Aluminum-clad steel framed structures

There are certain projects where the durability of aluminum is desired but the application requires the tensile strength and rigidity of steel. An example would be a freestanding greenhouse, solarium, kiosk, etc. This structure framed of un-reinforced aluminum alone would sway in a strong wind and may buckle or collapse under a severe snow-load. The same structure framed in steel would sustain high winds and heavy snow, but would require periodic painting and would have a less aesthetic appearance. The solution, of course, is a "hybrid"; welded tubular steel framing, clad with anodized (or painted) aluminum, applied prior to glazing. This combination offers the strength and rigidity of steel coupled with the atheistic appeal and low maintenance of aluminum. A photo of an enclosure for an exterior handicap lift is displayed in the commercial gallery. The footprint of this structure is approximately 3 1/2' X 4 1/2' and it measures 19' high to the top of its pyramid-shaped roof. Its steel "skeleton" was shop-fabricated, trucked to the site, erected and then bolted to a concrete slab. White aluminum cladding was then applied prior to the installation of bronze laminated safety glass.

Another application for aluminum-clad steel is in the framing of large windows in close proximity to the seashore. A welded tubular steel frame, installed and properly anchored, and glazed with the appropriate type of laminated safety glass will, in many cases, meet the "envelope-preservation" and "flying projectile" requirements which now apply to window openings in most new and renovated buildings along shorelines. The applied aluminum cladding seals out salt-spray and protects the steel framing, preventing it from rusting.