I use them exclusively for cutting aluminum soffits and siding and occasionally vinyl soffits. They last about 6 months with heavy use before I need to sharpen or replace them. The last two pairs I had before that were Midwest scissors. They both last about the same, but irwin wasn't as stiff when they were brand new, and they're a bit longer too. So they offer slightly better leverage for thicker cuts, but make it harder to work in tight, hard-to-reach places.