Aluminum Fence Cost, and Where It Earns Its Price

Most expensive fence by the foot that you will be pricing for most folks around here is aluminum. And on some properties it's the only option. Knowing the properties that work saves you a whole lot of money or a whole lot of sorry.

The working range

Residential powder-coated aluminum fence in Brunswick would be $40 to $75 per linear foot installed roughly. The taller pool code or heavier duty commercial stock, decorative finials and larger gates drive the pricing up and over that.

As far as it goes in comparison to other materials in our Brunswick fence cost guide, aluminum comes in at the top for residential (except for the part where it doesn't really require you to do anything after).

It is not wrought iron, and that matters enormously here

Look at black aluminum from 10 feet away. Looks the same as black wrought iron.

But they react differently in salt air. Iron and steel rust. Rusts quickly over here. Once it starts rusting under paint finish, the rust gets under it and lifts it. If you are 3 miles from the water and put in a steel fence, you're now in a maintenance mode. Brush and brush with wire brush. Prime and repaint. And eventually you'll need to change out some sections where it's rusted thru at the ground line.

Aluminum doesn't rust. It'll form a thin oxide layer which protects itself. And a good quality powder coat over that layer is almost immune to salt spray. That is the only reason there's so much black ornamental aluminum along the marsh, on St. Simons and Sea Island, at the island pools.

If you get quoted "ornamental iron" for something on the coast.... ask some tough questions.

What you are paying for

Grade. Residential, commercial and industrial are just wall thickness and picket size differences. For most yards you'll want residential. If you're enclosing a pool, and/or it's going to see a beating you might want to move up a class.

Powder coating. Good architectural grade powdercoat is what's going to keep it looking good for decades vs. chalking. Don't cheap out here.

Style. You've got the flat top basic. If you want spear top or pressed point or fancy finials you're paying more. Rackable panels to follow the slope cost more than set panels, but they're necessary to prevent stair stepping gaps on uneven runs.

Height. 4' is pretty standard for decorative and pool. 5' and 6' for security and privacy screening. Higher is more material and bigger posts.

Fasteners and fittings. Even on an aluminum fence the screws and brackets need to be either stainless or coated aluminum. On an aluminum fence stainless hardware is the coastal standard.

Where aluminum earns the premium

Around a pool

This is the standard application, and also the one where it makes the most sense in terms of aluminum's characteristics. You need it to be see through to see the child in the pool, self closing and self latching, non climbable, and to hold up to constant spray from chlorinated water and salt air forever. And, aluminum can do all that.

When it comes to pool barrier requirements, this is a safety issue and a code requirement. There are specific requirements for height, size of gaps, latch heights for gates, which way the gates open. Don't believe anything you read on a blog. Be sure to check with Glynn County Community Development (or your city) to see what the current requirements are before you build.

Where you have a view

If you put a 6 foot privacy fence on a marsh front or tidal creek lot, or any lot with water view, then you have walled off your asset with the water view. You put the aluminum around the property and keep the view completely. For many Golden Isles properties, that is a non-argument.

Where wind is the enemy

An open fence has very little sail area. In the hurricane months (June through November) you will find aluminum still standing sometimes where solid privacy fences have failed. When you are out in the open near the water, that's a pretty big deal.

Where you want it to last without thinking

No stain... no seal... no paint... no rot... no bug... give it a wash once in a while... and that's it. Aluminum is often the least expensive fence on this list for a salt-lot for over 20 years...

Where it is the wrong choice

You want privacy. Sorry, no. That's not how aluminum is set up. Picket spacing doesn't matter. For privacy go wood or vinyl. We discuss all three in the best fence material for coastal Georgia.

You are enclosing a lot of ground on a budget. For acreage it's going to be rough on per-foot costs. That's why there is Field fencing.

You need to contain a small or determined dog. You'll need smaller dog pickets (extra pickets on the lower section) to keep small dogs in. That adds to the cost. Make sure you're aware up front so you're not surprised. With normal picket spacing they will be able to squeeze through.

Gates and hardware

Aluminum gate is nice because it's light so it's good on hinges. It's nice to use. The issue is not with the gate leaf. It's with the hardware. Self-closing hinges. Magnetic (or gravity latch), keyed locks, and (depending on the driveway) possibly an operator.

If it's in a pool barrier, the hardware is not an option. Height of the latch is code. The function of the self closing and self-latching. Get that right.

For wide driveway gates with aluminum, you need the right sized posts. And for long span, either heavier section or cantilever design. That's an engineering item. Not just picking a catalog.

Installation on coastal ground

Aluminum posts are concreted like any other. All the coastal concerns apply. Deep in sand. Drain in clay. Deal with hole if water table is high. Fence is light, but you need to deal with gate weight and wind load.

Ask for rackable panels if you have any ground movement. They smoothly follow a slope instead of stepping. They look nicer and there's no gaps at the bottom like stepped panels have.

Getting a number

How long the run is, height, number of gates. Is there a pool? It's that one thing that has the biggest impact on the specs.

We do aluminum all over Brunswick and St. Simons Island. We go out to Jekyll Island. All the surrounding counties. Check out our aluminum fencing page. And our St. Simons Island service area page.

Get a free quote or call us at (912) 674-0619. We can honestly let you know if your lot is the type to benefit from aluminum.