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Iron Fence vs Aluminum Fence - Which is Better?
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- Опубліковано 15 сер 2024
- By far, the question we get asked most by people shopping for fence and gates is:
Which one is better - Iron or Aluminum fence and gates?
We will go though the most common scenarios and questions to show where one material outshines the other or they are equal.
One thing I do want to stress before we start is that there is not one clear ‘better’ choice. When deciding between iron and aluminum fence, its really going to come down to your preferences and project needs rather than one material being superior to the other.
Let’s compare 7 main areas of the two types of fence:
Looks and Appearance
Other than a difference in the connection from the picket to the rail and the height of the rails, both iron and aluminum are very similar in appearance. There is no clear winner in terms of looks.
Maintenance
While we go the extra mile to protect our iron, it will rust is scraped to bare metal. The aluminum will not, so it’s the winner in terms of maintenance.
Finish
Both our iron and aluminum pieces are powder coated with the same high-quality TGIC powder coating, so there is no clear winner here. Both are equally good.
Strength and Durability
Iron will hands down be stronger than aluminum. A lighter duty iron panel will be stronger than a heavy-duty aluminum fence panel. Iron is the winner here.
Ease of Installation
While installation differs slightly between the two, they are both equally easy to install. There is no clear winner here.
Versatility
Aluminum fence’s ability to rack to follow grade makes it a more versatile fence than its iron counterpart.
Security
Iron’s solid welded panels and ability to be welded to the posts if wanted make it the winner in terms of security.
Out of 7 possible areas, Aluminum came out on top for Maintenance and Versatility. Iron came out on top for Strength and Security. The other 3 areas of Appearance, Ease of Installation and Finish all came out as a draw. So all in all, there is not one clear material between iron and aluminum fences that trump all categories over the other.
I hope this video has not only shown where iron and aluminum perform outperform each other, but also that one is just as good as each other in many ways as well.
If you have any other questions about using either iron or aluminum for your fence and gate project, give us a call at 800-261-2729 or shoot an email to sales@ironfenceshop.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Jason Kauffman
Iron Fence Shop®
800-261-2729 Toll Free
sales@ironfenceshop.com
www.ironfenceshop.com
I work for a structural steel company that does a lot of miscellaneous jobs (railings, stairs, handrails, etc.) and I had a customer who was interested in getting a fence installed around his property. He referenced this video and I have to say that the guy doing this is very thorough. However, the customer was shocked when he realized that in some cases aluminum can cost 40% more than steel and even though it does not “rust” it still oxidizes. Aluminum becomes susceptible to oxidation when the Aluminum Oxide layer (which is usually only a thousandth or two of an inch thick) the rests on top of the base material is compromised in some way, whether it be from a scratch, scuffing the surface with a 3M pad or Sandpaper or by using a product like Methyl Ethyl Ketone or Acetone. I have been told that if the film is not protected with a layer of paint or something of the like, the layer can deteriorate over time due to naturally eroding properties of particulates in the air. I’m not sure how true it is but it makes sense. Aluminum also has a higher thermal expansion rate than steel which I imagine could lead to issues down the road with bowing of the rails if the proper clearance isn’t instituted. Needless to say the customer started singing a different song when I gave him a quote for an all aluminum fence.
P.S. To anyone who had the patience to read through this, if you see any points I brought up that are wrong or not entirely right, please let me know. I’m 24 and still have a lot to learn so I always appreciate it when the more seasoned vets take time to correct me so I don’t make the same mistake twice haha.
Great video, especially for people who are undecided on exactly what it is that they want. I believe steel and aluminum possess their own specific pro’s that make them advantageous in some applications rather than others
Just what I was looking for, thank you
Glad to hear it Kelly. If I can help answer any questions or provide pricing, feel free to call me at 800-261-2729 ext 803 or shoot us an email at sales@ironfenceshop.com. My name is Jason. Thanks!
thank you for this detailed explanation. helps greatly 👍😊
Very informative video and comment thread. Thanks.
