Aluminium or wooden pergola for a UAE garden?
The short answer
Aluminium lasts longer with far less maintenance in the UAE. Timber looks warm but needs sanding and oiling every year to stop cracking and fading, and can attract termites. A powder-coated aluminium pergola only needs washing, and wood-grain finishes give the timber look without the upkeep.
| Aluminium | Timber | |
|---|---|---|
| Sun and heat | No cracking or fading | Cracks and fades |
| Humidity | Unaffected | Can swell and rot |
| Termites | Immune | At risk |
| Maintenance | Wash occasionally | Sand and oil yearly |
| Moving louvres | Available | Not practical |
Louvred (bioclimatic) pergolas
A louvred pergola has aluminium blades that rotate, usually with a motor. Open them for breeze in the evening, angle them against the afternoon sun, or close them fully for shade and rain, with an integrated gutter carrying water to the posts. They are only practical in aluminium.