Asphalt vs Concrete Driveway Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
Asphalt vs Concrete Driveway: Cost, Lifespan & Value Compared (2026) Asphalt driveways cost $5-$12 per square foot installed in 2026, while concrete runs $6-$15 per square foot -- making asphalt the cheaper option upfront by 20-40%. For a standard 600 sq ft two-car driveway, that translates to $3,000-$7,200 for asphalt versus $4,800-$10,800 for concrete. But concrete lasts 30-40+ years with almost no maintenance, while asphalt needs sealing every 2-5 years and typically tops out at 15-30 years. Over a 30-year window, concrete's total cost of ownership is lower in most scenarios despite the higher day-one price. I have poured and paved driveways across the Northeast and Midwest for the better part of two decades, and the asphalt-vs-concrete question is the single most common conversation I have with homeowners. Last fall I quoted a 640 sq ft driveway in central Pennsylvania -- $4,500 for asphalt, $7,800 for concrete. The homeowner went...
Brick vs. Stone Veneer Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
Brick vs. Stone Veneer Cost in 2026 Brick veneer costs $8 to $24 per square foot installed in 2026, while stone veneer costs $10 to $45 per square foot -- with natural stone at the high end and manufactured stone overlapping brick pricing. For a typical 1,000 sq ft exterior accent, brick runs $8,000-$24,000 and stone veneer runs $10,000-$45,000. Manufactured stone veneer at $10-$22/sq ft is the most competitive alternative to brick. I priced 6 exterior veneer projects in the mid-Atlantic last year. The most eye-opening comparison: a builder doing two identical spec houses, one with brick veneer lower third and one with manufactured stone. The brick came to $11,200 (800 sq ft at $14/sq ft). The manufactured stone came to $14,400 (800 sq ft at $18/sq ft). Both looked premium, but the stone had 30% more labor hours because of irregular shapes and custom fitting. The material costs were...
Carpet vs Hardwood Flooring Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
Carpet vs Hardwood Flooring: Cost, Lifespan & ROI Compared (2026) Carpet flooring costs $3-$11 per square foot installed in 2026, while hardwood runs $12-$25 per square foot installed. For a 500 square foot living room, that is $1,500-$5,500 for carpet versus $6,000-$12,500 for hardwood. But the upfront price gap is misleading. Over 20 years, carpet requires two full replacements and annual professional cleaning, pushing its total cost to $6,000-$18,000 for that same room. Hardwood, with one refinish and minimal upkeep, lands at $7,500-$16,500. The "cheap" option is not always cheaper. I pulled carpet out of a 1,800 square foot ranch last October -- the kind of wall-to-wall beige that builders install because it costs $4 per square foot and nobody complains during a showing. The carpet was nine years old. It looked fifteen. Pet stains had soaked through the pad into the subfloor in two rooms, and no amount of...
Chain-Link vs. Privacy Fence Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
Chain-Link vs. Privacy Fence Cost in 2026 Chain-link fencing costs $8 to $40 per linear foot installed in 2026, while wood privacy fencing costs $20 to $55 per linear foot -- making chain-link 40-60% cheaper. For a standard 150-linear-foot backyard fence, chain-link runs $1,200-$6,000 and wood privacy runs $3,000-$8,250. The price gap narrows when you factor in chain-link privacy slats ($3-$10/linear ft additional) or vinyl-coated chain-link ($16-$30/linear ft). I compared 7 fence quotes in the Delaware Valley last year, and the most revealing comparison was a homeowner who got quotes for both: 200 linear feet of 4-foot galvanized chain-link versus 6-foot cedar board-on-board privacy. The chain-link: $2,800. The cedar privacy: $7,600. Nearly 3x the price. But when the homeowner asked about vinyl-coated black chain-link with privacy slats? $5,400. Two-thirds the privacy fence cost, with 80% of the visual appeal. Use our Fence Calculator(/construction/fence-calculator) to estimate materials and costs for your...
Composite vs. Wood Deck Cost in 2026: Which Saves More Long-Term?
