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The latest marketing trick in vinyl fencing to sell fence is to tout how thick ones fence is compared to another. I am frequently asked how thick is your vinyl fence, as if it is the ultimate deciding factor of which Fence Company a person will purchase their fence from.  I have recently found more and more companies making claims that their fence is the thickest and how the competition is not as thick and therefor inferior.  The reality is the thickness difference between most vinyl fence suppliers is hardly enough to make a difference (for example a post that is .135 and one that is .150 thick is just one hundred fifty thousandths difference).  Having said this, you don’t repel from a mountain with a string, and you shouldn’t put a paper thin post in the ground to support a privacy fence.

My first ten years in the industry were in the harsh Arizona climate and I have seen many different suppliers product withstand the sun, and some have failed miserably.  Amongst those that failed, where some very thick, and some very thin.   So what makes a vinyl fence the type that a consumer should purchase?  Is it the thickness that should be the deciding factor? In my opinion, it’s not necessarily whether it is 100% virgin vinyl or whether it has been made from recycled products.  It’s not necessarily how thick it is either.  Sure the product needs to be designed to withstand the impact and structural tests a fence should, and the reality is, almost all legitimate fence suppliers (those that actually manufacture the vinyl fence, not just re-sale) sell a thick enough fence for the applications they market them for.  In these cases, the longevity of the fence is not thickness, but other factors.

So if most companies sell a thick enough fence, what should be the determining factor?

What most companies fail to discuss is that one of the most important factors in whether a fence will look good for years to come is actually the thinnest part of the fence.  The technologies of today allow vinyl fence to be co-extruded which means that if you look at the end of a vinyl fence post or rail that you will see two different layers.  The outer layer or top-coat (a very thin layer) is what contains the chemicals which keep the fence looking good for years to come.  The inner layer (the thick part) is also important as it contains impact resistors and other longevity chemical.  The outer layer chemicals are very expensive and a product that is mono extruded and thick is likely to have less of these good chemicals if the extruder is trying to have a good price point.  So it’s not necessarily how thick a vinyl fence product is, but what chemicals have been compounded into the product, and where.  The extrusion process is technical and requires constant monitoring to make sure the right chemicals are going in the right place, in the right amounts.  It’s all about quality control.  Anyone can throw some resin compound in a extruder and produce vinyl, but will it last?   I have toured several extrusion facilities and have been amazed by the differences in quality control processes that each of these company followed.  Some seem to just run the product and bundle it.  Others spend lots of time and energy monitoring the quality of the product and testing it for impact, color, and longevity. Bottom line is that you need to make sure you are purchasing from a reputable company, one with a good track history, many years in business, perhaps one that is used to supplying products in harsh climates and you are less likely to end up purchasing a so-so product.  For example, a company that extrudes and markets their vinyl products in the Southwest is much more likely to be following strict compounding and quality control procedures than a company that extrudes product in a place that doesn’t have extreme weather issues.

To conclude… on its face, don’t believe every claim a company makes about their vinyl.  Spend time to learn about the company that is making the claim.  Learn about the company, and you will likely learn about their product.  Where are they located, what do they sell, did they call me back promptly, how many years in business, and how do they answer my questions.  If the company is credible, their product is likely going to be credible as well.

When I lived in San Diego I was amazed by the amount of old fences around. Some of this was because the houses were old and the fencing was simply old but after closer examination, I observed some interesting things. I found that the average California homeowner was continuing to replace their old rotted wood or iron fence with the same product again and again; their choice of fence was not a product that would last more than a few years such as wood or iron fencing.

The fence industry has come up with great long term solutions for fencing in climates where the weather is hard on outdoor products, such as southern California, where the coastal weather is highly corrosive and fences seem to not last long. I think many install wood or iron again and again because they feel they can’t afford other options such as composite or vinyl fencing. If they really thought of the maintenance and replacement costs over time for these wood and iron products, as mentioned in the article “Is a Fence a Fence,” they would reconsider their fence type.

