Marine Solutions

Discover the special architectural metals that can be used next to the ocean

Aggressive climates

As marine environments are aggressive and most building materials, exceptionally metals, can be quite reactive, this poses an excellent question. And since there is no “one size fits all” answer, let’s discuss common metal roofing and wall cladding options individually.

PVDF Painted Galvalume & Aluminum

We’ll be discussing mainly natural metals here, but if your heart is set on colors, a PVDF “Kynar” painted metal is the way to go…with some provisions. In order to be compliant and eligible for the 35 year material warranty, the mill stipulates that your building must be at least 2,800 feet from the waterfront. (For frame of reference, one mile is 5,280 feet.) Now. If your building is closer, don’t worry. We just need to add an extra step. We work with a lab which produces specialty marine grade paint. Pick out any color you like and they’ll match it for you. Once you sign off on the matched color, you’ll be good to go and eligible for a full material warranty. You can have the ocean directly in your front yard, and the warranty will apply.

The next question then becomes whether to select galvalume (steel) or aluminum for the substrate. There are a number of factors which will determine your best choice such as if your building will expect snow or whether the application is for roof or wall. The best answer in this case is to let us know your situation and we’ll help you go from there.

Stainless Steel

If you were to ask us which material we most recommend for coastal environments, our knee jerk reaction would probably be to say stainless steel. Stainless steel, as the name implies, resists staining so you can be assured of a blemish-free, maintenance-free surface. Bear in mind stainless steel comes in a spectrum of alloys. Stainless mills have their own proprietary “recipes” so to speak and though perhaps too simplistic a metaphor, let’s compare with ordering a cake. Each bakery will have a different recipe, but the end product is universally recognizable. And just as you’d specify from that point by ordering flavors like chocolate or lemon, stainless steel alloys are also separated into “flavors”, or rather, industry recognized “grades” which have wildly different properties for specific applications.

For marine situations, the grades we recommend are 316L or Duplex. These are among the most corrosion resistant stainless materials still workable for architectural applications. Believe it or not, lesser grades can actually corrode and rust, even on stainless steel, so choosing the correct grade is vital. We’ll steer you in the right direction.

Stainless steel can come in a number of different finishes and fits into budgets with projects demanding a permanent outcome. To sum up, it is a good general choice for building next to salt water.

Titanium

Though titanium stops short of reaching “Noble Metal” status, under all terrestrial environments it is extremely resistant to corrosion and therefore an ideal coastal solution. It is a high end material with a price to match, but if you are planning a permanent structure with the intention of never replacing the roof or building skin again and despise the notion of maintenance, factor those features into your budget because the “cost per wear” in that case cannot be beat.

Zinc

Zinc is a metal that performs well in coastal environments and for most manufacturers, the warranties are valid for these locations. However, as zinc is a natural non painted metal, and self sacrificial, it will react with its external environment including merely air with a high salt content. When this salty air lands on surfaces such as roofs the rainwater generally rinses the salt off, however on un-rinsed surfaces such as some facades and soffits this rinsing effect maybe very limited. For these surfaces within 1 km (That’s a little over half a mile. Zinc runs everything in metric.) of the sea, permanent staining resulting from salt exposure, is likely. The staining will also be more visible on a very dark grey surface.

Be aware that some zinc manufacturers will require consistent rinsing (power washing) of all exposed zinc. If this sounds like more effort than you’re willing to expend, maybe another metal choice will better meet your needs, but you certainly can apply it close to the ocean and it sure is pretty stuff. If you do plan to put forth the extra effort, your zinc roof, wall and all the details will last 60-80 years. Zinc located inland by way of comparison, tends to be replaced every hundred years or so.

As alluded to above, zinc comes in different colors. The mills tend to call them patinated finishes. Those could have separate warranty / performance information, so advise us on your project details and what you have in mind and we’ll get the answers you need.

Copper & Brass

The Statue of Liberty attests to the strength and appropriateness of copper and cupric metals at sea. Like tin, the weathering might take some time to even out, but this material reacts with contaminants and builds upon itself strengthening the walls and roof from which it is made every day. We’ve worked on 800 year old castles where the copper had quadrupled its original thickness. In contaminated areas like the ocean, this patinating process is sped up many times that of inland materials so you can guarantee yourself a roof and wall that will actually become stronger the longer it is on the building.

Explore our Vibrant Marine-Grade Aluminum Colors

These standard marine-grade aluminum colors are readily accessible and widely used. Should you desire a more personalized color match, contact us to explore your options. Easily tailor your aluminum finish to perfection.

Marine & Coastal Living

Though metals might be reactive to salient or polluted environments, other materials are just as susceptible, and to be frank, a properly engineered metal system is the ideal material to protect coastal buildings which endure constant environmental attacks. Our metal roofing and cladding systems protect like no other material and system can. With the appropriate choice of metal along with a carefully engineered roof or cladding system, you can be assured a beautiful building with all the assets necessary to protect everything inside for perhaps generations.

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Looking to upgrade to a fine metal roof? Discover how integrating Spengler Industries into your roofing projects can elevate your design, increase your longevity, and amplify your impact.

Office phone: 801-462-5264

We are located in Salt Lake City, Utah – (West of the Salt Lake City international airport.)

5066 West Amelia Earhart Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84116