PVC Fencing, Wood Fences

Why PVC? There are many benefits of using PVC over wood and a list will follow. Besides knowing the advantages of PVC compared to wood you need to know the differences between PVC products. Not all PVC fence is created equal and knowing what to look for can save you thousands of dollars.

There are two BIG things to look for before you purchase any PVC/vinyl fence.

Does the manufacturer include recycled materials in their PVC mix?

Is the fence material a co-extruded product?

The benefits of PVC compared to wood.

Does the manufacturer include recycled materials in their PVC mix? All of the vinyl fence materials on this web site are 100% virgin vinyl and are not recycled or remanufactured. Recycled vinyl is less expensive than virgin vinyl because it is made from waste. Some manufacturers use this material in their budget styles that are sold in discount stores, but not in their top of the line fence products. Please don't confuse our materials with those offered at your local discount stores. All of our vinyl products are commercial grade, heavy duty, top of the line, 100% virgin materials backed by a non-prorated factory lifetime warranty.

There are 3 major chemical compounds that make up a vinyl fence:

TiO2:
TiO2 stands for Titanium Dioxide. Basically it is the most expensive part of your fence. Titanium Dioxide functions as a suntan lotion for your fence protecting it from UV rays. Suntan lotion protects our skin from turning color, TiO2 keeps fence from turning yellow. Mono-extrusion applies TiO2 through the entire product, not just a top layer. Co-extrusion applies TiO2 only to the outer layer, (which is very thin) and uses nothing on the inner layer. This is how fence companies installing a co-extrusion product can sell for less.

Resin:
Resin is the largest part of the extruding process. It is the bulk of the product. There are two common types of resin: pipe grade and siding grade. Pipe grade is used for that PVC pipe under your kitchen sink and siding grade is what is used on the outside of your homes.

Impact Modifiers:
This ingredient helps give vinyl some flex. Basically it allows the vinyl to modify on impact.

Extrusion Processes:
There are two different types of extruding PVC fence, Mono-extrusion and Co-extrusion. Mono extrusion is the original way fence and even siding is made. Mono-extrusion is a process that injects a U.V. protector in the entire profile, having 100% coverage. Now most fence companies use co-extrusion because of cost, which is extruded with a cap stock (the outer layer) and a substrate (the inner layer). Using co-extrusion causes the profile to have ONLY 20% coverage of U.V. protection, which is the cap stock and is only paper-thin. It is easy to understand the differences if you think of mono-extrusion as being solid gold and co-extrusion as being plated gold, in time the outer layer will wear off and the fence profiles will begin to become brittle, crack and peel. Before you sign any sales agreement ask to see actual cutaway samples. The diagram below shows the difference between the two extrusion profiles.

ASTM Standards:
American Society for Testing and Materials sets the minimum standards for any of your building materials. They do not approve anything. No company can be approved by ASTM; they can only meet or exceed these basic standards.

The benefits of PVC compared to wood. Fence maintenance, repair and replacement can be a major (and on-going) expense for individual homeowners and large projects like Common Interest Developments, Homeowners Associations and Commercial Developments. In the last 15 years vinyl fencing (otherwise known as PVC fence) has become an increasingly popular long-term solution to normal wood fence problems.

Since vinyl fencing is ultra violet (U.V.) protected it never needs to be painted. The color goes all the way through the material so scratches or gouges are almost invisible. All fence components are made of 100% virgin vinyl and will never rot, shrink, decompose or rust like a wood or iron fence post. Although wood fence or iron fencing may initially cost less than vinyl fence, that advantage is soon lost because of painting, repair, maintenance and replacement.

Because we offer a lifetime warranty, after installation there is little to be done except maybe rinse it off once in a while (usually Mother Nature takes care of this!). Many associations are now able to remove fence as a line item on their reserve account because of the warranty and durability.

Graffiti is easily removed with a cleaner containing a mild abrasive suitable for fiberglass bathtubs. Unlike inexpensive plastic patio furniture, and lesser quality PVC manufacturers, our vinyl fencing is U.V. protected by 12 parts of titanium dioxide per hundred, (compared to 10 or less) which is equivalent to a sun block rating of 42.

Ranchers and homeowners across the country have been converting to vinyl for 15 years now because of the strength, safety, longevity and low maintenance.

Only in the last ten years have residential styles been available and in that period of time it has become the fastest growing segment in the fencing industry nationwide.

Thousands of homeowners and businesses are choosing vinyl over more traditional materials for several reasons:

• Vinyl has five-times the tensile strength of wood and four-times the flexibility.
• Unlike wood that exposes your family to hazardous chemical treatments, vinyl fence and deck products are created in controlled factory environments using stringent safety standards. Vinyl is non-toxic and non-flammable, and non-splintering.
• PVC does not rot, decompose, or retain moisture.
• PVC is impervious to all insects.
• PVC is maintenance free.
• PVC never looses its luster.
• With PVC fence no neighbor gets "the ugly side" both sides enjoy the same good looks as the pickets and boards are designed to pass through the center of all rails. This also adds strength as there is no need to attach pickets using screws, staples, glue, or brackets of any kind.