Mulholland Brand designs, fabricates and installs wood-look aluminum fences for homes across San Diego County, with a second location in San Diego itself. The fence is powder-coated aluminum with a woodgrain finish. From the sidewalk it reads as timber, but it cannot rot, rust or draw termites, and it never needs sanding or staining. Every panel is built to your measurements in the company's own factory in Canoga Park and installed by its own W-2 crew, not subcontractors. Mulholland has built gates and fences in Southern California since 1994 under California contractor license CSLB #1061373.
If your old fence is leaning, soft at the base or crumbling where the boards meet the posts, the rest of this guide covers what to replace it with and how to choose who does the work.
Why do wood fences wear out so quickly in San Diego?
San Diego is the most coastal county Mulholland serves, and the coast is hard on wood. Salt air and damp mornings keep boards from ever fully drying out. Then the afternoon sun bakes them. That cycle opens the grain, lifts the stain and lets water in deeper each season.
Posts usually go first. They sit in soil, soak up moisture at grade and rot from the inside while the boards above still look fine. Termites find the same soft wood. By the time you notice the lean, the posts are often past saving.
Canyon lots add their own problems. A fence that runs down a slope carries water along its base, and many canyon homes back onto dry brush. A wood fence there is fuel.
How does wood-look aluminum compare to composite and vinyl?
Most fence companies asked this question in San Diego will suggest composite. It is a fair answer, and worth understanding before you decide.
Composite boards are made from wood fiber bound with plastic. They have real texture and a convincing board look up close. They do not need staining. The tradeoffs: composite is heavy, many systems still rely on metal posts or frames to stay straight over a long run, and the plastic content means it will burn. Some products also fade in strong sun, so ask the maker how a given colour holds up.
Vinyl is low maintenance and usually the lowest-cost of the three up front. It does well as a plain white fence. Woodgrain vinyl exists, but it tends to look like plastic from a few feet away, and years of UV can leave some vinyl chalky or brittle. It is also combustible.
Wood-look aluminum is a metal fence with a powder-coated woodgrain finish. Here is what that gets you:
- Aluminum does not rust or rot, which matters within reach of salt air.
- It does not need repainting. Mulholland states its powder-coat finish lasts 30+ years in the Southern California sun.
- Aluminum is non-combustible and CAL FIRE tested, a real point for homes on canyon edges.
- It weighs a fraction of iron at the same span, so gates hang easily and hinges and posts take less strain.
- Customers regularly tell Mulholland they cannot tell the finish is not wood.
| Wood-look aluminum | Composite | Vinyl | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rot and termites | No | No | No |
| Rust in salt air | No | Depends on the frame | No |
| Fire | Non-combustible, CAL FIRE tested | Combustible | Can melt or burn |
| Staining or painting | Never | Never | Never |
| Looks like wood | Woodgrain finish | Textured board | Limited |
When another material might suit you better
Be honest with yourself about what you want. If you love the touch of a textured board at arm's length, composite may please you more. If you want a simple white fence on a tight budget, vinyl is a reasonable choice. And if you want real cedar or redwood and do not mind the upkeep, nothing looks quite like real wood.
Mulholland builds only in aluminum, so it will not sell you any of those. What it offers is a fence that looks like wood and does not need replacing again when the next set of posts would have rotted. There is more on the finish itself in the benefits of wood-like aluminum gates and fencing.
What styles can you get in a wood-look aluminum fence?
The woodgrain finish goes on most of Mulholland's fencing profiles. Common choices for a wood replacement:
- Horizontal-slat privacy fence, the modern look many San Diego homes are moving to
- Full privacy panels to replace a solid board fence
- Frameless modern profiles for a clean line
- Traditional picket for a front yard
A few details matter on San Diego lots. Canyon properties rarely sit flat, so each run is slope-engineered, either stepped or raked to follow the grade. If the fence encloses a pool, Mulholland builds it to pool code spacing with self-closing gates. Walk gates are made to match the fence panels, so the gate does not look like an afterthought. And if you have a block or stucco wall that is sound but too short, aluminum wall toppers can add height and privacy in the same finish.
Coastal homes have a few extra concerns. The guide to beach community fence and gate problems covers them.
How does a fence replacement project run?
Mulholland runs every job the same way:
- In-home consultation. Someone comes to your property. You do not need to visit a showroom.
- Site measurement. They measure the run, the slope and the exact dimensions of every opening.
- Design and quote. You get a clear, itemized price in writing.
- Fabrication. Panels, posts and gates are built to spec in the Canoga Park factory. No off-the-shelf sizing, and nothing is outsourced.
- Installation. Mulholland's own crew installs the fence and walks you through it when they finish.
Financing is available. Ask about it during the consultation, along with how the old fence will be handled. You can also tour the factory by appointment before you commit.
What should you ask any fence company before you hire them?
The answers tell you a lot, even if you end up choosing someone else.
- Is the fence built for my property or cut from stock panels?
- Who installs it: your own employees or subcontractors?
- What is your license number? You can check it on the CSLB website.
- How will you handle the slope along my back fence?
- What is under the woodgrain finish, and will it burn?
- Is the quote itemized and in writing?
- Will the gate match the fence exactly?
A company that builds its own panels and sends its own crew can answer all of these directly.
Frequently asked questions
Will a wood-look aluminum fence really look like wood?
From normal viewing distance, yes. Customers regularly tell Mulholland they cannot tell it is not wood. Up close you can tell it is metal if you touch it.
Does aluminum hold up to salt air near the San Diego coast?
Aluminum does not rust, and it does not rot. That is the main reason it outlasts wood and steel near the ocean. The powder-coat finish also means there is no paint to peel.
Is aluminum a better choice for a canyon lot?
It is a strong one. Aluminum is non-combustible and CAL FIRE tested, while wood and composite are combustible and vinyl can melt in a fire. Mulholland also engineers each run to follow the slope.
How much does a wood-look aluminum fence cost?
It depends on length, height, profile and the number of gates. The pricing page explains what drives the number, and the consultation gives you a written, itemized quote.
Do you repair wood or composite fences?
No. Mulholland replaces them with aluminum. Its service and repair work covers its own installations only.
If you are ready to replace a rotted fence, Mulholland Brand builds and installs wood-look aluminum fencing for homes throughout San Diego County. Book a consultation or call (800) 562-5770 to have someone measure your property.
