Aluminum fencing pros and cons: is it right for your yard in 2026?
What aluminum does well, where it falls short, and how it compares with wood, steel and chain link in Salt Lake City yards.
Aluminum fence installation suits pools, slopes and front yards. Aluminum fencing doesn't rust, needs little upkeep and keeps your view open. The tradeoffs: it gives almost no screening, bends under a hard hit, its color finish can fade, and it usually costs more than wood or chain link.
On this page
- Pros and cons at a glance
- What aluminum fencing does well
- Where aluminum fencing falls short
- Aluminum fencing vs. steel, wood and other materials
- How we install it
Pros and cons at a glance
Pros
- Doesn't rust, so a scratch or chip won't turn into rust streaks.
- No staining, sealing or painting.
- Open design keeps your view and can be built to the barrier rules for pools.
- Rackable panels can follow a slope.
Cons
- Almost no privacy.
- Not as strong as steel, and it bends under a hard hit.
- The color finish can fade with age.
- Costs more than wood or chain link, and less than steel.
What aluminum fencing does well
Aluminum doesn't rust. Rust is iron oxide, and aluminum has no iron in it. It builds a thin oxide film on its surface almost as soon as it meets air, and that film protects the metal underneath, which is why aluminum fencing resists corrosion in many outdoor conditions.
Upkeep is the second win. Aluminum fencing is low maintenance. Most comes with a baked-on powder coat, a durable finish with nothing to stain, seal or repaint, and an occasional rinse is plenty. It also won't rot or warp the way wood can. Salt Lake City averages about 112 days a year with a low at or below freezing, and the sun is stronger at 4,200 feet than at sea level, so a fence with no wood in it handles both seasons well.
Here is where I see aluminum fencing fit best:
- Around pools. Tight spacing and a self-closing gate are simple to build into the fence.
- Sloped lots. Rackable panels pivot to follow the grade instead of stepping down like stairs.
- Front yards. Salt Lake City generally caps front-yard fences at 4 feet and side and rear yards at 6 feet (city planning FAQ), and an open style at a lower height sits well inside that.
- Mountain views. Anywhere you would rather look at the Wasatch than a solid wall.
- Homes and commercial property. Homeowners and commercial owners alike use aluminum fences for a clean, open boundary.
Pool barriers
In Salt Lake City, residential pools deeper than 24 inches fall under the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. It calls for a barrier at least 48 inches tall with no opening that lets a 4-inch sphere through. Gates have to open outward, close on their own and latch themselves (ISPSC 2024, Section 305). Other cities in the valley may add to that, so confirm with your building department.
A Sandy homeowner called us after her swimming pool inspection failed. Her old gate didn't latch on its own, and the pickets were spaced too wide. We put in an aluminum fence with a self-closing gate, and it passed on the first try. She had her backyard open before Memorial Day.
Historic districts
In local historic districts like the Avenues and Yalecrest, the city's guidelines favor see-through fences facing the street, and they point to a painted wood picket or a simple metal fence. An open aluminum fence is the same idea. A fence there needs the city's approval before you build, so ask the city whether your style qualifies.
Where aluminum fencing falls short
When I walk a property for a quote, my first question is what you need the fence to do. If the answer is privacy, aluminum probably isn't your fence. Here is where it comes up short.
Screening. Aluminum is a frame you look through, so your yard is visible from the street and from the neighbors'. Shrubs can fill the gaps, but a hedge takes time to grow in. An aluminum privacy fence with slats can screen a yard, but it is a different build from the open style and usually costs more. If you want a backyard screen this summer, wood or composite is the better answer.
Strength. Aluminum is not as strong as steel, and it bends under a hard hit. On a run in Murray, a teenager learning to back out of the driveway clipped the fence. The posts held, and the rails bent. A backing car or a toppled soccer goal can do the same.
Slopes. Rackable aluminum panels have extra room at the picket-to-rail connection so a panel can pivot to follow the grade. That has limits, and how far a panel racks depends on the maker and the style. Past that limit, panels have to step down, and you get gaps under each section. On the steeper hillside lots along the east bench, I check the grade before I quote.
