Aluminum vs. Composite fence cost
We thought we’d take this opportunity to write a blog post comparing aluminum fencing to composite fencing. Both are excellent options, and both have advantages and disadvantages. We will take you through 3 categories for both types of fence products. Those categories will be cost and maintenance as well as installation requirements.
At the end of the article, you can discern which product you would prefer based on our provided data. Please don’t hesitate to comment or reach out if you have any questions or feedback regarding this post. We may also use constructive feedback as inspiration for future posts.
Let’s get started,
Cost and Maintenance:
There are a couple of variables we need to consider here no matter what material you are considering: labor cost to install a fence and the overall length. This comparison will be done on privacy fence panels. You’ll also need to account for things like latches and gates.
For example, we will compare the cost of a 100 linear ft of composite fence to 100 linear ft of SLEEKFENCE aluminum fence. We will discuss both the initial and long-term costs of both.
Composite:
An excellent composite fence will cost about the same as an aluminum privacy fence. We consulted with our estimator at Premium Fence Company, and 100 ft of 6 ft composite privacy fence would cost $13,500 – $14,500, that is supplied and installed by Premium Fence Company. Both aluminum and composite fences require next to no maintenance. So you won’t need to worry about staining and to reseal with either product.
As with aluminum, the only maintenance your composite fence will require is a cleaning a couple of times a year. Composite fences are a hybrid of materials – usually a recycled wood fiber and/or plastic content bonded by resins. Be sure to choose a high-quality composite for an even comparison to aluminum. A composite with a higher percentage of wood content will be subject to more adverse results from weather and moisture than a composite with higher plastic content. Composites are available in various colors and styles and usually imitate a wood look. Some composite finishes are easily marred and challenging to repair. Some composite fences are even mixed in build design – using aluminum for the post and frame structures and filling the center with composite boards.
A composite fence requires little to no maintenance; you are only required to clean it at your discretion. Keep in mind moisture applied to a high wood content composite fence will react with the wood over time and begin elements of decay. Clean the fences in dry weather to allow for quick drying. We recommend you use any household cleaning product that doesn’t exclude composites and is wood-safe and environmentally friendly. That will cost about $25-$30. You’ll most likely only need to clean your composite. fence 2-4 times a year.
The cleaning would cost you a maximum of $625 – $1200 over 25 years, leaving us with a straightforward breakdown if we consider both initial and long-term costs.
Initial Cost: $13,500 – $14,500
Long Term Cost: $625 – $1200
Total Cost: $14,125 – $15,700
Cost of SLEEKFENCE aluminum:
An aluminum fence would cost more upfront. We consulted with our estimator at Premium Fence Company again, and 100 ft of 6 ft privacy fence would cost $13,800 – 14,500, which is supplied and installed by Premium Fence Company. An aluminum fence requires little to no maintenance; you are only required to clean it at your discretion. We recommend you use car wash soap to clean your SLEEKFENCE, and that will run you about $50-$100 a year. You’ll most likely only need to clean your SLEEKFENCE twice a year. The only other materials you’ll need to clean your SLEEKFENCE is a microfiber rag and a hose.
The soap would cost you a maximum of $1250 – $2500 over the course of 25 years. This leaves us with a straightforward breakdown if we are considering both initial and long-term costs.
Initial Cost: $13,800 – $14,500
Long Term Cost: $1250 – $2500
Total Cost: $15,050 – $17,000.
Installation requirements for Composite Fencing:
Composite fence installation requires careful planning for the best materials and final aesthetic. It is commonly assembled piece-by-piece, similar to the construction of a wood fence. These custom ‘stick-built’ fences can look absolutely beautiful but may require more skilled labor and longer project duration. Composite fences are mass-produced and follow many standard lumber specs, and are able to be installed using common tools.
Installation requirements for Aluminum Fencing:
SLEEKFENCE Aluminum fence panels come premade; this will make installation much faster on average. Yes, there are still cases where boards need to be manipulated and/or resized to meet the requirements of a project, but most of the time, the process is seamless. Each piece is designed to work as part of the whole system. This makes an installer’s job much easier and faster. The tools for aluminum fence installation are standard hand and power tools every tradesperson carries. Consider a modular fence design similar to LEGO.
Conclusion:
We hope you found this post comparing the cost, maintenance, and installation requirements for composite fencing and aluminum fencing to help make an informed decision. We are open to any questions, comments, or concerns that you may have. We welcome it here at SLEEKFENCE.
Feel free to email us at support@sleekfence.ca. Feel free to call or email us with any questions that you may have about our aluminum fence panels, and a member of our support team will be happy to assist you. We pride ourselves on having the best customer service in the industry. We care about our clients and are genuinely grateful for their business. Most of our customer service team has installed fencing before, so they can coach you through the process if you’ve chosen to do it yourself. They are also more than happy to help you find a contractor in your area if you’re looking to have it installed for you.
