Is 6061 better than 6063?

Stronger, not better. 6061-T6 is the higher-strength alloy; 6063 extrudes into complex architectural hollows with better surface finish. The right choice depends on what the profile has to do.

Does a thicker wall always mean a better product?

Not always — geometry matters as much as thickness. A well-designed 1.6 mm profile can outperform a poorly shaped 2.0 mm section. Ask for the moment of inertia, not just the wall thickness.

Can I compare suppliers by weight per metre?

It is a crude proxy. Two sections of equal weight can differ in stiffness if the material is distributed differently. Weight tells you how much aluminium you are buying; the section drawing tells you what it does.

Does the alloy affect corrosion resistance?

The 6000 series has good general corrosion resistance, but in service the finish system does the work. Powder coating, anodising or wood-grain transfer protect the surface; the alloy underneath is secondary for atmospheric exposure.

6063-T5, 6063-T6 or 6061: How to Judge the Aluminium Behind a Shading System

Short answer: almost all architectural shading extrusion is 6063, because it extrudes into complex hollow shapes with an excellent surface finish. The temper is what varies: 6063-T5 is the mainstream, 6063-T6 is stronger, and 6061-T6 is stronger again but harder to extrude.

The three designations you will see on a quotation

	6063-T5	6063-T6	6061-T6
Relative strength	Baseline	Higher than T5	Highest
Extrudability	Excellent	Very good	More limited
Surface finish	Excellent	Excellent	Coarser
Typical use	Frames, blades, tracks	Load-carrying members	Structural brackets

Why alloy is the wrong first question

1. Wall thickness

The dominant cost lever in extrusion is metal weight.

2. Section geometry

Stiffness comes from how the material is distributed.

3. Extrusion quality

Die condition, billet quality and press control decide dimensional consistency.

Where each material choice lands in a shading system

Blades — 6063-T5 or T6 depending on span.
Beams and rafters — T6, thicker walls or internal reinforcement.
Posts — wall thickness and base-plate detail matter more than alloy grade.
Tracks and guides — tight tolerance because the fabric bead must run inside.
Brackets and fittings — where 6061-T6 or stainless components appear.

What to ask any supplier

"What is the alloy and temper of each member?"
"What is the wall thickness?"
"Can I see the cross-section drawings?"
"What span was this beam engineered for?"
"Is the extrusion produced in-house?"
"What tolerance standard applies?"

Written by the engineering team at GRAND HOMEDECOR (Guangdong Grand Homedecor Technology Co., Ltd.).