I agree that it would not be my own primary aesthetic choice, but
depending on the design and the application, metal siding in residential
work has become a design choice strictly for aesthetic reasons. I've
used plain metal or galvanic roofing in projects with exposed timber as
a design or aesthetic consideration. For some reason it extends the
potential for using that kind of structure into sitings where the
'woodsy' feel of a timbered structure might seem culturally
inappropriate - there were also a lot of other reasons.
I also thought the steel industry might prove a willing sponsor.
Personally for siding on a community based low income project that is
also green I would prefer wood. I would also not be shy of maintenance
issues for a community project. I was involved in plans for a ced low
income housing project in Ottawa,Can. where maintenance issues were
looked at as extending employment options in the community. Its an
important point that when we look at a materials ability to perform over
time the process and localized industry of maintaining and renewing that
material is an important one for the community economically and
culturally for the relationship it develops with the building. Continued
involvement with the buildings materials is also a prime way of
monitoring the health of the building as well as the buildings
environment. This maintenance and the materials used in it need not have
a greater impact than the original manufacture and eventual complete
disposal of a 'non-maintenance' material
As to why steel over aluminum - I apologize for making an uninformed
statement on the assumption that the aluminum industry has a greater
environmental impact than the steel industry and that steel ulitimately
embodies less energy and is more recyclable. I also thought it might
perform a little better (less likely to show baseball dents). I realize
I need to investigate the process a little more, especially in regard to
finishes (one of my initial reasons for the use of galvanic roofing was
its ability to shed rainwater without adding to its impurity - for use
in rainwater collection, I discovered later that this was another naive
assumption). If anyone can direct me to some good sources of information
on the steel and aluminum industries as well as finishing processes for
building products from those industries - I would appreciate it.
thanks,
John Salmen
TERRAIN E.D.S.
terrain@seaside.net
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