If you need a railing in your home, whether it’s to safeguard the edge of an open loft or to provide an attractive boundary around the edge of your back deck, you have a slew of different materials you could choose. However, if you compare them all side-by-side, you’re going to find that aluminum is the one that is the best value for your money.

Advantage #1: Durability

Aluminum is a material that seems unaffected by the elements and time alike. Wind or rain, heat or cold, aluminum endures without ceding so much as an inch of ground over the years. It won’t rust or weaken, and it can see dozens of summers and winters before it needs more than a new coat of paint. It really is a product you can install, and then leave alone except for the bare minimum when it comes to upkeep and maintenance.

Advantage #2: Strength

It’s true there are stronger materials on the market than aluminum. Steel, for example, is one of the strongest materials you can make a railing out of. With that said, most homeowners don’t really need that level of strength for a railing; it’s like swatting a fly with a sledgehammer. Aluminum, by contrast, is more than strong enough to provide structural integrity (as it’s often used as the skeleton for other materials like vinyl and PVC railings). This ensures that in addition to lasting as long as you need it to, your railing will be able to deal with all the resting, leaning, and day-to-day impacts you expect without complaint or issue.

Advantage #3: Aesthetics

Strength and lack of maintenance are all well and good, but homeowners want to make sure when they install a railing they’re going to like the way it looks. Again, aluminum comes through. Aluminum can be cast in a variety of styles and shapes, and this allows homeowners to really have their pick of railing styles. Whether it’s something straightforward and simple, or something that looks fancier, or more rustic, aluminum can provide it.

Advantage #4: Cost

One of the biggest advantages for many homeowners is simply that aluminum isn’t as expensive as other materials. This is particularly true when you compare it to steel railings, but aluminum often comes out ahead when compared to most other railing systems. This is particularly true for outside railings, where the ability to stand up to the elements can make aluminum a significantly better choice than other competing materials. This is particularly useful for homeowners who have tight budgets, or who are looking not just at the initial cost of the installation, but also at how much energy and additional cost it will take to maintain the railings over the coming years.

Advantage #5: Ease of Installation

While it’s true that lots of different railing styles are easy to install, aluminum is simpler than most of the ones on the market. Basic instructions mean that they take no special training or unique tools, and they can typically be installed much more quickly than other railing systems. This is a huge advantage for those who don’t have a great deal of time to dedicate to a project, but who would still like to see it through to the end.

Advantage #6: Eco-Friendly

Aluminum is one of the most commonly reused materials on the market, and aluminum railings are no exception. In the event the railing has to be torn out and replaced, or it’s damaged and needs to be thrown away, it can be completely recycled and made into a new product. No space taken up at a landfill, and no worrying about fresh materials being harvested.