Stainless Steel Clad Aluminum

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Author Message Brett Wilbur (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2015 - 03:37 pm:    I have been asked to write a spec for cladding existing installed aluminum storefronts with stainless steel sheet. Does anybody have recommendations they can share? How is it attached, adhered or welded? What thickness of SS? What is the aluminum prep? Etc. etc. basically starting from scratch. Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 2032 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2015 - 04:47 pm:    I know at least one storefront / curtainwall manufacturer that provides this, but I can't remember the name and don't have access to the sample in the office. Have you contacted any manufacturers? Brett Wilbur (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2015 - 05:07 pm:    Hmmm, I was thinking the other direction and contacting cladding companies. I guess it could go either direction. Tail wagging the dog. I'd just like to know if they use adhesive tape, glue, or weld to attach the cladding, and I guess the braking is all done in field. (??) Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1432 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2015 - 05:58 pm:    Is the intent to keep the cladding as tight as possible to the existing storefront extrusions? Is there other work as part of the scope so a GC would be performing the work by signing on subcontractors? Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 2033 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2015 - 06:03 pm:    The sample we had didn't attach; you could slide the cladding off (because it wasn't put together, but separate). And because it was from a manufacturer, I don't know if the braking was shop or field done. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1433 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2015 - 06:07 pm:    OT - Lynn shouldn't you be in retirement mode, lying on some beach somewhere tropical, basking in the glory of retirement? Lynn Javoroski FCSI CCS LEEDŽ AP SCIP Affiliate Senior Member Username: lynn_javoroski Post Number: 2034 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2015 - 06:13 pm:    Well, I haven't accomplished a single thing today, so maybe that's good enough. It looks like CR Laurence has the capability to do the cladding. They, like Oldcastle, have been buying up a lot of other companies, so perhaps they purchased the one we had at work. Jerome J. Lazar, RA, CCS, CSI, SCIP Senior Member Username: lazarcitec Post Number: 1434 Registered: 05-2003 Posted on Wednesday, July 08, 2015 - 06:23 pm:    If the existing storefront is intact and no remedial work is required, all that is needed is a good metal shop, sliding off the cladding makes sense for maintenance of the original extrusions and seals. The SSINA should be able to advise on stainless steel specifics for this application. Anonymous (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Thursday, July 09, 2015 - 11:22 am:    Will the stainless steel cladding be on the exterior side of the storefront or only the interior? Galvanic corrosion will happen between aluminum and stainless steel. On the interior you should be fine, because you likely will not have an electrolyte (water) connecting the two metals. On the exterior however, I would imagine without some type of separation your aluminum framing could corrode quite rapidly. http://www.ssina.com/corrosion/galvanic.html John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP Senior Member Username: bunzick Post Number: 1634 Registered: 03-2002 Posted on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 - 04:06 pm:    If you slide the stainless onto the extrusions, how will the glass be held in place? Does the stainless fold into the glazing pocket to secure it? how about maintaining the water management of the storefront? Maybe the stainless can just cover the visible parts. I have done a limited amount of projects using 3M's VHB tape. With a properly prepared surface, it will stick extremely aggressively. I think the Disney concert hall in LA has its cladding attached that way. That might be an approach to consider.