Wood offers traditional appearance and easy field customization; aluminum offers manufactured precision and typically lower routine maintenance.
Start with the constraint
Wood needs protection from moisture, UV exposure, and biological decay according to species and finish. Aluminum avoids rot but depends on coating quality, fasteners, drainage, and corrosion resistance.
What changes the decision
Wood is easier to modify with standard carpentry. Aluminum kits can offer integrated louvers, hidden drainage, screens, and engineered accessories that are difficult to reproduce in a simple wood build.
What to verify before buying
Compare the finished system over several years: staining or painting, hardware, repairability, accessory options, structural documentation, and how the material suits the architecture.
How we research pergolas
We prioritize material specification, roof system, published wind and snow engineering, span, drainage, anchoring, installation requirements, warranty, accessory ecosystem, and total configured cost. Local building codes and site-specific engineering take priority over general product claims.
Prices, specifications, firmware, and configuration-driven features can change. Check the current manufacturer page and local requirements before buying or installing equipment.