One of the benefits of vinyl fence is that unlike traditional wood fence, it does not require painting or staining.
Please keep in mind that it is likely that painting the fence will void any manufacturer’s warranty.
If you choose to paint it, use an epoxy based paint in order that it will adhere to smooth surfaces.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Does vinyl fencing really stand up to the wind?
In most cases. Yes. Quality vinyl fencing material is designed to stand up to just about anything mother nature can throw at it, short of being in the path of a “major” hurricane or tornado. Improvements in vinyl extrusion technology and the engineering processes of vinyl fencing systems over the years have come an incredibly long way since the initial days of vinyl fencing. Most vinyl fences are designed to withstand normal wind load. The amount of load is dependent on the installation of the posts and horizontal rails.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Will my Vinyl fence ever lose its color?
No. Reputable vinyl extruders include Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), which is an ultraviolet inhibitor, in their vinyl fence extrusions in order to combat the discoloring effects of the suns rays. A quality vinyl fence extrusion will include at least ten parts Tio2 per 100 parts.
In other words....All you have to worry about is keeping your fence clean!
In other words....All you have to worry about is keeping your fence clean!
Is Vinyl fencing Safe?
Yes. Because there are no protruding nails, screws or other fasteners and because there are no splinters or sharp edges, vinyl fence is much safer than wood fence for children and pets.
7 Suggestions To Maintain A Vinyl Fence
We all know that one of the best things about a vinyl fence is that it’s practically maintenance free. But to really make your vinyl fencing brilliantly shine like new and keep it looking like it was just installed yesterday for years to come, there are few quick and easy steps that can be taken. Let’s take a look at the 7 simple steps to maintaining a vinyl fence…
Step One – Clean The Vinyl Fence Regularly
It’s just a fact – dirt happens. Rainwater can carry and deposit dirt particles from hundreds of miles away on your home’s fencing. Fortunately, cleaning vinyl fences is a breeze. Just hosing it down alone will usually do the trick, but if you need something more, try a bit of non-abrasive household detergent mixed with water. Just gently sponge away the grime.
Step Two – Remove Any Persistent Stains
Sometimes stubborn stains can find their way to the strangest places. It’s probably no surprise that your sparkle-clean backyard vinyl fence is no exception. Most stubborn greasy or oily stains will wipe away easily using mineral spirits and a soft cloth. Once clean, be sure to rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Step Three – Check The Vinyl Fence’s Stability
No matter how securely your vinyl fence has been installed, sometimes freeze and thaw cycles and other forces of nature (like the kids!) can find a way to loosen fence posts. Every so often, it’s a good idea to walk the fence line and make sure everything is still firm and straight. If the rare problem does arise, it can usually be fixed by adjusting the earth around the post with a shovel and backfilling as appropriate to tighten up the loose fence post and its concrete base.
Step Four – Inspect The Posts Caps
It’s not entirely uncommon for the snap in fence post caps to become loose – again, thanks to expansion and contraction caused by the weather or from being knocked loose by a stray football or two. If you have a loose vinyl fence post cap, simply use specially-formulated PVC fence glue secure the caps back in place.
Step Five – Repair Any Broken Pieces
Although vinyl fencing is incredibly strong, flexible, and durable, damage can still occur when struck by a heavy object such as fallen tree limb. If this happens to your fence, it’s important to try and order replacement pieces that most closely the original broken components. The actual repair procedures will vary by circumstance – sometimes the fix is incredibly simple, while other times it will require removing another section of the fencing and working backwards.
Step Six – Adjust Vinyl Fence Gates
If your vinyl fence has a gate or two, every now and then the gates might need to be adjusted. If the gate is just too heavy for its hinges or posts, one possible alternate solution is to install a gate wheel on the bottom of the gate. This will keep the gate from sagging and allow it to operate in a perfectly smooth fashion.
Step Seven – Have A Lemonade!
Remember – vinyl fences are supposed to be ultra low maintenance, right? The good news is that they are indeed practically maintenance free. Most of the steps above will never even need to be addressed. Instead, use the extra time to sit back and enjoy outdoor living, sipping lemonade (or the beverage of your choice) comfortably from your lawn chair or patio table.
Step One – Clean The Vinyl Fence Regularly
It’s just a fact – dirt happens. Rainwater can carry and deposit dirt particles from hundreds of miles away on your home’s fencing. Fortunately, cleaning vinyl fences is a breeze. Just hosing it down alone will usually do the trick, but if you need something more, try a bit of non-abrasive household detergent mixed with water. Just gently sponge away the grime.
Step Two – Remove Any Persistent Stains
Sometimes stubborn stains can find their way to the strangest places. It’s probably no surprise that your sparkle-clean backyard vinyl fence is no exception. Most stubborn greasy or oily stains will wipe away easily using mineral spirits and a soft cloth. Once clean, be sure to rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Step Three – Check The Vinyl Fence’s Stability
No matter how securely your vinyl fence has been installed, sometimes freeze and thaw cycles and other forces of nature (like the kids!) can find a way to loosen fence posts. Every so often, it’s a good idea to walk the fence line and make sure everything is still firm and straight. If the rare problem does arise, it can usually be fixed by adjusting the earth around the post with a shovel and backfilling as appropriate to tighten up the loose fence post and its concrete base.
