Texas Metal Buildings Steel Panel | WolfSteel Buildings
What is the difference between 29 gauge panels and 26 gauge panels in Metal Buildings? Well they differ in both its design, strength, oil canning aesthetics, warranties, and pricing.
At WolfSteel Buildings, we offer both Tubular Metal Buildings and Red Iron Metal Buildings. Let’s dive into the details!
Profile Design
In today’s blog, we’ll discuss the difference between gauges in metal building panels and cover the two types of designs for 29g and 26g commonly offered in the Metal Building industry, which we also provide.
The AG metal panel, commonly known as Rib Panel design, is usually offered as the standard panel for Tubular Metal Buildings and normally used for residential purposes.
- Standard offered as 29g but can be upgraded to 26g
- 5 ribs that rise 3/4″
- Only offered in Tubular Metal Buildings
The PBR metal panel design, commonly known as R-Panels, differs by a small detail. Builders typically offer it for Red Iron Metal Buildings and use it both for residential and commercial purposes.
- Standard offered as 26g but can be upgraded to 24g
- 4 ribs that rise 1-1/4″
- Standard offered for our Red Iron Metal Buildings
What does WolfSteel think?
When it comes to aesthetics, it’s mostly a matter of preference. Builders commonly use AG metal panels for residential applications, while PBR metal panels are used for commercial purposes.
Regarding strength, the more ribs a panel has, the stronger its profile and the less oil canning you’ll see. However, the gauge also plays a significant role. Let’s take a closer look at strength.
Strength
Remember, when it comes to gauges; the lower the number, the thicker the material. This makes 26g panels thicker and stronger than 29g panels. The 26g panels are around 25% thicker than 29g panels. 29 gauge steel has an average thickness of .0172 of an inch (with a minimum of .0142), and 26 gauge is .0217 (minimum .0187).
Not all 29g and 26g metal panels are created equal. Fluctuations between the minimum and maximum thickness of each gauge affect the price of materials your builder gets. To add another layer of technicality, the yield strength of the steel is a key indicator of steel strength. In simple terms, yield strength is the hardness of the steel. The higher the psi the higher the strength of the panel. This can get very technical where you wonder what kind of materials you are getting for your building.
Here in Texas, we experience a lot of hail. A thicker panel makes more sense due to the higher impact resistance. If you are in areas of heavy snowfall, a thicker panel is also recommended.
What does WolfSteel think?
For that reason, we recommend 26g metal panels at a minimum if your metal building will be used as a residence or for commercial purposes ensuring protection and making your investment worth it. However, if you are spray foaming with closed cell spray foam directly onto your panels, we have found that it gives extra strength to your 29g panels and reduces hail damage. If you will be installing panels over the OSB or Zip system, 29g can also still be functional. The biggest deal breaker in aesthetics is oil canning which we’ll look into in our next blog.
Warranties
Here we speak in general terms. Majority of panels in the market are galvanized. The raw form of a metal panel is dipped into a hot mixture of molten zinc and aluminum that creates a protective coating that protects from rust. That is called galvanization.
For all panels, the main warranty offered is the paint warranty.
The challenge with paint on metal panels is how long the color will last before it will start fading. There are many different qualities of paint that can be used for metal panels but in simple categories you can get 10 year paint warranty, 20 year paint warranty, 40 year paint warranty, and even lifetime.
What does WolfSteel think?
For a simple carport or garage, a 10 year paint warranty could do. For higher end workshops, residential, and commercial, it is recommended that you get a minimum 40 year paint warranty.
The biggest challenge with 10 year paint metal panels, is when you want to replace a damaged panel, you will surely notice that the color will not match with a new panel.
If you are spray foaming directly to the panel, then you want to plan for a better paint warranty to make your spray foam investment worth it.
Pricing
The price difference between 29g and 26g is usually around 25% – 30% increase on your metal building price.
Need more details about the metal panels that we offer? Reach out to us at 844-941-0999 or at quotes@wolfsteelbuildings.com.