Wood
vs
Aluminium
Solid wood remains the quintessential heritage material for character homes. Hörmann ALR and Roma aluminium dominates roller and glazed contemporary doors. One captivates through authenticity, the other through lightness and corrosion resistance. This comparison settles it on 8 objective technical criteria.
Solid wood door
Authentic, noble, artisanal
Aluminium door
Light, rustproof, designer
Tradition versus modernity in numbers
Solid wood and aluminium embody two opposing visions of the garage. Wood offers authenticity and heritage charm, aluminium offers lightness (density almost 3 times lower than steel), corrosion immunity and contemporary glazing. One demands regular upkeep, the other is virtually maintenance-free. Here are the real data on artisanal wood and Hörmann/Roma aluminium ranges 2026.
Solid wood door
Authentic, noble, artisanal
Aluminium door
Light, rustproof, designer
8 criteria materials
Each criterion is assessed against real technical characteristics and our field experience. Wood = bespoke artisanal doors, aluminium = Hörmann ALR, RollMatic and Roma Rolento/Gecco.
| Criterion | Wood | Aluminium | Advantage |
Weight / handling | Heavy, depending on species and thickness. Reinforced springs and powerful operator required. Manual handling difficult. | Aluminium profiles much lighter than solid wood. Slimmer springs, more compact operator. Ideal for roller doors where weight must stay minimal. | Aluminium |
Corrosion resistance | Wood does not rust but degrades differently: fungi, mould, wood-boring insects, UV greying. Regular treatment mandatory (fungicide, insecticide, stain). | Inherently rustproof thanks to a self-regenerating aluminium oxide layer. No risk of rust, even on deep scratches. Perfect in damp areas, pools and salted roadsides. | Aluminium |
Maintenance | Stain or varnish every 2 to 3 years, prior sanding, fungicide/insecticide treatment. A recurring maintenance cost that adds up over the life of the door. Neglected maintenance = rapid degradation. | Soapy-water cleaning only, no retouching required. Zero anti-corrosion maintenance. Anodised or powder-coated aluminium keeps its appearance for many years. | Aluminium |
Natural aesthetics | Unrivalled authentic charm: unique natural grain, living texture, noble patina over time. Solid wood enhances character homes and listed buildings like no other material. | Clean contemporary look. Brushed anodisation (silver, bronze, black) or RAL powder coating. Highly sought-after in modern architecture, but no natural character possible. | Wood |
Price | On quote for bespoke artisanal work; sculpted solid oak sits at the top of the range. No industrial production; every door is a unique investment. | On quote, from the standard RollMatic roller door to the high-end Roma Rolento. Industrial production, wide range, better economies of scale. | Tie |
Thermal insulation | Solid wood 42 mm without PU foam (Hörmann LTH 42): U ≈ 2.9 W/m²K installed door. Wood is a decent natural insulator but without PU injection it stays below modern standards. | PU-filled aluminium profiles (RollMatic, Roma): no U-value published by Hörmann or Roma. The foam improves insulation, but aluminium being a thermal conductor, thermal bridges remain. In glazed form, the ALR 67 Thermo Glazing reaches U = 1.8 W/m²K (double climate glazing). | Tie |
Glazing / natural light | Possible but limited. Portholes or artisan-fitted windows with structural constraints (weight, sealing). No full-height glazing feasible in standard solid wood. | Hörmann ALR F42 Glazing / ALR 67 Thermo Glazing: fully glazed aluminium-framed sections (Duratec synthetic glazing or real glass). Contemporary design, maximum natural light. Aluminium excels on glazed doors. | Aluminium |
Lifespan | Lifespan varies with species and maintenance. Well-maintained oak lasts long, but neglected pine degrades quickly. Lifespan depends entirely on the owner's maintenance routine. | Long lifespan without structural issues. Aluminium neither corrodes, nor warps, nor greys under UV. Seals and mechanics wear before the material itself. | Aluminium |
Heavy, depending on species and thickness. Reinforced springs and powerful operator required. Manual handling difficult.
Aluminium profiles much lighter than solid wood. Slimmer springs, more compact operator. Ideal for roller doors where weight must stay minimal.
Wood does not rust but degrades differently: fungi, mould, wood-boring insects, UV greying. Regular treatment mandatory (fungicide, insecticide, stain).
Inherently rustproof thanks to a self-regenerating aluminium oxide layer. No risk of rust, even on deep scratches. Perfect in damp areas, pools and salted roadsides.
Stain or varnish every 2 to 3 years, prior sanding, fungicide/insecticide treatment. A recurring maintenance cost that adds up over the life of the door. Neglected maintenance = rapid degradation.
Soapy-water cleaning only, no retouching required. Zero anti-corrosion maintenance. Anodised or powder-coated aluminium keeps its appearance for many years.
Unrivalled authentic charm: unique natural grain, living texture, noble patina over time. Solid wood enhances character homes and listed buildings like no other material.
