Aluminum Fence Installation
Aluminum gives you the look of a black ornamental iron fence without the rust. It does not need painting, it racks to follow a slope, and it is the usual choice for pool barriers and front yards where the view should stay open.
We install residential and light-commercial aluminum fencing and matching gates across Greater Seattle. If you want something heavier for a security perimeter, compare it with ornamental steel.
Schedule your no-obligation on-site consultation today.
Why Aluminum Works in a Wet Climate
Aluminum forms its own oxide skin instead of rusting, and a factory powder coat seals it. That is what makes it low-maintenance in a place where steel spends half the year wet.
No rust, no repainting
A scratch in the coating on aluminum does not bleed rust down the pickets the way it does on steel. Most owners rinse the fence with a hose once a year and do nothing else.
Light and adaptable
Panels weigh a fraction of steel, so they are easier to set on hillside lots and behind retaining walls, and many panel styles “rack” — the pickets stay vertical while the rails follow the ground.
Open and code-friendly
Picket spacing under 4 inches and self-closing gate hardware make aluminum a straightforward way to meet pool-barrier rules, and an open fence is often allowed taller near the street than a solid one.
Aluminum Fence Styles
Flat-top and spear-top pickets
Flat-top with a top rail is the clean, modern choice and the safest around children. Spear or finial tops give the traditional wrought-iron look.
Puppy pickets and pool spacing
Extra short pickets between the full ones at the bottom rail keep small dogs in, and closer spacing throughout meets pool-barrier opening limits.
Horizontal aluminum slats
Aluminum slat panels give the look of a horizontal fence with gaps you choose, from a see-through screen to near-full privacy, and never need stain.
Heights, Gates and Installation
Common heights
Four and five feet for front yards, pools and garden edges; six feet for side and rear yards. What your city allows depends on where the fence sits — see fence height rules by city.
Posts and footings
Posts are set in concrete at the spacing the panel maker specifies. On a slope we either rack the panels or step them, depending on the grade and the style.
Matching gates
Walk gates and double driveway gates come in the same style. Pool gates get self-closing hinges and a magnetic latch mounted high; see gate installation.
Aluminum Fence Cost
Installed price per foot
Our ornamental metal rate starts around $62 a foot for a 6-foot fence on level ground; a 4-foot fence runs about 80 percent of that (roughly $50 a foot) and a 5-foot fence about 90 percent.
What adds to it
Gates (a walk gate about $650, a driveway gate about $1,900), slopes, removal of an old fence, and upgraded pool hardware. Try your own numbers in the cost calculator, choosing “Ornamental iron”.
Aluminum or steel?
Aluminum costs about the same as light steel and never rusts. Steel is stronger and harder to bend — the better pick for security or where vehicles might hit the fence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an aluminum fence give any privacy?
A picket fence does not. For privacy, choose aluminum slat panels with narrow gaps, or plant a hedge behind an open fence.
How long does an aluminum fence last?
The aluminum itself does not rot or rust, so the life of the fence is mostly the life of the powder coat and the gate hardware. Many manufacturers back the finish with long written warranties; ask to see the one for the product you choose.
Can aluminum be used for a pool fence?
Yes, and it is the most common choice. The panels and gates have to meet the barrier dimensions in the building code; see the pool fence page.
Will it survive a windstorm?
An open picket fence lets wind through, so it takes far less load than a solid fence of the same height. Solid slat panels need posts sized and spaced for wind.