Building with aluminium is sustainable, easy to maintain, safe and aesthetic. The material has a long lifespan with low maintenance, is unbreakable, corrosion resistant and has a low weight. Aluminium does not burn and does not develop any toxic gases or vapours. Plus: aluminium is malleable, despite its strength. This makes it a popular building material for architecture.
In the vicinity of water, special demands are placed on building materials. Numerous practical examples show that aluminium is the right choice for the building envelope near water. This is because aluminium scores highly in this environment too. After all, it not only withstands all weather conditions, but is also resistant to salt water and does not rust. Dream house with a sea view? No problem with PREFA aluminium products!
Inspired from shipbuilding
The Kathena Nui impressively demonstrates that aluminium and water are highly compatible. This extreme sailing vessel circumnavigated the globe twice in its aluminium boat. Even after years in dry dock, Erdmann concluded: ‘Only an aluminium boat can be left ashore for so long with impunity. Not a single mould stain could be found in any of the sections after all these years. I didn't take any precautions. I just sealed all the chambers airtight. The underwater hull required little work. It has survived the downtime fabulously. No chipped colour, and certainly no aluminium corrosion. Nowhere on board. That is the real surprise.’
If it works for houseboats, why not use aluminium for buildings near the coast?
It's all in the mix!
Aluminium with the following alloys is used in the manufacture of PREFA products:
- EN AW 5005 (AlMg1(B)) according to EN 573-3
- EN AW 3005 (AlMn1Mg0.5) according to EN 573-3
- EN AW 6060 T55 (AlMgSi) according to EN 755-2
- EN AW 3004 (AlMn1Mg1) according to EN 573-3
Alloys in these groups have a high strength and, according to the classification of the DIN German Institute for Standardisation, a corrosion resistance of 1 against weathering and seawater*.
*Aluminium material data sheets, published by DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V., Beuth Verlag Berlin, 7th edition 2016
Up to 40-year guarantee
PREFA guarantees its customers well-fastened and extremely durable roof and façade cladding – guaranteed for up to 40 years! With a guarantee of up to four decades against breakage, corrosion and frost damage, even near the sea, you are on the safe side when it comes to increasingly extreme weather conditions. With an outer shell that can withstand wind and weather, the building materials remain undamaged and the residents are well protected.
Up to 40-year material guarantee on the aluminium base material of PREFA roof tiles, shingles, rhomboid roof tiles, FX.12 roof panels, PREFA facade elements (siding, rhomboid wall panels, wall shingles, FX.12) and PREFA double standing seam roofing (PREFALZ) against breakage, corrosion (rust) and frost damage. Depending on the surface and proximity to water, you also receive a colour guarantee against chipping, peeling, blistering and breaking.
