Aluminum vs Wrought Iron Fence
Aluminum and wrought iron give you that same classic ornamental look, the tall vertical pickets and elegant lines that dress up a front yard or pool. From a few feet away they can be hard to tell apart. Where they differ is in weight, upkeep, and price, and those differences are big enough that most homeowners around Brandon land firmly on one side once they know the details. Here is how the two compare so you can pick the one that fits your home and how much maintenance you want to take on.
Maintenance and Durability
This is where the two really part ways. Wrought iron is solid steel, so it is heavy and strong, but it rusts. In our humid Mississippi climate an iron fence needs to be sanded and repainted every few years to keep the rust in check, and once rust takes hold it can eat through the metal over time. Aluminum never rusts, since it is protected by a baked on powder coat finish, so it holds its look for decades with nothing more than an occasional rinse. Iron will take a harder hit without bending, which matters for high security uses, but for a typical residential fence the freedom from rust and repainting usually outweighs that extra toughness.
Cost and Appearance
Wrought iron costs more, often much more, because it is heavier material and the installation is more labor intensive. Aluminum gives you nearly the same look at a lower price and installs faster since the panels are lighter to handle. On appearance, a fresh iron fence has a heft and a hand made quality that some homeowners love, and it can be forged into custom designs that aluminum cannot always match. Aluminum comes in a wide range of styles and colors that cover the look most people want, and it stays looking new far longer since it does not fade or rust. For the vast majority of homes, aluminum delivers the ornamental look at a better price with a fraction of the upkeep.
Which One Is Right for You
If you want the ornamental look without the rust, the repainting, and the higher cost, aluminum is the practical choice and it is what most of our homeowners go with. Wrought iron makes sense when you want maximum strength, a truly custom forged design, or the specific heft of real iron and you do not mind the upkeep. We install aluminum and can walk your property to show you how it will look and what it will cost. Read more about our aluminum fence installation or call (601) 721-9672 for a free estimate.
Get the Ornamental Look You Want
We install aluminum fencing that gives you the wrought iron look without the rust throughout Brandon and the surrounding Rankin County area. Call us for a free estimate and we will show you the styles and price out your project.
frequently asked questions
They share the same ornamental look, but wrought iron is heavy steel that rusts and needs repainting, while aluminum has a powder coat finish that never rusts and needs almost no upkeep. Aluminum also costs less and installs faster.
Yes. Our humidity is hard on iron, so a wrought iron fence needs sanding and repainting every few years to hold off rust. Aluminum sidesteps this entirely since it does not rust.
Yes, usually by a good margin. Aluminum is lighter and quicker to install, so you get nearly the same ornamental look at a lower price and with far less maintenance over the years.
Iron takes a harder hit without bending, which can matter for high security uses. For a typical residential fence, aluminum is plenty strong and the freedom from rust usually outweighs the extra toughness of iron.
Most homeowners choose aluminum for the ornamental look without the rust, repainting, or higher cost. Wrought iron makes sense for maximum strength or a custom forged design when you do not mind the upkeep.
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