Steel Siding - 26G vs 29G

[RxRatedZ71]

I'm new to TBN, but I am so glad that I found this forum;it's about as close as I can get to a "man cave" until I get my barn built this spring/summer. One of my many questions to debate is the difference in thickness or "gauge" of steel siding. I have spoken to many local pole-barn builders who offer basic 30x50x10 packages for $7-8k w/o slabs using 29G painted steel siding. There is of-course an upcharge to use 26G but most don't push it and admit that the 29G is basically just as good. One even went as far as saying "If you encounter softball sized hail, its gonna punch a hole in either one." I've seen on You-Tube an installation video for a galvanized steel-tube building in which they actually use a box knife to score/cut the 29G steel siding and then crease along that score to get a clean edge. I was able to visit with a Madden building salesman today during an open-house. They offer a commercial quality gauge steel siding, but I couldn't pin him down to an exact gauge. Please help me decide on which way to go.

 

[texasjohn]

Welcome to TBN!

Not an expert on siding myself. I prefer heavier gauge myself. Galvalume is a very rust resistant treatment, unclear if the 29 gauge is Galvalume or not... I'd look at the wind resistance of the building you are considering. Don't know if you are in tornado alley, but winds can rip up metal buildings. Sure, some winds can't be withstood, but there is a range where construction materials make a difference.

 

[weldingisfun]

My preference is 26G on the roof and 29G on the walls.
Texasjohn, Metal Mart advertises their 29G as galvalume.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I'm new to TBN, but I am so glad that I found this forum;it's about as close as I can get to a "man cave" until I get my barn built this spring/summer. One of my many questions to debate is the difference in thickness or "gauge" of steel siding. I have spoken to many local pole-barn builders who offer basic 30x50x10 packages for $7-8k w/o slabs using 29G painted steel siding. There is of-course an upcharge to use 26G but most don't push it and admit that the 29G is basically just as good. One even went as far as saying "If you encounter softball sized hail, its gonna punch a hole in either one." I've seen on You-Tube an installation video for a galvanized steel-tube building in which they actually use a box knife to score/cut the 29G steel siding and then crease along that score to get a clean edge. I was able to visit with a Madden building salesman today during an open-house. They offer a commercial quality gauge steel siding, but I couldn't pin him down to an exact gauge. Please help me decide on which way to go.

The box knife trick works on twenty six gauge too. I use it all the time for making long cuts when I have a seam to act as a guide. Nothing but a thing.

 

[Mousefield]

The roof is going to have the biggest exposure to rain, hail etc. That would be the place to look at a heavier gauge.

 

[Duffster]

I'm new to TBN, but I am so glad that I found this forum;it's about as close as I can get to a "man cave" until I get my barn built this spring/summer. One of my many questions to debate is the difference in thickness or "gauge" of steel siding. I have spoken to many local pole-barn builders who offer basic 30x50x10 packages for $7-8k w/o slabs using 29G painted steel siding. There is of-course an upcharge to use 26G but most don't push it and admit that the 29G is basically just as good. One even went as far as saying "If you encounter softball sized hail, its gonna punch a hole in either one." I've seen on You-Tube an installation video for a galvanized steel-tube building in which they actually use a box knife to score/cut the 29G steel siding and then crease along that score to get a clean edge. I was able to visit with a Madden building salesman today during an open-house. They offer a commercial quality gauge steel siding, but I couldn't pin him down to an exact gauge. Please help me decide on which way to go.

There really isn't such a thing as "commercial quality" steel. It is just a sales gimmick.

There is no real advantages to 26 gauge over 29 in typical post frame construction. I would concern yourself over thing that matter like the quality of the steel, the qulaity of the paint, anything you want to look good for a long time NEEDS to be Kynar 500, and most importantly is the quality of the screws.

 

[forgeblast]

For a roof is that the two main sizes 26g and 29g? what is investment grade roofing? it cost a ton but the warrenty on it was great.

 

[20 20]

What is everyone else in your area using? Not saying to follow blindly just because, but if it works for them................

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

My preference is 26G on the roof and 29G on the walls.
Texasjohn, Metal Mart advertises their 29G as galvalume.

We are in the process of building a pole barn and we are going with 26G on the roof and 29G for the walls.

 

[jinman]

If you want insurance on the barn/shop, it's always a good thing to check with your insurance agent. My agent required 26ga on the roof of my house. I'm not sure about outbuildings, but I'd sure check to see if it makes a difference for insurance purposes.

EDIT: My insurance agent also told me that after a hail storm, you won't get your metal roof replaced because of hailstone dents. There has to be bending or holes punched into the metal. That's why they offer such a big discount over conventional roofs.