Alupro facade louvers and architectural grilles are available in a range of materials—aluminium, copper, brass and stainless steel—each with distinct visual, structural, and durability characteristics. The choice of base material is one of the most significant decisions in a louver specification, affecting the product's appearance now and decades into the future.
This guide provides a practical overview of each material to support informed decision-making by architects, designers, and specifying engineers.
Extruded aluminium is the default material for PS-P and AluClik louvers and the vast majority of Alupro's architectural products. It is lightweight, structurally efficient, and inherently corrosion-resistant. Aluminium is also 100% recyclable, which is an increasingly important consideration in sustainable construction.
The extrusion process allows complex blade profiles to be produced with consistent precision, including forms that would be impractical or uneconomical in other materials. This makes aluminium the natural choice for custom profiles, long-span modules, and curved applications.
Aluminium louvers are finished with powder coating in the full RAL color range, providing a weather-resistant, UV-stable surface that can be specified to match or complement any facade palette. Anti-graffiti coating is available as an additional option for public-facing applications.
Copper brings a distinctive warmth and a material authenticity that no coating can replicate. Freshly fabricated copper has a bright, reddish-gold appearance. Over time, it oxidizes through a predictable progression—darkening to a rich brown, then developing the characteristic blue-green patina known as patina. This natural weathering is typically considered an asset rather than a defect, and many architects specify copper specifically to capture it.
Copper is structurally strong, highly workable, and antimicrobial. In architectural applications, it is used where the material itself is intended as an expression of quality, longevity, and craftsmanship. Cultural institutions, civic buildings, and high-end residential projects are typical contexts.
One important consideration is galvanic compatibility. Copper must be electrically isolated from dissimilar metals—particularly aluminium and steel—at connection points to prevent accelerated corrosion in both materials. Alupro's design process addresses this requirement as a standard engineering detail.
Brass offers a warmer, more golden tone than aluminium and weathers more slowly than copper, retaining its color longer before developing an oxide patina. It is used in interior applications—reception areas, lobby screens, retail environments—and in exterior applications where a refined, warm-toned metal is desired.
Brass can be lacquered to preserve its initial appearance, or left uncoated to develop its natural patina at a controlled rate. It is heavier than aluminium, which should be considered in the structural design of the supporting substrate, particularly for larger louver fields.
Stainless steel offers maximum durability and requires very little maintenance in normal environments, as it does not patinate or develop visible oxide layers. Its clean, contemporary appearance works well in modern commercial and public architecture.
In architectural louver applications, stainless steel is often chosen for demanding exterior environments where other materials' coatings might degrade, or where a specifier requires the absolute reliability of a material that is intrinsically, rather than coated, corrosion-resistant.
Stainless steel is significantly heavier than aluminium, which affects the structural requirements for supporting substrates and installation hardware. It is also more expensive as a material, making it more common in high-specification projects where performance and longevity justify the premium.
In principle, different materials can be used for different components—for example, aluminium modules with stainless steel frames. Dissimilar metals must be appropriately isolated to prevent galvanic corrosion. Our design team handles this as part of the detailing process.
Aluminium in its natural anodized or mill-finished state can be specified on a case-by-case basis. Contact our team to discuss the options available for your specific project.