Pros and Cons of Vinyl Fencing May 3, 2024 Comments: 0
Are you looking for a fence to add an extra element of design to your property? Vinyl fencing may be what you’re after. With vinyl fencing comes pros and cons.
The plastic-based material is comprised of polyvinyl chloride. It tends to be low maintenance, and you will avoid the cracking or splitting that comes with wood fencing. Additionally, vinyl fencing doesn’t rot, have problems with insects, or need refinishing.
Vinyl fencing comes in many colors and styles. You could get the best of both words – a vinyl fence textured to look like wood! Despite the pros of vinyl fencing, extreme storms can potentially warp the material, and there are high costs associated with the initial vinyl fence installation. Pittsburgh Fencing Co. shares more pros and cons below.
Pros
- Easily cleaned
- Low maintenance
- Easily cleaned
- High-quality vinyl can resemble wood
Cons
- Storms can damage the material
- Algae, mold, and dew can cause staining
- Not a natural material
- High initial costs
Costs
The installation of vinyl fencing tends to be costly with the average cost being $3,600 in the United States. In comparison, wood fencing tends to be on average around $2,800. For different styles, the price may vary, but in your calculations include labor costs and materials.
Different add-ons like fence post caps, texturing, lattice effects, and gates will also increase the cost. The thickness of the material also affects the cost.
Cheap vinyl fencing: thin, can be damaged easily
Think vinyl fencing: stable, thicker, less maintenance
If you’re looking to save a little with your vinyl fence project, Pittsburgh Fencing Co suggests going with a simpler design rather than a thinner material.
Design
There are many designs to choose from when it comes to vinyl fencing. You can choose from tall picket fences with slats or without slats. You can add accents, like lattice effects at the top, decorative posts caps, or a scalloped top. You could even get a vinyl fence that looks like an ornamental iron fence.
In addition to comes in many designs, vinyl fencing comes in many colors and textures.
Neutral: White, tan, grey, brown, black
Bold: Green, blue, red
Textures: wood, stucco
Vinyl fencing can be installed anywhere you need to section off your yard. Taller vinyl fencing can be used for security and privacy while shorter vinyl fencing can be put around your garden.
Vinyl Fence Installation
While you can install a vinyl fence yourself, the job is best often left for professionals. Shorter vinyl fences are easier to do it yourself. For that project, you must put anchor pipes into the ground with a sledgehammer, add the fence posts over the pipes, and fit it all together with rails and pickets. For taller installations, you often need special tools and quick cement to hold your posts in place.
Since you’ll be digging into the ground, this is not a project to do when it’s frozen. The project tends to last one to two days, depending on where you are fencing. Before starting, mark utilities off and acquire proper permits.
There are no shortcuts to installing a vinyl fence. Don’t use other materials to troubleshoot. Make sure to follow instructions and take the time to become familiar with the components in your kit.
Maintenance and Repair
Vinyl fences tend to be easy to maintain. You don’t have to worry about splinters like wood fencing and the fencing is nonporous, so you can easily clean it with a hose. Vinyl fencing does not require painting, the surface doesn’t scratch easily, and they clean easily.
If the fence sits near a damp area, mold, algae, and mildew will start to grow on your vinyl fence. Hose your fence and scrub it with dish soap, and the stains should be gone.
Though the material is sturdy, occasionally repairs are necessary. If any part of the fence breaks, you may have to replace the entire panel depending on the break and how the panel fits together. Repair costs range widely on what is broken. A single picket may be cheap enough, but if entire panels need fixed, it may set you back a bit more.
For your vinyl fence installation, Pittsburgh Fence Co. has been Western Pennsylvania’s go-to premier fencing provider for over 50 years. Get in touch with one of Pittsburgh Fence Co.’s offices today! You can call any of the numbers below or contact us on our website!
North: 412-276-4822
South: 724-228-9755
East: 412-784-1400
West: 724-775-6550
