Wood and Iron Pool Fence vs. Vinyl Fencing: Pros and Cons
The majority of fences installed yearly throughout the U.S. are wood fences. While wood fences are the norm, this does not mean that installing one is the right choice for you or your property. Vinyl fences are growing in popularity among homeowners for a number of reasons. Below we’ll discuss the pros and cons of vinyl fences in comparison to wood fencing.
Price
First of all the issue of price makes a big difference for most people looking to install a pool fence on their property. Vinyl fencing is significantly more expensive than wood fencing as far as up front costs are concerned. The price range for a new vinyl fence is between $25 to $40 per linear foot, whereas wood fencing generally costs between $10 to $30 per linear square foot.
A typical wood fence for a residential yard will end up running you between $1,500 to $4,500 for materials and installation of 150 linear feet of fencing. The estimated total cost for a residential vinyl fence adds up to between $3,750 to $6,000 for total costs of the same square footage.
So if you are limited by up front costs, a wood fence may be the best option for you. However, it must be noted that a vinyl fence can easily save you money in the long run due to durability and very little need for repairs in comparison to wood fences.
Durability
While a properly installed and well maintained wood fence can last you upwards of 15 years, wood as a material is subject to breakdown by the elements and will eventually need some type of repair or resealing. Vinyl, on the other hand, is a very durable material, especially if it’s from a reputable company using materials of a proper thickness. A vinyl fence typically lasts between 20 and 30 years.
One thing to note is that wood as a natural material can expand and contract in different temperatures. Eventually this will lead to loose screws and warping and parts, if not the entire fence, will need to be replaced.
Wood fences are often affected by moisture which seeps through broken down sealant, making it even more susceptible to fungus, mold and insects. In comparison, a vinyl fence does not attract insects at all and moisture really doesn’t have much of an affect on it.
You will need to occasionally wash the lower parts of your vinyl fence to prevent mold from growing on the outside of the material. This happens from watering your lawn near the fence and can cause unsightly staining. But this type of mold growth does not affect the integrity of the fence and can easily be washed off with dish soap and water to prevent stains.
Appearance
As far as appearance is concerned, people can be partial to the look of a beautiful new wood fence. Most of the time, homeowners don’t factor in the way that wood fence might look several years down the line or the amount of upkeep it will take them to keep the wood looking like new.
Despite this, wood fencing is still the most popular choice in the U.S. for residential properties. And yet, a vinyl fence can be just as much an addition to your property with a great number of styles and colors available.
In fact, there are vinyl materials that are made to look like wood including decorative touches like lattice work. Of course, no matter what, when inspecting the product up close, it will be obvious that it's not wood. If the genuine look of wood is important to you and worth the cost and labor of repairs down the road, there is really no reason to explore vinyl fencing.
However, If you aren’t 100% set on a wood fence, it may benefit you and your property greatly to include vinyl fencing as an option. Take a look at some pictures online to get a better feel for the appearance of vinyl fencing and how a vinyl fence might compliment the look of your home and yard.
Privacy and Security
One of the main functions of a fence is to provide privacy and security to your property. While both wood and vinyl fences will give you a certain amount of both, wood as a natural material has its flaws. As a wood fence ages, you will inevitably be faced with some warping and cracking which can invite neighborhood animals or even nosy neighbors to intrude on your privacy.
If you have a particular need for keeping out peeping toms of both the animal and human variety, a vinyl fence may be your best bet. Since a vinyl fence isn’t prone to holes and cracking like wood fences, you will have more of a streamlined privacy fence. Naturally, a vinyl fence will also be less tempting to kids than a wood fence. If you have young children who are prone to climbing and you are concerned with safety, it will benefit you greatly to check into installing a vinyl fence.
Environmental Footprint
Some people may be initially opposed to putting up a vinyl fence due to it not being made of a natural material. However, when it comes to carbon footprints, you really must factor in the number of trees that are harvested on a regular basis for the sake of housing and fencing.
With vinyl fencing, there is an impact on the environment during manufacturing in plants. However, you’d be surprised to know that vinyl emits very few environmental toxins once installed as a finished product. In comparison to some of the sealants, pesticides and stains that are often used to protect wood fences, a vinyl fence emits very few VOCs.
Both wood and vinyl are recyclable materials. When it comes down to it, wood and vinyl fences both have their pros and cons when it comes to environmental issues.
In Conclusion
That about sums up the main differences between wood and vinyl fences. Take all of these factors into consideration before you make your big fencing decision because you will be stuck with that fence for a good number of years. Always consult an expert for the final installation process and make sure you do your research on several companies before deciding on one.
With both wood and vinyl fences, you will get what you pay for. If you try to cut corners with cost and choose a company offering extreme discounts, in all likelihood you will be compromising on the quality of the material.