California vinyl fencing may initially cost more than a wood or basic iron fence, but quickly, pays for itself with its low maintenance and beautiful look over time.  Vinyl fencing will not rust and corrode which provides a great alternative from that of iron or wood. Many are tempted to go with aluminum, but my experience is that over time it corrodes and gets a chalky film all over it. Composite fences are relatively new to the industry and have the appearance of rock walls but the downfall is the initial costs of composites are pricey.

Whatever product you choose, be an informed buyer. Not all California fence products are the same, don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions about how long you should expect your fence to last and look for reputable companies that have been in business for at least 10 years as they tend to sell products that are of higher quality.

If you are contemplating the purchase of a fence you might ask: What kind of fence should I buy? Before you can answer that I suppose there are a few other questions to ask first.  For example one might ask, what is the purpose of this fence, why do I want to install it? There are many reasons for a fence: security, privacy, safety, aesthetic value, keep your dog in or the neighbor’s dog out, to hide your neighbors junk, or your junk from your neighbors, and the list goes on.  Whatever your reasons are for purchasing a fence, here are a few observations to help you distinguish the differences of a few available fence types.

Block Fence

A true block fence 6″ or 8″ is a good choice and solves almost all of the reasons for a fence.  Although you better get your pocket book out because a well built block fence is going to cost you big time and if you don’t do it right then don’t bother, it will not last.  Block fences have a reputation of being poorly constructed unless you pay the big bucks to have it done right.  Not convinced? Go try and shake the top section of a cheap block wall installed by a track home builder, I bet you’ll find a couple of loose blocks there at the top just waiting to pop out.

Wood Fence

If you have a very limited budget, don’t care how your fence looks and don’t mind replacing it down the road, which is a pretty short road, go ahead and purchase the wood fence.  However, don’t forget about the detours in your journey of sanding, painting and staining with the choice of a wood fence.

Iron Fence

Iron fence solves many of the above reasons for a fence except of course the privacy issue.  You should also plan on repainting and replacing it down that same road as the wood fence, sooner if you are in a high moister area or it is subject to lawn sprinklers.  Why you ask? A little thing called rust and corrosion, no matter how much its powder coated or whatever else, your iron fence will eventually rust.

Chain Link Fence

Chain link fence is not worth discussing, if you are considering chain link you are probably in charge of a lot of people wearing uniforms with strips, or you probably can’t read this at all. Although there may be some of you out there who just don’t care about what the fence looks like and in that case chain link would be a good choice.

Vinyl Fence

A vinyl fence is a good choice for any of the above reasons for a fence. You have your privacy fence, view fence, pool fence, 3 rail, and picket fence. You can solve all your issues without the maintenance issues with the other types of fences. You also have the advantage of building pergolas and arbors and gazebos all out of the same material that complement each other.

Is a fence a fence?  Actually a fence is really a fence no matter what it’s made of, but there are certainly advantages and disadvantages of one type over the other.  The choice is yours.  Please do your own research and find out for yourself which fence would be best for you and your family.  A good way to find information on a particular fence your interested in is to present your questions to someone who owns that fence.  Ask about maintenance and cost, along with what they like or dislike about their choice and experience.

Vinyl fencing has quickly become one of the preferred fencing choices amongst builders and homeowners for its durability and clean look.  It has the ability to look great for extended periods of time with little maintenance.  Maintenance generally includes simply washing the fence like you would your car.

However, vinyl does have its limitations; it is not available in every color.  Vinyl fence colors are limited because vinyl is made using light colored pigmented products and dying the product a dark color would result in fading over time.  Because of this, vinyl is generally only offered in lighter colors such as white, almond, or tan.   Each manufacture generally offers white but will have different color variations of a beige or tan colored product.

What colors are the most popular?  The answer varies depending on where you live.   White vinyl fence is the most popular color almost anywhere you go, especially in the northwest, Midwest, and south.  On the west coast, almond colors are more apparent.  In the southwest, beige and almond colors are growing in popularity as they blend well with the desert and housing color schemes chosen in that region.

