Wooden or aluminium slats for your rotating louvres
Timber louvres have a natural grain and warm appearance, but their stain needs renewing every 2–5 years. Aluminium louvres are virtually maintenance-free and can span a wider opening without a post in the middle. Both materials work with the SAM KIT system, which provides a louvre tilt range of 0–140°.
Timber vs aluminium louvres
| Feature | Timber louvres | Aluminium louvres |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Kiln-dried spruce in visible quality | Powder-coated aluminium |
| Maximum length | Klasik 1.5 m, interlocking recommended up to 1 m | Klasik 2 m, interlocking 3 m |
| Maintenance | Stain renewed every 2–5 years without sanding | Simply rinse with water |
| Finish | Oil-based stain in 23 shades or an opaque coating in RAL colours at an additional cost | RAL colours, plus wood-effect finishes for the Klasik profile |
| Use | Standard and narrower openings | Wider openings and vertical shading |
For both materials, you can choose either the Klasik or interlocking profile. Klasik creates a cascading effect when closed because neighbouring louvres partially overlap. Interlocking louvres fit together to create an almost flat surface without gaps. The SAM KIT system is designed for louvres 19–20 mm thick and 99–100 mm wide.
Louvre length determines the span
The louvre length determines the width of each frame. A timber Klasik louvre can be up to 1.5 m long, while we recommend a maximum length of 1 m for the interlocking version. A wider terrace may therefore require several frames side by side. If you want fewer vertical elements interrupting the view, we recommend aluminium louvres.
An aluminium Klasik louvre can be 2 m long, while an interlocking louvre can be up to 3 m long. We also use aluminium for vertical sunshades because timber could visibly bend when installed vertically.
Maintenance of timber and aluminium louvres
We protect timber with Remmers HK-Lasur 3v1 oil-based stain. The coating is renewed every 2–5 years. There is no need to sand the old layer – simply clean the surface and apply another coat of stain.
Aluminium does not corrode, and the powder coating retains its colour. For routine maintenance, simply rinse it with water.
If you are assembling the frame yourself, timber louvres from the e-shop are supplied unfinished. They therefore need to be coated before installation. See the Klasik timber louvres in the e-shop.
Colours and material combinations
Aluminium louvres are powder-coated. Anthracite RAL 7016 is the most popular choice. We also offer the Klasik profile in Walnut, Golden Oak and Light Oak wood-effect finishes. For more options, read our article on how to choose an aluminium louvre colour.
The frame and louvres do not need to be made from the same material:
- Timber frame with aluminium louvres combines the appearance of timber with the easy maintenance of aluminium. Only the frame needs coating, and around 35% of enquiries choose this combination.
- Aluminium frame with timber louvres has a lighter appearance, and only the louvres require regular coating.
In our quotes, interlocking aluminium louvres account for around 40%, timber Klasik for approximately 33% and aluminium Klasik for about 24%.
Frequently asked questions
How long can timber louvres be?
A timber Klasik louvre can be up to 1.5 m long. We recommend a maximum of 1 m for interlocking timber louvres. For wider openings, we recommend aluminium louvres.
Do aluminium louvres need painting?
No. Aluminium louvres are powder-coated, do not corrode and only need rinsing with water during routine cleaning.
How often do timber louvres need coating?
The stain needs to be renewed every 2–5 years. There is no need to sand the surface – simply clean it and apply a new coat of stain.
Summary
We recommend timber louvres if you want a natural appearance and do not mind renewing the coating every few years. Aluminium louvres are suitable for wider openings and do not require regular painting. An aluminium Klasik louvre in anthracite RAL 7016 adds only around 16% to the budget compared with a timber Klasik louvre, so the difference is small. The difference is more significant for interlocking aluminium louvres, at approximately 80%. With Klasik, you can also choose a wood-effect finish, so you do not have to lose the appearance of timber. Your decision therefore depends on appearance, maintenance and budget. Send us a photo of the space and approximate dimensions, and we will prepare a free, no-obligation quote.