Where was the difference of cost? Major flaw missing here!
We left cost out because there are so many factors on fence cost that can muddy the waters. Especially with aluminum fence. There is low-quality junk aluminum that is very cheap, but bad. There is also high-quality aluminum that can cost more than iron fence. So it really comes down to the spec and build of the fence more than one is cheaper than the other. In my Stronghold Iron and Infinity Aluminum lines, they are about the same cost depending on your layout and gate selections.
Informative video regarding fence
Would I be able to use iron posts with an aluminum fence? Would that give it a little extra strength??
You can use steel posts with an aluminum panel, but it increases the cost due to the need for 6 wall brackets per panel. While there some applications where this works out, it often best to keep the similar posts with each fence material. If strength is your greatest concern, iron is the way to go. Feel free to give us a call at 800-261-279 if you want to discuss your project in more detail and go over options.
Great Video, do you have dealer/installers / partners in Toronto Canada?
Hi Janet. Sorry, we do not. We do all of our business online via the website, email and phone. We have shipped to Canada, but its something where you will need a broker on your end to get the shipment through and residentially delivered.
How long would an iron 5 foot fence with the brackets take to install . garden lenght is about 90ft.
That all depends on your experience. If you are asking this question it shows, it should take YOU a while :)
@@pakdil786 😂
You forgot to address cost.
Hi Mr West. We deliberately left cost off the list because different constructions, grades and styles can all affect price. You can have aluminum panels that cost more than iron panels with certain styles and specs. The problem is primarily because of aluminum. While there are only a few of us in the steel and iron game, anyone who buys an extruder and hires cheap labor can become an aluminum fence maker. That is why you see a wide array of prices on aluminum fence. There is some good stuff like our Infinity Aluminum and there is some super shoddy stuff like the discount sites and big box hardware stores carry. You have to be careful to compare specs, finish and warranty when shopping for fence. On our Infinity Aluminum and Stronghold Iron, they are usually within a couple hundred bucks of each other on an average sized job.
Does it make sense to use an iron fence with an aluminum gate to reduce the weight of the swinging gate?
Hi Randy. There is really no need so it's not suggested. The posts for the iron fence are plenty strong to hold our iron gates. Then you have everything that matches!
@@Ironfenceshop Does it make a difference if the posts are bolted into the slab or if we cut the slab and set the posts directly in concrete?
When you ship the posts do you account for the difference in installing them (length)?
Our current fence & get need to be replaced because water got inside the posts and hollow fence iron and they rusted out from the inside. How do we prevent this from happening again? Why don't the hollow iron parts have weep hole at the bottom top allow water that does get inside to get out?
@@ubroc Hi Randy, It depends on the width of the gate leaf you are using. If it's one of our larger driveway gates, bolt down flange posts are not an option. They have to be cemented in. What width and height gate leaf are you looking at?
I have been traveling for work and am getting ready to retire to a small town on the coast of Maine. I have dogs and am looking forward to rescue some more.
I really want an iron or aluminum fence for my yard. Would this be okay to keep dogs of different sizes? Based on a long winter and being near the ocean, which material would be the best?
Give us a call at 800-261-2729 to discuss. There's lots of questions I have in order to give you the best reply to this. We are here for calls M-F from 930a to 430p EST. Thanks!
What's the difference In price per foot of either fence?
Say a 6 foot fence?
@@joeyanderson6660 - that's going to depend on the style and grade you go with. That would be better to contact us direct about - sales@ironfenceshop.com
Where are you located, do you install fences?
Hi, our sales office is located in Stow, Ohio and we have several warehouses across the USA. We do not offer any installation; we are just a manufacturer however most of our customers DIY install if you're up for it. If not, then check with your landscaper or any contractors you have used for past projects. Hope that helps!
I don't understand why there is no explanation that aluminum can be welded as well, creating one solid piece. Some comparison don't make sense, because you just compare technique that you used and they are not similar. There would be a difference, if you welded aluminum elements together like iron.
