Timber vs aluminium pergola: cost, upkeep and lifespan compared
BeforeFixed Aluminium Slat PergolaIn the timber vs aluminium pergola choice, timber usually costs less upfront and gives a warm, natural look, but it needs regular oiling or painting. Aluminium costs more to install but needs almost no maintenance, does not rot or attract termites, and comes in slat and opening louvre designs.
Steel is a third option, strong and good for long spans, as long as its coating stays intact. Here is how all three compare for Australian homes in 2026.
Timber vs aluminium vs steel at a glance
| Timber | Aluminium | Steel | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Natural, warm, rustic or heritage | Slim, modern, powder coated | Clean, often matches a Colorbond roof |
| Upfront cost | Lowest | Higher | Varies with the roof you add |
| Maintenance | Recoat when colour fades, check yearly | Wash the powder coat | Wash; touch up any scratches |
| Rot and termites | Needs treated or durable timber | Not affected | Not affected |
| Coastal sites | Fair, needs good coatings and fixings | Good, wash off salt | Needs a marine grade coating |
| Bushfire areas | Combustible | Non-combustible | Non-combustible |
| Common styles | Open rafters, vines, shade cloth | Fixed slats, opening louvres | Frames for slats, Colorbond or polycarbonate |
| Indicative price, 6 m × 4.5 m, Perth | Open timber: $9,500 to $11,000 | Fixed slats: $13,000 to $15,500 | Priced by roof type |
Prices are indicative installed ranges, rounded and including GST. An installer's site measure and quote set the real price.
Timber pergolas
A timber pergola is the classic Australian backyard look. It suits cottages, federation homes and garden style yards, and it is easy to grow a vine over or add shade cloth.
Which timber to use
Treated pine is the usual choice. WoodSolutions explains the hazard classes:
- H3: outdoor, above ground timber that gets wet and dries out, such as beams and rafters
- H4: in ground or constantly damp, for non-structural uses like landscaping
- H5: in ground, for structural parts such as posts and piles
So any structural post set in the ground needs H5 treated pine or a Class 1 durable hardwood. Many builders avoid the problem by fixing posts to steel stirrups above the ground.
Hardwoods are naturally attractive and resist decay, Hyne Timber notes, but they cost more and are harder to get in some regions.
Timber pergola maintenance
This is the main downside of timber. Sun and rain break down the surface, and an uncoated pergola weathers and greys.
- Seal or prime all sides of treated timber, WoodSolutions advises, and reseal cut ends and drill holes on site
- Fit flashing over exposed beams to stop water sitting on top
- Inspect the finish every year; Intergrain says colour fade is the first sign a recoat is due
- Expect faster wear in full sun and around pools
- Use hot dip galvanised or stainless fixings with treated pine
If you enjoy a weekend with a brush, this is easy. If you would rather never think about it, timber is probably not for you.
Aluminium pergolas
An aluminium pergola is usually powder coated in a colour of your choice. The two main styles are fixed slats and opening louvres.
Fixed slat aluminium pergola
A fixed slat pergola uses angled aluminium blades. It filters sun and breeze, and it never needs painting.
Adjustable louvre pergola
A louvre roof pergola has blades you open or close by motor or by hand. Closed, it sheds rain into built in gutters; open, it lets in sun and air.
Does aluminium need maintenance?
Very little. Aluminium forms a thin oxide layer on its surface that resists corrosion, so it does not rust the way steel does.
The powder coat still needs cleaning. Dulux suggests routine washing of coated metal about every three months, and no less than every six months, with more frequent cleaning in marine areas. A soft brush and fresh water is usually enough.
Steel pergolas
A steel pergola uses steel posts and beams, often with a Colorbond or powder coated finish. Steel makers such as Lysaght supply beams and posts for pergolas, patios and verandahs.
Steel is strong, so it can span further with slimmer sections. It suits a pergola that may later get a solid roof.
The weak point is corrosion if the coating gets damaged. Near the coast, ask for a marine grade product; Lysaght recommends Colorbond Ultra for coastal and high humidity sites.
Cost: timber vs aluminium in 2026
Here are indicative installed prices for a 6 m × 4.5 m attached pergola.
| Style | WA | VIC | QLD | NSW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Timber Pergola | $9,500 to $11,000 | $10,000 to $11,500 | $10,000 to $12,000 | $11,000 to $12,500 |
| Fixed Aluminium Slat Pergola | $13,000 to $15,500 | $14,000 to $16,000 | $14,000 to $16,500 | $15,000 to $18,000 |
| Adjustable Louvre Pergola | $28,000 to $33,000 | $29,500 to $34,500 | $30,000 to $35,500 | $32,000 to $37,500 |
Timber looks cheaper upfront. Add the cost of oil or paint every few years, or a painter's time, before you compare. See the pergola cost guide for sizes and states.
Bushfire areas and council
Material choice can affect approval. In NSW, an exempt pergola on bushfire prone land must be non-combustible if it is within 5 m of the house.
That rules out timber for exempt pergolas close to the house in those areas. Councils elsewhere have their own bushfire rules, so check your BAL rating and read our council approval guide.
Which one should you choose?
- Heritage or cottage home, garden lover: timber, with a vine or shade cloth. Budget a weekend a year for upkeep.
- Modern home, no time for maintenance: aluminium slats in a colour that matches your windows.
- You want shade and rain cover on demand: an aluminium opening louvre roof, if the budget stretches.
- Coastal home: aluminium, washed regularly, or steel in a marine grade.
- Bushfire prone block: aluminium or steel, especially close to the house.
- You may add a solid roof later: steel, sized for a future roof from day one.
- Tightest budget: timber, ideally H3 treated pine above ground on stirrups.
You can see a timber or aluminium pergola on a photo of your own house in about 30 seconds with Backyard Mate, our free tool. It also shows an indicative price for your state.
Common questions
Is an aluminium pergola cheaper than timber?
Usually not upfront. For 6 m × 4.5 m in Perth, an Open Timber Pergola is indicatively $9,500 to $11,000 and a Fixed Aluminium Slat Pergola $13,000 to $15,500. Aluminium saves money later because it needs no oiling or painting.
How often does a timber pergola need oiling?
Check it every year. Coating makers such as Intergrain say colour fade is the first sign it needs a recoat, and full sun or pool areas wear coatings faster.
Does an aluminium pergola rust?
Aluminium does not rust like steel. It forms a thin oxide layer that protects it, and a powder coat adds colour and more protection. Near the sea, wash it regularly to keep the coating in good shape.
What timber is best for a pergola?
Treated pine rated H3 suits above ground parts like beams and rafters. Any structural part in the ground needs H5 treated pine or a Class 1 durable hardwood.
Is a steel pergola better than aluminium?
Steel is strong and suits long spans, and it pairs well with a Colorbond roof. It must stay well coated, especially near the coast, while aluminium copes better with damp and salt.
Keep reading
Sources
- Preservative treatments and use classes | WoodSolutions
- Timber pergolas: what to build with | Hyne Timber
- Intergrain NaturalStain | Intergrain
- Aluminium oxide | Corrosionpedia
- Cleaning and maintenance of coatings | Dulux Protective Coatings
- Balconies, decks and patios: exempt development | NSW Planning Portal
- Patios, Pergolas & Verandahs | Lysaght
- Maximise your space: your blueprint for the perfect outdoor space | Lysaght
Prices on this page come from Backyard Mate's pricing for each state and are indicative only. Rules and products change: check with your council and installer before you build.