| 6063 | T5 or T6 | Approximately 186–207 MPa, depending on temper and section thickness | Approximately 145–172 MPa, depending on temper and section thickness | Standard posts, beams, rafters, louvers, decorative trims, and complex hollow profiles | Very good atmospheric corrosion resistance; well suited to normal outdoor exposure | Anodizing
Powder coating | Most common architectural choice because it offers a smooth surface, good extrusion quality, and an attractive appearance. Use engineering calculations for long-span beams. |
| 6061 | T6 | Approximately 290 MPa | Approximately 240 MPa | Load-bearing posts, brackets, connectors, base plates, and heavily stressed structural members | Good corrosion resistance, although generally less suited to highly decorative extrusion work than 6063 | Powder coating
Anodizing | Provides higher strength than 6063-T5/T6. It can be more difficult to extrude into thin, intricate shapes, so confirm profile availability and surface requirements before specifying it. |
| 6005A | T5 or T6 | Approximately 270–290 MPa, depending on temper and section thickness | Approximately 225–255 MPa, depending on temper and section thickness | Structural beams, posts, rafters, and medium-to-heavy duty extruded profiles | Good outdoor corrosion resistance when properly finished and maintained | Powder coating
Anodizing | A useful compromise between structural strength and extrusion capability. Confirm the applicable product standard because mechanical-property values vary with temper and wall thickness. |
| 6060 | T5 or T6 | Approximately 160–190 MPa, depending on temper and section thickness | Approximately 120–150 MPa, depending on temper and section thickness | Light-duty trims, screens, small louvers, infill panels, and non-primary decorative components | Very good atmospheric corrosion resistance | Anodizing
Powder coating | Offers excellent surface quality and formability but is usually not the first choice for major structural members unless the design loads are low. |
| 6063-T5 | T5 | Approximately 186 MPa | Approximately 145 MPa | Typical residential pergola frames and moderate-span extruded profiles | Very good | Anodizing
Powder coating | A practical option for many residential applications. Profile geometry, span, wind load, snow load, connection design, and wall thickness are as important as alloy selection. |
| 6063-T6 | T6 | Approximately 205–214 MPa | Approximately 170–172 MPa | Higher-strength architectural posts, beams, and rafters made from 6063 extrusion shapes | Very good | Anodizing
Powder coating | Stronger than 6063-T5, but the final design still needs verification for deflection, buckling, fastener loads, and local building-code requirements. |
| Any suitable architectural alloy | Specified by the supplier | Must be confirmed against the applicable alloy and temper standard | Must be confirmed against the applicable alloy and temper standard | Coastal, marine, poolside, industrial, or high-pollution environments | Higher exposure risk | Anodizing: 18–25 μm
Powder coating: 60–80 μm | Use a high-quality, continuous finish, isolate aluminum from dissimilar metals, avoid water-trapping joints, and provide drainage. Specify a tested exterior coating system suitable for the local exposure category. |
| Finish: Anodized | Not an alloy temper | Does not materially increase the structural strength of the profile | Does not materially increase the structural strength of the profile | Projects prioritizing a metallic appearance, color stability, and low-maintenance surfaces | Excellent when the anodic layer is continuous and correctly specified | Typical exterior thickness: 15–25 μm | Hard, integral oxide layer with a natural metallic look. Color matching can vary between production batches. Scratches cannot be easily repaired invisibly. |
| Finish: Powder Coated | Not an alloy temper | Does not materially increase the structural strength of the profile | Does not materially increase the structural strength of the profile | Projects requiring a wide range of colors, opaque coverage, or coordinated architectural finishes | Very good when pretreatment, coating thickness, curing, and drainage are properly controlled | Typical exterior thickness: 60–80 μm | Provides strong color and design flexibility. Specify exterior-grade powder, suitable pretreatment, and a coating warranty appropriate for UV, humidity, and salt exposure. |
| Finish: PVDF Coated | Not an alloy temper | Does not materially increase the structural strength of the profile | Does not materially increase the structural strength of the profile | High-visibility projects with severe UV exposure, demanding color retention, or premium façade-style requirements | Excellent weathering performance when the complete coating system is properly specified | Typically multi-layer | Usually selected for premium architectural durability. Confirm whether the coating is applied to extrusions and verify the specified resin, pretreatment, thickness, and performance warranty. |
