Zincalume Roofing and Cladding
Zincalume is aluminium and zinc alloy-coated steel. Unpainted, it goes on a roof as a bare metallic finish and it is the substrate underneath most of the painted steel sold in Australia, including Colorbond.
The coating is 55 per cent aluminium, 43.5 per cent zinc and 1.5 per cent silicon. That combination is the whole point. Zinc gives sacrificial protection at cut edges and scratches, aluminium gives barrier protection across the face, and the two together outlast a straight galvanised coating by a substantial margin in the same environment.
We supply Zincalume sheet, cladding and flashings from our Revesby factory to roofers and builders across Sydney.
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Zincalume Roofing Products
For some things there is simply no equivalent, such as roofing and walling made from lightweight, versatile and durable ZINCALUME® steel. Nothing else has delivered the value, quality and design flexibility of ZINCALUME® steel.
Roofing sheets and wall cladding made from ZINCALUME® steel is available in a range of attractive metal sheeting profiles including concealed fix, corrugated and I.B.R. to name a few. It is lightweight; versatile; attractive and has excellent corrosion resistance.
The coating on ZINCALUME® steel comprises of 55% aluminum, 43.5% zinc and 1.5% silicon. It has excellent corrosion performance, forming capabilities and is available in high strength grades.
ZINCALUME® steel was developed after extensive research into improving the traditional performance of galvanised steel. By blending aluminum with zinc in an alloy coating, researchers discovered a way to greatly enhance corrosion resistance. As a result, our extensive testing programme indicates that roofing or walling made from ZINCALUME® steel lifespan is up to four times than that of galvanised steel with a Z275 coating in the same environment.
It’s a design classic. ZINCALUME® steel has the unique ability to compliment both traditional and ultra modern architecture. Use it with confidence. It’s flexible and cost effective, so the design choice is yours. Mill finish galvanized steel and other materials do not have the same satin-smooth finish that is associated with roofing or walling made from resin coated genuine ZINCALUME® steel.
ZINCALUME® steel, which incorporates BlueScope’s coating technology, is designed to slow the rate of corrosion resulting in more effective, longer-lasting protection. ZINCALUME® steel is typically formed or fabricated into roofing and walling, garage doors, structural sections, or other general manufactured articles.
Zincalume Profiles We Supply
The profiles most commonly ordered in Zincalume include roofing, concealed-fix and architectural cladding systems for residential, commercial and industrial applications.
| Profile | Typical Use | Product Page |
|---|---|---|
| Corrugated | Residential and shed roofing, the default | Corrugated |
| Longspan | Longer runs, commercial and industrial | Longspan |
| Monoclade | Concealed-fix architectural roofing | Monoclade |
| SpeedDeck | Low-pitch concealed-fix roofing | SpeedDeck |
| Standing seam | Architectural roofing and cladding | Standing seam |
| Snaplock | Concealed-fix cladding | Snaplock |
| Nailstrip | Concealed-fix cladding, narrow pans | Nailstrip |
| Interlock, Flatlock, Cassette panel | Architectural wall cladding | Interlock , Flatlock , Cassette panel |
Matching flashings are folded in the same material and the same coil batch, which is the only way to guarantee the finish reads consistently across the roof.
Zincalume Wall Cladding
Zincalume is used as much on walls as on roofs now. Vertical cladding runs in Snaplock, Interlock, Flatlock and Cassette panel all take a Zincalume finish, and the raw metallic look has moved from industrial to deliberate on a lot of contemporary residential work.
Two practical notes for cladding. Handle it more carefully than roof sheet, because scuffs and handling marks show on a bare finish in a way they do not on a painted one and in a way they do not on a roof nobody sees at eye level.
Plan the fixing pattern before you start, because on a flat panel every misaligned fixing is visible from the footpath.
Installation Notes
Avoid Angle Grinders
Do not cut Zincalume with an angle grinder over an installed roof. Hot swarf embeds in the coating and rusts within weeks. Use nibblers or shears, and sweep the roof daily.
Use Compatible Fixings
Use fixings compatible with the coating. Unpainted or incompatible fasteners will corrode at every screw.
Check the Minimum Roof Pitch
Provide the minimum roof pitch specified for the profile. Concealed-fix profiles generally allow lower pitches than corrugated, but check the specific product.
Manage Condensation
Install roof sarking where condensation control is required. Bare metal roofs in Sydney condense.
Installation is covered by AS 1562.1 and the relevant NCC provisions. Confirm the current edition and the site's wind classification.
FAQs
What is Zincalume?
Zincalume is steel sheet with an alloy coating of 55 per cent aluminium, 43.5 per cent zinc and 1.5 per cent silicon. It is used unpainted as a bare metallic roofing and cladding finish, and it is also the base steel underneath painted products such as Colorbond.
Is Zincalume better than galvanised steel?
For roofing, generally yes. The aluminium and zinc alloy coating gives markedly better corrosion resistance than a conventional galvanised coating in the same environment, which is why it displaced galvanised sheet in Australian roofing.
Can you use Zincalume near the coast?
Not close to breaking surf. Zincalume’s suitability reduces sharply in severe marine environments. Check the manufacturer’s current environmental suitability guidance for your distance from the water, and consider stainless steel, aluminium or a marine-grade painted product where it is marginal.
What is the difference between Zincalume and Colorbond?
Colorbond is Zincalume steel with a factory-applied paint system on top. Zincalume is the unpainted metallic finish. Colorbond gives you colour and additional coating protection; Zincalume gives you a lower cost and a raw finish.
Can Zincalume be used for wall cladding?
Yes. Snaplock, Interlock, Flatlock, Cassette panel and standing seam all take a Zincalume finish and are widely used as vertical cladding.
Does Zincalume rust?
It corrodes rather than rusting in the way bare steel does, and it does so slowly in a suitable environment. It will corrode quickly if it is in contact with copper run-off, lead, wet concrete or unseasoned timber, or if hot swarf from cutting is left on the surface.
Ordering
Call 02 9771 3777, text 0499 935 654, or use the contact form. Have the profile, gauge, sheet lengths, quantity and site address ready. Turnaround: PLACEHOLDER_LEAD_TIME_ZINC.
We supply Zincalume across the Sydney metro area from Revesby. See areas we service or browse the full materials range.