Composite vs. Wood Deck: Cost, Maintenance & Value Compared (2026) Composite decking costs $30-$60 per square foot installed in 2026, roughly double the $15-$25/sq ft price of pressure-treated wood -- but composite's near-zero maintenance means it costs less over 20 years. For a standard 320 sq ft deck, pressure-treated wood totals about $16,000 over 20 years (including stain, seal, and board replacements), while composite holds at roughly $14,400. The crossover point where composite becomes cheaper is somewhere around year 12-14 for most projects. I have been framing and finishing decks across the mid-Atlantic for over fifteen years, and the composite-vs-wood conversation comes up on every single project. Last spring I built two nearly identical 16x20 decks three miles apart in northern Virginia -- one in Trex Transcend, one in pressure-treated southern pine. The PT deck cost $6,400 installed. The composite came to $13,800. On paper, the wood deck looks like...
DIY vs Contractor: Home Renovation Costs in 2026 (Real Comparison)
DIY vs Contractor: Home Renovation Costs in 2026 DIY renovation saves 40-60% on projects where labor is the dominant cost, but one in four DIY projects requires professional correction that adds 15-30% to the original budget. Labor accounts for 50-60% of total renovation cost nationally, which means a $48,000 kitchen remodel includes $24,000-$29,000 in labor alone. Cut that labor out and you keep a serious chunk of money. But cut it out on the wrong project and you pay twice -- once for your attempt, once for the contractor who fixes it. I have been in residential construction for over fifteen years, and I cannot count the number of times I have walked into a bathroom where a homeowner ripped out the tile, hit a supply line, and then called me in a panic with water running through the subfloor. That call cost him $4,200 -- the plumber, the water...
DIY vs. Professional Painting Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
DIY vs. Professional Painting Cost in 2026 DIY interior painting costs $200 to $600 per room in 2026, while professional painting costs $700 to $1,800 per room -- saving 50-70% by doing it yourself. For a whole-house interior (2,000 sq ft, 8-10 rooms), DIY runs $1,500-$3,500 versus $4,200-$11,500 for professional. The trade-off is time: what takes a pro crew 2-4 days takes a homeowner 3-6 weekends. I tracked 8 interior painting projects last year -- 4 DIY, 4 professional -- and the real cost of DIY is not paint and supplies. It is time. A couple spent 3 weekends painting their 4-bedroom colonial themselves. They saved $4,200 versus the contractor quote. But those weekends were 28 combined hours of work. At their combined household income, those hours were "worth" $2,800 in opportunity cost. The real savings? About $1,400. Still worthwhile -- but not the $4,200 they celebrated on social media....
Drop Ceiling vs. Drywall Ceiling Cost in 2026: Which Is Better for Your Basement?
Drop Ceiling vs. Drywall Ceiling: Cost Comparison for 2026 Drywall ceilings cost $2 to $6 per square foot installed in 2026 (including taping, finishing, and painting), while drop ceilings run $5 to $28 per square foot depending on tile quality. For a typical 1,000 sq ft basement, drywall comes in at $2,000-$6,000 and a drop ceiling at $5,000-$13,000. Drywall is cheaper upfront but loses easy access to plumbing, electrical, and HVAC above the ceiling. I have finished over thirty basements in southeastern Pennsylvania, and the ceiling decision comes down to one practical question that most homeowners do not ask until it is too late: where are your shutoff valves? A client in Lansdale chose drywall for the clean look. Eight months later, a supply line fitting behind the ceiling started dripping. To reach it, we cut a 2x3 foot hole in the drywall, fixed the fitting, patched, taped, sanded, primed,...
Fiber Cement vs. Vinyl Siding Cost in 2026: Hardie Board Worth the Premium?
Fiber Cement vs. Vinyl Siding: Cost Comparison for 2026 Fiber cement siding costs $5-$15 per square foot installed in 2026, while vinyl runs $3-$12/sq ft -- a 40-60% premium for fiber cement at comparable quality levels. For a 2,000 sq ft home exterior, vinyl costs $6,000-$24,000 and fiber cement runs $10,000-$30,000. James Hardie holds approximately 90% of the fiber cement market, making "Hardie Board" essentially synonymous with fiber cement siding. I have sided homes in both materials for over a decade across the Delaware Valley. The project that defines the comparison is a pair of identical colonials in Warminster that I sided two years apart -- one in CertainTeed vinyl, one in James Hardie HardiePlank. The vinyl job took my crew four days. The Hardie job took seven days -- the material weighs 300 lbs per 100 sq ft versus 60-70 lbs for vinyl, requires special cutting tools (fiber cement...
