“And the freedom from constant cleaning? Worth it. If you’ve got kids or dogs running around, I’d say aluminum is the sanity-saving choice.”
Yeah, I hear you. My neighbor has glass panels and every time their lab goes nuts after a swim, it’s like a crime scene of paw prints. Aluminum isn’t flashy, but I’d rather spend my weekends relaxing than scrubbing glass... priorities, right?
I get the appeal of glass—looks super sleek, especially when you want that “infinity pool” vibe. But honestly, after helping my brother install both types at different houses, I’d pick aluminum for day-to-day sanity. The glass was a magnet for water spots and smudges, and even with a squeegee handy, it never looked perfect for long. Curious if anyone’s had issues with aluminum getting too hot in the sun? That’s the only thing I’ve wondered about, especially in summer.
Aluminum definitely wins for low maintenance, but yeah, it can get pretty toasty in direct sun. I’ve got black aluminum fencing around my pool, and on those 100-degree days, you don’t want to lean your bare arm against it unless you’re looking for a branding experience. That said, unless you’re planning to sit on the fence (which… why?), it’s not a huge deal. The rails cool off pretty quick once the sun dips.
Funny thing—my neighbor went with glass panels and now spends more time cleaning them than actually swimming. He jokes his pool is just a fancy backdrop for his squeegee collection. At least with aluminum, a quick hose-down every now and then does the trick. If you’re worried about heat, lighter colors help a bit, but honestly, I’d still take that over playing “spot the smudge” every afternoon.
I’ll take aluminum any day, especially if you’re watching your wallet. I had to make the same choice last summer and, honestly, glass looked amazing in those Pinterest photos, but all I could think about was the constant upkeep. My brother-in-law went for glass and he’s basically become a part-time window washer. The water spots and fingerprints show up faster than you can say “pool party.”
“He jokes his pool is just a fancy backdrop for his squeegee collection.”
That’s exactly it. Plus, have you priced out glass panels lately? The cost is wild compared to aluminum. Yeah, aluminum gets hot, but unless you’re hugging the fence (which... weird), it’s not a real problem. I went with a lighter gray and it doesn’t seem to bake as much as black does. Quick spray with the hose and it’s good as new.
I get the appeal of glass for the view, but for me, low maintenance and lower cost win out every time. Just feels like a no-brainer if you actually want to enjoy your pool instead of cleaning around it.
Had to laugh at the squeegee collection bit—my neighbor’s got glass and I swear he spends more time cleaning than swimming. When we redid our pool area, I went with aluminum too. Here’s what tipped me:
1. Maintenance—aluminum just needs a rinse now and then, while glass is a magnet for every smudge and splash.
2. Cost—glass quotes made my eyes water.
3. Durability—aluminum holds up better in our weather, especially with kids and dogs running around.
If you’re after that “magazine cover” look, glass is hard to beat, but I’d rather spend my weekends enjoying the pool than scrubbing it.
