Residential or commercial: same panel, different project.
The aluminum composite panel on a home is the same as the one on a store: 5005 aluminum, PE core, 4 mm, matte PVDF. What changes is everything around it — formats, layout, fixing, volumes and budget. This guide sorts what changes from what doesn't.
What doesn't change
from project to project.
The panel stays the same — and that's exactly its strength across both worlds.
Same construction
Two 0.5 mm 5005 aluminum skins on a PE core, 4 mm total, matte PVDF finish. The same spec sheet serves the house and the store.
Same palette
Matte black and matte white: two architectural finishes that work as well on a contemporary residence as on a commercial accent wall.
Same shop
Carbide-saw cutting, V-groove routing, sharp folds: the shop gestures are identical, whether you build a house return or a storefront box.
What really changes.
Four variables separate a residential job from a commercial one.
| Variable | Residential | Commercial |
|---|---|---|
| Formats | 4×8 (32 sq. ft.) covers nearly all needs | 4×8 + 5×10 (50 sq. ft.) to reduce seams on large surfaces |
| Volumes | A few dozen panels — per-unit purchase online | Pallet (~3,000 sq. ft.) and beyond — volume rate on quote |
| Fixing | Often exposed mechanical fixing (rivets, screws) in renovation | Often concealed systems (rails, clips, cassettes) on framing |
| Compliance | Standard permitting; requirements depend on the project | Code requirements rise with height and occupancy — professional validation required |
The price, in
both worlds.
Same starting price, two different trajectories depending on volume.
Residential: the listed price
Per unit, the online price applies: 12.50 CAD/sq. ft., i.e. 400 CAD per 4×8 panel. A home façade prices out directly, no negotiation.
Commercial: the volume price
From the pallet (~3,000 sq. ft.) up, the tiered rate takes over and is confirmed on quote. The bigger the job, the wider the gap.
The grey zone
Large property, multiple buildings, production housing? The volume quote applies as soon as the quantity justifies it — residential or not.
The right entry point
for your project.
Three profiles, three ways to start with Ahlum.
Residential project
Order a sample ($5) to confirm the finish with your contractor, then buy the panels online — or use the quote if the surface is large.
Recurring job sites
The volume quote fixes your price per project, and the distributor program locks the terms (net 30 by tier, protected resale price).
Project to specify
The spec sheet, formats and documentation are requested at the same time as the quote — in writing, for your file.
Crossing from one world
to the other, without changing supplier.
Plenty of professionals cross the line: the residential contractor landing their first commercial job, the sign shop installing its first façade. The panel is the same — here's what changes in the buying path.
The quote replaces the cart
Once the volume justifies a pallet, the price is confirmed on quote: quantity, application, city — and the number comes back firm, not estimated.
The documentation thickens
A commercial job demands more paperwork: spec sheet, validated compliance, cladding-system requirements. All of it can be requested with the quote.
The distributor account locks it in
Tiered pricing, net 30 by tier, protected minimum resale price: the distributor program is built for regularity, not a one-off job.
Residential vs commercial:
your questions.
Is the ACP panel different for residential and commercial work?
No: the panel is the same — two 5005 aluminum skins on a PE core, 4 mm, matte PVDF finish. What changes is the project: formats, layout, fixing system, ordered volumes and compliance requirements.
Which façade sizes buy per unit vs in volume?
A residential façade typically lands in the range of a few dozen 4×8 panels — buyable per unit online. Commercial projects quickly exceed a pallet (~3,000 sq. ft., ~94 panels), where the volume rate unlocks a tiered price on quote.
Is the 5×10 format mostly for commercial work?
Often, yes. The 5×10 (50 sq. ft.) reduces the number of seams on large surfaces — the classic goal of a commercial panel layout. It is reserved for distributor accounts, where the volumes justify it.
Do building-code requirements differ between the two?
Yes. The larger, taller and more occupied the building, the higher the building-code requirements — see our guide on ACP panels and the building code. Compliance is validated with the project's architect or engineer, whatever the panel.
House or building: the same panel is waiting.
A $5 sample to confirm the finish, online purchase for small surfaces, volume quote for the big ones.