Fiberglass vs. Vinyl Windows Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
Fiberglass vs. Vinyl Windows Cost in 2026 Vinyl windows cost $330 to $700 per window installed in 2026, while fiberglass windows cost $700 to $1,300 -- making fiberglass roughly 2x the price. However, fiberglass windows last 40-50 years versus vinyl's 20-30, offer superior energy efficiency (U-factor 0.20 vs 0.30), and deliver higher ROI at resale (85% vs 76%). For a 10-window project, vinyl runs $3,300-$7,000 and fiberglass runs $7,000-$13,000. I compared 6 window replacement projects last year -- 3 vinyl, 3 fiberglass -- and the most telling data point was year-over-year energy bills. A 15-window fiberglass replacement in a 1980s colonial in Maryland reduced heating costs by $620/year. The same-sized vinyl replacement next door saved $430/year. The $190 annual energy difference means the $5,000 upfront premium pays back in 26 years through energy savings alone -- well within fiberglass's 40-50 year lifespan. Use our Window Calculator(/construction/window-calculator) to compare costs for...
French Drain vs. Surface Drain Cost in 2026: Which Drainage System Do You Need?
French Drain vs. Surface Drain: Cost Comparison for 2026 French drains cost $10-$50 per linear foot installed in 2026, while surface (trench) drains run $30-$150 per linear foot. French drains handle subsurface groundwater -- soggy yards, wet basements, and foundation drainage. Surface drains handle visible runoff -- driveway water, patio pooling, and downspout discharge. A typical 50-foot yard French drain costs $500-$2,500, while a 20-foot driveway trench drain costs $600-$3,000. I installed drainage systems on eight properties in Bucks County last year, and the most common mistake I correct is homeowners installing the wrong type. A client in New Hope had standing water in the yard after every rain. He wanted a surface channel drain like his neighbor's driveway. The problem was not surface runoff -- it was a high water table pushing groundwater up through the soil. We installed a 60-foot French drain with perforated pipe and gravel at...
Gas vs Electric Water Heater Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
Gas vs Electric Water Heater Cost in 2026: Full Comparison A gas tank water heater costs $800-$2,500 installed in 2026, while an electric tank water heater runs $600-$2,000. Annual operating costs flip the script: gas tanks cost $325-$475 per year to run versus $400-$600 for electric. But neither is the cheapest option anymore. Heat pump water heaters cost $150-$250 per year to operate and qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $2,000, making them the clear efficiency winner for homeowners who have the space and climate to support one. I replaced a gas tank water heater in a 1970s ranch house outside Milwaukee last fall. The existing unit was a 13-year-old 50-gallon gas tank that had been limping along with a failing anode rod and a thermocouple I had already replaced twice. The homeowner wanted to go electric tankless to save space. After we ran the numbers on...
Granite vs. Concrete Countertops Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
Granite vs. Concrete Countertops Cost in 2026 Granite countertops cost $40 to $150 per square foot installed in 2026, while concrete countertops cost $50 to $150 per square foot -- making concrete surprisingly comparable or more expensive in most cases. For a standard 50 sq ft kitchen, granite runs $2,000-$5,000 and concrete runs $2,500-$7,500. The price gap exists because concrete is custom-fabricated with 70-85% labor cost, while granite is machine-cut from natural slabs. I tracked 4 kitchen countertop projects last year, and the misconception that concrete is the "budget" option is universal. A homeowner in New Jersey wanted polished concrete countertops to save money versus granite. The granite quote: $3,800 (Level 2 slab, 45 sq ft). The concrete quote: $5,200 (polished, integral color, same footprint). The concrete material cost was $300 -- but 4 days of custom formwork, pouring, curing, grinding, and sealing added $4,900 in labor. Use our Concrete...
Hardwood vs. Laminate Flooring Cost in 2026: Full Comparison
Hardwood vs. Laminate Flooring: Cost, Durability & ROI Compared (2026) Hardwood flooring costs $12-$25 per square foot installed in 2026, while laminate runs $4-$10 per square foot installed. Over 20 years, hardwood's total cost of ownership for 1,000 square feet ranges from $16,500 to $30,000 including refinishing, while laminate lands at $10,000-$20,000 with a likely full replacement. Hardwood wins on resale value (70-80% ROI) and lifespan (25-100 years), but laminate wins on upfront cost and is the better choice when budget matters more than longevity. I replaced 1,200 square feet of flooring in a 1960s colonial last fall -- 800 square feet of red oak hardwood downstairs and 400 square feet of 12mm laminate upstairs in the bedrooms. The hardwood material bill was $7,200 and installation ran $4,800, so $12,000 total for the main level. The laminate upstairs cost $1,400 for materials and $2,000 for labor -- $3,400 total. Same...
