Genuine steel or steel-look aluminium: which should you choose?
Genuine steel gives the slimmest glazing bars, the most solid feel and the most authentic look, while steel-look aluminium gives a similar appearance for roughly 40 to 50 percent less. The right choice depends on budget, where the screen goes and how closely it will be seen.
Updated October 2026
How do they differ in appearance?
Steel is strong enough to hold glass in very narrow sections, so steel glazing bars are slimmer and the corners are crisper. Aluminium profiles need a little more depth for the same strength, so the bars are slightly wider and the joints show more. From across a room many people cannot tell; standing next to the screen, most can.
Which lasts longer?
Both last well indoors. Steel is powder coated and, for external use, galvanised first. Aluminium does not rust at all, which is why some clients choose it for shower screens and wet rooms. Steel frames can be recoated in future, giving them a very long life.
Which is easier to install?
Aluminium is lighter, so it can be easier to carry up stairs and fix to lightweight walls. Steel needs solid fixings and careful handling, which we allow for in our installation planning.
How do prices and lead times compare?
Steel-look aluminium is usually 40 to 50 percent cheaper and often has a shorter lead time on standard layouts, typically three to four weeks against four to six weeks for steel.
So which should I choose?
Choose steel for a main living space where the screen is a centrepiece, for period homes, for tall screens and for anything external. Choose steel-look aluminium for budget-led projects, rentals, bathrooms and secondary rooms. We always name the material on the quote, so you know exactly what you are buying.