Choosing between an aluminium and wooden pergola is one of the first decisions you’ll face when adding a garden structure. Both have their place, and the right choice depends on your priorities - aesthetics, budget, maintenance tolerance, and how long you plan to stay in your home.
Having helped homeowners navigate this decision, we’ve put together an honest comparison of both materials for UK conditions.
The Quick Answer
Choose aluminium if: You want minimal maintenance, prefer contemporary styling, plan to stay long-term, and can invest more upfront.
Choose wood if: You prefer traditional aesthetics, have a tighter initial budget, enjoy annual garden maintenance, or want a DIY project.
Now let’s explore the details.
Durability in UK Weather
Aluminium
Aluminium was designed for outdoor use. It doesn’t rust, rot, warp, split, or expand and contract with temperature changes. The powder-coated finish resists UV fading and won’t peel or flake for decades.
In the UK’s variable climate - rain, frost, occasional heat - aluminium performs consistently. A quality aluminium pergola installed today will look virtually identical in 20 years with nothing more than occasional hosing down.
Lifespan: 25-40+ years Warranty: Typically 10-15 years structural
Wood
Wood is a natural material, and nature fights back. UK weather - persistent rain, freeze-thaw cycles, and high humidity - is particularly challenging. Here’s how different woods fare:
Softwood (pine, spruce):
- Cheapest option
- Requires annual treatment with preservative
- Prone to rot if maintenance lapses
- Lifespan: 10-20 years with good care
Pressure-treated softwood:
- Treatment penetrates the wood
- Better rot resistance
- Still needs periodic re-treatment
- Lifespan: 15-25 years
Hardwood (oak, cedar, iroko):
- Naturally rot-resistant
- Dense grain repels moisture
- Weathers to grey if left natural (some prefer this)
- Lifespan: 25-40+ years
The honest truth: wooden pergolas in the UK require genuine commitment to maintenance. Skip a year of treatment and moisture finds a way in. Once rot starts, it spreads.
Maintenance Requirements
Aluminium
Annual maintenance for an aluminium pergola:
- Hose down to remove dirt (10 minutes)
- Wipe with mild soap solution if needed
- Check fixings are tight
That’s it. No painting, staining, sealing, or preservative treatment. No sanding. No rot checks. The low maintenance is genuinely low, not marketing speak.
Annual time investment: 30 minutes
Wood
Annual maintenance for a wooden pergola:
- Inspect for rot, especially joints and ground contact points
- Sand any rough or weathered areas
- Apply wood preservative or stain (1-2 coats)
- Touch up any damage
- Clear debris from joints where moisture collects
Every 3-5 years, you’ll likely need to do more intensive work - deeper sanding, multiple coats, possibly replacing damaged sections.
Annual time investment: 4-8 hours Major refresh every 3-5 years: 1-2 full days
If you enjoy garden maintenance as a weekend ritual, this isn’t a burden. If you’d rather spend that time using your garden, it becomes frustrating.
Cost Comparison
Upfront Costs
DIY Softwood Pergola Kit:
- Materials: £300-800
- Posts, beams, rafters, fixings included
- You provide the labour
- Total: £300-800
Installed Softwood Pergola:
- Supply and fit by tradesperson
- Basic structure, standard size
- Total: £1,500-3,000
Hardwood Pergola (installed):
- Oak or cedar construction
- Traditional craftsmanship
- Total: £3,000-8,000
Aluminium Pergola (installed):
- Fixed-roof aluminium: £3,000-6,000
- Louvered/adjustable roof: £5,000-15,000+
- Premium brands (Renson): £15,000-25,000+
Lifetime Costs (20-year calculation)
Wooden Pergola:
- Initial cost: £2,500 (installed softwood)
- Annual treatment: £50/year = £1,000
- Repairs/replacements: £500
- Your time: 100+ hours at your leisure value
- 20-year total: £4,000+ plus time
Aluminium Pergola:
- Initial cost: £5,000 (installed standard)
- Maintenance: Negligible
- Repairs: Minimal
- 20-year total: ~£5,000
The gap narrows significantly when you factor in ongoing costs. For those who place value on their time, aluminium often works out cheaper long-term.