The majority of fences installed yearly throughout the U.S. are wood fences. While wood fences are the norm, this does not mean that installing one is the right choice for you or your property. Vinyl fences are growing in popularity among homeowners for a number of reasons. Below we’ll discuss the pros and cons of vinyl fences in comparison to wood fencing.
Price
First of all the issue of price makes a big difference for most people looking to install a pool fence on their property. Vinyl fencing is significantly more expensive than wood fencing as far as up front costs are concerned. The price range for a new vinyl fence is between $25 to $40 per linear foot, whereas wood fencing generally costs between $10 to $30 per linear square foot.
A typical wood fence for a residential yard will end up running you between $1,500 to $4,500 for materials and installation of 150 linear feet of fencing. The estimated total cost for a residential vinyl fence adds up to between $3,750 to $6,000 for total costs of the same square footage.
So if you are limited by up front costs, a wood fence may be the best option for you. However, it must be noted that a vinyl fence can easily save you money in the long run due to durability and very little need for repairs in comparison to wood fences.
Durability
While a properly installed and well maintained wood fence can last you upwards of 15 years, wood as a material is subject to breakdown by the elements and will eventually need some type of repair or resealing. Vinyl, on the other hand, is a very durable material, especially if it’s from a reputable company using materials of a proper thickness. A vinyl fence typically lasts between 20 and 30 years.
One thing to note is that wood as a natural material can expand and contract in different temperatures. Eventually this will lead to loose screws and warping and parts, if not the entire fence, will need to be replaced.
Wood fences are often affected by moisture which seeps through broken down sealant, making it even more susceptible to fungus, mold and insects. In comparison, a vinyl fence does not attract insects at all and moisture really doesn’t have much of an affect on it.
You will need to occasionally wash the lower parts of your vinyl fence to prevent mold from growing on the outside of the material. This happens from watering your lawn near the fence and can cause unsightly staining. But this type of mold growth does not affect the integrity of the fence and can easily be washed off with dish soap and water to prevent stains.
Appearance
As far as appearance is concerned, people can be partial to the look of a beautiful new wood fence. Most of the time, homeowners don’t factor in the way that wood fence might look several years down the line or the amount of upkeep it will take them to keep the wood looking like new.
Despite this, wood fencing is still the most popular choice in the U.S. for residential properties. And yet, a vinyl fence can be just as much an addition to your property with a great number of styles and colors available.
In fact, there are vinyl materials that are made to look like wood including decorative touches like lattice work. Of course, no matter what, when inspecting the product up close, it will be obvious that it's not wood. If the genuine look of wood is important to you and worth the cost and labor of repairs down the road, there is really no reason to explore vinyl fencing.
However, If you aren’t 100% set on a wood fence, it may benefit you and your property greatly to include vinyl fencing as an option. Take a look at some pictures online to get a better feel for the appearance of vinyl fencing and how a vinyl fence might compliment the look of your home and yard.
Privacy and Security
One of the main functions of a fence is to provide privacy and security to your property. While both wood and vinyl fences will give you a certain amount of both, wood as a natural material has its flaws. As a wood fence ages, you will inevitably be faced with some warping and cracking which can invite neighborhood animals or even nosy neighbors to intrude on your privacy.
If you have a particular need for keeping out peeping toms of both the animal and human variety, a vinyl fence may be your best bet. Since a vinyl fence isn’t prone to holes and cracking like wood fences, you will have more of a streamlined privacy fence. Naturally, a vinyl fence will also be less tempting to kids than a wood fence. If you have young children who are prone to climbing and you are concerned with safety, it will benefit you greatly to check into installing a vinyl fence.
Environmental Footprint
Some people may be initially opposed to putting up a vinyl fence due to it not being made of a natural material. However, when it comes to carbon footprints, you really must factor in the number of trees that are harvested on a regular basis for the sake of housing and fencing.
With vinyl fencing, there is an impact on the environment during manufacturing in plants. However, you’d be surprised to know that vinyl emits very few environmental toxins once installed as a finished product. In comparison to some of the sealants, pesticides and stains that are often used to protect wood fences, a vinyl fence emits very few VOCs.
Both wood and vinyl are recyclable materials. When it comes down to it, wood and vinyl fences both have their pros and cons when it comes to environmental issues.
In Conclusion
That about sums up the main differences between wood and vinyl fences. Take all of these factors into consideration before you make your big fencing decision because you will be stuck with that fence for a good number of years. Always consult an expert for the final installation process and make sure you do your research on several companies before deciding on one.
With both wood and vinyl fences, you will get what you pay for. If you try to cut corners with cost and choose a company offering extreme discounts, in all likelihood you will be compromising on the quality of the material.
