In today’s construction industry, Colorbond and Zincalume are among the most popular steel technologies.
Colorbond is a pre-painted steel roofing material which is long lasting and resistant to different weather conditions.
Zincalume is a combination of aluminium, zinc & silicon and is a durable and long lasting metal.
Colorbond Steel
Colorbond steel was first created in 1843 in England. Corrugating a thin sheet of iron produced a very strong yet lightweight building material, however the cost of painting this to maintain a clean look was expensive. The solution was to create a material that didn’t need painting.
Colorbond was that solution. It is a pre-painted steel sheet that has a clean and colorful look which requires very little maintenance.
Colorbond steel also has very high thermal efficiency as it absorbs less heat and cools more quickly. It is also light and flexible and resistant to cracking, peeling and chipping; this makes it very popular for roofing and other construction jobs.
Zincalume Steel
After extensive research, Zincalume steel was introduced to the market in the 1970’s. Some of its outstanding qualities include long life span, high resistance to corrosion and high thermal efficiency.
Zincalume steel is a premium metallic-coated steel product that consists of 55% aluminum, 43.5% zinc and 1.5% silicon. This coating gives it a lifetime of almost four times that of galvanized steel.
Some of its other prominent properties are:
- Lightweight
- Edge protection
- Resistance to termite attacks
- Non combustible
In addition to this, this type of steel is resistant to termite attacks, which makes it an excellent choice for roofing.
Conclusion
So, what is the difference between Colorbond and Zincalume?
Quite simply, Colorbond steel is painted (and comes in a wide range off colors) and Zincalume steel is not.
Colorbond roofing is more expensive than Zincalume; however, the prefinished colour, low maintenance, and long term performance make it a great choice for the long term.
Still not sure which to chose? Have a look at this helpful video which may help you decide.
