Readers of Metal Architecture selected Petersen Aluminum Corp.’s Precision Series Flat Tiles as their top Reader’s Choice Awards product in 2022. We identified the Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based company’s product by ranking our reader’s interest in products that were mentioned in editorial content in the magazine during 2021.
Roofing products dominate the top products
We measure that interest based on the leads generated from both the response to circle numbers in the magazine and the MetalConnect emails that provide further information to our readers about these products.
Of this year’s 24 products selected, 13 of them are specifically designed for roof applications, with most of those being metal roof material. Two of them are solar panels from Panasonic Corp., Newark, N.J., and Solaria Corp., Fremont, Calif., and one is a clamp to hold a photovoltaic panel from S-5!, Colorado Springs, Colo.
MA readers were also interested in products from the more decorative side of the metal building product universe. Oakland, Calif.-based Móz Designs’ new earth-toned colors for aluminum sheets and Minneapolis-based Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings’ Fluropon metal trends color collection bring design options to high-performance metal building products.
While not exactly decorative, you could add into that group the perforated and expanded metal products from Wallner Expac Inc., Ontario, Calif.; Lorin Industries, Muskegon, Mich.; and Metl-Span, Lewisville, Texas, that were selected.
Product coverage is chosen by the editors of the magazine.
Check out the top 24 products from 2021 as identified by our readers in the Metal Architecture Readers’ Choice Awards.
1. Petersen Aluminum Corp.
Precision Series Flat Tiles
August 2021
Petersen’s Precision Series Flat Tiles are stamped metal tiles for roofs with a minimum slope of 3:12 and walls. The interlocking tiles are installed directly over plywood or elevated channels with concealed fasteners. No sealant is required at air permeable tile joints. The small size of the tiles allows thermal movement. Precision Series Flat Tiles are covered by the PAC-CLAD 30-year finish warranty.
2. Feeney Inc.
1/4-inch-thick Aluminum and Resin Infill Panels
August 2021
Feeney offers 1/4-inch-thick aluminum and resin infill panels for its DesignRail railing system. Resin infill panels are embedded with organic materials including grasses, leaves and branches, and have a sandstone finish. Aluminum infill panels are laser cut in a variety of geometric and nature-inspired patterns including waves and seagrass. There are nine standard laser cut patterns and 15 standard powder-coated colors.
3. Classic Metal Roofing Systems
Oxford Shingles
August 2021
Classic Metal Roofing Systems’ Oxford Shingles are aluminum, PVDF-coated shingles that mimic the look of asphalt shingles. The 0.024-inch-thick aluminum shingles are 12 inches wide by 60 inches long and weigh 40 pounds per square. They have a four-way interlocking profile that withstands hurricane-strength winds and hail. Oxford Shingles are installed on roofs to a 3:12 pitch, and their paint system resists fading and chalking.
www.classicmetalroofingsystems.com/product-info/styles/oxford-shingle
4. Vicwest Building Products
Cedar Creek Shakes
August 2021
Vicwest’s Cedar Creek Shakes are produced in 28-gauge Galvalume. The have hidden fasteners and panels are 50 inches long by 12 inches wide. Cedar Creek Shakes come in six colors: Antique Brown, Burnished Slate, Ebony, Harvest Cedar, Shadow Deep Gray and Silver Springs.
5. Solaria Corp.
Powerxt 430R-PL 430-Watt Solar Panels
October 2021
Solaria’s PowerXT 430R-PL 430-watt solar panels have high-power density and an optimized form. They have 20%-plus efficiency. PowerXT panels have the company’s Pure Black technology that eliminates dead spots and failure points, enhances shade performance and provides an all-black aesthetic. PowerXT 400R-PM 400-watt solar panels are also offered. The solar panels come with a 25-year warranty.
6. Móz Designs
11 Earth-Toned Colors of Aluminum Sheets
May 2021
Móz Designs offers 11 earth-toned colors of aluminum sheets in its Blendz Patina product line. Colors include rusted coppers, dark greens and grays. Aluminum sheets come 0.04-inch to 0.125-inch thick. Applications include interior and exterior wall panels, column covers and partitions.
