So you’ve decided that a vinyl fence is the best choice for your yard. Great! They can be wonderful maintenance-free options for your home.
However, there are things you should know before you just run out and make a purchase. If you don’t take these 5 things into account you may well end up incredibly disappointed and unhappy with your vinyl fence.
1. Not All Vinyl is Created Equal
There are two basic types of vinyl.
There is the incredibly cheap, low-quality stuff that’s sold at big box stores. That type of vinyl dents easily and does not hold up to most weather conditions because it lacks certain (costly) stabilizing chemicals that turn that material into something durable and long lasting.
Then there’s the ASTM F964 standard vinyl fencing that reputable fence contractors choose. That fencing has those stabilizers and is held up to a voluntary quality standard. In addition, because it’s more costly to produce it is available longer.
The cheaper, pre-fab stuff goes on and off the market all the time. That means you may need a replacement fence panel in a year only to find those panels aren’t made or sold anywhere anymore. This is not a problem for a more reputable fence contractor.
2. Custom Installation Looks Better
Installation makes a big difference in the look and feel of your vinyl fence. Pre-fab fences can’t be adjusted to follow the grade of your yard, so you end up with some huge gaps under your fence. You also end up with awkward looking half-sections when your yard doesn’t conform precisely to the dimensions of the pre-fabricated fence panels.
3. A Vinyl Fence Still Requires Attention
Low maintenance does not mean “no maintenance.” Yes, it’s easy to clean a vinyl fence. And you don’t have to stain it or paint it.
But if you don’t take the time to hose it off at least once a week you’ll typically find that the fence will start to look very dingy. White vinyl fences, in particular, do attract dirt with ease.
Second, now that winter has passed it’s important for you to go out and check over the fence to ensure that it’s stable. Posts could have come loose during the cold weather. You might also check post caps, which may become loose as well. You can secure those once more with a little bit of PVC glue.
4. Colder Climates Require Better Installations
When you install in a cold climate like our climate in the Milwaukee metro area you’ve got to be careful. You’ve got to make sure that the fence posts are deep enough and have enough support to do their job.
That means you want a contractor who will bury those posts below the frost line, about 3 feet deep. The hole should also be filled with gravel to help wick water away.
5. Check the Reputation of Your Fence Company
So you decided not to buy from a big box store and you decided not to do fence installation yourself. But don’t assume you’re getting a quality product just because you called a contractor.
Not all contractors are created equal.
Some are perfectly content to put out shoddy products. They don’t honor warranties. Some even go out of business, leaving you with a broken fence and a big bill.
Fortunately if you live in Wauwatosa, Shorewood, Menomonee Falls or anywhere else in the Milwaukee metro area, you don’t have to worry. Call us for a free quote. We are recipients of the Angie’s List Super Service award, and we’re ready to help you get the best looking fence for your money.
I wanted to have netting placed under fence to keep neighbors debris from washing into my yard. Debris as in pine nuggets, mulch, rocks.