Property line, garden surround, dog run, double-driveway gate. Aluminum is the default. Wood is the budget-or-aesthetic call. We'll tell you which one fits your job, and we don't do wood railings — only fences and gates.
Recent install · Hamilton
Aluminum outlasts wood by 25 years and stays straight in freeze-thaw. The only reasons to pick wood are budget (when first-cost matters more than 25-year cost) or aesthetic (cottage, heritage, or specifically rural-look properties).
We build wood when it's right for the job. Two scenarios where wood beats aluminum:
We don't build wood railings — only fences and gates. The reason is simple: railings carry a 200 lb point load (OBC SB-13) and wood checks, splits, and rots faster on stairs and decks where every joint sees water from above. Aluminum or glass on railings, wood reserved for ground-level fence work.
The budget choice. 12–18 year lifespan with regular staining, less if you skip the maintenance.
The aesthetic choice. 25-year lifespan with stain, lighter color that weathers to silver-gray if left raw.
Single gate from $350, double gate from $700. We use steel internal frames on all wood gates wider than 4' — wood alone sags. Hardware is hot-dip galvanized or 316 stainless depending on wood type.
In the GTA's freeze-thaw climate, yes. Aluminum is a 50+ year material with no maintenance — the powder coat fades after 10–15 years (under finish warranty for the first 10) but the structure is fine. PT pine typically fails in 12–18 years (rot at the post base and water-line). Cedar is 20–25 years. Aluminum at $75/ft vs PT pine at $45/ft pencils out as cheaper after year 12 if you factor staining costs.
Aluminum on aluminum: yes, if existing posts are sound. Wood posts being reused for aluminum: no — different post-spacing requirements, different anchoring. Wood-to-wood: only if posts are PT and not yet showing rot at the base, which most aren't by replacement time.
Toronto: yes, fences over 6' need a permit. Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington: under 6' generally permit-exempt. Above 6' or anywhere within 7m of a property corner often requires a permit regardless of city. We quote with the assumption you'll handle the permit (or no permit needed) — we can supply drawings if asked.
Yes — single or double swing gates with FAAC, BFT, or LiftMaster operators. Sliding gates use the same brand range. Costs $1,800–$4,500 for the gate motor + intercom + safety beams on top of the gate itself. We sub the electrical out (we don't do high-voltage), but the gate, install, and operator integration are ours.
Aluminum, wood, single gate, double gate — calculator covers all of them.
Open the calculator →Same warranty terms · same crews · same calculator.