When assessing building materials for any construction or renovation project, it’s always important not to compromise on structural integrity in the name of aesthetics. Since high-strength steel panels find the perfect balance between cost, ease of installation, durability, and visual appeal, they are an incredibly popular material to work with. With that said, one of the main concerns with installing steel panels is a phenomenon known as oil canning.
This guide will explain oil canning, how it impacts steel panels and their appearance, and how you can overcome this issue by investing in the right type of steel panels, like ISOWALL Fire-Rated and Insulated Wall Panels.
What Is Oil Canning?
Oil canning is a term for the visible, wavy distortions that can appear on flat metal surfaces, especially when those surfaces contain steel or aluminum. If you have ever looked closely at sheet metal or even just the surface of a metal can that has been put under pressure, you may have noticed some slight distortions.
This natural phenomenon does not necessarily weaken the structural integrity of the metal surface, but it can be visually unappealing. In cases where the metal surface needs to have a uniform appearance, either for aesthetic reasons or to ensure it sits flush with other surfaces for insulation and creating an airtight seal, oil canning can become a bit of an issue.
Oil canning can be a major concern for builders and construction workers who work with metal panels. Unfortunately, the smoother and flatter a metal surface is, the more susceptible it is to the effects of oil canning.
Why Does Oil Canning Impact Steel Panels?
Steel panels, especially for walls, ceilings, and other facades, are prone to oil canning for several reasons:
Thermal Expansion and Contraction
Like other metals, steel is sensitive to changes in temperature. Steel panels tend to expand and contract throughout the day and year. As the sun heats the panels and then sets and they cool down, this natural expansion and contraction can create small stresses in the metal, which can appear like slight buckling or waviness. For thinner steel panels, the effects tend to be more pronounced and visually perceptible.
Manufacturing Processes
When steel panels are manufactured, uneven rolling and heating can lead to stresses on their surface. Over time, these small imperfections can become more visible to the naked eye.
Poor Panel Installation
If steel panels are improperly installed, the natural impact of oil canning can be more visible. This is because being fastened too tightly or crammed between other panels can cause stress points, which can grow to become visible waves on the surface of the metal.
Low-Quality Materials
If the steel panels are made using low-grade, thin steel filled with impurities, the impact of oil canning can be far more noticeable, especially over time. This is why investing in high-quality steel panels from reliable manufacturers is important.
Can the Impact of Oil Canning be Reduced?
Yes! While oil canning is a natural phenomenon that impacts just about any metal surface, there are ways to reduce the degree to which it occurs and its visibility.
Investing in Heavier Gauge Materials
Thicker steel panels are less likely to undergo serious oil canning because they are more rigid. Higher-gauge metals are also more resistant to the thermal expansion and contraction forces that often cause the metal to buckle over time.
Well-made steel panels from trustworthy manufacturers are also beneficial in this regard, as they are more uniform in thickness.
Selecting Steel Panels with Textured Finishes
Steel panels with a textured or embossed surface can help hide imperfections and oil canning. The surface finish disrupts the reflection of light, making any waviness less visible. Choosing darker colours also helps in this regard.
Proper Installation
Ensuring that the panels are installed correctly, with proper spacing, the correct type of fasteners, and without over-tightening can also reduce the stress points that increase the impact of oil canning.
Why ISOWALL Fire-Rated & Insulated Panels Reduce the Impact of Oil Canning
While some degree of oil canning is inevitable when working with steel panels, choosing high-quality steel panels can greatly mitigate the degree to which it occurs and its visual appearance.
ISOWALL Fire-Rated and Insulated Panels offer the perfect balance of strength, durability, and visual appeal. They’re designed 26-gauge, pre-painted galvanized steel outer facings, which make them more resistant to oil canning than thinner or lower-quality steel panels.
The panels are also made using a heat polymerizing adhesive that ensures a secure bond and helps reduce the likelihood of warping over time. The continuous in-line manufacturing process also ensures uniformity and flawless performance.
The EPS insulating core also helps reduce how quickly the metal expands and contracts when exposed to different temperatures, which, again, helps reduce the impact of oil canning.
Since they are also available in various colours, embossed, Shadowline, or micro-rib surfaces, you can also significantly reduce how noticeable any minor oil canning actually is.
Not only do they reduce the visual impact of oil canning, but they offer numerous other advantages, like superior insulation and an R-value of 4.1 per inch, easy-to-clean outer surfaces, lasting moisture and mould resistance, and much more. Plus, they’re easy to install and have lasting durability, so you can save money from the moment they’re installed.
Final Words
While oil canning is a natural issue when working with steel surfaces, it doesn’t have to be noticeable or something that impacts the decision to incorporate steel panels into your structure.
With proper installation and premium products, like ISOWALL Wall Panels, you can significantly reduce the visual impact of oil canning without compromising performance.