If you’re looking for a fence that offers security and a pleasing aesthetic then you may have considered aluminium or wrought iron. Now I must stress that neither of these fence choices is very good if you want to improve privacy but for everything else, they’re ideal.
Of course, these are two different materials and it’s important to make sure that you understand the difference between them. Many people will debate which is better: aluminium vs wrought iron fence but truth be told, there are pros and cons to each.
In this article, I’ll run through the pluses and downsides of aluminium and wrought iron to help you make a more informed decision.
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What Is An Aluminium Fence?
Aluminium is a material that’s often used in place of wrought iron. While it does have a lot of similar advantages, many agree that this material also avoids some of the problems that wrought iron can have such as being difficult to work with and expensive.
Aluminium fences have been around for quite some time but it’s really only been in recent years that they’ve become popular.
What Is A Wrought Iron Fence?
Wrought iron has been worked using techniques such as rolling and hammering. Traditional wrought iron is not commercially manufactured any more but rather mild steel is used in its place. But don’t worry, this is a material that’s incredibly similar to iron and to many, is interchangeable.
People typically opt for a wrought iron fence because of its appearance. It can add a real sense of grandeur and luxury to a property and is a wonderful decorative material.
Choosing Between Aluminium vs Wrought Iron
As I mentioned earlier, there are pros and cons to both of these materials, and it really depends what you’re looking to achieve as to which would be more suitable. So, let’s compare aluminium and wrought iron fences.
Durability
Using any type of metal for fencing is going to give you durability since these are strong metals in any case. However, aluminium and wrought iron are durable in different ways.
For example, wrought iron is excellent where you need a heavy duty material that’s going to be exposed to a lot of wear and tear. That said, wrought iron requires a lot more maintenance since it is so prone to rust.
Aluminium fences can be installed and almost forgotten about in terms of maintenance as there’s very little you’ll need to do. So, where longevity is concerned, you could say that this was the more durable of the two. But it won’t stand up to a lot of heavy use.
Affordability
The cost difference between aluminium and wrought iron isn’t all that much. In a lot of cases, wrought iron will be cheaper per foot to purchase compared to aluminium. However, you may end up paying more overall because the shipping costs are higher since wrought iron is much heavier.
But you also have to think about the long term cost of your fencing. Wrought iron is going to require regular maintenance and this is going to cost. On the other hand, since aluminium fences are as good as maintenance free, the ongoing costs are little to nothing.
Appearance
If you want a more traditional finish then you’d probably opt for the classic black finish for both wrought iron and aluminium fences. But this certainly isn’t your only choice.
When you buy aluminium fencing, this material is powder coated and the choice of colours is vast; browns, greens, silver or gold…pretty much anything you could imagine. This means that you can get a fence that’ll fit in perfectly with the existing look of your property.
Wrought iron can also be painted to fit in with your theme. However, you have to consider that it must be repainted at least once a decade if you want the finish to remain looking its best. The advantage of this, however, is that there is the option to change the colour without having to change the entire fence.
Taking Care Of The Fence
I’ve mentioned a couple of times now that wrought iron fences need considerably more maintenance than their aluminium counterparts.
While wrought iron is a tough and durable material, one area it fails in is resistance to rust. If you don’t take good care of it and regularly treat or paint it then rust will take over and the fence will have to be replaced.
On the other hand, aluminium fences are so easy to care for and there’s no risk of rust at all. Yes, you will want to clean your fence but this requires no more work than cleaning anything else around your property’s exterior.
The Battle Of The Fences – Which Should I Choose?
When it comes down to it, you really have to think about how and where you’re going to use your fence in order to decide on the best material. Wrought iron is perfect if you need something long lasting and heavy duty whereas aluminium is ideal for those that want a low maintenance material.
That said, there are benefits that both of these materials share so if you don’t have any specific needs, then either would be suitable. Here are just some of the advantages of aluminium and wrought iron.
- They’re both incredibly durable in their own way
- Both materials have a timeless appearance
- There are options for colour and style in both materials
- Aluminium and wrought iron have a high end appearance that can make your property look much more spectacular and luxurious
- Both materials are versatile in that they are suitable for domestic and commercial applications
Conclusion
Wrought iron and aluminium are two materials that are commonly used for fencing. A lot of people find that they cannot make an informed choice between the two but essentially, either would be a good option.
Aluminium and wrought iron both share many of the same advantages. However, I would suggest that if you need something low maintenance and that will stand up to wet environments, aluminium would be the better option. On the other hand, if your fence needs to withstand heavy use then wrought iron is the way to go.
