How Much Does Aluminum Siding Expand And Contract

In this arti cle i ll explain the methods contractors should use to avoid callbacks.

How much does aluminum siding expand and contract. You are right it moves really bad and when it gets 90 100 this summer it is going to look ugly. As the temperature changes throughout the seasons aluminum siding will expand and contract. Know this is not what you wanted to hear. A potential problem with your existing siding is there should be weep holes spaced at the bottom of each lap to allow moisture to escape and due to spiders bugs etc the holes can become clogged.

In a rainstorm water flows down one panel and onto the next so a strong wind can easily blow the water up under the panel where the wall is unprotected. Loose siding panels or wavy siding. Over 90 of these problems are because of fastening methods that do not allow the vinyl and aluminum products to expand and contract freely. The most common cause of noises such as pops or creaks is the expansion and contraction of your siding as the seasons change.

This expansion and contraction is sometimes accompanied by crackling or creaking when the temperature changes. Probably have 6 wide or wider too. When the temperature of aluminium is increased the metal expands and this is called thermal expansion. 7 4 a shows the expansion joint used by railway track.

To calculate the expansion of aluminum multiply the length in inches times the number of f degrees change in temperature times 13 and divide by 1 million. When it s cold outside it will contract and become more brittle. Only real way to solve the problem is to use steel. From 60 degrees f to 150 degrees your 3 5 wide door would become about 0 05 wider if it was unrestricted by the inside reinforcement.

Once it goes to buckling not much can be done. This means that there can be small gaps in between the panels and in the corners. One example of thermal extension is that if for example the temperature of a piece of aluminium alloy 6063 is 20 c and its length is 2700 mm long and it is heated to a temperature of 30 c it will subsequently be 2703 mm long due to thermal expansion. Level the playing field in most cases siding should be installed level.

You will get a little with steel but not like aluminum. When temperatures soar vinyl will expand. Vinyl siding will expand contract as well so if the aluminum siding is to be replaced a rain barrier will be installed befor the siding goes up.