You are correct that aluminum could be welded together like iron, but not one fence maker in the entire industry welds aluminum fence together at the rail/ picket junction or to the posts like its done with iron and steel. So in terms of comparisons for someone buying, there really is no welded solid aluminum fence panel option out there on the market unless you are building something custom from scratch.
We do weld our aluminum gates together and our aluminum finials on the pickets. But even custom aluminum fence panels are always screwed together.
thank you for, quality content, helpful!
Glad it helped!
What about price???
Price comparisons in video can be difficult since you really have to dig into the specs to see if you are comparing apples-to-apples. Especially with aluminum whose quality is all over the place. There area wide range of fence prices, but the pricing usually follows suite with the quality. A low price and similar looking fence online may sound great, but thinner materials, cheaper finishes and poor or non-existent warranties can easily have you replacing that bargain fence in under 5 years. On our Infinity Aluminum and Stronghold Iron, they are actually quite close in price on a per foot basis.
All good information. But what about price comparison?
Prices are listed on their website.
Price comparisons in video can be difficult since you really have to dig into the specs to see if you are comparing apples-to-apples. There area wide range of fence prices, but the pricing usually follows suite with the quality. A low price and similar looking fence online may sound great, but thinner materials, cheaper finishes and poor or non-existent warranties can easily have you replacing that bargain fence in under 5 years.
I'm looking for wrought iron stair railings, the stairs need to be core drilled and the railings are going to be embedded in the stairs, is there any extra step that your company does for this application to prevent corrosion at the embedded points?
Hi Brian. Unfortunately, we do not make or deal with any type of hand railing. Only fence and gates. Hand rails in steel and iron are very hard to come by. I'm not aware of anyone offering them in my circles. You may want to try a local welding or fabrication shop to see if they can build it for you.
Hi Brian. I realized I didn't answer your question. There is no extra finish/ protection step we do for core-drilled fence posts. The key point is that the pieces are hot dip galvanized and powder coated to protect the metal. Stay away from painted pieces with just a primer coat. Those are the finishes that typically begin to fail in under 2 years and will lead to the part rusting out to the point of snapping off.
Iron Fence Shop® does your company work NJ area?
Hi Brian. We are a fence and gate manufacturer. We do ship all over the US, but we do not have people that come out on site to advise or install. We are for homeowners or contractors that want to install the materials on their own.
Iron Fence Shop® thank you so much for your prompt reply and explanations
I need 5 acres of partially wooded land fenced. I want a metal fence. which would you recommend?
Hi Alex. We would need a lot more detail on the type of fence, height, grade, etc to really get an idea on pricing. We would also need a linear footage since we can't quote by acreage. Feel free to give us a call at 800-261-2729 or an email at sales@ironfenceshop.com to discuss the project further. Thanks!
So which one it’s cheaper iron or aluminum ? 🤔
For our Infinity Aluminum and Stronghold Iron, the cost is about the same. Sometimes the iron comes in less. It really depends on what style, height, grade, gates, etc that your layout has. In general, aluminum can be found for a lesser cost but that is because its a more builders grade type of fence. Aluminum can be difficult to shop for on price since there are so many ways to cut costs and hide specs. For any fence you buy, be sure to compare on specs and what's included. There is a lot of things that ca be hidden there hoping you buy on price alone.
Iron Fence Shop® I have a 10 feet long fence I wanna replace the wood by a metal fence . Do you make the fence and sale it ??
Hi Guisseppe. We do sell the fence, but it would be best to contact us through our website www.ironfenceshop.com for detailed quotes and costs based on the exact fence you are looking for.
In providing an extra layer to an iron fence panel did you say you could add a small "tacklet"? to cover the screw holding the bracket? I replayed that part several times & couldn't make out what you were saying and Googling "screw tacklet" didn't work. ???
Meant extra *SECURITY layer