Fences - Vinyl Fences, A Great Choice
Modern technology comes to home and garden a little less obviously than, say, consumer electronics. But the benefits are just as real and valuable. Vinyl fencing is a case in point.
Vinyl fencing is long lived. Since it's a kind of plastic it can weather wind and rain for a decade or more and still look practically brand new. Clean it up and you'll hardly know it was installed years earlier. It resists peeling or cracking and won't rot. Insects will be completely uninterested in eating your fence.
Because vinyl fences are made from non-porous, modified PVC resin mildew can't penetrate and is easily washed off. Where mildew is seen on a vinyl fence it's because dirt and other organic matter has adhered to the surface. Brushing with a mild soap and water can cure the problem. For longer term protection, a mild bleach spray can be used.
Vinyl can be made to closely resemble wood. With molded grain, once the vinyl is painted, you may have to actually touch the fence to tell the difference. Painting isn't always required, though, since you can buy vinyl fences in a dozen different colors. Darker colors do tend to fade, though, so take that into account when making a selection.
For those who want to paint vinyl the process requires only a clean surface and the right kind of paint. Be sure to start with a dirt-free surface and check the label to ensure that the type of paint used adheres well to vinyl. Not all do.
It's also ultra-easy to construct a vinyl fence. There's no nailing or screwing parts together. If the fence is built in sections, vinyl fence assemblies usually just snap together by means of molded tabs designed right into the material.
Two types of vinyl are available: mono-extruded and co-extruded. Mono-extruded vinyl produces fences of a single layer. It's embedded during manufacturing with UV resistant chemicals (usually titanium dioxide) to slow down fading. Even white vinyl that's untreated will eventually harden under the sun, making it more susceptible to cracking when bent. Co-extruded vinyl is a dual-layer construction, with the outer layer containing the UV-resistant compounds. It is often less expensive.
Designs run the gamut.
Faux-wood picket fencing is a popular style. Since it is made in the thickness and height of wood pickets, it often closely resembles a traditional picket fence painted white. The tipoff is usually the seamless horizontal cross-members or rails. They tend to look somewhat like they're secured with plastic 'welding'.
Another popular production method uses vinyl to create what is called waffle or cleft fencing. The names may be unfamiliar but nearly everyone has seen this type. It resembles a large sheet of basket weave, with narrow slats that thread through one another. It makes for an attractive and fairly sturdy option that can be used around the garden, to fence off sections of sidewalk and other areas around the home.
For an attractive and long-lasting option, consider a vinyl fence. Do it once and forget about it for years.
