Prescriptive Requirements vs. Performance-Based Testing in the Construction Market
Sometimes your doctor writes a prescription for your ailment, and sometimes your doctor wants to run some tests first. The first example is a prescriptive approach (do this and you will be okay), whereas the second example is a performance-based approach to solving your problem (take some meaningful measurements and then determine what to do). The same two options are also used in the metal building industry.
These days, it’s not uncommon to hear businesses from nearly every industry discuss “sustainability” or plans for a more sustainable future. As the term becomes more ubiquitous in today’s business planning, its definition can be somewhat vague. For our purposes, sustainability refers to a company’s efforts in reducing its environmental impact through the use of more environmentally-friendly building materials and less consumption of natural resources. While the coating industry works diligently in manufacturing products that adhere to high standards for sustainability, there are several ways to be more sustainable and environmentally conscious.
1. Reduce the use of volatile organic compounds.
For a long time, volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, played a large role in the coating industry because they contain properties that assist in applying coatings to a surface. Continue reading
Over the past few years, we have seen a significant increase in the use of metal roofs in the residential sector. In fact, the Metal Roofing Alliance estimates that more than 750,000 U.S. homeowners chose a metal roof to protect their families in 2015. According to their survey, the Metal Roofing Alliance identified eight reasons homeowners are making the switch to metal roofs. Here is a breakdown of the four most popular reasons people are using metal roofs to protect their homes.
1. Metal roofs have longevity.
Depending on the material, metal roofs can last anywhere between 40 and 70 years. That’s a significant increase when compared to the life expectancy of a traditional asphalt roof, which may only last between 12 and 20 years.
2. Metal roofs are durable and offer strong protection. Continue reading
We’ve seen the beauty and innovation prepainted metal has brought to countless exterior applications. But did you know prepainted metal can be an integral part of a number of interior applications? Here are five ways prepainted metals can spice up the interior of any building:
1. Interior Walls
Prepainted interior wall panels are available in a variety of profiles, including ribbed, insulated (foamed), composite and architectural shallow flat styles. These panels are lightweight and can be installed more quickly than traditional walls. They can also take on dramatic shapes with colors or laminates that create striking design elements.
2. Ceilings Continue reading
For decades, metal roofs have been the preferred choice for architects and designers for their durability, versatility, eco-friendliness and many other factors. As the coated metal industry continues to innovate and inspire, we see an increase in the use of metal in nearly all aspects of construction, not just the roofs. Here are just some of the reasons we are seeing metal used more and more in the construction of today’s most impressive buildings.
Versatility
Coated metal today has the ability to be an endless selection of colors and can emulate a growing number of textures, including asphalt, stone, concrete, barn siding and other materials. There’s been a huge demand in the market for the application of innovative color-shifting coatings, which offer an eye-catching, bilateral color finish. With textured metal products, architects can meet client demands for visual depth and designs that differentiate them in the market and give their buildings a unique look.
Interior Capabilities Continue reading
Image via Valspar
As discussed in Textured Metal Building Products Part One: Growing Trend, textured, prepainted metal building products are being specified and demanded more for a variety of building projects.
These products provide a wide range of benefits when it comes to building design and function, including: aesthetics, durability and environmental.
Aesthetic Benefits Continue reading
Prepainted metal is a popular choice for consumers, architects and specifiers who are looking for environmentally friendly, durable, and aesthetically pleasing options. The National Coil Coating Association’s (NCCA) members are seeing a growing trend for textured, prepainted metal products in commercial and residential building design.
While the use of textured paint in coated metal building products is often found in roofing applications for its environmental benefits, the visual and textural innovations of recent years have opened up textured products to a number of applications. Continue reading
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