kohldad wrote:
One big advantage to wood with aluminum skin, the average handyman can take the skin off, repair the wood to as good as new and then replace the skin. Even if you can get to the aluminum, it takes special skills and tools to do a repair.
Not to my experience.
I am wood worker and welder as well, although did not learn aluminum welding .
Main issue with rotten, or split wood is that you have to replace whole member, meaning going to the end of the wall, or do long sister board.
With metal bend or broken, you just weld it in damaged spot.
When weld broke on aluminum frame joint, I removed 6x6" piece of siding and attach Simpson tie with Sheetmetal screws to it. Caulk the siding back and call it a day.
Wood joints on Lance have couple of big staples on frame members and then about A5 size of aluminum thick foil with 100's of small staples holding it over the joint. Once that thing fails, you have huge hole of splinters.
