There’s a new trend in the architecture and design landscape – designing with metallic coated metal cladding, with its striking, bold appearance, flexibility and cost-effectiveness making it an ideal choice for exterior applications.

With metallic sheen capturing the imagination of contemporary designers, metallic coated metal cladding is popular across today’s urban projects. While a range of metal cladding options exist, interlocking steel cladding opens up a host of bold facade possibilities for designers and builders.

Understanding the benefits of roll formed steel cladding can allow designers and contractors to achieve their desired metallic aesthetic while making a sustainable, long-lasting and economical choice for their building project.

What is exterior metal cladding?

Exterior metal cladding is a protective outer layer of a building consisting of metal sheets, panels or boards – typically made of aluminium or steel. Featuring interlocking or face fixed designs, metal cladding profiles are easy to install on building facades, and offer a stylish design with enhanced durability. Metal cladding can be extruded, or manufactured as flat panels. It can also be roll-formed to create 3D cross-sections in either ‘standing seam’ or ‘shadow’ profiles.

Metal cladding is available in a variety of colours to suit different design aesthetics, including vibrant colours, woodgrains and textured metallic shades.

Vitraloc, the unique roll-formed steel cladding from Fairview, offers a distinctive, interlocking linear wall cladding system. With two profile options, a range of convenient flashings and an extensive colour palette, Vitraloc is an effective system that allows designers freedom for creative expression.

Benefits of using metallic steel exterior cladding

Using metallic steel exterior cladding offers designers extensive benefits – both aesthetic and practical – when it comes to facade design and building.

Sophisticated, bold look

Architects are aiming to make their mark on their facades, with designs that are striking, modern and bold. Because of its ability to create complex design patterns, roll formed steel cladding is associated with visually arresting designs. A combination of metallic colour choices and textures can add a three-dimensional element to the distinctive appearance of the cladding.

Variety of profiles

Because of its unique fabrication process, roll formed steel can be shaped into distinctive and complex panel styles difficult to achieve with other manufacturing methods.

Vitraloc is available in two stylish panel options – Seam profile and Shadow profile – for design flexibility.

Variety of finishes, colours and textures

The finish used on metal cladding is almost as important as the selection of the metal itself, as it can have a significant effect on aesthetics and performance. A virtually unlimited range of finishes is available for metal facade panels, from vibrant colours to woodgrains. Enquire with your manufacturer to find the perfect one for your project.

Metallic finishes remain a popular choice for their sleek, on-trend appearance and their complexity – textures such as etching or brushing add another dimension for a multi-layered experience. Brushed metal is one of the most favoured finishes. The surface of the metal is brushed with abrasive grit to create a unidirectional satin finish with a subtle grain – the intensity of which can vary depending on the size of grit particles used and the level of abrasive action. While brushed aluminium and other metals are highly popular, brushed copper is currently in the spotlight for its reddish colour and classic feel.

Vitraloc replicates a range of colours and textures using a continuous coil coat finish. Among the extensive series of colours and patterns, Vitraloc offers classic metallic colours and brushed metal finishes for eye-catching designs – including the standout Brushed Copper, which features the popular reddish hue of copper with a grit-brushed texture.

Versatility

Because of the range of finishes, profiles and installation options available, steel cladding offers design versatility and the ability to customise facade design. With solid colour finishes suitable for modern looks, oxidised or woodgrain finishes for rustic looks, and brushed metal finishes for urban creations, a variety of design visions can be achieved.

Benefits of using roll-formed steel cladding

Roll forming is a manufacturing process used to shape metal, including steel. During the process, sheet metal is rolled along a sequence of specially-shaped and placed roller dies, which shape and flatten the steel. The more complex the shape, the more rollers the steel will be fed through – and because of its ability to be moulded into unique profiles, roll-formed steel is appealing for a variety of residential and commercial projects.

Highly efficient

Roll forming shapes lighter weight metal components faster than other processes, such as extrusion or machining, and at higher volumes for high efficiency productivity. Because of the increased precision of the roller die process, the parts are good quality with reliable consistency, with fewer cut-offs, seams or reject parts for a more cost-efficient cladding product.

Economical and versatile

Roll forming is a versatile manufacturing option, performing profile bending for ferrous and non-ferrous metals with different thickness levels. While this process works on many kinds of metals, including aluminium and copper, it is especially useful for shaping steel into complex configurations. As the roller dies are created to reproduce the unique complexities of the desired shape, there are higher costs associated with creating the tools for roll forming, making it more economical to produce steel in higher volumes.

Reliable accuracy

Roll forming is an incremental method, which bends components in consecutive stages. This method allows for high levels of accuracy and control, as well as tight tolerances. The roll-forming process and machinery bolster part dimension capabilities, reducing the need for seams as they allow for the shaping of longer metal components, and in varying lengths, all with one tool set.

Why Vitraloc?

With metallic coated metal – cladding shining as a popular siding choice, Vitraloc is the ideal metallic steel cladding solution. With versatility in profile design, colour and finish and a convenient concealed installation system, Vitraloc adds a bold touch to residential apartments, commercial buildings, mixed use projects and even large-scale government projects.

Featuring two dynamic roll-formed profiles, which can be installed horizontally, vertically or diagonally, and available in an extensive range of classic and contemporary colours, textures and finishes, Vitraloc makes a dynamic statement for visually striking building design. The interlocking system offers a smoother appearance, with dramatic express joints and flat pan profiles and panels that can vary in width, allowing designers to create the distinctive bold, modern look associated with metal cladding, with added individual creative flair.

Summary

Metallic coated metal cladding has long been a highlight of contemporary architectural products in a variety of applications. Durable, economical and offering bold design flair, interlocking roll-formed steel cladding stands out as an ideal choice when it comes to selecting metal cladding for a facade design. With a unique manufacturing method that allows for accuracy, consistency and uniquely complex, dramatic designs, roll-formed steel cladding offers astounding versatility.

Vitraloc, the roll-formed steel cladding from Fairview, provides a cladding option for designers that offers economic benefit, durability and design freedom combined. With an interlocking system for seamless installation and an extensive range of colours and textures, Vitraloc allows contemporary design visions to be realised, and helps designers create bolder, more vibrant facades.

Architecture & Design Team

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Fairview

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