Maintenance-wise, glass looks amazing when it’s clean, but with kids and a dog? I was wiping down smudges every other day. Got old fast.
This is exactly what I’m worried about—my kids treat every surface like a canvas, and the dog’s nose art is next level. If you went aluminum, did you notice it getting super hot in the sun? Trying to avoid accidental branding during pool season…
If you went aluminum, did you notice it getting super hot in the sun? Trying to avoid accidental branding during pool season…
We swapped out the old iron for aluminum a few years back, and I was worried about the same thing. Honestly, it does get warm, but not “ouch” hot—at least not in the shade or if you go with a lighter color. The real kicker for us was how much less time I spent cleaning. With glass, I felt like I was always chasing fingerprints and paw prints. Aluminum just needs a quick hose-down now and then. The only downside? It doesn’t have that “wow” factor glass does, but my sanity’s worth more than a little sparkle.
I hear you on the cleaning front—glass looks amazing for about five minutes, then it’s smudges and water spots galore. I’ve installed both types for clients, and honestly, aluminum is just way more forgiving. Like you said, a quick hose-down and you’re good.
About the heat:
That’s spot on. Dark colors will soak up more sun, but even then, unless you’re in direct desert sun all day, it’s rarely an issue. I always recommend powder-coated aluminum in lighter shades for pool areas—cuts down on heat and fading.“it does get warm, but not ‘ouch’ hot—at least not in the shade or if you go with a lighter color.”
The only thing I’d add is durability. Aluminum holds up to weather better than iron (no rust), and glass can chip or crack if you’ve got rowdy kids or dogs. Sure, glass has that “wow” factor, but for most folks, low maintenance wins out after the first season of scrubbing fingerprints.
Gotta jump in here—while I get the low-maintenance appeal of aluminum, I think glass sometimes gets a bad rap. Yeah, it shows smudges, but if you use a rain-repellent spray (like for car windshields), it actually stays cleaner way longer than folks expect. Plus, the open feel is unbeatable. Had one flip where the glass fence made a tiny backyard pool look twice as big, and the buyers loved it. If you’re after that “resort” vibe, glass is worth the hassle, even with kids and dogs running around. Just my two cents...
Glass definitely has that wow factor, no doubt. But has anyone had issues with birds flying into it? I did a job last summer where we swapped out aluminum for glass panels, and within a week, two birds smacked right into them. Not a dealbreaker, but something I hadn’t thought about before. Curious if that’s just bad luck or more common than folks realize...