Step Four – Inspect The Posts Caps
It’s not entirely uncommon for the snap in fence post caps to become loose – again, thanks to expansion and contraction caused by the weather or from being knocked loose by a stray football or two. If you have a loose vinyl fence post cap, simply use specially-formulated PVC fence glue secure the caps back in place.
Step Five – Repair Any Broken Pieces
Although vinyl fencing is incredibly strong, flexible, and durable, damage can still occur when struck by a heavy object such as fallen tree limb. If this happens to your fence, it’s important to try and order replacement pieces that most closely the original broken components. The actual repair procedures will vary by circumstance – sometimes the fix is incredibly simple, while other times it will require removing another section of the fencing and working backwards.
Step Six – Adjust Vinyl Fence Gates
If your vinyl fence has a gate or two, every now and then the gates might need to be adjusted. If the gate is just too heavy for its hinges or posts, one possible alternate solution is to install a gate wheel on the bottom of the gate. This will keep the gate from sagging and allow it to operate in a perfectly smooth fashion.
Step Seven – Have A Lemonade!
Remember – vinyl fences are supposed to be ultra low maintenance, right? The good news is that they are indeed practically maintenance free. Most of the steps above will never even need to be addressed. Instead, use the extra time to sit back and enjoy outdoor living, sipping lemonade (or the beverage of your choice) comfortably from your lawn chair or patio table.
On the fence between Vinyl or Wood?
When comparing vinyl fencing to wood fencing, there are certainly quite a few differences. In almost every aspect, vinyl fences end up finishing ahead in the game. There is one myth in particular that claims that vinyl fencing is more expensive than wood fencing. But over the long haul, that myth is disproven time and time again. Let’s take a look at how vinyl fencing compares to wood fencing when it comes down to costs.
The Initial Cost Of Materials
The costs of superior quality vinyl fencing material and components are usually a bit more expensive than most wood fence materials. However, high quality wood is getting more and more expensive all the time. As this price increase in wood continues to occur, the differences in initial cost of fencing materials is getting closer and closer to becoming completely nonexistent.
Vinyl vs. Wood: Wood wins (barely).
The Costs Of Fencing Installation
The overall installation of vinyl and wooden fencing is mostly comparable. Both need the same amount of proper post hole and concrete prep work. Both require a precise attention to detail for a quality installation. But because vinyl fencing panels come pre-assembled most of the time, vinyl has the advantage there – there’s just not all of the sawing and custom fitting required with vinyl that there is with wood.
Vinyl vs. Wood: Vinyl fencing is easier to install than wood, saving on time and labor costs.
The Costs Of Maintenance
When it comes to maintaining a fence, vinyl fencing simply needs a quick hose rinsing every now and then to wash away the loose dust and dirt. Compare this to wood fencing that needs to be frequently pressure washed, sealed, scraped, wire-brushed, stained, and painted. The costs associated with the maintenance of wood fencing are truly substantial.
Vinyl vs. Wood: It’s not even close… vinyl finishes way ahead!
Fencing Replacement Costs
Vinyl fencing is simply designed to outlive wood fencing. In fact, most quality vinyl fencing even comes with a minimum 20 year warranty. The warranty for wood is usually nonexistent. Because wood is a naturally decaying material, even treated wood ends up rotten eventually. It’s just more susceptible to the harsh outdoor environment than PVC fencing material.
Vinyl vs. Wood: Vinyl wins once again
While a wood fence might appear cheaper in the beginning, after just a year or two, any difference in costs when compared to vinyl fencing is quickly erased. The bottom line? Over the long haul, the costs are barely even comparable – vinyl fencing is clearly much less expensive than wood!
The Initial Cost Of Materials
The costs of superior quality vinyl fencing material and components are usually a bit more expensive than most wood fence materials. However, high quality wood is getting more and more expensive all the time. As this price increase in wood continues to occur, the differences in initial cost of fencing materials is getting closer and closer to becoming completely nonexistent.
Vinyl vs. Wood: Wood wins (barely).
The Costs Of Fencing Installation
The overall installation of vinyl and wooden fencing is mostly comparable. Both need the same amount of proper post hole and concrete prep work. Both require a precise attention to detail for a quality installation. But because vinyl fencing panels come pre-assembled most of the time, vinyl has the advantage there – there’s just not all of the sawing and custom fitting required with vinyl that there is with wood.
Vinyl vs. Wood: Vinyl fencing is easier to install than wood, saving on time and labor costs.
The Costs Of Maintenance
When it comes to maintaining a fence, vinyl fencing simply needs a quick hose rinsing every now and then to wash away the loose dust and dirt. Compare this to wood fencing that needs to be frequently pressure washed, sealed, scraped, wire-brushed, stained, and painted. The costs associated with the maintenance of wood fencing are truly substantial.
Vinyl vs. Wood: It’s not even close… vinyl finishes way ahead!
Fencing Replacement Costs
Vinyl fencing is simply designed to outlive wood fencing. In fact, most quality vinyl fencing even comes with a minimum 20 year warranty. The warranty for wood is usually nonexistent. Because wood is a naturally decaying material, even treated wood ends up rotten eventually. It’s just more susceptible to the harsh outdoor environment than PVC fencing material.
Vinyl vs. Wood: Vinyl wins once again
While a wood fence might appear cheaper in the beginning, after just a year or two, any difference in costs when compared to vinyl fencing is quickly erased. The bottom line? Over the long haul, the costs are barely even comparable – vinyl fencing is clearly much less expensive than wood!
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