Traditionally speaking, wooden railings have always been a popular choice. They were cheap, easily available and had an easy installation process. But as we move forward, we can witness a drastic shift; homeowners have been leaning more toward aluminum railings. But why has there been a preference change lately? Today let us navigate the various differences between wooden and aluminum railings and why people prefer one over the other.
Wood vs Aluminum Railings: Cost Difference
Whether you choose wood or aluminum railings, the cost of railings doesn’t stop after attaining the necessary materials. There are other charges, such as labour and installation costs, that must be taken into account to understand the difference.
In recent times, wood has increased in price and finding good quality wood has become increasingly difficult. This means the cost of an average wooden railing is quite high. You also need to consider maintenance costs and repair charges. If you want your wooden railings to last long, you need to have thorough maintenance and even replace it after a few years.
On the other hand, aluminum railings tend to be cheaper than high-quality wood. On top of that, once aluminum railings go into place, they rarely need any maintenance or replacement, which lowers long-term house railing costs.
Wood vs Aluminum Railings: Maintenance
As we discussed, maintenance is a huge factor in choosing house railings.
Wooden railings need constant maintenance if you want them to remain long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing. You need to stain, paint, and provide the necessary treatments to improve the longevity of these wooden railings. On top of that, if you live in an area with rough weather, your wooden railings might need much more care, and frequent replacements as the wood can begin to rot, disintegrate, warp or even chip. Woode railings are a breeding ground for pests, bugs and termites.
In comparison, aluminum railings are known to be long-lasting and durable. They are easy to install and can prevail in any weather conditions. If you install powder-coated aluminum railings, you can essentially forget about maintenance worries. Aluminum can withstand heavy snow, rain, harsh heat and more without affecting the railing condition. They do not rot, warp, or disintegrate and are free from termite and bug infestation. Aluminum railings also do not need to be stained, repainted, and treated frequently.
Wood vs Aluminum Railings: Installation
Another additional cost when it comes to house railings is the installation cost itself. For wooden railings, the first thing you have to consider is whether you want a generic-looking house railing or you want it to be built from scratch. The price will increase if you have a customized wooden railing, but even if it is a standard railing, the wood needs to be adjusted depending on your property type. Therefore, wood railings installation can usually become quite expensive due to the lack of standardization and labour cost that goes into the builds.
On the other hand, aluminum railings are usually delivered as premade panels that just need to be screwed and set in place. Instead of dealing with every wooden plank, the aluminum railing must be attached and placed in its designated area. The installation is much quicker and reduces many installation costs seen in the wooden one. Also, if you have some basic handy skills, you can eliminate labour charges, as attaching an aluminum railing is much easier.
Wood vs Aluminum Railings: Property Views
House railing affects the view of your property, which is why the property view needs to be considered before deciding on wooden or aluminum railings.
A standard wooden railing with plank can cover up the view of your entire property, especially if you have a beautiful front and backyard. Although all wooden railings will not be solid planks and obstruct the view, a more customized railing also entails other issues such as high cost and maintenance.
Aluminum railings are always linked with a minimalist, clean style; therefore, aluminum railings do not have planks like wooden railings. Homeowners tend to get aluminum railings to ensure they do not cover up the sight line and can retain and flaunt the beautiful property view. It is easily the best of both worlds, protection and appeal.
Wood vs Aluminum Railings: Aesthetics
As much as functionality is important, you do not want your house railings that do not match the house’s architecture and overall aesthetic appeal.
Wood railings may look appealing on day one, but after a few months or even years, they might not have the same beauty. Without proper maintenance, the beauty of the house railings diminishes and downgrades the overall appearance of your home. The first thing people will notice is the railings’ chipping, fading and damage.
Aluminum railings are very versatile when it comes to aesthetics and can blend with the architecture of various types of houses. Aluminum fences also don’t overpower other elements of the house, such as yards and gardens, allowing them to shine. The lack of maintenance required with aluminum railings is also great as you do not have to worry about the house railings getting damaged over time. They won’t rust or corrode and give excellent service without damaging the house’s aesthetic appeal.
Where To Find The Best Aluminum Railings?
We recommend choosing aluminum railings if you need long-lasting and sturdy house railings. To install aluminum railings on your property, you can contact Amazon Railings and their experts. We provide a series of residential and commercial aluminum railings to fit your demands. Our aluminum railings offer the utmost safety and style without disturbing your aesthetics. For more details, you can contact us at 1-905-763-9000 or 1-844-763-9003.
15 Comments
Comments are closed.