alternatives to wood for outdoor trellis
I have built trellises out of treated wood in dry climates such as Boise and eastern Colorado. The harsh sun and dryness makes the wood look pretty awful looking after a few years. We’ve tried painting it, but that does not last long.
Ideally this trellis would be dark brown or black, to complement the architecture of the home.
I am looking for an affordable alternative material. The main beams and supports would be something like a 4×6; I could live with painting those, assuming they’d be treated wood. Then the cross members would be at least 1 1/2″ to 2 1/2″ wide and 2 1/2″ to 4″ tall. These would go about 8″ to 12″ on center and span 3′ or so. I am flexible adjusting these sizes based on what the material lets me do.
I thought about anodized aluminum (too expensive), even steel studs. Dark PVC tubing (such as downspout material) probably won’t hold up well in that heat.
This trellis would not be supporting anything, so lightweight stuff would be fine. As long it stays dimensionally stable.
Ideas are welcome!
Replies
There are many companies which make trellis' from painted aluminum or PVC. They go together quickly and seem very reasonable to me. Like everything in life you have to be willing to compromise on what you want.
Agricultural fence panel works well. It is usually galvanized welded wire. A 3’ tall x 16’ long piece is $35. It cuts with bolt cutters. I made wooden frames for them and use them in the garden for cucumbers and other climbing plants.