While there are alternative materials and alloys, aluminum has considerable advantages - lightweight, corrosion- resistant, durable, and recyclable to name a few. It’s these properties not only allow for design flexibility, but also reduce the overall material, transportation, and assembly cost of a project.
Aluminum is a 100% recyclable and sustainable material that will never lose its properties. According to the Aluminum Association, 75% percent of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today.
Highly resistant to corrosion, aluminum will not rust in any weather conditions. Unlike other materials that are susceptible to rusting like steel, especially when used outdoors, aluminum’s natural properties contribute to its durability. Aluminum alloys have almost no iron and without iron, the metal can’t actually rust, but it does oxidize. As a reactive metal, aluminum quickly forms a natural oxide layer when it is exposed to oxygen and water. The hard oxide layer gives the metal a natural coat protecting it from further corrosion.
Aluminum’s lightweight quality is part of why it is known as one of the most efficient structural materials - weighing less than 1/3rd the weight of steel. Using high strength, low weight yields a reduction of both project material cost as well as transportation and installation costs.
Our aluminum canopy systems are all equipped with internal drainage. Water drains down and out using breams, columns, and downspouts.
When comparing the cost of galvanized steel vs anodized aluminum (or ‘finished’ steel vs ‘finished’ aluminum), the steel is on average 20- 25% higher per LF of finished material.
