Innovations in Aluminum Cladding Systems
Maintenance
Some exterior claddings can require routine and often costly maintenance. With aluminum products, maintenance has been shown to be minimal, drastically reducing and in some cases eliminating obviating the need for staining, repairing, painting, or replacement. Manufacturers recommend a periodic washing with mild soap and water.
LEED Contributions from Aluminum Wall Products
The U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) rating system has become the most recognized program for certifying a building for green and sustainable designs. Wood grained aluminum cladding, siding, and soffit used in combination with an aluminum back-framing system and continuous insulation, can collectively contribute to this certification under LEED 2009 in several areas.
Energy and Atmosphere
Optimized Energy Performance EA Credit 1.
The intent is to demonstrate a reduction of energy usage in buildings. The back-framing system with exterior continuous insulation has been shown to improve the thermal performance of exterior walls and contribute to reduced energy needs accordingly. Less energy need ripples over to HVAC equipment sizing which can also be optimized to use as little energy as possible.
Materials and Resources
Construction Waste Management, MR Credit 2.1, 2.2.
The intent in these credits is to divert construction and demolition debris from disposal in landfills and incineration facilities through recycling or salvaging. Using products sized to suit a building project, scrap and waste can be minimized. Any scrap aluminum is 100 percent recyclable and can be collected and sent to an appropriate recycling facility.
Regional Materials MR Credit 5.1, 5.
Credit is given for using at least 10 percent of building materials and products extracted and manufactured within the region for 1 point; using 20 percent of regionally collected materials earns an additional point. Consequently, working with manufacturers that source a good portion of their aluminum locally or regionally can earn credits in this category.
Durable Building MR Credit 8.
LEED seeks to reward projects that minimize materials use and construction waste over a building's life resulting from premature failure of the building and its constituent components and assemblies. Aluminum products have a long service life and can last up to 40 years or more if properly maintained.
Indoor Air Quality
Low-Emitting Materials: Paints and Coatings IEQ Credit 4.
Consistent with the goal of reducing indoor air contaminants, aluminum siding that is powder coated without VOCs can earn credits in this category.
Thermal Comfort: Compliance IEQ Credit 7.
Supporting the productivity and well-being of occupants, an aluminum back-framing system enables external insulation, keeping the interior more comfortable than other conventional solutions.
Innovation in Design
ID Credit 1.
Points are available for sustainable strategies not specifically addressed in other LEED credits. Wood grained aluminum siding in combination with the back frame/continuous insulation system, all providing the durability needed on exterior products, are potential candidates for credits in this category.
ACCENTING A PASTORAL CARE CENTER
Photo by Dale Klippenstein
Project: Mixed Use Campus Building
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Architect: John Clarke Architects, Inc.
Phase two of a five phase Campus of Care, the John Paul II Pastoral Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, involves a four-story building with offices, auditorium, chancery, chapel, ten senior housing units and underground parking. Some 10,000 square feet of six-inch, V-groove light cherry aluminum siding and soffit was specified. After considering aluminum composite, cementitious plank, and steel cladding Architect John Clark of John Clark Architect INC specified the wood grained aluminum siding material because of its “aesthetic compatibility to wood finish and non-combustible designation.” Real wood, of course, was not an option. “You can't use wood soffit on a non-combustible building, there's no shrinkage, staining, etc. and it is almost impossible to distinguish between either product given the nature of the hidden fastening system, Clark says.
The wood aesthetic figured heavily in enabling the building to blend with its surroundings says Clark. “The scale and color of the six-inch plank material relative to the volume of the wall areas and feature elements, informs and strengthens the relationship of the forested south west edge of the property, its tall trees and adjacency to the residential neighborhood, and the neighboring health care facilities.” The light cherry was chosen because its “red tones best contrasted with the adjacent Douglas fir and Yew trees.”
In specifying the product, Clark advises careful advance planning. “Pre-plan efficient use of board cuts to avoid wastage, careful handling of the product on site and extensive mock-up training for sub trades prior to installation,” he says, adding that considering placement for expansion channels and flashing details for windows and other openings also leads to a successful application.
Now that the building is under construction and nearing completion, the details of the wood grained aluminum siding installation are drawing into sharp focus. “The owner is very impressed by the warmth and uncanny resemblance to real wood finish,” says Clark.
LINDELL LAKE HOME—HIGH STYLE, LOW MAINTENANCE
Project: New modern lake house
Location: Lindell Beach, British Columbia, Canada
Architect: Steven Cross, Site Lines Architecture, Inc.
Set in a quiet neighborhood, this modern lake house, designed by Steven Morris Cross of Site Lines Architecture Inc., offers views of the surrounding mountains, forest and water. Cross specified 1,500 square feet of four-inch V-groove light cherry finished aluminum siding and soffit for the home. “The client and I wanted to use the durable aluminum product from the very beginning. The home was designed to be low/no maintenance, with a strong connection to the surrounding elements,”
The siding element figured heavily in the design scheme. “In our first meeting, the clients came into the office with a spec' book plan and recommended I see a 'nice' shingled bungalow down the road. After determining we were going to use the aluminum siding, and knowing the views the site had, I knew we had to take the design in a new direction. With large stone and wood grain aluminum-clad walls, we lifted the house above the flood plain, spanned glass between the floors and topped it off with a roof deck. The 10m high plains of siding effortlessly nestle against the nearby trees, while directing the onlooker's attention to the fresh water lake and surrounding mountains.”
Cross says the client's reaction is a consistent one. “The house and siding look great throughout all seasons, and the client doesn't worry about staining or painting,” he notes, adding that he has since used the product on numerous commercial, institutional and multifamily residences. “We use it vertically and horizontally on walls, and frequently for soffits,” says Cross. “I've even used it as a ceiling in a client's natatorium.”
Photos by Dale Klippenstein (left); Joshua Dool (right)
Conclusion—Increasing Building Performance Beautifully
Manufacturers of building products and architects concerned with green design are all doing their part to create energy-efficient buildings that have aesthetic appeal. Wood-grained aluminum cladding and thermally broken back framed systems represent a superior response to these goals. The long life of aluminum combined with the rich visual character of wood graining and the added insulation capabilities of thermally broken insulation systems are a valuable addition to the architect's design toolbox. Suitable for a full range of both residential and commercial structures, these aluminum wall systems can decrease energy bills, increase user satisfaction, install easily, and be readily maintained over time. Successful use of these systems in projects of every type are raising the profile of this next generation of code-compliant and AAMA-certified aluminum products that make an important contribution to the sustainable built environment.
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Longboard – a division of Mayne Coatings Corp. Mayne Coatings Corp. is best known as the manufacturer of Longboard Products. The company focuses on continually exceeding environmental standards and providing premium architectural products for sustainable design. www.longboardproducts.com |
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