Aluwood vs Timber Venetian Blinds: The Honest Comparison

Subject: Aluwood and timber venetians
Reviewed by: The Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings team
Updated: 7 September 2026
Reading time: 5 minutes

Is aluwood or real timber better for venetian blinds in South Africa?

Aluwood is an aluminium slat with a printed wood grain: moisture-proof, UV-resistant and stable in coastal air
Timber venetians are solid basswood or similar hardwood: beautiful in dry inland rooms, vulnerable to humidity, salt air and direct sun
On South Africa’s coast, timber slats warp, swell and fade within two to five years; aluwood lasts 15 years and more with routine cleaning
Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings recommends aluwood for every coastal, bathroom, kitchen and rental installation
Real timber suits low-humidity inland rooms where the natural material matters more than the budget

15+Years, aluwood on the coast

5 to 8Years, timber on the coast

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Aluwood vs timber venetians: the verdict

A timber venetian in a Sea Point flat facing the Atlantic: stunning the first summer, bowed by the second winter, replaced by year three. Not a quality problem. A climate problem.

Aluwood

The wood look that lasts

Core: Aluminium alloy, printed grain under a protective coat
Moisture: Fully moisture-proof, stable at 70 to 85% humidity
Sun: UV-stable inks, rated for direct exposure
Coast: Salt air has no effect
Widths: 25mm and 50mm
Care: Wipe with a damp cloth

Timber

Real grain, dry rooms only

Core: Basswood or paulownia, stained and lacquered
Moisture: Absorbs it, expands and contracts, bows and splits
Sun: Fades within two to four years in direct sun
Coast: Salt accelerates lacquer breakdown
Widths: 50mm as standard
Care: Resealing every two to three years

What aluwood and timber venetians are

Same operation, same slat widths. Different material.

Aluwood: An aluminium slat with a factory-applied photographic wood grain sealed under a durable coating. The core is standard venetian aluminium; tilt, lift and cord are identical. Finishes run from pale ash and light oak to dark walnut and espresso
Timber: Solid lightweight hardwood slats, sanded, stained and lacquered with three to five coats. Wood responds to moisture and temperature for the whole of its life, and coastal South Africa cycles both

“I have replaced more timber venetians in coastal South Africa than I can count. The clients always loved how they looked when new. The problem is South Africa’s climate, the humidity, the UV, the salt. Aluwood is what I recommend now. Same look. Different material. It lasts.”

Duncan Kane Founder, Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings

Aluwood and timber venetians side by side

Where it matters, and where it does not.

Performance	Aluwood	Real timber
Moisture	Moisture-proof	Warps over time
UV	Rated for direct sun	Fades in two to four years
Coast	Unaffected by salt air	Not recommended
Weight	Light, easy operation	Heavier, stiffens over time
Lifespan on the coast	15 years and more	5 to 8 years
Feel up close	Smooth, cooler to the touch	Natural grain and depth

Three dots excellent. No dots poor or not recommended.

Aluwood vs timber venetians climate by climate

The decision changes with your postcode, not only your room.

Garden Route and KZN coast
70 to 85% humidity year round, salt air kilometres inland, UV index of 10 to 12 in summer. Aluwood is the default for every coastal room.
Aluwood
Cape Town
Wet, cold winters and hot, dry summers. The swing between the two is what moves timber. Aluwood in any room that faces weather or steam.
Aluwood
Johannesburg, Pretoria, Karoo
Dry inland air, humidity below 50% most of the year. Timber performs here, and a well-lacquered basswood venetian can last as long as aluwood.
Either
Aluwood blinds for bathrooms and kitchens anywhere
Steam within three metres of the blind. Aluwood, every time.
Aluwood

05 Where timber still wins

Dry, inland, and within touching distance.

At close range real timber has a tactile depth a printed surface does not fully replicate. In a dry inland room where the client is close to the blind and the material is the point, timber has its place at a higher price. The rule Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings applies: any moisture source within three metres, aluwood. Otherwise, your call.

Cannot tell them apart?From 1.5 metres or more, aluwood and stained timber are visually indistinguishable. Handling reveals the difference.

Prices at three window sizes

Supply only, VAT and free nationwide delivery included. Timber is quoted in the shop on your exact size.

Performance	Small 0.6 x 0.9m	Bedroom 1.2 x 1.5m	Living room 1.8 x 1.8m
Aluminium 25mm	R469	R957	R1,498
Aluwood 25mm	R646	R1,479	R2,363
Aluwood 50mm	R805	R1,733	R2,771
Real timber 50mm	R1,199	R2,791	R4,554

Dots show relative cost within each size. Shop figures at the time of writing; the shop shows today’s price for your measurements.

Buy online:

25mm aluwood·50mm aluwood·Wooden venetians

Questions buyers ask about aluwood vs timber venetians

Which is best for venetian blinds in South Africa, aluwood or real timber?

Aluwood, for any coastal, bathroom, kitchen or rental room. It is moisture-proof, UV-stable and unaffected by salt air, and costs less. Real timber is the choice for dry inland rooms where the natural material matters most. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings supplies both nationwide.

Can you tell the difference between aluwood and real timber venetian blinds?

Not from a normal viewing distance of 1.5 metres or more. Up close, aluwood is smoother and cooler to the touch; timber shows grain variation and depth.

Are aluwood venetian blinds suitable for bathrooms?

Yes. The aluminium core will not warp, swell or corrode in steam. Timber venetians are not recommended for bathrooms.

How long do aluwood venetian blinds last compared to timber?

On the coast, aluwood lasts 15 years and more with routine cleaning; timber typically needs replacing within five to eight years. Inland in dry air the two perform comparably.

How much less do aluwood venetian blinds cost than real timber?

A 1.2m by 1.5m bedroom window costs R1,479 in 25mm aluwood or R1,733 in 50mm, against about R2,791 in real timber in the shop. On the coast, replacing timber sooner widens the gap further.

Can aluwood venetian blinds be motorised?

Yes. Somfy motorisation gives remote, smartphone or smart-home control of tilt and lift, fitted on the Garden Route by Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings.

Aluwood vs Timber Venetian Blinds