Aluwood vs Timber Venetian Blinds: The Honest Comparison

What is an aluwood venetian blind?

An aluwood venetian blind is an aluminium slat with a factory-applied wood grain finish, typically a photographic print sealed under a durable coating. The core is standard aluminium, identical to a plain venetian blind. The surface looks, from a normal viewing distance, like real stained timber. Slat widths are the same as aluminium: 25 mm and 50 mm. Operation, tilt, lift, cord, is identical to any aluminium venetian.

The finish is applied in the factory under controlled conditions. It does not chip or peel under normal use. Custom Blinds sources aluwood venetian blinds through Blindquip, South Africa’s largest venetian blind manufacturer, which supplies the Hunter Douglas and Luxaflex ranges nationally. Available finishes range from pale ash and light oak to dark walnut and espresso, around 12 standard options, plus custom colour matching at additional cost.

Slat dimensions: 25 mm wide (suits narrower windows, lighter visual weight), 50 mm wide (more prominent wood grain effect, better for larger openings). Both are made to measure. Minimum width: 20 cm. No maximum, wide windows use joined sections with an unobtrusive mullion bar.

What are timber venetian blinds, and what limits them?

Timber venetian blinds use solid basswood, paulownia, or similar lightweight hardwood slats, typically at 50 mm width (25 mm timber venetians are rare). The wood is sanded, stained, and lacquered in the factory. Quality manufacturers apply 3–5 coats of protective lacquer. Despite this, wood is a natural material that responds to moisture and temperature changes throughout its life.

In South Africa, the challenge is the climate range. South Africa’s coastal regions range from 80%+ humidity in winter months to very low humidity in summer. South Africa’s coastal regions sit at sustained 70–85% relative humidity year-round. Basswood absorbs moisture and expands across the grain, meaning slats widen slightly when humid, then contract when dry. Over time, this cycling causes bowing and splitting. The lacquer surface cracks along the grain, allowing deeper moisture penetration.

UV is the second problem. South African UV index regularly reaches 10–12 in summer, among the highest in the world. Timber blinds facing direct sun fade and bleach within 2–4 years, even with UV-resistant lacquer. Aluwood’s printed finish uses the same UV-stable inks used in outdoor signage, and sits under a clear protective coat rated for decades of direct exposure.

Where does real timber still make sense in South Africa?

Real timber venetian blinds are not obsolete, they are right for specific conditions. A dry inland room in Johannesburg, Pretoria, or the Karoo, where humidity stays below 50% for most of the year, is a legitimate application for real wood. The material performs well when it is not subjected to repeated moisture cycling. In these environments, a well-lacquered basswood venetian can last as long as an aluwood equivalent.

There is also an aesthetic case. At close range, real timber has a tactile quality, slight grain variation, a depth under the lacquer, that a printed surface does not fully replicate. In a premium interior where a client is within touching distance of the blind and aesthetics are the primary concern, real wood has its place. Interior designers working on prestige properties in Constantia, the Atlantic Seaboard, or the Highveld sometimes specify real timber for bedrooms and formal living rooms for this reason.

The rule Custom Blinds applies: if there is any moisture source within 3 metres (bathrooms, kitchens, coastal properties, north-facing rooms with direct sun), aluwood is the professional recommendation. If the room is dry, inland, and the client wants the highest-end natural material, timber is a reasonable choice at a higher price point. For everything else, including most South African homes, aluwood venetian blinds deliver the same look at lower cost and longer lifespan.

How do aluminium, aluwood, and timber venetian blinds compare on price in South Africa?

The table below shows live prices for the three venetian types at three common window sizes. All prices are pulled directly from the Custom Blinds shop, include VAT, and include free nationwide delivery. Timber venetians are available through the shop but are not quoted here: the price varies significantly by range and the correct figure is always the one the calculator gives for your exact measurements.

Prices valid May 2026. Include VAT and free nationwide delivery. Visit shop.customblinds.co.za for current pricing and stock availability.

Aluwood costs more than plain aluminium because the wood grain finish adds a manufacturing step, but it is substantially less than real timber for the same slat width. At the standard bedroom size, aluwood 25mm comes in at R1,479 against aluminium 25mm at R957, a difference of R522 per blind. Against real timber, aluwood 25mm at R1,479 compares to timber 50mm at R2,791 for the same bedroom window, a saving of R1,312 per blind (47%), before factoring in the replacement cost that coastal timber installations typically incur within 5-8 years.

For the full venetian range, price 25mm aluminium or 50mm aluminium, 25mm aluwood or 50mm aluwood, plaswood, or real timber directly in the shop. All prices update in real time based on your exact measurements and include VAT and free nationwide delivery. Garden Route customers can contact Duncan for an on-site consultation and quote without obligation.