Wooden or aluminium pergola? A practical comparison
Wood brings a natural character, while aluminium enables precise structures, moving louvres and easy glass integration. Both can look good, but they require different maintenance and offer different functionality.
Key points before making a decision
Compare wooden and aluminium pergolas by maintenance, durability, louvres, glass enclosures, long-term cost and architectural fit.
Appearance and garden character
Wood suits natural and traditional settings. Aluminium creates slimmer repeatable lines and a wide range of RAL colours for modern architecture.
Maintenance and durability
Wood needs periodic cleaning, inspection and renewed protection. Powder-coated aluminium does not require impregnation but still needs cleaning and drainage maintenance.
Fixed roof or moving louvres
Complex rotating and sliding louvres are easier to integrate into an aluminium system with concealed drainage and automation.
Glass walls and accessories
Aluminium provides precise tracks for sliding glass, ZIP screens, LED and control wiring. Glass can also be added to wood, but junction details require careful individual design.
Which pergola should you choose?
Choose wood for natural material and simple functions. Choose aluminium for moving roofs, large glazing, low maintenance and modern architectural integration.
What should you prepare before the survey and quotation?
A reliable quotation starts with a few concrete details. They help us select the right system, prevent changes during installation and compare solutions on equal assumptions.
Terrace dimensions and photographs
Measure the approximate façade width, projection and installation height. Include photographs of the full wall, corners and ground surface.
Sun exposure and indoor daylight
Identify the orientation and the hours of strongest sunlight. This influences the choice of glass, polycarbonate, louvres and solar protection.
Wind and driving rain
Indicate the prevailing wind direction. One carefully positioned sliding wall can sometimes improve comfort more effectively than enclosing the whole terrace.
Ground, drainage and services
Check what is below the paving, where foundations can be made and how drainage, LED wiring or automation power can be routed.
Colour and structural divisions
Prepare the window-frame colour or RAL code and decide which views should remain uninterrupted and where posts or glass joints may be acceptable.
Planning a similar project?
Send dimensions and select an initial system. We will verify the configuration and prepare the next step.