7. S-5!
PVKonceal
October 2021
S-5!’s PVKonceal conceals the lower or upper edges of a solar module arrays and mechanical and electrical components underneath. It is produced with light-gauge aluminum with a black Kynar 500 finish. PVKonceal creates a finished look prevents unwanted things from going under solar arrays. PVKonceal comes in 8-foot lengths and attaches directly to S-5!’s PVKIT.
8. Trex Commercial Products
Signature Railing line
August 2021
Trex’s Signature Railing line of railing systems have one-piece rail sections that accommodate infill options including pickets, mesh panels and tempered glass panes. Signature Railing systems include balusters and vertical rods. Railings can be installed with continuously graspable rail options for safety. The systems come in three standard colors: Charcoal Black, Bronze and Classic White.
9. Panasonic Corp.
EverVolt Series Solar Modules
October 2021
Panasonic’s EverVolt series solar modules are made of half-cut cells with heterojunction technology that minimizes electron loss, maximizes conversion efficiency and produces high power output. The modules have N-type cells with a minimal low-induced degradation (LID) and potential-induced degradation (PID), which support a long lifespan. Model 370W solar module has a temperature coefficient of 0.26%/C. Model 370W has a module efficiency of 21.2%, and model 360W has an efficiency of 20.6%.
10. Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings
Fluropon Metal Trends Color Collection
August 2021
Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings’ Fluropon Metal Trends Color Collection features eight color families: Gold and Brass, Bronze, Silver and Nickel, Blackened Steel, Copper, Steel, Zinc and Anodized. All of the colors mimic the classic aesthetic of natural and anodized metals with performance of the Fluropon architectural coating system.
11. EDCO Products Inc.
Generations Slate Metal Roof Panel
January 2021
EDCO Products’ Generations Slate metal roof panels replicate the look of a slate roof with steel in HD (high definition) colors and PVDF finishes. Colors include Black HD, Charcoal Gray HD, Stat Bronze HD and Stone HD. The 50-inch-long by 12-inch-wide Generations Slate panels are installed with interlocking grooves and concealed fasteners.
12. Dupont de Nemours Inc.
Thermax Exterior Foam Insulation
April 2021
DuPont’s Thermax exterior foam insulation is a rigid board insulation consisting of a glass-fiber-reinforced polyisocyanurate foam core faced with 1.25-mil embossed BLUE thermoset-coated aluminum on one side and 0.9-mil smooth, reflective aluminum on the other side. It is used in walls and ceilings. Thermax comes in a variety of washable facers, thicknesses and lengths to 30 feet.
13. ATAS International Inc.
Rapid-Lok SL coping
August 2021
ATAS International’s Rapid-Lok SL coping is a snap-on system with continuous cleats front and back with no exposed fasteners. The system includes a coping cover in a variety of materials, gauges and colors in 12-foot lengths. A continuous 22-gauge canted front cleat provides slope and spring rear cleat to snap on.
14. Wallner Expac Inc.
Imperial Expanded Metal Pattern
June 2021
Wallner Expac’s Imperial expanded metal pattern is one of the company’s Decorative Patterns. Openings range from 1/4-inch to 3 inches. It can be used as ceilings and wall panels, façades, sunshades and diffuser grilles. Tunable parameters include strand width and pitch, and open area percentage. Sheets are fabricated from aluminum, steel and other metals that can be painted or powdercoated.
15. CertainTeed Corp.
InsulSafe fiberglass blowing insulation
April 2021
CertainTeed’s InsulSafe fiberglass blowing insulation is for pneumatic installation in open areas and minimizes dust and static electricity during application. InsulSafe XC will not settle, rot or decay, and is engineered to last the life of the building. The insulation is noncombustible and noncorrosive and does not retain moisture. InsulSafe XC is environmentally sustainable, formaldehyde free and has a GREENGUARD Gold Certificate.