Metal Roof vs. Shingles Cost in 2026: Is Metal Worth 2-3x the Price?
Metal Roof vs. Shingles: Cost, Lifespan & ROI Compared (2026) A metal roof costs $12-$18 per square foot installed in 2026, compared to $3.50-$6 per square foot for asphalt shingles. For a standard 2,000 square foot roof, that translates to $24,000-$36,000 for standing seam metal versus $7,000-$12,000 for architectural shingles. However, metal roofing lasts 40-70 years versus 15-30 years for asphalt, which means the 60-year total cost of ownership can actually favor metal by $2,000-$12,000 depending on the material you choose. I have been working on residential roofing projects across the Midwest for close to fifteen years. In 2019, I watched a client tear off a 22-year-old three-tab shingle roof and replace it with standing seam metal for $31,400. Last summer, I visited that same house during a hailstorm inspection tour. The metal roof had zero damage. Three houses on the same block with asphalt shingles had $8,000-$14,000 in claims....
Mini-Split vs. Central AC Cost in 2026: Which System Saves More?
Mini-Split vs. Central AC Cost in 2026: Full Comparison Central AC costs $3,500-$7,600 installed in homes with existing ductwork in 2026, while mini-split systems run $3,000-$13,500 depending on the number of zones. The deciding factor is ductwork: if your home already has ducts, central AC is usually cheaper. If it does not, mini-splits save $5,000-$15,000 by eliminating ductwork installation entirely. Mini-splits also use 30% less energy on average, which compounds into significant savings over 15-20 years. I have watched the mini-split market transform construction projects over the past five years. Last year, a homeowner in Doylestown wanted to add AC to a 1920s stone farmhouse with no ductwork. The central AC quotes came in at $14,000-$18,000 (including new ductwork through finished walls and ceilings). The mini-split quote was $7,800 for three zones. Same comfort, half the price, and no demolition of original plaster walls to run ducts. Use our AC...
Quartz vs. Concrete Countertop Cost in 2026: Which Is Worth the Investment?
Quartz vs. Concrete Countertop Cost in 2026: Full Comparison Quartz countertops cost $50-$200 per square foot installed in 2026, while concrete runs $50-$150/sq ft -- making their mid-range pricing nearly identical at $70-$100/sq ft. The difference shows up in long-term costs: quartz requires zero sealing and minimal maintenance, while concrete needs resealing every 1-4 years at $300-$600 per cycle. Over 20 years, quartz saves $3,000-$6,000 in maintenance for a typical 40 sq ft kitchen counter. I installed both materials in side-by-side kitchen renovations in Chestnut Hill last year -- one client chose Caesarstone quartz, the other wanted a custom poured concrete island. The quartz kitchen came to $5,800 for 42 sq ft installed. The concrete island was $4,200 for 36 sq ft, but the client has already spent $400 on sealing supplies in 8 months because concrete is porous and shows every water ring from a coffee cup. The upfront...
Raised Bed vs In-Ground Garden Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
Raised Bed vs In-Ground Garden: Cost, Yield & ROI Compared (2026) A raised bed garden costs $100-$900 per 4x8 bed in 2026, depending on frame material and soil fill, while an in-ground garden costs near zero to $200 if your native soil is workable. Raised beds produce 2-4x more yield per square foot through intensive spacing and controlled soil, but they require 50-100% more water due to faster drainage. For 100 square feet of growing space, expect $400-$2,500 in first-year raised bed costs versus $50-$300 for in-ground, with ongoing annual costs of $50-$150 and $30-$80, respectively. Last spring I helped a neighbor plan 100 square feet of growing space in USDA Zone 6b. She built three 4x8 cedar raised beds at 12 inches deep, filling each with 32 cubic feet of a 40/40/20 topsoil-compost-vermiculite mix. Total first-year cost: $870 for lumber, hardware, and 4.2 cubic yards of bulk soil blend....
