Honestly, you’re not alone—glass looks amazing at first, but it’s a lot of upkeep. I’ve seen so many people get frustrated with the constant cleaning, especially if you have kids or pets running around. Have you thought about mixing materials? Sometimes a combo can give you that open feel without all the maintenance. At the end of the day, it’s about what fits your lifestyle... aesthetics are great, but peace of mind matters too.
Glass Vs. Aluminum Fencing Around The Pool—What’s Actually Better?
Here’s how I usually break it down for folks:
Step 1—Picture your daily life. Got kids with sticky hands? Dogs who love to nose-print every surface? Glass is gorgeous, but you’ll be wiping it down more than you think. I’ve seen people get excited about that “invisible” look, then end up cursing every fingerprint and water spot.
Step 2—Think about maintenance. Aluminum isn’t totally maintenance-free, but it’s way less fussy. A quick hose-down and you’re good most days. Plus, if you go with powder-coated aluminum, it holds up against weather and pool chemicals pretty well.
Step 3—Mixing materials can actually look really sharp. I did a job last year where we used glass panels just in front of the pool for the view, then switched to aluminum on the sides where nobody really looks. Saved money and sanity.
Honestly, unless you’re super into cleaning or have a robot vacuum for fences (if only...), aluminum wins for most families. But hey, if you love that crystal-clear look and don’t mind the upkeep, glass is hard to beat. Just depends how much time you want to spend playing lifeguard vs. window washer...
Had to laugh at the “window washer” comment—hits a little too close to home. We went with glass panels around our pool because the view sold us, but man, I underestimated how much time I’d spend chasing smudges. My kids treat it like a giant whiteboard for their sunscreened hands. Looks amazing after a clean, but honestly, if I had to do it again, I’d probably do aluminum on the sides like you mentioned. Way less stress.
Funny, I had a similar experience but from the other side. I flipped a place last year where the previous owners had gone all-in on glass fencing. Looked incredible in the listing photos, but when I showed up for the first walkthrough, it was just fingerprints, water spots, and streaks everywhere. I spent hours buffing those panels before every open house. Buyers loved the look, but I always wondered if they realized how much work it actually is. Aluminum isn’t as flashy, but man, it’s a lot less maintenance. Sometimes the practical choice wins out, even if it’s not as “wow.”
Aluminum isn’t as flashy, but man, it’s a lot less maintenance.
That’s the trade-off right there. Glass looks high-end, but every splash and smudge shows up like a neon sign. Aluminum might not “wow” at first glance, but you’re not out there every weekend with a squeegee. I’ve had clients who loved the glass—until they realized it’s basically a second set of windows to clean. For families with kids or pets, aluminum just makes life easier. Sometimes boring is better.