16. Kassel and Irons Ltd.
Kasselshake Steel Shingles
August 2021
Kassel and Irons’ KasselShake steel shingles have deep grooves that give the appearance of hand-split wood shake. They are made from coated G90 galvanized steel and come in a wide array of Kynar 500/Hylar 5000 PVDF finishes. KasselShake roofs are impact-resistant, fire-resistant, wind-resistant to 120 mph, and come with a 30-year fade resistance warranty.
17. RHEINZINK America Inc.
Zinc Gutter System
November 2021
RHEINZINK offers fabricated zinc gutter systems in half-round and box shapes. Half-round gutters come in 5-inch, 6-inch and 7 1/2-inch diameters. Lengths are produced 9.84 feet to 19.68 feet. Zinc gutters are produced in 0.7-mm and 0.8-mm thicknesses. Materials include prePATINA blue-gray, graphite-gray and CLASSIC bright-rolled. More than 300 parts and accessories are available.
18. Fakro America LLC
FGH-V Galeria Roof Window
April 2021
Fakro’s FGH-V Galeria roof window with sashes that, when open, create a balcony. The upper, top hung sash opens upwards, while the lower sash can be tilted forwards to allow access to a balcony recess. Side safety barriers at the bottom sash slide out during opening. When closing the lower sash, balcony rails are hidden inside the window and are not visible above the roof surface.
19. Lorin Industries
Circular Perforated Aluminum Pattern 119
June 2021
Lorin’s circular perforated aluminum pattern 119 has 0.188-inch diameter round holes on a 60-degree stagger. Pattern 119 comes in anodized aluminum sheets and coils and a variety of colors and finishes. Lorin offers nine different standard circular perforated patterns.
20. Metl-Span
IW Series of Rainscreen Panels
August 2021
Metl-Span added four panels to its single-skin, concealed fastener IW Series of rainscreen panels: IW-10A, IW-13A, IW-20A and IW-40A. The IW-10A panel is 12 inches wide and the IW-13A panel has a ribbed profile. The IW-20A panel has a stepped profile that creates a deep ribbed shadow pattern on finished walls. The IW-40A panel is 12 inches wide with an 11-inch flat face and 1-inch recess.
21. Spantek Expanded Metal
Zeus Pattern from the Helios Line
June 2021
Spantek’s Zeus pattern from the Helios line of expanded metal is produced with wide strands that allow installers to drill through the material and attach to framing systems and structures. Zeus pattern is used for applications including storefronts, façades, infill panels and sunscreens. Expanded metal panels can be painted as well.
22. Metl-Span
Ecoscreen Perforated Stainless Steel or Painted Aluminum Wall Panels
June 2021
Metl-Span added four EcoScreen perforated stainless steel or painted aluminum wall panels to the product line. EcoScreen BR5-36 panels and EcoScreen Style-Rib panels have 36-inch coverage and ribs spaced 7.2 inches on-center. EcoScreen Econolap 3/4-inch panels have pronounced corrugation and span capability. EcoScreen MR3-36 panels are 3 inches deep and have three evenly spaced ribs. All the panels are available with staggered or reversed perforation patterns.
23. PDL Building Products
18-Gauge Hollow Metal Walkthrough Door
September 2021
PDL offers an 18-gauge hollow metal walkthrough door. It comes with an adjustable weather seal, extended header insulated frame and ball-bearing hinges with non-removable pins. The door also has an ADA-approved aluminum threshold and commercial through-bolted Grade 2 lock.
Interior of Pacific Insulation Products’ R-Seal, a rigid board continuous insulation product. (Photo courtesy of Therm-All Inc.)
24. Therm-All Insulation Inc.
R-Seal Rigid Polyurethane Board Insulation
April 2021
Therm-All is the exclusive distributor of Pacific Insulation Products LLC’s R-Seal rigid polyurethane board insulation in the U.S. The insulation board has integral tape tabs and can be installed directly to metal framing with thermally broken fasteners. R-Seal rigid board insulation has a high compressive strength and durable finish.