As a homeowner, use common sense.  If your house uses a lot of dark colors and dark colored landscaping, you may want to steer away from white and uses a beige color that will not be so drastically different.  Ask yourself, do I want this product to blend or be the focal point.  If you want it to really stand out, like that picket fence in the front of your ranch style house, white vinyl fence is for you.  If you want it to blend in with the other features of the house, go with a lighter color.  I have a tan colored house and did a white pergola and it really stands out.  If I could do it again, I would probably have chosen an Almond vinyl fence color, but, it works and looks great and I get a lot of compliments about it.

When in doubt, look around and see what others are doing, there is probably a reason for it.  Which vinyl fence color do you prefer and what are the reasons for your choice?  What are some other good tips about selecting the appropriate vinyl fencing colors?  Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

There are many options available when choosing a vinyl privacy fence and it can become somewhat confusing.  Here are some basic questions and scenarios one might come across when purchasing vinyl privacy fencing.

1.)    Customer says: “I have narrowed it down to two different companies but one has a bigger rail then the other what should I do?”

2.)    How important is the 1″ u-channel on both side of each section some companies offer it while others do not? Should I pay extra for it?

3.)    When I order a 6 ft tall vinyl privacy fence is that what I am getting?

Question #1:
The size of the rail doesn’t necessarily determine the total strength of the fence. You can have a smaller rail with a stiffener in it and it would be stronger then a larger rail with out a stiffener. Larger rails have become a way of convincing people that they are getting something better. Bigger is always better, RIGHT? Well this is not necessarily true. The most important things to consider are how deep the pocket is and if they are using a metal stiffener.

Question#2
The u-channel is extremely important when purchasing a vinyl privacy fence. The u-channel will increase the wind load of the fence and quite frankly just looks better. Most of the time the installer will need to cut the last picket and unless the cut is perfect you will have a gap between the picket and the post. U-channel is a small price to pay for what you get in return. I would not purchase vinyl privacy fencing without u-channel.

Question #3
When you buy a 6″ Tall privacy fence you are expecting a six foot tall privacy fence right?  True 6′ Tall privacy fencing is 72″ from top of top rail to the bottom of the bottom rail. Some companies shave two inches of the panel to save money and still market a 6′ privacy fence. Let me explain what I call the 2″ IPM. Consider that you are selling thousands and thousand of feet of vinyl privacy fencing that costs .35 cents an inch vertically. You determine that if you can shave 2″ off the panel and change your specification to include a 2″ gap between the bottom rail and the ground then you can be more competitive and INCREASE PROFIT MARGIN (IPM). With this scenario every thousand feet you save $350.00. Most companies do openly distinguish between the two but it is important to be aware of these differences. Ask the company you are purchasing your privacy vinyl fence from if you are getting a true 6 ft tall privacy fence or if it requires a two inch gap at the bottom for the top rail to be 72″ Tall.

What are some other questions you have about vinyl privacy fence?  Write in the comment section or contact us directly for a quicker response and we’ll do our best to help you with your research.

Being in the vinyl fence industry, I tend to notice the vinyl projects around town, especially here in Arizona.  I often comment on the look and feel of each project (much to the dismay of my wife!), especially critiquing those projects that we here at Buy Direct did not supply!  That being said, I had the opportunity a couple of weeks ago to travel with my family to Florida to visit my wife’s sister and family near the Sarasota area. Sarasota is about 45 minutes south of Tampa on the Gulf Coast and is a fabulous place to live or vacation.  The beaches are spectacular and there are many sights to see. My sister-in-law just moved from Arizona to Lakewood Ranch, which is a fantastic master-planned community just minutes east of Sarasota with 8,500 acres of developed property and thousands more acres of property waiting to be developed. It is essentially a ‘new city’, with nearly all of its development happening within the last 10 years.  There are some fabulous neighborhoods (or ‘villages’ as they call them) within Lakewood Ranch, from gated golf communities to apartment complexes and everything in between. Along with the residential communities there are some great commercial sites as well, from office space to great restaurants (namely an amazing breakfast place with 100 different types of pancakes!).

