Does aluminium beat timber?
There are a few things everyone from architects to developers to new homeowners seem to want in new fencing. But when it comes to products that deliver all of them, which product wins?
Some people just love the idea of timber. It evokes nostalgia, charm and classic style. It’s so easy to picture wrapped around a colonial villa or the old family bach.
But in real-life, timber fencing comes with some pretty heavy fine print: ongoing maintenance that seems to get bigger and trickier every year and a lifespan that shortens every time there’s decent rain. Then, one day you look around and your timber fence is a rotting, warped and falling-down shadow of the one you erected not so long ago. You can spend endless hours sanding, staining, and sealing and even that won’t prevent the inevitable.
Meanwhile, aluminium quietly stands its ground, looking every bit as stunning and sleek as the day it was installed. No swelling in the rain, no splitting in the sun, no weekends lost to maintenance. Aluminium fencing lets you live.
And durability’s not the only ace up the aluminium-fencing sleeve. Unlike wood which acts a giant sponge for dirt, mould and wet, aluminium is 100% non-porous. It absorbs nothing and deflects everything. No swelling, no fading, and no holding storing grime and dirt. A quick rinse and it’s back to brand new.
It’s also a much better choice for tricky landscapes. Sloped sections? No problem. Aluminium fencing can be designed to step or follow the land without awkward gaps or uneven heights. Try the same locations with timber; it’s a nightmare. The extra cutting, reinforcing, and compromises to make it sit right will drive you mad.
And then there’s the weight factor. A solid timber fence is heavy, putting pressure on posts and fixings over time. Aluminium is strong but lightweight, for much less strain on structural components and a far longer lifespan overall.
That said, timber and aluminium don’t always have to be arch-rivals. They can actually co-exist happily too. Timber often works for back fences, rural properties, or anywhere that just needs just a simple boundary without sleek architectural lines. Sometimes it’s cheap, you can do it yourself and if nobody’s going to see it then the job’s done. But when fencing is an integral part of the design; when aesthetics and durability really matter, aluminium wins almost every time. That’s why you see it on so many front fences, pool fencing, entranceways, and statement boundary lines.
And why you’ll so many of the people who choose aluminium out enjoying their weekends, instead of being stuck at home, banging away at rotting wooden boards.