Galvanized Steel Siding vs. Aluminum Siding

Aluminum and Galvanized Steel Benefits

• A chief advantage of both aluminum and galvanized steel siding is that they are easy to maintain. Washing both types of siding down with a hose annually is sufficient to maintain the appearance of the material. Aluminum siding especially is a suitable choice for siding if you live in a moist climate. In addition, neither aluminum nor galvanized steel siding rots. Transforming aluminum siding into the color of your choice is possible as well, as this simply requires sanding the surface of the siding down and then priming and painting it.

Other Galvanized Steel Positives

• Galvanized steel siding is very durable, even more so than aluminum siding. Steel does not produce ripples and is not prone to drooping or vibrating easily. It also resists ants, termites and other insects in addition to not being susceptible to mildew and mold. Because of this, galvanized steel has the potential to last more than a couple decades on a building. Galvanized steel siding additionally has no problems with rusting and performs well in harsh climates in which snow, hail and wind are common.

Siding Disadvantages

• A danger of aluminum siding is that if electrical wiring touches the area of a home’s wall, the aluminum conducts electricity easily and thus potentially leads to electric shock. The tendency of aluminum siding to fade also is a con of this siding material. Aluminum additionally is easy to dent and hard to match if you need to replace part of the siding with a new piece. Also, although galvanized steel siding is hardy, it is not resistant to very high winds.

Price

• The cost of aluminum siding ranges from $2.50 to $3.50 for each square foot, as of 2011. Thus, for a house that is about 1,250 square feet, the project cost typically is between $3,125 and $4,375. Galvanized steel siding is more expensive because of its long-term durability when compared with aluminum, costing about $7 to $8 per square foot, as of 2011. This translates to a cost of $8,750 to $10,000 for a 1,250-square-foot home.