Aluminium Or Steel Fencing – What’s Best For You?

If you’re after high quality fencing and gates then your materials of choice are probably going to be either aluminium or steel. The problem is that unless you’re fully conversant with the properties of each type of metal, you’re going to be faced with a difficult choice. What’s more, there are pros and cons to each metal that makes each type better suited when attached to certain premises over others. With this in mind, lets take a closer look.

Aluminium

One of the first things you’ll notice about aluminium is that it’s lightweight and versatile. For this reason it’s great for decorative style fencing and gates. In addition it isn’t susceptible to corrosion and therefore can easily withstand all weathers.

Another benefit of aluminium is that pound for pound it costs less than steel, so if you’re on a bit of a budget, then this might be the route you want to take.

One main drawback for aluminium is that being lightweight it can easily be bent. This is perfect for fencing used for aesthetic purposes such as garden or pool fencing or decorative driveway gates. However, if you require your fencing for commercial purposes or areas that require tough barriers, you might want to think about opting for steel.

Steel

Steel is powerful, strong and built to last and for this reason makes for a secure fence material. It’s heavy by nature and once erected it’s pretty much resistant to any type of weather including strong wind. Being impact resistant it’s also a great material for security gates. Most steel fencing can also be galvanised and powder coated to prevent rust.

If you’re after something that gives you that tough steel exterior, but is more lightweight than solid steel then you might want to think about tubular steel. This means that it’s more suited for high-traffic commercial spaces or residential premises where solid steel just isn’t practical.

On the down side, solid steel isn’t easily bent into shapes so won’t suit those looking for anything too elaborate or decorative. It’s also far heavier than aluminium or tubular steel. That said, what it does bring is peace of mind, For this reason for those that are looking to protect machinery or stock such as those on an industrial premises, it really should be the first choice.

So there you have it… a closer look at the differences between aluminium and steel fencing. Hopefully after reading this you’ll have the information necessary to make an informed choice rather than one based on guess-work.