Clean contemporary look. Brushed anodisation (silver, bronze, black) or RAL powder coating. Highly sought-after in modern architecture, but no natural character possible.
On quote for bespoke artisanal work; sculpted solid oak sits at the top of the range. No industrial production; every door is a unique investment.
On quote, from the standard RollMatic roller door to the high-end Roma Rolento. Industrial production, wide range, better economies of scale.
Solid wood 42 mm without PU foam (Hörmann LTH 42): U ≈ 2.9 W/m²K installed door. Wood is a decent natural insulator but without PU injection it stays below modern standards.
PU-filled aluminium profiles (RollMatic, Roma): no U-value published by Hörmann or Roma. The foam improves insulation, but aluminium being a thermal conductor, thermal bridges remain. In glazed form, the ALR 67 Thermo Glazing reaches U = 1.8 W/m²K (double climate glazing).
Possible but limited. Portholes or artisan-fitted windows with structural constraints (weight, sealing). No full-height glazing feasible in standard solid wood.
Hörmann ALR F42 Glazing / ALR 67 Thermo Glazing: fully glazed aluminium-framed sections (Duratec synthetic glazing or real glass). Contemporary design, maximum natural light. Aluminium excels on glazed doors.
Lifespan varies with species and maintenance. Well-maintained oak lasts long, but neglected pine degrades quickly. Lifespan depends entirely on the owner's maintenance routine.
Long lifespan without structural issues. Aluminium neither corrodes, nor warps, nor greys under UV. Seals and mechanics wear before the material itself.
Advantages & disadvantages
The real strengths and weaknesses of each material, based on more than 20 years of expertise in Luxembourg.
Wood
- Authentic charm and unrivalled heritage character
- Noble ageing: value-enhancing natural patina
- Natural, bio-sourced material, low manufacturing carbon footprint
- Every door is unique - fully bespoke artisanal
- Superior natural acoustic insulation
- Enhances character homes and listed buildings
- Mandatory maintenance every 2-3 years (stain/varnish/fungicide)
- Sensitive to weather: swelling, shrinkage, warping, greying
- Much heavier than aluminium: reinforced operator mandatory
- No full-height glazing feasible as standard
- Few manufacturers in Luxembourg - long lead times, limited after-sales
Aluminium
- Rustproof for life, zero anti-corrosion maintenance
- Much lighter than wood: slim springs, compact operator
- Panoramic glazing possible (Hörmann ALR Glazing)
- Ideal for roller doors (RollMatic) and side-sliding doors
- Natural anodisation highly aesthetic in contemporary architecture
- Long lifespan without maintenance
- No natural character possible - always industrial/contemporary look
- Thermal conductor: thermal bridges even with PU foam
- No noble ageing - appearance stays identical over time
- Price comparable to artisanal wood at the high end
Which for your project?
The right material depends on your architectural style, your tolerance for maintenance and your desired opening type. Here are the typical profiles in Luxembourg.
Your home has character and deserves an authentic door. Solid wood (oak, larch) brings a charm that aluminium cannot reproduce. The maintenance overhead is part of the heritage.
You want a modern anodised look and zero upkeep. Roma or Hörmann ALR aluminium offers a clean design that never needs retouching. Ideal with full-height glazing.
Your garage lacks ceiling room for tracks. Aluminium is the natural choice: the RollMatic roller door coils into a box above the opening (290 mm headroom), and for a very low lintel, the RollMatic OD (60 mm) or Roma Gecco (from 53 mm) ceiling-running doors fit. Solid wood is simply incompatible with these opening types.
You want to maximise natural light in your garage. The Hörmann ALR Glazing range in aluminium allows full-height panoramic glazing impossible in solid wood.
You do not want to sand and stain every 2-3 years. Aluminium is zero-maintenance - an annual soapy-water wash suffices for many years.
Your garage is exposed to moisture or road salt. Aluminium is immune to corrosion and salt. Solid wood would suffer accelerated degradation in these conditions.
Our recommendation:
aluminium for technical merit, wood for heritage
Out of 8 criteria, aluminium wins 5, wood wins 1, with 2 ties. Aluminium dominates on weight, corrosion, maintenance, glazing and lifespan - the technical criteria that matter day to day. Its lightness makes it indispensable for RollMatic roller doors and ALR Glazing glazed doors.
Solid wood retains an irreplaceable advantage on heritage aesthetics. For character homes, listed buildings and exceptional architectural projects, nothing replaces the charm of solid oak or larch. But one must accept the maintenance, the weight and the price. Also see our steel vs wood and steel vs aluminium comparisons for a complete materials overview.
Other comparisons
More head-to-heads to refine your garage door choice in Luxembourg.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to our customers' most common questions.
Wood, aluminium or expert advice?
Our technicians analyse your garage, architectural style and desired opening type to recommend the right material - Hörmann/Roma aluminium for roller doors and contemporary design, solid wood for heritage charm. Free site visit, free and fast quote. Also discover our steel vs wood and steel vs aluminium comparisons.