Which vinyl fence is the best? The short answer is, it depends. It depends on your needs, your budget, and other factors. There are many different types of vinyl according to make, design, and composition. To help you decide, here are a few points that you need to consider in your choice:

Cost vs. Quality

Cost is most customers’ biggest constraint in choosing the right vinyl fence. You should know how to estimate the cost per linear foot.  The cost considerations you need to take into account are the cost of vinyl, the cost of labor and installation, and the cost of the supplies to be used. If you need to rent equipment, you should also add this to the total cost.

Though prices may vary per state, the average cost for vinyl materials – posts, pickets, caps, and others – is about $40 to $50 per linear foot if you use mid-grade vinyl. Post concrete installation costs about $10 to $20 per post.  Labor costs are about $20 to $30 per linear foot. If you add 30% for supplies and unforeseen materials needs, you will get a total of $98 to $144 per linear foot. This does not include the cost of any equipment you might need to rent.

If you are looking for low-cost fencing, there are vinyl-coated products that cost much lower than the all-vinyl fences. If you are aiming for a quality fence, then you should choose high-grade vinyl products, particularly those that are weather resistant. So before going to your supplier and picking the right vinyl fence you should first decide what your budget is, and then shoot for the highest-quality materials you can afford.

Type of fence you need

There are vinyl materials available for every type of fence you might need. It helps to know the type of fence you want to install before going to your supplier and deciding on the vinyl fence material that you will buy. Some of the common fence types are:

1.  Privacy fence – are designed with no gaps to give privacy.  Since the pickets for these types of fence are placed next to each other, they will cost higher than your average vinyl picket fences, because you’ll need more of them.

2.  Semi-privacy fence – in this type of fence, pickets are placed on top of each other or with only small gaps in between them.  Unlike the privacy fence, this type will provide a a balance of privacy and unobstructed views. Semi-privacy fencing costs higher than your average vinyl picket fences.

3.  Pool fence – the main purpose of this type of fence is to keep young children and animals away from your pool. Vinyl is ideal for pool fencing since it does not rust.

4.  Picket fence – this is the regular type of fence where pickets are spaced according to your desire.

5.  Rail/ranch fence – this type of fence is also termed as “agricultural fencing.”  Vinyl designs for this type fence are available, although they may not be found at your regular supplier.  Agricultural vinyl fence types are usually sold in specialty stores.

Your unique needs

When choosing your own vinyl fence, you have complete creative control. There are lots of different designs of vinyl that are available, such as those that are designed to look like wood or iron. There are also various colors, two-tone designs, and see-through vinyl designs for your choosing. Let your imagination run wild, and don’t be afraid to make several visits to your fencing supplier before you choose the perfect fence for you.

So now you know that “What vinyl fence is the best?” is not the right question to ask.  Instead, ask yourself:

What type of fence do I need?

Which fence design do I have in mind?

How am I willing to spend for my vinyl fence?

Plastic has been around for a while, and has brought us many benefits in the form of durability and functionality. The use of plastic as fence materials but was too susceptible to sun damage. This problem was solved when polyvinyl chloride (vinyl) was introduced. Vinyl stands up against the sun, and can be manufactured in many different fence styles and uses. We guarantee there’s a vinyl fence style for any need.

Design

Vinyl is the fence material with the most number of designs.  The main colors of vinyl fences are white and tan, but it is also available in other colors and designs. There are wood-like designs, iron-like, and two-tone vinyl.  Whatever you’re looking for, you can be sure there’s a vinyl style for it. There are even see-through vinyl fence types!

Composition

Not all vinyl fences are manufactured with high quality. There are some fence materials that are only vinyl-coated and are less durable than the full vinyl materials. In order to properly make this choice, you should ask your supplier regarding about vinyl materials they are providing.  Be sure to let your suppliers know the type of vinyl you want buy.  For durability, you should opt for full vinyl, but if you are more interested in cutting costs, then you should choose vinyl-coated materials.

Make

You can choose the type of your vinyl fence according to its make. There are privacy fences, semi-privacy fences, pool fences, picket fences, or rail/ranch fences.

Vinyl privacy fence – if you value your privacy and would like to have a backyard where you can spend time with your loved ones away from the notice of prying eyes, the vinyl privacy fence is ideal for you.  The tongue-and-groove design of this type of vinyl seals the outside world off from view.

Semi-privacy vinyl fence – if you would like a little privacy but don’t want to fully obscure the beauty of your home, use semi-privacy vinyl fence. This type of vinyl is designed so as the pickets are overlapping,  allowing a small gap in between them.

Pool vinyl fence – to keep your young ones away from the pool and prevent accidents, pool vinyl fence offers you a sturdy, water-resistant solution.  This type is usually manufactured using 1.5-inch-to-3.0-inch-wide pickets which are spaced 1.0-inch to .03-inches apart.  The usual height is around 3-6 feet.

Picket type vinyl fence – The classic American white picket fence, updated for today’s durable materials. Vinyl pickets are usually manufactured in 6 inch pickets which make them less prone to wind impact.

Rail/ranch vinyl fence – this type is most applicable in agricultural use. Rail/ranch vinyl fences are also available in various designs such as wood-pattern, or more. This type may not be readily available in your local supplier since they are usually sold only in specialty stores.

With this many choices you will have the exact vinyl type for your fence needs. Just be certain that you are purchasing from a trusted supplier in order to get assurance that you are provided with quality products.

