that consume slow-renewing natural resources, there is a growing demand for long-lasting materials that are durable, versatile, low maintenance, and allow fast, easy construction. Aluminium addresses each of these concerns, and is suitable for wide application in residential and commercial projects alike.
Ease of construction
One of aluminium’s key advantages in comparison with other construction materials is its lightweight composition. There are literally hundreds of hollow aluminium profiles available today, which means that large extrusions can be specified without excessive weight. The opposite is true of timber: the density of timber varies greatly between species, with Pine – one of the heaviest species in common use in construction – weighing in at 600kg per cubic metre.
In a practical sense, aluminium’s low weight results in significant reductions in the time and therefore cost requirements of installation. DECO’s aluminium products such as DecoClad and DecoDeck are simply systems that are installed quick and easily as well as offering a concealed fixing for a seamless finish. DECO also suppliers colour-matched accessories to ensure a neat finish without additional labour or material requirements.
Durability
Aluminium’s strength and durability have seen it utilised across a wide range of projects. Unlike timber, aluminium is not susceptible to rot, warping, or termite attacks, nor does it require regular maintenance like standing or painting to ensure ongoing resistance to weathering and exposure. These characteristics combine to ensure that aluminium products have an extended lifespan, which is enhanced by aluminium’s inherent corrosion resistance. The same natural oxide ‘skin’ that protects aluminium from corrosion provides outstanding resistance to cuts or scratching, and simply reforms in the event of minor surface damage.
Design Flexibility
Aluminium can be extruded to virtually any profile or dimensions. Its sheer versatility makes it the material of choice for a breadth of applications including doors, windows, screens, cladding, gates, and facades in both commercial and residential projects. There are hundreds of profiles and extrusions on the market, all of which can be easily cut down to suit the size requirements of the individual project.
Most aluminium products are finished with a powder coat to enhance appearance and performance. DECO’s leading powder coated timber-look finish, DecoWood, offers a Super Durable finish that not only replicates the natural beauty of real timber, but also creates a marine, UV and chemical resistant surface that will stand the test of time.
Sustainability
In line with growing concerns about the environment, aluminium can be fully recycled at the end of its useful life. The same cannot be said of concrete, plastics, or even timber, which poses the additional environmental problem of requiring deforestation, often of native forests. Aluminium products do not emit harmful greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making them the healthy choice for both building occupants and the environment.
DECO works with Australia’s leading aluminium manufacturers and can finish almost any aluminium extrusion with our range of decorative finishes.
