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Aluminum for facades: alloy, temper and gauge by panel type
Aluminum for facades is 3105 or 1100 sheet: H14 temper for parts formed with tight radii and H16 for large flat panels with controlled flatness, and 5005 or 5052 when the part faces harsher corrosion. As a reference, solid sheet panels run 0.080 to 0.118 in (2 to 3 mm) and light facades and cladding 0.020 to 0.050 in (0.5 to 1.3 mm) (Almexa, October 2026); panel size, fixing system and wind load set the final gauge, with your facade engineer. Almexa makes sheet from 0.0197 to 0.1575 in (0.5 to 4.0 mm) in Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico, in sizes up to 48 × 120 in (1,219 × 3,048 mm).
Updated 2026-10-22
- Alloys
- 3105 and 1100; 5005 and 5052
- Tempers
- H14 and H16
- Sheet
- 0.0197 to 0.1575 in (0.5 to 4.0 mm)
- Largest sheet
- 48 × 120 in (1,219 × 3,048 mm)
An aluminum facade is a building's outer skin made of panels, trays, louvers or cladding fixed to a structure. The system fabricator cuts, bends and paints or anodizes the sheet; the mill supplies it with the alloy, temper, gauge and flatness that process needs.
What gauge of aluminum does a facade need?
| Part | Alloy and temper | Reference gauge | Theoretical weight | Almexa format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solid panel or tray | 3105 or 1100; H14 if bent with tight radii, H16 if flat and large | 0.080 to 0.118 in (2 to 3 mm) | 1.11 to 1.67 lb/ft² (5.4 to 8.1 kg/m²) | Sheet up to 48 × 120 in |
| Light facade or cladding | 3105 or 1100, H14 | 0.020 to 0.050 in (0.5 to 1.3 mm) | 0.28 to 0.72 lb/ft² (1.4 to 3.5 kg/m²) | Sheet from 0.0197 in; coil from 0.0177 in |
| Soffit, trim or blind | 3105, H14 or H16 | 0.020 to 0.040 in (0.5 to 1.0 mm) | 0.28 to 0.56 lb/ft² (1.4 to 2.7 kg/m²) | Coil or strip at your roll former's width |
| Part with harsher corrosion exposure | 5005 or 5052 | Per system | Per gauge | Sheet or coil up to 36 in wide |
Reference gauges: Almexa's construction page, reviewed by Almexa management on October 8, 2026, and its gauge chart guide, updated October 20, 2026. Theoretical weight at 2.71 g/cm³. Panel size, fixing system and the project's wind load set the final gauge, with your facade engineer.
H14 or H16: which temper to order
H14 when the part is bent with tight radii, such as a tray panel with its returns or a profile; H16 when the panel is flat and large and flatness matters most. If the part takes heavy forming or very tight bends, 3003 fits better than 3105. The temper guide explains each designation.
What a facade asks of the aluminum
- Flatness: on a large panel any waviness, or oil-canning, shows; more gauge and an H16 temper prevent it.
- Formability: the panel is cut and bent without cracking at the radius.
- Lot-to-lot consistency: hundreds or thousands of parts must look alike even when made on different dates.
- A surface ready to paint or anodize: Almexa ships sheet in mill finish, for your paint or anodizing line.
- Weather resistance: aluminum forms its own oxide layer; harsher environments call for 5005 or 5052.
An example: the Soumaya Museum
The facade of the Soumaya Museum in Mexico City is 16,000 aluminum hexagons that do not touch each other, fixed to a structure hung from 28 curved steel columns. According to Actinver, that aluminum came from Almexa. It is the kind of project where lot-to-lot consistency shows: thousands of identical parts, outdoors. Figures from Wikipedia, Expansión Obras and Geometrica; the sources are in the case study.
The largest panel one sheet can give
The largest sheet Almexa cuts is 48 × 120 in (1,219 × 3,048 mm) in the 1000 and 3000 series, and 36 × 120 in (914 × 3,048 mm) in the 5000 series. A tray panel needs a sheet the size of its face plus its returns: with 1.5 in (38 mm) returns on each side, the face can be up to 45 × 117 in in 3105 or 1100, and 33 × 117 in in 5052. For longer parts, Almexa supplies coil up to 48 in wide for you to cut to length.
What to send for a quote
- Alloy and temper, or the panel type and fixing system.
- Gauge and tolerance.
- Sheet size or developed panel size, returns included.
- Total project quantity and delivery schedule.
- The flatness and surface finish your paint or anodizing line needs, and packaging: skids, interleaving and protection.
Product pages, case studies and tools
- Aluminum sheet and plate 0.0197 to 0.1575 in, up to 48 × 120 in
- Aluminum coil 0.0177 to 0.1575 in, up to 48 in wide
- Aluminum for construction and architecture
- 3105 aluminum the construction alloy
- 1100 aluminum
- 5052 aluminum up to 36 in wide
- Soumaya Museum case study facade of 16,000 aluminum hexagons, with sources
- Aluminum sheet gauge chart
- Aluminum temper designations: O, H14, H24 and H32
- Quote facade sheet the form already carries the product
Sources: reference gauges, Almexa's construction page (reviewed by Almexa management on October 8, 2026) and gauge chart guide (updated October 20, 2026); Soumaya Museum, Actinver, Wikipedia, Expansión Obras and Geometrica, cited in the case study; size ranges, Almexa technical sheet, September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How thick is an aluminum facade panel?
As a reference, 0.080 to 0.118 in (2 to 3 mm) for a solid panel or tray, and 0.020 to 0.050 in (0.5 to 1.3 mm) for light facades and cladding. Panel size, fixing system and the project's wind load set the final gauge. Almexa makes sheet from 0.0197 to 0.1575 in (0.5 to 4.0 mm) and plate from 0.157 in (4 mm).
H14 or H16 for an aluminum facade?
H14 if the part is bent with tight radii; H16 if it is a large flat panel where flatness matters most. Both tempers are ordered in 3105 or 1100.
What is the largest aluminum sheet Almexa makes?
48 × 120 in (1,219 × 3,048 mm) in the 1000 and 3000 series and 36 × 120 in (914 × 3,048 mm) in the 5000 series, from 0.0197 to 0.1575 in (0.5 to 4.0 mm) thick. For heavier gauges there is plate from 0.157 to 13 in (4 to 330 mm).
Does Almexa sell painted or anodized sheet?
No. Almexa ships sheet in mill finish, ready for your paint or anodizing line; it does not make painted sheet today. State the finish you will apply in the quote.