Aesthetics and Style
Aluminium Suits:
- Contemporary gardens
- Modern architecture
- Minimalist design
- Crisp, clean lines
- Matching with aluminium bifold doors or windows
- Outdoor kitchens with sleek appliances
Available in any RAL colour, including black, anthracite grey, and white. Some manufacturers offer wood-effect finishes, though purists may spot the difference.
Wood Suits:
- Traditional gardens
- Period properties
- Cottage-style homes
- Rustic aesthetics
- Gardens where natural materials dominate
- Properties where aluminium would look incongruous
Wood brings warmth and character that’s hard to replicate. A well-crafted oak pergola in a traditional garden has a presence that aluminium can’t match.
The Subjective Truth
Neither material is objectively more attractive. A sleek aluminium structure in a contemporary garden looks stunning. A rustic oak frame over a cottage garden terrace looks equally beautiful. Match the material to your property and personal style.
Functionality and Features
What Aluminium Offers
Modern aluminium pergolas can include:
- Louvered roofs - Adjustable blades for sun/shade control
- Integrated guttering - Rain channels away discreetly
- LED lighting - Built into the frame
- Heating elements - Mounted in the structure
- Electric operation - App or remote-controlled roof
- Side screens - Glass, blinds, or zip panels
- Minimal posts - Wider spans possible with engineered aluminium
These features are designed into the system - not awkward additions.
What Wood Offers
Wooden pergolas typically offer:
- Traditional roof styles - Rafters, lattice, or solid
- Climbing plant support - Perfect for wisteria, roses, grape vines
- DIY customisation - Easy to modify, add hooks, attach things
- Natural integration - Plants, wildlife, and wood coexist naturally
- Repairs are simple - Replace individual components easily
Wood also absorbs sound differently, feels warmer to touch, and develops character over time.
Installation Considerations
Aluminium
Most aluminium pergolas, especially louvered systems, require professional installation:
- Precise measurements essential
- Components are pre-manufactured to specification
- Electrical work for motorised roofs
- Typically 1-2 days installation
- Installation usually included in quote
Wood
Wooden pergolas offer more flexibility:
- DIY kits available for competent builders
- Local tradesperson can construct on-site
- Adjustments possible during installation
- Custom sizes easily accommodated
- Timeline: 1-3 days depending on complexity
If you enjoy building and have basic construction skills, a wooden pergola is an achievable weekend project. Aluminium systems really need professionals.
Our Honest Assessment
Choose Aluminium If:
- Low maintenance is a priority (you’re busy or not inclined toward DIY)
- You want modern features like louvered roofs or integrated lighting
- You’re planning to stay in your home long-term
- Your garden has a contemporary style
- You can afford the higher upfront investment
- You value time over money
Choose Wood If:
- You have a period property where aluminium would look wrong
- Budget constraints mean aluminium isn’t realistic
- You enjoy annual garden maintenance as part of ownership
- You want to DIY the project
- You plan to grow climbing plants extensively
- Traditional aesthetics matter more than convenience
The Middle Ground
Some manufacturers offer wood-effect aluminium finishes. These provide low maintenance with warmer aesthetics. They’re not identical to real wood, but from a distance they’re convincing. Worth considering if you want the best of both worlds.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Before deciding, consider:
- How long will you live here? Aluminium’s value emerges over 10+ years.
- Do you actually enjoy maintenance? Be honest - annual treatments sound fine until you’re doing them.
- What’s your garden style? Match the material to existing aesthetics.
- What features do you want? Louvered roofs and integrated tech favour aluminium.
- What’s your true budget? Include ongoing costs, not just purchase price.
- Will you hire or DIY? Wood offers more DIY potential.
There’s no universally “best” material. The right pergola is the one that fits your garden, lifestyle, and honest assessment of how much maintenance you’ll actually do.
Explore our pergola collection including louvered aluminium systems, traditional wooden designs, and contemporary garden structures.