What are the advantages and disadvantages of aluminum railing
When you are deciding whether or not to make a bulk purchase of railing. A good list of pros and cons will never let you down. Today, we’ll help you explore one of the most popular railing materials on the market: aluminum.
Known for its lightweight strength and resistance to corrosion and rust, aluminum is a great material for railings and fences. But it also has drawbacks, such as an expensive price tag. If you’re not sure whether to use aluminum as a railing material when. You can check out our list of aluminum railing benefits and drawbacks below.
Advantages of Aluminum Railing
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Highly corrosion and weather resistant
Aluminum alloy has good mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, and its surface is attached with a hard aluminum oxide film. Its protective properties can be further strengthened by surface treatment, such as spraying anticorrosive paint.
Such advantages make aluminum railings in harsh environments, such as humid, rainy or air pollution in serious areas, can maintain a long service life, not easy to rust and corrosion.
Very low maintenance cost:
Due to the high corrosion resistance of aluminum railings. Therefore, there is almost no need for additional maintenance during use, such as painting or rust removal, which greatly saves maintenance costs and time.
2. Aluminum railings are lightweight and strong
Aluminum alloy is much less dense than steel, so aluminum guardrail is lighter compared to traditional steel guardrail. The light weight makes aluminum fencing easier to install, transport and dismantle, reducing labor and time costs.
High Strength: Despite its light weight, aluminum alloy has a high structural strength and is able to withstand high levels of pressure and impact. This makes aluminum railings effective in blocking and resisting external impacts to ensure safety when used as protection.
Below is a table on the strength of aluminum alloys:
| aluminum alloy grade | density（g/cm³） | tensile strength（MPa） | yield strength（MPa） | elastic modulus（GPa） |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6061 aluminum | 2.7 | 276-311（T6） | 241-276（T6） | 68.9 |
| 7075 aluminum | 2.81 | 524-572（T6） | 455-503（T6） | 71 |
| 2024 aluminum | 2.78 | 450+ | 400+ | 430+ |
| 6063 aluminum | 2.7 | 180-190（T5） | 140（T5） |
One thing to note: the data in this table is not for actual aluminum railings. This is because the wall thickness and size of the actual aluminum railing will affect its strength and hardness.
3. Diverse styles of aluminum railing
Aluminum has a varied, clean and stylish look. Aluminum railings come in a variety of styles, from modern sleek to traditional vintage. The powder coat finish is available in a variety of colors, including custom colors, so you can choose the shade that best suits your application.
Hugh Aluminum has over 100 styles of aluminum railings! If you want to buy aluminum railings in bulk? Contact the professional aluminum railing manufacturer at Hugh aluminum.
4.Excellent durability
Aluminum railings don’t need much help from you, but aluminum can withstand anything Mother Nature throws at it – from rain and saltwater to snow, ice and bugs. It resists corrosion, rust, rot, insect infestation, and more. Plus, despite the many challenges aluminum railings face, they can last for decades.
How long do aluminum railings last?
Generally speaking, aluminum railings can last up to 15 years or more. This is due to the fact that the aluminum material itself has excellent corrosion and weathering resistance and is able to resist a certain level of oxidation and corrosion.
In addition, modern aluminum railings are usually given a surface treatment, such as powder coating, to further improve their corrosion resistance and aesthetics.
However, it should be noted that the service life of aluminium railings is not static, it will be affected by a variety of factors. For example, in the humid, rainy, foggy and other harsh environments, the corrosion rate of aluminum railings may be accelerated.
5.It’s eco-friendly
Finally, aluminum is recyclable! Therefore, even after years of use your railings are still resistant to recycling. You don’t have to worry about it filling up a landfill!
In addition, aluminium railings are environmentally friendly as they do not produce more pollutants or waste materials during the manufacturing process.
What are the disadvantages of aluminum railings?
While aluminium railings have some drawbacks, most of them are acceptable. This is because building projects require railings that are not necessarily aluminum. When a low budget is needed, wood railings would be a better choice.
1.High cost of aluminum railings:
Aluminum, as a metal material, has relatively high raw material costs and processing costs. This can lead to higher selling prices for aluminums compared to other materials (e.g. synthetic plastics, wood, etc.). When your project budget is low, aluminum railings are not a good choice.
2. Differences in design requirements:
The design of aluminum railings is not always satisfactory. For example, some people do not like the design and appearance of aluminum fence because it is too modern. Some consumers will favor a simple and natural looking railing. For example, in the Middle East or Southeast Asia. The design of wood railings will be more preferred by the local people.
3.Not as strong as stainless steel
Although aluminum alloys have a high strength-to-weight ratio. However, its absolute strength may be lower when compared to some higher grade metal materials (e.g., stainless steel, high strength alloy steel).
In applications where very high load-bearing capacity is required, such as railings for public stages, railings for safety walkways. In protective railings in response to vehicle impacts. Aluminum may not be the best choice.
Are aluminum railings the best choice?
If you want a quick response, my answer is: aluminum railings are the way to go. Because aluminum railing it is outstanding in design and durability. Low maintenance and diverse design is a must when we want to install it in our houses. Therefore, aluminum is attractive compared to other materials.
In any case, we still have to choose it according to the requirements of our building project. Wooden railings can match your backyard and stainless steel railings can resist powerful impacts. Different materials and styles of railings are available to meet your needs.
Hugh Aluminum is a manufacturer specializing in designing and manufacturing aluminum railings. We have 14 years of manufacturing experience and have served over 600+ customers from 40+ countries.
If you are looking for aluminum railing manufacturer? Want to purchase guardrail or railing in bulk?
