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When choosing the right fence to your yard, it could seem like there are endless options. It can be hard to narrow these down, but you want to make sure you are getting the best, most cost-efficient fence available.
Two popular types of fences that people often find themselves torn between are wood fences and vinyl fences. They can offer a lot of similar traits, but there are considerable differences between the two types in the most important categories.
Here is a direct and easy-to-follow comparison between vinyl fencing and wood fencing in the categories that likely matter most to you.
Aesthetic
When making such an important choice to the exterior décor of your home, one of the best places is to start is with the look and aesthetic. No matter which decision you make, loving the way your fence looks is a necessary element.
Wood fences tend to give off a more traditional, all-American look and aesthetic. This is the reason it has remained a popular choice. It can also give a great deal of character to your home that many people find warm and inviting.
However, the charming aesthetic of wood fencing doesn’t necessarily withstand the test of time. Given the nature of wood as an easily degradable material, making it susceptible to unattractive issues like rot, discoloration, decay or pests.
Vinyl fencing, on the other hand, will maintain the look you purchased. There are innumerous vinyl fencing options that can give you the same warm, traditional look without the degradation that causes it to lose its charm.
The aesthetic of vinyl fencing may not have as natural a look as real wood, but it does give you a starker contrast between the décor and the foliage of your home, helping it to stand out and make a crisper statement around your yard.
If you’re in love with the aesthetic of wood but don’t want the look of natural decomposition in your future, there are also many vinyl options that mimic the look of real wood, giving you the best of both worlds in terms of the look for your house.
Maintenance
The difference in maintenance between wood and vinyl fencing can depend on the type of wood fencing you are looking at.
While some pricier and sturdier wood options like cedar exist, most woods require a great deal of upkeep to avoid all of the natural degradation (as mentioned above). Wood fences will need to be cleaned regularly, treated to avoid pests and stained annually for the first three years (and every other year after that).
Additionally, when wood fencing reaches the end of its life, it will begin to warp and possibly fall apart. This will make it necessary to replace the damaged lumber or to have a fence that is not optimal in either look or practicality.
A vinyl fence, on the other hand, doesn’t require any maintenance aside from possibly having to hose it off to clean off any dirt build up. Once you have your fence installed, there isn’t much that you have to worry about in terms of upkeep.
This helps you avoid any costs that may be associated with maintenance. Since rain and hose water are of no cost to you (and take very little to no effort in terms of labor), it is one less thing that you would have to worry about.
In terms of maintenance effort and costs, vinyl fencing is the clear choice.
Durability
Similar to maintenance needs, the durability of a wood fence is also someone reliant on the type of wood. Some types will withstand rain, rot, decay and other natural threats to its structure and durability better than others.
The best types of wood fences would be redwood and cedar. Their natural oils are great at repelling pests and resisting instances of rot. They are also sturdy and can withstand snow, rain, sunlight and high winds better than other woods.
However, as mentioned earlier, wood does have a tendency to succumb to natural threats that could cause them to break down, rot or otherwise experience damage. Your fence could last you a long time, but you will likely have to replace panels with new lumber periodically to keep up its strength and durability.
If you have a wood fence and want to ensure that it lasts a while, you should use pressure-treated and chemically-treated products as well as a preservative sealant. If you are determined to have a wood fence (and to have it last), these treatments are fairly unavoidable.
Alternatively, though vinyl fencing can be sensitive to extreme temperatures, it is fully resistant to most other threats. Since it is not made of the same easily decomposable matter as wood, it can withstand pests, decay, fungus and other natural threats without any problem. It also won’t need treatments to maintain this durability.
Generally, vinyl fences are able to last decades without breaking down and needing any replacement of panels. Without any unusually intense weather or extreme temperatures, your vinyl fence is in it for the long run.
Vinyl fence posts can also be covered with shields. This will avoid any scrapes, cuts or cracks to save you additional hassle. By adding post shields to your fencing, you will have virtually no need to worry about the endurance and structural integrity of your fence.
Overall, vinyl fencing is the stronger and more durable alternative, making it a good choice in terms of reliability.
Replacement and Repairs
As mentioned in terms of maintenance and durability, vinyl fencing will require significantly fewer instances of replacements and repairs than wood fencing.
For wood fences, it is fairly easy to make repairs and replacements since you can fix individual panels without compromising the entire fence. You can also do so using common tools which makes it easy to do without a professional.
However, these repairs and replacements will be needed fairly frequently due to the damage wood fencing will endure. They may be easy in terms of quick fixes, but these quick fixes will add up in terms of time and money.
Vinyl fences typically need professional work if the need for repair or replacement arises and panels will need to be replaced in their entirety.
A quick glance at the ease and cost may seem more than wood, but these instances will not be common if they happen at all during the time you have your fence. If you do need repairs at any point, they won’t be very common and will, in the long run, cost less time and energy.
Ultimately, in terms of repairing your fence, the best option is up to whether you want long-term sustainability or quick and easy fixes. If you want to worry about repairs as little as possible, however, vinyl fencing is the best choice.
Cost
A final yet crucial point to consider is the cost difference between a vinyl fence and a wood fence. Though it may only interest you to look at the initial costs at first, there are a number of things to consider.
Wood will cost you less upfront in pretty much every instance. The material is cheaper and it will put less of a dent in your wallet upon installation.
However, as mentioned, there is need for upkeep with wood fences. This upkeep can add up in terms of cost, making the once fiscally responsible fence choice cost a lot more than you had anticipated. This can be particularly frustrating if cost efficiency was one of the elements that played a major role in your decision making.
Vinyl fencing will cost you virtually nothing after the initial investment. It should stay beautiful and secure for as long as you have it with little need for much upkeep, making it overall a fairly inexpensive option, even if the price tags seem a little higher as you are initially shopping around.
All that said, if you have a tight budget and a large yard, wood fencing may fit you better. However, if you are able to front the initial cost of quality vinyl fencing, it is absolutely the better financial decision.
In Summary
The main takeaway from these comparisons is that for most circumstances, vinyl fences are absolutely your best bet.
Whether are using a vinyl privacy fence or a vinyl picket fence, it is clear that they come out on top in all of the most important categories: aesthetic, maintenance, durability, repairs and cost. The available options give you the best look and reliability at the most efficient pricing, really setting them apart from the otherwise popular wood fences.
Make sure to look into some of the gorgeous, low-cost vinyl fencing options to give that finishing touch to your home today!