Ornamental aluminum gives you the wrought-iron look without the rust. Here is what makes it the right pick for waterfront Hampton Roads properties and pool enclosures.
Homeowners often come to us asking for wrought iron. What they usually want is the look of wrought iron, and in a coastal environment aluminum delivers that look while solving the problem iron cannot.
Aluminum does not rust — structurally
Steel and iron rust because iron oxide flakes away, exposing fresh metal underneath, and the process continues until the section fails. Aluminum forms a thin oxide layer that seals the surface instead of shedding, which is why an aluminum picket can sit in salt air for decades without losing structural integrity.
Add a factory-applied powder coat over that and you get a finish that resists chipping, fading and chalking far better than any field-applied paint.
It suits Virginia pool-barrier code
Pool enclosures in Virginia have to meet specific requirements around barrier height, gap dimensions, picket spacing and gate behavior. Aluminum panels are manufactured to those specifications, so a compliant enclosure is a matter of specifying the right panel and hardware.
- Minimum barrier heights met by standard panel sizes
- Picket spacing manufactured within code limits
- Self-closing, self-latching gate hardware available
- Flat-top and spear-top profiles both code-compliant
It follows sloped ground cleanly
Most quality aluminum panels are rackable, meaning the rails pivot at the picket so a panel can follow a grade change without stepping. On the rolling lots common in York County and western Chesapeake, that is the difference between a clean fence line and a staircase with gaps underneath.
Where aluminum is the wrong answer
Aluminum is see-through. If your goal is privacy, it does not do the job at any height, and no amount of picket density changes that.
It also costs more per linear foot than chain link or pressure-treated pine. For a long rear perimeter where appearance is secondary, that premium may not be worth paying.
For front yards, pool enclosures, waterfront lots and anywhere you want definition without blocking a view, it is hard to beat. Call (757) 559-0958 for a free estimate.