The metal that was once rarer than gold can now easily be in your backyard! Aluminum is inexpensive yet durable, making it the perfect fence material.
People are most familiar with aluminum as the trusty foil mainly used to wrap leftovers or cover food in the kitchen. That foil is made of the same stuff that aluminum panel fencing is made of, albeit in a very different quantity.
Back in the days of Napoleon, aluminum was in high demand and was more sought after than gold. This once-rare metal is now known to be widespread; it just needs to be taken from the compound alum. It is now readily available for use in constructing some very solid and reliable fences. Keep reading for some interesting information about aluminum that will help you make the decision to go with aluminum for your next fence.
Ounce for ounce
When price isn’t an issue, many people feel iron is a better material to choose for their fencing needs than aluminum. Iron may be heavier, but aluminum is still just as sturdy, while weighing (and costing!) much less. Aluminum is much more common that you think. Since 1825, it has been able to be extracted from key ores on our planet (http://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele013.html). Aluminum is readily available, pliable and easy to manage, making it the affordable option for anyone who is taking a do-it-yourself approach.
Smarter than iron
It is true that aluminum panel fencing, with proper maintenance and powder coatings, will remain rust free. Interestingly, aluminum does rust, just not in the way you see with other metals. The act of rusting for aluminum doesn’t make the aluminum structure less sturdy. The “rust” that forms actually creates an extra layer that makes the metal stronger and less penetrable (http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2004-09/amazing-rusting-aluminum). This is not something that would happen on anything made from iron! Aluminum panel fencing will be powder coated, so there is no need to worry about rusting or corroding at all.
More than just fences
Aluminum is found in your kitchen wrapped around your leftovers, in your new fancy fence, and also in the sky! No, aluminum is not in the air we breathe – it’s in the airplanes that are flying overhead! In fact, in a typical Boeing 747, there are almost 150,000 pounds of aluminum (http://www.livescience.com/28865-aluminum.html). If this metal is strong enough for an aircraft, it must be an excellent option for a sturdy fence around your property.
Helping the earth, one can at a time
It’s hard to discuss aluminum without talking about one particular item that is all around us: aluminum cans. Cans of food, soda and other liquid food items are all made of aluminum for some of the reasons already discussed, mostly the low price of this metal. An important factor to note is the recyclable nature of aluminum. It is said that once you recycle a can of soda, it could be back on store shelves in its new form only two months later. That’s a great turnaround!
Of course, you won’t be recycling your aluminum fence any time soon. There is a good chance your fence will last much longer than you own your property, showcasing how strong, reliable and durable aluminum is when it comes to fence panels.
