Posted September 15th, 2014 by Christy Serafini

Architectural metal panels carry with them many benefits, especially when it comes to long-lasting durability. When you’re looking for a strong way to reinforce your architectural project, you may want to consider these types of panels, which can withstand harsh conditions and everyday elements. This increasingly popular material is used mostly in the construction of commercial buildings, ranging from fire stations and offices to libraries and schools.

Long-Lasting

When constructing your commercial building, it’s wise to choose a material that will stand the test of time. Architectural metal panels, such as those offered by Wade Architectural Systems, do just that. Featuring a strong construction and versatility perfect for wall cladding, these panels can resist the weather yet allow proper filtration into the building at the same time. This dichotomy works in conjunction to blend the best of both worlds when it comes to versatility. Metal panels, particularly those made with zinc, typically last up to 100 years and sometimes even beyond. Their natural rust and corrosion resistance properties help them lead a long, stable life.

Versatile

Choosing metal panels means you can bend them in many shapes conducive to your unique purposes. Beyond the need for wall cladding, you can use metal panels for roofs, parking garages and more. With metals like zinc, you can rest assured they won’t rust and will offer a certain aesthetic appeal that other metals and materials simply can’t match. These types of metals retain their appearance from the day they’re put in.

Eco-Friendliness

Energy efficiency is at the top of the list when it comes to additional benefits for commercial buildings. Depending on the exact type of metal paneling you get, you can enjoy moisture and heat resistance and minimization of insulation gaps, all of which can combine to cut down on the wasting of energy. Metal paneling can reduce your overall building costs, prevent moisture from getting in, and help to ensure the thermal comfort of all who occupy the building.

Little Maintenance Required

Metal panel systems require very little maintenance on the part of commercial building owners, especially those which are made of zinc-based alloys. You don’t have to treat unpainted portions, and those that do feature paint may need an occasional power wash. Most of the time, though, you don’t even need to paint the metal for it to look attractive. It can stand on its own in terms of aesthetic appearance, and ages beautifully.

Lower Cost Overall

Thanks to its low cost of installation and low cost of maintenance over the years, metal panel systems are quite comparable price-wise with other materials. Taking the total lifecycle cost into consideration, metal roofing and wall paneling can be just as affordable if not more so than other materials. This makes it quite a popular choice for commercial building applications. In fact, 20 percent of commercial roofs and 23 percent of walls in America are made of metal – and that number is growing with new construction. Choosing architectural metal panels for your commercial building is a wise choice due to their energy efficiency, low maintenance requirements, long life span, versatility, and durability.