Insulated panels: Combining versatility with aesthetics

It’s no secret that New Zealand has had a troubled history with cold or damp houses, be it from leaking, shoddy construction or another issue, and that proper insulation has often been overlooked. A well-insulated building is easier to heat in the winter and cool in the summer. This helps to reduce the amount of energy consumed and the cost to maintain a comfortable internal environment.

Of course, there are many different ways to insulate – and it doesn’t necessarily need to follow the traditional timber frame and insulation mode of building. One alternative that is gaining traction in New Zealand is the usage of steel skinned insulated panels – high performance, thermally efficient composite panels which consist of a sandwich of two layers of pre-painted steel with an insulating layer of foam, either EPS or PIR, in between.

The result is an engineered system that provides framing, insulation and exterior sheathing all in a single component – which gives it considerable value as an all-in-one, one-stop-shop solution, suitable for both roofing and cladding applications.

COLORSTEEL, New Zealand’s most preferred pre-painted steel brand, has been making longrun steel for over 40 years. COLORSTEEL for insulated panels brings the peace of mind that panels are protected with a trusted, top-quality product, that’s made in New Zealand for New Zealand conditions and specifically for the insulated panel market.

“It’s a specialised product, made with COLORSTEEL using a Zincalume or galvanised steel substrate,” says Evgenia Znarok, the business development manager at COLORSTEEL. “This ensures that the panel is both an effective insulator and able to protect against corrosion in a variety of environments.”

COLORSTEEL with a Zincalume substrate is best used for the manufacturing of interior/exterior structural insulated panels, while COLORSTEEL with a galvanised substrate is best suited for the manufacturing of coolroom insulated panels.

“Whether it is a commercial or residential application,” says Evgenia, “there is a suitable COLORSTEEL for insulated panels solution available.”

The properties and advantages of insulated panel technology has long lent itself to application in coolroom scenarios, where thermal efficiency is paramount. But with more and more focus turning to efficient insulation in modern homes, the technology is becoming more entrenched in contemporary residential construction.

But their advantages aren’t just limited to insulation and corrosion resistance. “Insulated panels are very lightweight, so they are not hugely labour-intensive to install,” says Evgenia. “They’re also very durable and easy to maintain. Insulated panels constructed with COLORSTEEL come with the warranties that kiwis know and trust - just as for standard COLORSTEEL.

“On the aesthetic side, insulated panels give you a variety of appearance options. They can replicate a profiled look, like corrugate for instance, or be flat for a clean minimalistic look. They can also be a combination of the two for applications where you may want a profile on the outside, and flat surface on the inside for a better internal finish.”

COLORSTEEL for insulated panels offers the same colour flexibility as standard COLORSTEEL for longrun roofing and cladding. While COLORSTEEL Titania is the most common colour choice for coolroom panels, she says, a wider colour range is available for interior and exterior panels.

“You’ve got a variety of around 20 colours on the palette to choose from – so it gives you a lot of room to play with colour schemes to achieve the desired look.

Learn more about COLORSTEEL and its COLORSTEEL for insulated panels offering.