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This article was published on April 27, 2022
If you’re looking to improve your garden with a new outdoor living space, or wanting to replace an old, outdated wooden pergola with something more modern and robust, recent developments in materials and construction techniques mean there’s a vast number of options available to you. However, this overwhelming choice can make it very confusing when trying to make a selection.
This article discusses why we believe aluminium is the best material for freestanding pergolas, to help you make an informed decision when choosing the ideal pergola for your garden.
With the ability to withstand high winds and heavy loads from snow, aluminium is the perfect match against the harshness and unpredictability of the British weather. Whilst vinyl pergolas are long lasting, their load bearing capability is lower than an aluminium counterpart so you will need to remove excess snow from the roof to prevent buckling.
Wooden pergolas can deteriorate quickly if not maintained properly (something which is later discussed). If left untreated, wooden pergolas can warp, or rot, meaning the integrity is compromised and a full replacement may be required.
Resilient, durable and sleek, the only maintenance an aluminium pergola requires is a rinse down with a hosepipe, and for more stubborn stains, a wipe down with warm soapy water and a cloth or sponge to keep it looking pristine; something which takes little time and costs a fraction compared with wooden or vinyl pergolas.
Whilst wooden pergolas may give your garden a ‘rustic’ feel, they require much more maintenance to ensure they are in good condition, such as sanding, staining or varnishing to protect it from the elements. Although more durable than wooden pergolas, vinyl has a tendency to stain and requires specialist cleaning products to remove them.
The ease of maintenance found with an aluminium pergola means you can spend your free time enjoying using your outside living space, rather than repairing or cleaning it.
Aluminium is extremely light in relation to its strength when compared to other metals used in construction, such as steel or iron. This strength to weight ratio makes aluminium the best material for freestanding pergola frames, with the additional benefit of making it much faster and easier to assemble onsite.
By choosing aluminium, the disruption to your home life during assembly is minimal because aluminium’s light weight means it requires a smaller team and less equipment to deliver, manoeuvre and construct your freestanding pergola in your garden. Here at ERW, we have an experienced team of installers who manage your install from start to finish, resulting in a quality finish and peace of mind that your pergola will last for years to come.
Wooden pergolas can be quite heavy- depending on the wood you have chosen- meaning installation may require a number of people to lift and secure the frame in place, if it is a DIY project, you may need to ask for help from family/friends to install.
Sustainability is becoming an important consideration for many people when making purchasing decisions, particularly the sourcing and life-cycle of materials.
Installing an aluminium frame is one of the most eco friendly choices you can make for your new pergola. Considered a sustainable material, aluminium is perhaps the most eco friendly of all the metals, mainly due to the fact it retains all of its original properties when recycled. This means it can be repurposed infinitely, without any effect on its quality.
Vinyl, a common pergola material, is by comparison notoriously difficult to recycle due to its chloride content, which is very challenging to handle and even toxic. This combined with its relatively short lifespan of only 10 years compared to aluminium, means vinyl is significantly less environmentally friendly.
There are a number of significant reasons why aluminium is the best material for freestanding pergolas including its durability, premium finish, ease of installation, sustainability and low maintenance requirements.
If you’re looking to explore your options for outdoor living, our showroom aluminium pergolas include furniture, so you can clearly envision how you may use each space.
To arrange a viewing or to speak to one of our team about any of our outdoor living spaces, please email sales@erwltd.co.uk or call 01642 456167
It’s that time of the year again to get those jobs done we’ve been putting off in the winter, which is why we’re writing our essential inspection guide for timber windows and doors this spring! It’s important to check on your timber windows and doors from time to time, particularly if they’re older, as you […]
As the warmer weather comes round, so does your inspiration for change, and a great way of doing so is with a home renovation! Spring is widely seen as the perfect time to undergo home improvements, due to the pleasant climate, and the chance to complete in time for summer. At this time of year, […]
It’s not always obvious to spot when your timber windows need replacing, but there are signs to look out for! Your windows are an integral part of your home, bringing kerb appeal, and performance, and it’s important to ensure that they’re taken care of and that any damage is addressed quickly. When it comes to […]
From our initial inquiry we felt immediately reassured that we were dealing with a company which understood our requirements and which would be able to deliver excellent quality and service. We were not disappointed, we have been delighted throughout with the friendly and help guidance, excellent quality and clean and efficient installation. Very professional customer focused service.
Mr & Mrs S, Gateshead
All the staff at ERW have been utterly amazing – from the start of the project, from the general enquiries, to the fitting and installation . I couldn’t recommend this company high enough !
Thank you all so much!
A. W-T, Morpeth
A superb job! We’re really delighted with all our new windows. We’d like to thank ERW very much.
The installation team of Craig, Aarron and Joe were very professional, worked well together and got on with the job efficiently to complete everything ahead of time. They were very polite and communicated well with us about the job in hand and the time scale, and we were impressed that they cleared up so well each day before leaving. We would like to thank them for all their workmanship, advice, help and good humour.
The quality of the items made off-site was very high. The 7 windows look really good, they operate well and the finish is excellent. Hopefully, next winter’s gas and electricity bills will show the benefit.
From our initial contact with Stuart and our visit to the showroom, through the technical survey by Andy and the co-ordination by Sophie and Jeff, to the final installation, we’re more than happy with the whole process. We’re so pleased that we chose ERW for our continuing efforts at improving our 115-year-old home. We will certainly come back for the final stage of work on our windows in due course.
Mr and Mrs C, Darlington
We were delighted with the service offered by all members of the ERW team – helpful, patient, professional and courteous. Even though the windows were not the cheapest we are very happy with them. Well Done!
Mr & Mrs M, Stockton on Tees
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We're not able to carry out installations in your postcode area, however, we can still design and create your door, and you can liaise with a local fitter in your area to install it.
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