Wood Fence Alternative
The Wood Fence Alternative
A redwood fence in the Bay Area gets stained every two or three years, loses boards to rot at the base, and needs replacing somewhere between year twelve and year twenty. Then you do it again.
Aluminum slat fencing is the version of that fence you install once. Same privacy, cleaner lines, no staining, no rot, and it will not burn.
We stock it in San Jose. Send measurements and we will quote it in one business day.
Request a quote → Call (408) 573-3779
Where wood actually fails
At the ground. Posts and the bottom board sit in wet soil through a Bay Area winter. Rot starts there and works up. Most "the fence fell over" calls are a post that failed at grade.
In the finish. Redwood and cedar grey out fast in full sun. Keeping the color means stripping and re-staining on a cycle, and once you skip a cycle it is difficult to get back.
In the movement. Boards cup, twist, and split as they dry. Gaps open where you wanted privacy.
In a fire. A wood fence attached to a house is a fuel path running straight to the wall. This is the specific problem California's Zone 0 rules were written to address, and it is why the approved regulation requires a five-foot noncombustible span where a fence meets a structure.
What you get instead
QuickScreen aluminum slat fencing, stocked at our San Jose warehouse.
- Structural 6005 aluminum alloy with an AAMA 2604 powder coat and a 25-year finish warranty
- Horizontal, vertical, and full privacy profiles. Full privacy uses a 6" tongue-and-groove board that stacks into a continuous screen, so you get a solid fence rather than a gapped one
- Patented friction-fit assembly. Slats lock into the posts and frames without welding and without visible fasteners
- Height and width adjustable panels, so runs finish clean against posts, pillars, and walls instead of ending in a cut-down board
- Post systems for new fence, side frame systems for existing posts, pillars, or walls
- Textured Black, Monument, Pearl White Gloss, and Woodland Grey
It does not need staining, sealing, sanding, or repainting. It does not rust, rot, warp, or split.
Wood versus aluminum
| Pressure-treated / redwood | Aluminum slat | |
|---|---|---|
| Up-front material cost | Lower | Higher |
| Refinishing | Every 2–3 years | Never |
| Rot and insect damage | Yes, starting at grade | No |
| Warping and splitting | Common | No |
| Typical service life | 12–20 years | Decades |
| Behavior in fire | Combustible; carries flame | Does not ignite or carry flame |
| Zone 0 within 5 ft of a house | Not permitted for new fence | Meets the material requirement |
| Finish warranty | None | 25 years, AAMA 2604 |
The honest version: aluminum costs more on day one. It stops costing money after that. Wood keeps costing money for as long as you own it, and then you buy the fence again.
You do not have to replace the whole fence
This is the part most people do not realize.
If your goal is meeting the Zone 0 requirement, what you need is five feet of noncombustible fence starting where the fence meets the house. One panel and a post. The rest of the run stays wood.
That is a small enough job to do in an afternoon, and it is the highest-value five feet of fence on the property from a fire standpoint. Fences more than five feet from a structure are outside the rule entirely.
If the fence is at the end of its life anyway, replacing the full run in aluminum makes sense. If it has ten good years left, replace the transition span and leave the rest alone.
Matching what is already there
The side frame system installs between existing posts, pillars, and walls, so you can put an aluminum span into a wood fence line without pulling and resetting posts. Panels adjust in height and width to line up with the existing fence height rather than sitting proud of it.
Bring a photo and a measurement and we will tell you which system fits.
Installing it
The system is designed to go together without welding or fabrication, which puts it within reach of a competent DIY installer. Panels are light enough for one person to handle.
We are a material supplier and do not install. If you would rather have it installed for you, we recommend that you buy through your fencing contractor or coordinate your material purchase directly and provide the materials to the installer of your choice.
Buying from us
Send property lines, a site plan, or photos with measurements. We return a material takeoff and pricing within one business day. Will-call pickup at our San Jose warehouse or local delivery across Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, and Alameda counties.
Homeowner and contractor pricing. Open to the public, Monday through Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm.
Questions
How much more does aluminum cost than wood? Material cost per foot runs higher. The gap narrows once you count refinishing labor and materials over the life of the fence, and closes entirely if you would otherwise replace a wood fence twice. Send us your footage and we will price the specific job.
Can I match my existing fence height? Yes. Panels adjust in both height and width. Give us the existing height and we will size to it.
Will it look like a commercial fence? No. The slat profiles are architectural. Horizontal slat in a dark finish is a common choice on contemporary homes, and the full privacy tongue-and-groove profile reads as a solid screen.
Does it work on a slope? The full privacy H-post system is designed to follow grade without stepping panels, so you get a continuous fence line across changing ground. Tell us about the slope when you send measurements.
What about gates? Gates are built in matching profiles so the fence line reads continuously. Pedestrian, driveway, and modular sliding configurations are available. [Aluminum gates →]
Do you install? No. We supply materials to homeowners and licensed fencing contractors.
Last reviewed and updated on August 26, 2026.