Dogs. Standard picket gaps can let small dogs and puppies slip through. Tighter spacing helps, but no spacing stops a digger. Talk through your dog's habits before you pick a style.
Fading. The finish is tough, but the color can still fade. Cost guides list a color finish that can fade over time among aluminum's drawbacks, and the sun is strong here. Ask any installer for the finish warranty in writing before you buy.
Cost. Aluminum costs more up front than wood or chain link, and less than steel.
Rules. A fence in Salt Lake City needs a building permit, and some HOAs set height, color or style rules for front yards. Check your HOA's guidelines first, because rebuilding a fence that broke the rules is never fun.
Aluminum fencing vs. steel, wood and other materials
| Fence type | Look | Upkeep | Strength and cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum | Open and clean, keeps the view | Low maintenance, no staining or sealing | Lighter, bends under a hard hit |
| Steel | Looks much like aluminum from the street | Rusts once the coating breaks, needs touch-ups | Heavier, stronger and more secure; costs more than aluminum |
| Wood | Warm look, full screening | Stain or sealer, refreshed every few years | Usually costs less than aluminum |
| Vinyl | Solid panels, full screening | Won't rot or need paint | A solid panel gives wind more to push on; cost overlaps aluminum |
| Chain link | See-through and plain | Simple | Tough; costs less than aluminum |
A Sandy family called us about the old wood fence around their pool. They loved the screening but hated the yearly staining. We walked the yard together and talked it through. They chose aluminum around it and kept a short run of solid vinyl along one side next to a neighbor. Mixing materials works when each one has a job.
How we install aluminum fencing
Whatever fencing you choose, the posts decide whether the line stays straight. Ours go two feet deep in concrete, and gate posts and 8-foot fences go deeper. We check each post plumb, level each frame, and walk the finished fence with you before final payment.
I walk your property, measure the grade and write the quote myself. For how aluminum fence installation runs from first visit to final walk, including what to expect on slopes and around pools, see our service page.
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Written by
Landon Mickelson
Owner & Estimator, Trusted Fence Company
Landon Mickelson was born and raised in Utah. He got his start in the fencing industry in 2024 before teaming up with his professional building partners to found Trusted Fence in 2025. He brings a personal, thoughtful approach to an industry filled with contractors trying to make a quick buck at your expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an aluminum fence cost? +
It depends on the height, the style, how many gates you need and how much slope your yard has. Aluminum usually costs more than basic wood or chain link and less than steel, and its cost overlaps with vinyl. A slatted version costs more than the open style. We quote every job in writing at a free on-site visit.
What are the downsides of aluminum fences? +
The open design gives almost no privacy. Aluminum fencing is not as strong as steel and bends under a hard hit. The color finish can fade with age. It also costs more up front than wood or chain link.
Which is better, a steel fence or an aluminum fence? +
It depends on the job. Steel is stronger and gives more security, but it can rust once its coating is broken and needs more upkeep. Aluminum fencing is lighter and does not rust, but it bends more easily. For security or a fence that takes hits, pick steel. For low upkeep and an open look, pick aluminum.
Is aluminum fence cheaper than vinyl? +
Not reliably. Their costs overlap, and style and height move the number more than the material does. The better question is screening or view: vinyl gives you a solid fence, and aluminum fencing keeps your yard open.
Is aluminum fence cheaper than wood? +
Usually not. Aluminum typically costs more than wood up front. Wood needs stain or sealer to hold up, and aluminum fencing never needs staining or sealing, so the gap is about what you pay now versus what you keep doing later.
Should aluminum fence posts be set in concrete? +
Yes, that is how we set them. Our posts go two feet deep in concrete, and gate posts and 8-foot fences go deeper. A light fence still needs solid footings, because the line is only as straight as its posts.
Straight lines. Straight answers.
Free on-site estimate, a written price that does not move, and a same-day response when you call. Anywhere in Salt Lake County.