FASTENERS:
Affordable Aluminum has a wide range of standard and specialty fasteners in stock, from standard self tapping TEK screws to Tapcons. Because most fasteners are steel and the medium they are being attached to is aluminum, you have the tendency for electrolysis from dissimilar metal contact and therefore corrosion. To combat this, most manufactures “isolate” the two metals from actually touching by coating the fastener, this coating should be strong enough to withstand the wear and tear of use. At Affordable Aluminum we prefer a ceramic coated fastener versus the inferior painted surface, this may cost a penny or two more but the longevity of the product will more than pay for itself over time. Most self tapping TEK screws that are standard to the aluminum patio industry range from a #8x1/2 to #12x3/4, like most all of our fasteners they are available in stainless steel and the self tapping screws can have a carbide tip to penetrate red iron. For attaching into concrete, a Tapcon is the most common fastener. Because fastener quality can be the weakest link in a construction project, Affordable Aluminum only stocks Elco brand Tap cons. They range in standard sizes form 1 ¾” to 3 ¾” penetration and can be as long as 6” on a special order. A standard non-self tapping fastener used in the aluminum industry is called a SMS, or sheet metal screw, we carry SMS ranging from ½” to 4” long. There are many other specialty fasteners that are used in the aluminum industry like wedge anchors, bolts, Neo’s, and spikes just to name a few, rest assured Affordable Aluminum has them all.