Do you need a fence for your pool? (The answer is yes; many municipalities require some kind of fence for any property with a pool, for safety.) Then one kind of fence you should consider is vinyl. There are many advantages when using vinyl. Here are the qualities of vinyl that makes it a better choice for pool fencing than other fence materials:

Vinyl’s durability

Unlike wood, vinyl will not absorb moisture and it will not rot. Since what you are about to install is a pool fence, you can safely assume it will see its fair share of water. With poolwater and rainwater coming at it, you need to make sure your fence will be able to resist water, more than your usual privacy fence. Vinyl also doesn’t have a problem with termites.

Being resistant to water is also a characteristic of vinyl that makes it more durable than metal fences for your pool area.  When subjected to water, metal will rust, but vinyl will be just new as the day you installed it.

Vinyl’s flexibility is another characteristic that makes it more durable than other types of fence materials.  It will not easily snap and it will not easily break.  This gives vinyl added resistance, durability, and will give you peace of mind.

Vinyl’s stable coloring

Wood will give you the rustic feel that vinyl may not be able to perfectly achieve, but vinyl’s coloring will last longer since it has the same color inside and out. This makes it ideal if you want to maintain the look of your fence despite the weather and water that it is exposed to.  But be sure that you choose the right type and coloring of vinyl since there are some that may fade when subjected to harsh weather conditions.

Quick and easy install

Do you need to install your pool fence in the quickest possible time?  Then vinyl is the right choice for you.  You need no hammering, no welding, and no finishing when you opt to use vinyl pool fence.  Thus, vinyl is your quickest choice for a sturdy fence.

Lower cost

Vinyl offers the lowest cost for each fence foot in your pool.  The material itself is cheaper than wood and metal. The labor cost will also be significantly lower since this type of fence is easily installed.  Since vinyl can be purchased in the color of your choice, you have saved yourself from finishing costs. Vinyl is also resistant to weather and water so you will need no repainting and only low maintenance for this type of fence. Vinyl saves money, time, and a lot of effort on your part.

Health, safety and environment

Vinyl is made of non-toxic materials and it also needs no painting, so it is more environmentally-and-health friendly than other materials. It’s likely that children will play and run around your pool.  Vinyl’s flexibility offers a cushion for impact in case they bump into your fence, making it a much safer material compared to the hardened wood and metal.

If you are an environment-conscious person, you may think that vinyl is a hazard to environment since it is made of plastic.  In fact, vinyl can be used for a long time and once it depreciates, the material can be recycled and put to good use again, making it much more desirable to wood, which is more difficult to recycle, and metal, which is cumbersome and a pain to work with.

Have you ever wondered whether vinyl fencing comes in any other colors than white? It seems like that’s all you can find when you look at vinyl fence models. Does it come in any other, darker colors? The short answer is it does, but most vinyl fence manufacturers don’t offer it and with good reason.

Vinyl fencing was born from the PVC pipe industry. It has long-term durability and structural integrity because of the base ingredient, PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Yet the PVC pipe industry forgot an important factor when they made their first vinyl fencing: ultraviolet rays break down PVC. This was overlooked because PVC pipe is typically behind walls and underground.

As vinyl fencing became more popular, customers began using it in more outdoor applications. Though for this to be accomplished something needed to be added to the vinyl to allow it to hold up to UV light rays, which is how titanium dioxide was introduced to the mix. Now, titanium dioxide is a main component in inhibiting these UV rays, meaning vinyl fences now offer long-term durability, flexibility and weather-ability.

How does this affect color?

Titanium dioxide is a white pigment, making it more difficult to manufacture vinyl fencing in darker colors, but recently fencing manufacturers have found ways to achieve this. The process involves tweaking some of the manufacturing steps to produce a durable and maintenance free-fence in many different, darker colors.

This is where the bigger problem comes into play.

Vinyl expands when heated. So when continually beaten by the sun’s UV rays, it begins to look more like taffy than a fence. And dark colors only amplify the warping of the vinyl, because the darker the fence, the more heat is attracted, and the more pliable and warped it becomes.

This is why you don’t typically see vinyl in dark colors. Vinyl, even with proper components, will store the sun’s radiant energy and cause the product to be hotter than the air temperature. A dark brown vinyl fence (versus white or lighter color) in the Texas sun could wind up drooping over or even laying flat out on your lawn.

In return, many reputable fencing companies have opted not to carry darker colors as an option so they can still guarantee lifetime warranties on their vinyl fences, as they know the light-colored vinyl fencing is able to hold up long-term to all conditions, including  heat.

Something to note is these easy-to-care-for light colored vinyl fences hold up well to routine property maintenance, including most types of weed eaters. For those who have painted fences, you may quickly notice scratches and damage due to normal property maintenance. Painted fences need painting almost every year. Vinyl fences, due to the makeup of the product, really need little to no maintenance, ever.

Lastly, if you really want a dark colored vinyl fence, painting it is an option. An epoxy-based paint needs to be used on the smooth vinyl surfaces in order for proper adhering. One of the many pros to vinyl fencing is it does NOT require painting maintenance, so if you decide to paint it, you will need to know it will need to be repainted in time. Disclaimer: Painting your vinyl fence will more than likely result in loss of manufacturer’s warranty, so be sure to check before pulling out a spray gun.