I keep wondering about the environmental angle too—aluminum’s recyclable, but glass can be recycled endlessly (if your area actually processes it). Anyone notice if either heats up the pool area more? My neighbor’s glass fence gets pretty toasty in the afternoon... not sure if that’s a dealbreaker or just something you live with.
My neighbor’s glass fence gets pretty toasty in the afternoon... not sure if that’s a dealbreaker or just something you live with.
Honestly, I’ve flipped a few places with both types of fencing, and I’d say the heat thing is more noticeable with glass, but it’s not usually a huge problem unless you’re leaning on it. Aluminum can get hot too, just not as much surface area. For me, the bigger issue is maintenance—glass shows every water spot and fingerprint. Aluminum’s way less hassle to keep looking decent. If you’re after low upkeep, that might tip the scales.
I totally get the appeal of glass—looks super sleek, especially if you want that “infinity pool” vibe. But yeah, the fingerprints and water spots are real. My cousin has glass panels and she’s always out there with the squeegee. I’m leaning aluminum for my place just because I know I’ll get lazy with cleaning. The heat thing would probably bug me less than having to wipe down glass every other day... but maybe that’s just me.
I hear you on the glass—my neighbor’s got it and it looks amazing, but every time the sun hits just right, you see every smudge and spot. I went with powder-coated aluminum for my pool fence a couple years back. It’s not as flashy, but honestly, I barely have to think about it. Just a quick hose down now and then. The only thing is, in summer, those rails can get pretty hot to the touch... but I’d rather deal with that than constantly cleaning glass panels.
It’s funny—every time I see those sleek glass pool fences, I think about how stunning they look in the brochures, and then I remember the reality: fingerprints, water spots, and a whole lot of cleaning. You’re right, aluminum doesn’t have quite the same “wow” factor, but it’s so much easier to live with day-to-day. I’ve also noticed that powder-coated finishes tend to last ages without fading or chipping, which is a plus if you’re trying to avoid waste and replacements down the line.
The heat issue is real, though. My cousin’s kids learned pretty quickly not to lean on the aluminum rails in July... but honestly, I’d take that over scrubbing down glass panels every weekend. One thing I’d add—if anyone’s thinking about environmental impact, aluminum is often recycled and can be recycled again if you ever decide to change things up. Glass is recyclable too, but only if you can find a facility that’ll take tempered panels. Just another angle to consider if sustainability’s on your radar.