Spray Foam vs. Blown-In Insulation Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
Spray Foam vs. Blown-In Insulation Cost in 2026 Spray foam insulation costs $1-$4.50 per square foot in 2026, while blown-in insulation costs $0.40-$2.50 per square foot -- making spray foam 2-5x more expensive upfront. However, spray foam provides air sealing plus insulation in one application, with an R-value of 3.6-7.0 per inch versus blown-in's 2.2-3.8 per inch. The right choice depends on where you are insulating and whether air sealing matters. I compared costs on 7 attic insulation projects in Pennsylvania last year, and the results surprised even the contractors. A 1,500 sq ft attic floor insulated with blown cellulose to R-49 cost $2,100. The same attic with open-cell spray foam on the roofline (creating a conditioned attic) cost $6,800. The cellulose attic was perfectly fine. But the house next door -- with HVAC ducts running through an unconditioned attic -- saved $480/year on energy bills after spray foaming the...
Stamped Concrete vs. Pavers Cost in 2026: Patio & Driveway Comparison
Stamped Concrete vs. Pavers: Cost Comparison for 2026 Stamped concrete costs $8-$28 per square foot installed in 2026, while interlocking pavers run $10-$50/sq ft -- making stamped concrete 20-40% cheaper at the budget end but nearly equal at the mid-range. For a 400 sq ft patio, stamped concrete runs $4,800-$8,000 and pavers cost $6,000-$12,000. The cost gap narrows on larger projects and reverses when you factor in paver's easier repair and longer lifespan. I have installed both materials on dozens of patio and driveway projects across southeastern Pennsylvania, and the comparison I come back to is a pair of patios I built in the same neighborhood in Newtown. One homeowner chose stamped concrete (ashlar slate pattern) at $14/sq ft -- total $5,600 for 400 sq ft. The neighbor chose Belgard pavers at $22/sq ft -- $8,800 for the same area. Three winters later, the stamped concrete had a 6-foot crack...
Standing Seam vs. Corrugated Metal Roof Cost in 2026: Which Is Worth It?
Standing Seam vs. Corrugated Metal Roof: Cost Comparison for 2026 Standing seam metal roofing costs $8-$16 per square foot installed in 2026, while corrugated metal runs $4-$12/sq ft -- making standing seam roughly 40-60% more expensive upfront. For a 1,500 sq ft roof, corrugated metal costs $6,000-$18,000 and standing seam runs $12,000-$24,000. The premium buys concealed fasteners, a 40-70 year lifespan (vs 30-45 for corrugated), and significantly less maintenance. I have installed both types on residential projects throughout the mid-Atlantic, and the fastener system is the core difference everything else flows from. On a standing seam roof I installed in Solebury five years ago, the concealed clips allow the panels to expand and contract with temperature changes without any stress on the fasteners. A corrugated roof I installed the same year in Quakertown has exposed screws that I have already re-tightened twice because the thermal cycling loosens the neoprene washers....
Stucco vs. Vinyl Siding Cost in 2026: Durability, Value & Climate Guide
Stucco vs. Vinyl Siding Cost in 2026: Full Comparison Stucco costs $6-$17 per square foot installed in 2026, roughly double vinyl siding at $3-$12/sq ft -- but stucco lasts 50-100 years compared to vinyl's 20-40 years. For a 2,000 sq ft home exterior, vinyl runs $6,000-$24,000 and stucco costs $12,000-$34,000. The choice hinges on climate and time horizon: stucco excels in dry, warm regions, while vinyl performs best in cold, wet, and coastal climates. I have installed both materials across the mid-Atlantic for over fifteen years. The project that crystallized the comparison was a pair of identical townhomes in Doylestown -- one clad in three-coat stucco, the other in vinyl. After 12 years, the stucco home needed $4,500 in crack repair and repainting. The vinyl home? Nothing. It looked the same as installation day. But I also visit stucco homes in Scottsdale that look perfect after 40 years. Material performance...
Tankless vs. Tank Water Heater Cost in 2026: 20-Year Comparison
Tankless vs. Tank Water Heater: 20-Year Cost Comparison (2026) Tank water heaters cost $900-$2,500 installed in 2026, while tankless units run $2,000-$5,600 -- roughly double the upfront investment. But tankless systems last 15-20 years (vs. 8-12 for tanks), save $150-$200 annually on energy, and eliminate standby heat loss. Over a 20-year horizon, a gas tankless system costs $12,000-$18,000 total versus $16,600-$23,300 for tank replacements -- because tank owners need two units in the same timeframe. I replaced water heaters in 23 homes across the Delaware Valley last year. The conversion that made the math clearest was a family of five in Horsham. They were replacing their second 50-gallon gas tank in 11 years -- both failed at the 5.5-year mark because of hard water. The first replacement cost $1,400, the second was $1,600. At that point, they spent $3,000 on two short-lived tanks. A tankless conversion at $4,800 would have...