Being a west-coaster for most of my life, this was my first trip to Florida.  Now, I knew that vinyl fences are popular in Florida. What I didn’t know is that basically this entire master-planned community was developed using vinyl fencing and other vinyl features throughout the community. As I drove through each village, I couldn’t help but notice the amazing character that they possessed, and quite honestly, it was the vinyl fencing that made that community stand out.  Being in vinyl, I am obviously biased, but what was even more surprising was that even my wife referred to how great the Florida vinyl fencing looked on more than one occasion, and my sister-in-law mentioned that they absolutely love the vinyl look in the community—a great change from the block that inundates Arizona communities. As I mentioned, I love to criticize other vinyl projects that we don’t install or supply the fence for, but I couldn’t have been more pleased with the way the vinyl was laid out in this community. Every home that had a fenced-in yard (many homes in Florida don’t have fences—I guess they like to be one with the gators!) was vinyl fence, from classic privacy to closed picket. Every street sign and stop sign was vinyl.   All of the directional signs were made of vinyl, and even all of the entry monuments to the villages and commercial areas had vinyl features. The curb appeal was absolutely astounding. It is no wonder that this is still a thriving community despite the Florida real estate woes. I am sure the developers are happy that they didn’t cheap out and go with wood just to save some money in the short-term.  I couldn’t help but think what kind of better shape my residential community would be in with that type of curb appeal. My wife and I both fell in love with this community. Although our reasons for falling in love were obviously different, it is safe to say that Florida vinyl fence makes all the difference in the world!

I have attached some pictures of the community for your viewing pleasure…Enjoy!

4’ Classic Privacy in my sister-in-law’s backyard.

6’ classic privacy at a neighbor’s home

Some smart homeowners with Florida vinyl fence to keep the alligators off their playground equipment!

Beautiful Vinyl street sign.

6’ Closed Picket at a school in the neighborhood.

3’ closed picket vinyl view fence on the other side of the school.

Even the home builders are smart enough to use vinyl address signs.

Entry monument at the local pharmacy with some crossbuck ranch rail.

Closeup of crossbuck. These monuments were really sharp-looking from the street.

Vinyl stop sign post

What would a Florida vinyl fencing themed community be without some 3-rail ranch rail? My camera ran out of batteries before I could take all the pictures of the miles of ranch rail! (You’re welcome…)

Some 6’ straight picket that stretched along the road up to a community. This fence was probably a good mile long!

Another shot of the straight picket.

I recently read an article about vinyl fencing. It started off by saying something amazingly profound like, “Vinyl fences are some of the best looking, longest lasting, and most durable fences available. With an impressive resume like that, you can see why vinyl fences are quickly becoming a favorite fencing material for homeowners.” If you’re not asleep yet, you should be.

I’ll be the first to admit that vinyl fencing isn’t the most alluring subject in the world. I can’t imagine any of you religious bloggers will be anxiously awaiting our next post. In fact, if you’re reading this, chances are you’re a hands-in-the-dirt kinda person, not a tickling typographer. You’re a do-it-yourself-er and you’re not interested in blog-stalking, nor are you planning to add us to your “blogs I love to read” list. You’re looking for solid info.

Well, as uninteresting as this vinyl fence blog may sound to most, we think you’ve found the right place. The fact is vinyl fences are virtually maintenance free and they’re tough as nails! No touch-up paint or annual stainings. Cleaning ‘em is a cinch. Vinyl is also five times stronger than wood. On top of all that, it’s long lasting and odds are it’ll be the last fence you’ll ever need to buy.

As we venture forth on this blogging journey, we’ll do our best to give you info, answers, maybe some fun projects, and hopefully a few laughs along the way.

We’re excited to have you as a reader and a customer.