Wood and zinc: a marriage made for life

Thanks to its durability, colour, texture, high strength and malleability, zinc is suitable for both roofing and cladding. Noble and natural, titanium zinc from elZinc® is also compatible and integrates well with a wide range of materials, including timber.

Wood and zinc have many complementary characteristics, which throw up endless possibilities for sustainable yet striking architecture .

- Natural, warm, though completely modern looking: the combination of the natural texture of wood and the contemporary feel of elZinc – by the way available in a wide range of both pre-patinated, natural zinc and coloured zinc finishes – provides a very interesting visual contrast. The juxtaposition between zinc’s display and the warm, natural look of the wood creates a sleek, contemporary aesthetic.

- Durability and longevity: Zinc is renowned for its durability – due to its excellent resistance to corrosion – making it an ideal choice for roofing and wall cladding. Integrated with wood, which once treated is also very durable, we have a combination that makes for a robust and durable exterior cladding.

- Environmentally friendly: by specifying titanium zinc together with wood, you are selecting materials that respect the environment. Wood is a renewable natural resource, whilst zinc is easily and fully recyclable, helping to reduce the carbon footprint of your projects.

- Low-maintenance: Both wood and zinc require relatively little maintenance. Thanks to the natural patina that zinc develops over time, maintenance requirements are dramatically reduced. Timber is also a naturally weathering material and if properly treated needs very little attention during its service life.

- A modular and flexible solution: the combined use of these two materials offers great design options. Both materials provide the opportunity for the architect to get creative and develop unique shapes, layouts and visual effects, best adapted to the architectural and aesthetic needs of each project.

- Thermal and acoustic insulation: the natural thermal and acoustic insulation properties of wood contribute to improving the energy efficiency and comfort of buildings. When combined with a properly insulated, vented zinc façade, the wood/zinc synergy offers very high thermal performance.

COMPATIBILITY OF ZINC WITH WOOD

The combination of wood and titanium-zinc in architecture creates elegant, durable and efficient buildings. However, it requires some consideration to be paid to the possible chemical and physical interactions between these materials.

Indeed, not all wood species are the same and therefore both materials have to be integrated in an appropriate way. For example, in façades, low pH timbers located next to or over zinc panels should be installed by separating the two materials and preventing run-off from the timber to run over the zinc.

With the application of simple construction solutions and appropriate precautions, a proper design is achieved, and the beauty and functionality of these facades can be enjoyed for many, many years to come.

Check out the table showing compatible combinations of zinc with timber on website.

For other wood species please contact elZinc®.

Clearly, the integration of zinc and wood in construction reflects a focus on sustainable, durable and visually pleasing buildings. The correct combination of these materials not only responds to the needs of today’s architecture, it also promotes harmony with natural surroundings, demonstrating that innovative design is perfectly compatible with environmental responsibility.