Vinyl fences are becoming increasingly popular with more and more homeowners largely because of their low maintenance and high level of durability. Vinyl fences are mostly made from the same strong material used to make vinyl widows and siding, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), in an intricate process using several ingredients designed to ensure strength and quality.
Shopping for Vinyl Fences
It's wise to do plenty of research before buying any large purchase such as a vinyl fence, comparing prices, options, and learning how to install it properly if you're planning on tackling the job yourself. Also when shopping for fences, pay attention the gauge or thickness of the vinyl as of course, the thicker the better. Additionally, make it a point to learn the terms of the warranty that comes along with the fence.
Most vinyl fence warranties range from 20 years to a lifetime guarantee and will cover things such as fading, yellowing, and any breaking or cracking, as long as the damage isn't due to external forces such as being hit by a vehicle or a tree branch.
You'll also want to decide on the exact style of the fence, with the most popular types being ranch, picket, wrought iron-style, and privacy. It's also a good idea to see that the fence you purchase contains titanium dioxide, which is needed to prevent fading from the sun's UV rays.
Other important ingredients to check for besides titanium dioxide are chemicals called impact modifiers. Impact modifiers are rather important as they are used to increase the strength of the vinyl in very cold temperatures.
The Pros of Owning a Vinyl Fence
- Vinyl fences are incredibly low maintenance as they never need painted, stained, or treated and are easily cleaned with the garden hose.
- A vinyl fence will never splinter, need boards replaced or be vulnerable to insect infestation.
- From a distance, some vinyl fences closely resemble wood and come in a variety of colors besides brown such as white, tan, and gray.
The Cons of Owning a Vinyl Fence
- The upfront costs for vinyl fences may be a bit more expensive than their wood counterparts, however, money is usually saved over time on maintenance costs.
- In fluctuating temperatures or extremely cold weather, vinyl fences may become susceptible to damage if they are not properly manufactured.
Installing a Vinyl Fence
Depending on the exact style used, the majority of time spent assembling a vinyl fence is simply snapping the pieces into one another using a specially designed notching tool. The type of channels and fasteners needed will also depend upon the style of vinyl fence, and are usually attached using screws or rivets. Buyers have the option of having the fence professionally installed at an additional cost, or can opt to follow the directions and install it themselves.
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Gardens to many people are a means of escape from the hustle and bustle of modern living. However this doesn't mean that you only have to use traditional materials in your garden. Sometimes using modern materials are a great way to save you time and energy. One such material that is becoming popular in the garden is vinyl.
The main reason that you should buy a vinyl fence instead of a wooden one is simply the fact that it's so durable and stays looking perfect for much longer than wood. If you find that your vinyl fence has become dirty then you should just give it a wash over with some water and soap. It's not difficult at all and a whole load quicker and easier than trying to paint a wooden fence. Often wood fences suffer from insects but vinyl is immune to this problem.
However you will perhaps notice some mildew developing on your vinyl fence but this only happens if your vinyl fence is dirty. The dirt is an organic substance that allows mildew to grow. Get rid of the dirt and you also get rid of the mildew. If you want to prevent the growth of mildew even further than you can dilute some bleach and spray it onto the vinyl.
You will need to decide for yourself how good an alternative vinyl is compared to wood because everyone will have a different opinion on this matter. In general you will have to look pretty close to tell the difference between vinyl and wood and most people don't look at fences that carefully. If you don't like the idea of painting wood then you will be delighted to know that vinyl already comes in different colors and you only need to paint it at a later date if you decide you want to change the color for your own reasons. Although dark colors can have a tendency to fade over time so this is something that should be noted.
In years to come and you decide you want to change the color of your fence then you should give it a good clean and then use an appropriate type of paint. You will see on the tin whether it's suitable for vinyl or not and you should also make sure that you can use it outside otherwise it might not be as durable as you would expect.
Vinyl fences are amongst the easiest to install just because they are sold with molded tabs built in. This means you don't need to know anything about nailing and screwing in order to install you vinyl garden fence.
You will see that picket fences are everywhere you look and there is certainly nothing wrong with this. If you decide that you also like picket fences then having one made from vinyl is very easy to achieve as they are already made to the usual dimensions you find in picket fences.
Overall vinyl fencing materials are well worth having a look at if you want a fence that looks great and will continue doing so for many years to come. Life is too short to be constantly having to attend to all the variety of home and garden maintenance jobs that need to be done. A vinyl fence will really make your life much easier.
Both Jim Ames & April Kerr are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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