What Are ACM Panels?
Aluminum Composite Material (ACM) panels consist of two thin aluminum skins — typically 0.018 to 0.024 inches thick — bonded under high pressure to a polyethylene or mineral-filled fire-rated core. This composite construction delivers an exceptionally flat, rigid panel with a factory-applied PVDF finish that maintains color and gloss for decades. ACM panels have been a staple of commercial architecture for 50+ years and remain one of the most cost-effective ways to achieve a premium metallic facade appearance.
Exteriors Design LLC is one of Portland, OR's leading ACM panel installers. Our teams have installed Alpolic, Reynobond, Alucobond, and Metposite ACM systems on dozens of commercial projects throughout the Pacific Northwest, including retail, office, hospitality, and multi-family applications.
ACM Panel Installation Process
ACM panel installation begins with a comprehensive shop drawing process. Panel layout, joint width, attachment spacing, and panel fabrication drawings are reviewed and approved before panels are fabricated. ACM panels are typically routed and folded to create integrated returns and edge flanges — fabrication quality directly determines the finished appearance quality.
On site, panels are installed on aluminum subframe extrusions anchored to the building's sheathing with thermal isolation clips. The attachment system must be engineered to resist wind uplift, accommodate thermal movement (ACM expands approximately 1/8 inch per 10 feet for 100°F temperature range), and transfer panel loads to the structure without imposing bending loads on the panel face.
Panel joints are sealed with backer rod and neutral-cure silicone sealant in colors matched to the panel finish — or designed as open joints in dry-seal systems. All perimeter conditions, penetrations, and transitions to other cladding systems are detailed and flashed as part of the ACM installation package.
Benefits of ACM Panels
- Premium flat appearance: Extremely flat, consistent face surface that outperforms single-skin metal panels
- PVDF finish longevity: Kynar PVDF coatings retain 70%+ color and gloss after 10 years of Florida exposure testing
- Lightweight: Typically 1.5-2.5 lbs/sf — one of the lightest commercial cladding systems
- Cost effective: Lower installed cost than single-skin metal panel systems at comparable performance levels
- Wide color range: Hundreds of standard and custom PVDF colors available from Alpolic, Arconic, and 3A Composites
- Fire rated options: FR (fire-rated) core products meet Oregon and Washington high-rise facade requirements
Get an ACM Panel Estimate
Ready to spec ACM panels on your next commercial project? Contact Exteriors Design LLC at (503) 914-0200 or request a free project estimate online.