Why Architects like to use Zinc

“Zinc” is one of the most versatile metal used in construction for decades. VM ZINC® is rolled zinc alloyed with
copper and titanium to produce a material with optimum mechanical and physical characteristics for building
applications. VMZINC is composed of very high-quality zinc Z1 consisting of 99.995% pure zinc to which a very
little portion of titanium and copper is added to obtain rolled zinc in accordance with European standard EN
988.

Zinc has been the metal of choice among architects’ way back from 19th Century. It is still very much evident
on roof tops of Paris city from the Haussmann period. Baron Haussmann had chosen Zinc to transform Paris
city in 19th Century & the legacy continues.

Let’s try & understand why architects like to us this top performing alloy for Building applications in various
forms like roofing, façade cladding, Ornamentation, Interior works & many more.

Zinc is Long Lasting –

Zinc Titanium alloy is a ferrous free metal which comes with a long lifespan & service life. Zinc is naturally
resistant to corrosion. Zinc protects itself by developing a protective layer via oxidization process called as Zinc
Patina. Patination process gives zinc a natural surface finish & an exceptionally long lifespan. With an average
corrosion rate of 1µm/year, even very thin (0.7 mm) rolled zinc can achieve 70 to 100 plus years of life
depending on the environmental conditions.

The long life of zinc roof or façade makes it really cost effective in terms of life cycle cost. In fact, zinc works
out to be cheaper than other natural materials like Aluminum, Copper, Stainless Steel, Titanium etc. which are
used for similar applications.
Zinc is Aesthetically Eye Pleasing –
It has been proven in past that roofs & façades cladded with Zinc definitely enhance the beauty of the project.
Whether it is used in renovation or new construction, traditional or contemporary designs, zinc is an elegant
partner for many building envelopes, blending with many other materials like wood, glass, stone, terracotta,
brick, limestone etc. in complete harmony.
With latest developments in pre-weathered offerings, client doesn’t have to wait for entire patination process
to get complete & to have a subtle Zinc patina appearance. VMZINC Quartz, Anthra & Azengar are
Preweathered offerings which offers you desired finishes from day one. In addition, VMZINC has beautiful
Pigmento series with which facades look amazing & attractive. Under “Make it Yours” campaign, VMZINC also
offers customized Pigmento & Lacquered finishes as per project requirement considering minimum order
quantities.

Zinc is Maintenance Free –

In addition to its long lifespan, zinc is a very low maintenance material. It does not require any kind of soap or
cleaning agents to keep roofs or facades clean. Just a normal spray or wash with plain water will take care of
maintenance part. It does not have any kind of coating or paint that gets faded away due to UV exposure over
a period of time. In fact, Natural / Quartz zinc continues to develop a protective layer (patina) throughout its
life and will self-repair imperfections or scratches.
VMZINC doesn’t recommend use of any kind of Silicon sealants during installation of its roofing & façade
cladding systems keeping it truly maintenance free for years to come & against the test of challenging weather
conditions.

Zinc is Malleable –
Zinc provides the freedom to create architectural masterpieces which are difficult to achieve with other
construction materials. Zinc can adopt to complex shapes & can be precisely detailed. Zinc is very malleable
which allows us to achieve complex geometry. With VMZINC Standing seam system, as low as 300mm radius
curvature is possible with curving machine. For few other VMZINC systems, much lesser radius curvatures are
possible with factory tools. It can therefore meet virtually every architectural demand and provide solutions
that less flexible materials cannot. Architects appreciate this versatility which allows them great freedom of
expression in designing the roof and cladding of a building. Zinc resolves a large number of design issues and
allows interesting treatments of corners, junctions and angles. It helps to create almost infinite variety of
shapes: straight, curved, convex, concave, parametric, organic, free flowing etc. Zinc being malleable, allow us
to develop concealed fastening systems & panel joints without use of Silicon sealants making it absolutely
maintenance free, neat & clear roofing + façade systems.

Zinc is Green Building Material –

Zinc is a non-toxic, durable, recyclable and plentiful material. As an essential trace element, zinc is also vital to
biological equilibrium and growth. Zinc used in the building industry is 100% recyclable, putting it far ahead of
many other materials which are just taking their first steps in recycling. Less energy is required to produce zinc
than the other principal metals. The energy balance is even more favorable in recycled zinc.
Zinc as a building Envelope –

Zinc has established as one of the most sustainable, high performance building materials prevalent throughout
the world. Building Design Guide recommends the use of “high-performance building envelopes: select walls,
roofs, and other assemblies based on long-term insulation, and durability requirements.”
Zinc provides excellent corrosion resistance, fantastic service life, effective thermal & sound insulation,
Maintenance free applications & natural finishes.

Conclusion –
Above mentioned metal properties make Zinc as one of the most suitable & preferred metal for Architectural
applications in building envelopes & construction industry.
For further details or information please visit www.vmzinc.in