Tile vs. Vinyl Flooring Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
Tile vs. Vinyl Flooring Cost in 2026 Tile flooring costs $12 to $50 per square foot installed in 2026, while luxury vinyl plank (LVP) costs $3 to $12 per square foot installed -- making tile 2-4x more expensive. However, tile lasts 25-50 years versus vinyl's 10-20 years, which changes the cost-per-year calculation significantly. For a 200 sq ft room, tile runs $2,400-$10,000 while LVP costs $600-$2,400. I compared flooring quotes for 9 projects last year across kitchens and bathrooms in the mid-Atlantic. The most telling data point: a 120 sq ft kitchen where the homeowner got quotes for both wood-look porcelain tile and wood-look LVP. The porcelain came to $4,200 installed. The LVP: $1,400. Same visual appearance from across the room. But the porcelain will outlast two generations of LVP -- and it won't dent from dropped cans or fade from sunlight near the slider door. Use our Flooring Calculator(/construction/flooring-calculator)...
Vinyl Plank vs. Laminate Flooring Cost in 2026: Which Is Better Value?
Vinyl Plank vs. Laminate Flooring: Cost Comparison for 2026 Vinyl plank (LVP) costs $3-$10 per square foot installed in 2026, while laminate runs $3-$14/sq ft -- making their mid-range pricing nearly identical at $5-$8/sq ft. The critical difference is water resistance: LVP is 100% waterproof, making it safe for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. Laminate's wood-fiber core swells when exposed to standing water, limiting it to dry rooms. For a 500 sq ft project, both run $1,500-$4,000 at mid-range. I installed both materials in over twenty homes across the Lehigh Valley last year. The project that illustrates the difference best was a split-level in Allentown where the homeowner put laminate on the main floor and LVP in the finished basement. Eight months later, a washing machine hose leaked on the main floor. The laminate buckled in a 4x6 foot area -- $800 to tear out and replace. The basement LVP? The...
Vinyl vs. Wood Fence Cost in 2026: Which Is the Better Investment?
Vinyl vs. Wood Fence: Cost, Maintenance & Durability Compared (2026) A 200-linear-foot wood fence (pressure-treated pine) costs $4,000-$7,000 installed in 2026, while the same length in vinyl runs $6,000-$12,000. But over 20 years, vinyl's near-zero maintenance flips the equation: wood's total cost of ownership reaches $10,000-$23,000, while vinyl lands at $7,000-$14,000. The cheaper fence on day one is often the more expensive fence over its lifetime. Three years ago I replaced 180 feet of rotting pressure-treated pine fence at a remodel project in Beaverton, Oregon. The original fence was nine years old. The posts had gone soft at the base, two panels were warped beyond repair, and the homeowner had skipped staining for five consecutive years. The replacement cost $5,400 in materials and labor -- nearly what the original fence cost to install. That job changed how I talk to clients about fencing. Upfront cost is one number. The number...
Wood vs. Aluminum Pergola Cost in 2026 (Full Comparison)
Wood vs. Aluminum Pergola Cost in 2026 Wood pergolas cost $25 to $55 per square foot installed in 2026, while aluminum pergolas cost $30 to $60 per square foot -- making them nearly equal in upfront cost. The real cost difference emerges over time: a $5,000 wood pergola requiring $300/year in maintenance costs $11,000 over 20 years, while a comparable $7,000 aluminum pergola costs $7,300 total. Aluminum wins the long-term value contest. I tracked 5 pergola projects last year -- 3 cedar, 2 aluminum -- and the maintenance reality is what changes most homeowners' minds after year 3. A beautiful cedar pergola in Virginia looked stunning at installation. By year 2, the UV had grayed the wood and the homeowner spent a weekend and $400 on power washing and staining. The aluminum pergola next door? A 30-minute hose-down twice a year. Same look, zero weekends lost. Use our Pergola Calculator(/construction/pergola-calculator)...