In the steel building industry, aesthetics and appearance are often less regarded than topics such as durability, sustainability and efficiency. When aesthetics is discussed, the conversation is typically framed around the topic of building colors and erector skill, and the often-forgotten topic of framing as an aesthetic choice gets lost. However, framing can be an aesthetic choice as well, and, when it comes to secondary framing, there is only one option that offers both an appealing appearance and a design upgrade: galvanized members.
Galvanized secondary framing offers a clear advantage over primed secondary framing
Galvanized steel offers a clean, compliment to grey primed mainframes.
What is Galvanized Steel?
Galvanized steel is simply steel that has had been coated in zinc. The zinc alloy is applied to the steel at high temperatures, which is then cooled causing the iron and zinc to bond. For galvanized steel coils, from which secondary members are manufactured, the zinc is applied using a process called continuous galvanizing in which bare-steel coils pass through a molten zinc bath at high speeds. After the bath, high-pressure air is applied to the coil to remove excess zinc and set the thickness. The material is then cooled creating the bond and finalizing the finish.
Contemporary Appearance of Galvanized
The conventional choice has always been a primed member; if you look at most older buildings, girts, purlins, and jambs are often either primed with either red or grey primer (unless they were subsequently painted for appearance). The reason behind this choice was typically two-fold: primed steel matched the main frames, and primed steel was thought to be cheaper than galvanized steel. For years, this conventional wisdom held, and many building manufacturers still use primed steel for secondary members.
However, conventional wisdom changes over time, and at Imler, Pa.-based Corle Building Systems, we know there is a better way. We use G-60 galvanized steel for all secondary members including girts, purlins, eave struts, jambs, and headers. From an aesthetic perspective, low-spangle galvanized members offer a clean, modern look with no painting required. The silver finish of the galvanized materials creates a bright compliment to any primed mainframes especially our Corle Grey primer.
Red framing is not only dark, but does not offer the advantages of galvanized steel.
Galvanized Members’ Design Advantage
In addition to the upgraded appearance, there are significant design advantages to using a galvanized member over a traditional primed member. Galvanized steel remains virtually scratch-proof and chip-proof thus not only maintaining a better appearance over time, but also simplifying the erection process by eliminating the fragility of a primer coat. Additionally, the durable, hard coating of galvanized steel offers a much stronger protection against rust and corrosion, which helps maintain the appearance and structure over time and decreases the maintenance cost over time.
Galvanized Members are the Clear Choice
At Corle Building Systems, we provide galvanized secondary members as a standard on all building projects. The advantages of galvanized secondary members versus primed secondary members are too clear and too obvious. Galvanized steel offers a cleaner, brighter appearance while also maintaining a more durable and more corrosive-resistant finish.
All manufacturers understand that the value of any building depends on the visual appeal and the long-term integrity; only galvanized members provide the look and the strength that customers’ desire.
Kelly Claar is the components sales manager for Corle Building Systems, Imler, Pa. For more information, visit www.corle.com.