For a long time, natural wood has been the preferred material for residential landscape fencing. Wood fencing can be adapted to almost any landscape style. It is a relatively easy material for DIYers because it is easy to cut and assemble, widely available, and reasonably priced. For many years, the natural beauty of wood has made it the first choice of most homeowners.
In recent years, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic has become increasingly popular in the landscaping industry. PVC is a petroleum-based product with many applications in the building trades, including landscape fencing materials.
PVC fencing, unlike wood fencing, will never rot, warp, or require painting. However, it has a few drawbacks, including being difficult to repair, displaying dirt and grime prominently, and having limited design options.
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Products
A point-by-point comparison of PVC and traditional wood will assist you in determining whether PVC is the best choice for your fence.
PVC Fence
PVC, the same material used in white plastic plumbing pipes, is widely used in fencing materials. PVC fencing components and preassembled panels in a limited number of colours are now available at some home improvement stores.
The first PVC fences were simple white plastic panels with shiny surfaces—not very natural looking—but now additional colors, including brown wood tones, are available. PVC fencing can now be textured to look like wood. PVC fencing can now be made in almost any style. Ranch-style rails, New England pickets, and tall solid-panel privacy fences are all available.
Wood Fence
The materials used for wood fences are simple: wood. Various kinds of wood are used, including cedar, soft pine, redwood, and cypress.
Most fence wood can be left unfinished and untreated. For example, Western red cedar begins red but quickly weathers to an attractive silver-grey.
Wood can be painted, but it is usually best to coat it with a fence preservative before painting. Fence coatings range from a solid color to semi-transparent to transparent, allowing the natural beauty of the wood to shine through.
Appearance
Landscape fences are a perfect example of beauty in the eye of the beholder. The warm colors of natural wood will appeal to most people more than PVC plastic fencing.
Wood is a versatile material that can be left to weather naturally or stained or painted as desired. A wood fence can be custom-built to fit your landscape and easily adaptable to uneven building sites.
A wood-composite fence is a popular option for a more attractive fence that still has some of the benefits of Vinyl. These fence products are durable and stable because they are made from the same blend of wood fibres and plastic resins used in synthetic decking. On the other hand, Wood-composite fencing is not cheap, costing at least twice as much as a PVC or wood fence.
On the other hand, Vinyl looks best when it tries to mimic the look of a traditional white-painted fence, but even here, the artificial look is difficult to overcome. Older vinyl fences and less expensive new products have a gleaming, artificial-looking surface.
The shininess of PVC fences may fade over time, giving way to a chalky coating that dulls the look of the fence. PVC fence panels in bulk are available in a limited number of styles, so you may be disappointed to find that your fence looks exactly like dozens of others in your neighbourhood. It isn't easy to achieve a designer look when building with mass-produced PVC panels.
Pros and Cons of PVC
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PVC, unlike wood, does not require painting. White PVC fencing will remain white yearly, except for dirt and moss. Of course, this can be a disadvantage—once your PVC fence is installed, you're stuck with its appearance and color for the rest of your life. PVC, unlike wood, cannot be easily painted a different color if its appearance is to be changed.
Some of PVC's liabilities gradually dissolve as manufacturers add more colors and textures to their products. PVC fences are becoming less practical due to add-on features such as lattice panels and shaped post caps. PVC fencing is likely to improve in appearance in the same way that synthetic decking material did.
Ease of Installation
When installed by a professional fence company, wood and vinyl fences usually look better. Digging post holes and installing posts is difficult for any type of fence. Fence posts should typically be buried for at least one-third of their length (and deeper in some cold-weather climates). Following that, the posts must be embedded in concrete. When you multiply this task by 20 fence posts, you can see why so many homeowners hire a fencing contractor to do the job.
However, if you are a severe DIYer, vinyl fencing is easier to work with than wood because the posts and panels are significantly lighter. Many PVC fence products are designed for simple installation, with notched posts for rails and matching panel brackets available.
As with any large project, working slowly and in stages will make the job easier. Take your time, and be especially careful with the layout and installation of the posts. Installing a large landscape fence should be viewed as a season's worth of work rather than something that can be completed in a weekend or two.
Keep in mind that both wood and vinyl fencing require municipal building permits. Regarding installation requirements, most communities' fence laws treat Vinyl and wood equally. However, if you live in an HOA-controlled housing development, you may be unable to install a PVC fence.
Cost
Do-it-yourself vinyl fence panels were once significantly more expensive than wood panels, but as vinyl fencing panels have become more widely available, the price difference has narrowed significantly.
Sample prices for preassembled fencing panels at a major big-box home improvement store in 2022 show that PVC fence panels are less expensive than wood.
$50 for a 6-foot-high x 8-foot-long pressure-treated pine privacy panel
6-foot-high x 8-foot-long horizontal privacy flat top fence panel in pre-stained wood: $85
White 6-foot-high x 6-foot-long PVC plastic privacy panel: $105
Red cedar 6-foot-high x 8-foot-long panel: $155
$285 to $475 for a 6-foot-high x 8-foot-long wood-composite privacy panel
Read more: What Is the Cost to Install PVC Fencing?
Maintenance of PVC vs Wood Fencing
One reported advantage of PVC fencing is that it does not decay and does not require sealing, staining, or painting. Vinyl fencing is low-maintenance, so ranches, farms, and commercial operations prefer it for large installations. When you have a large amount of fencing, ease of maintenance far outweighs appearance and other considerations.
Wood that has been properly sealed will resist rotting for a few seasons, but it will always need to be re-sealed at some point. Some fence woods, like cedar, are naturally oily and resist decay better than others. Nonetheless, whether sealing or painting, all woods benefit from surface treatment. Vinyl fences are the way to go if you only care about preventing rot.
Be aware that vinyl fences can become extremely dirty. Many owners consider this the most annoying aspect of a vinyl fence. Most vinyl fence owners agree that owning a pressure washer is necessary if you have a vinyl fence.
Vinyl fences require a thorough power washing at least once a year to remove dirt from the lower section from rain, fungus, mildew, and moss. Wood fences get dirty, too, but the textures and colors of wood hide dirt much better than the shiny white surfaces of PVC fencing.
When problems arise, vinyl fences are more difficult to repair—repair usually entails replacing entire panels rather than fixing individual elements. If your fence has cracks, it will be easier to repair if it is made of wood. You can repair your wood fence with wood filler and probably do it yourself.
Read more: Wood Fence Maintenance: A Complete Guide
Recommendations
PVC plastic fencing has advanced recently, with new colors and even textured surfaces becoming available. The price difference between PVC and natural wood has also narrowed, with costs now roughly comparable.
Although PVC is durable and rot-resistant, it must be cleaned regularly. Even the best PVC fencing will not look as good as natural wood or wood-composite fencing. PVC can be an excellent choice when the main goal is a long-lasting fence that won't rot or require painting or staining.
Read more: How to Find a Fencing Contractor
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