There are things to love about vinyl that no other material can offer; the same can be said for wood. A nice wooden fence looks professional and classic, as it has been used for centuries as an artificial privacy screening and protective border.
Vinyl has hit the market as the new standard that has all the components and characteristics that people love; it’s also low maintenance. So, you will have to ask yourself which material is right for you before you make the decision to move forward and purchase a fence for your home.
Durability of Material
The first thing worth discussing is the longevity of material. Before purchasing a fence, you should really take some time to consider how long you intend to keep the fence up. Fences are a crucial part of a property and must be maintained. So, if the durability of the material is high, you can rest assured that you made the right purchase
Aesthetics To Please
It’s rare that a person will put up a fence and not care about how it looks or how it makes their home or property look. There is a certain homogenous blending of characteristics from both the fencing and the home or business that must correlate with one another for them to match and work well with one another.
For instance, you wouldn’t put up a chain-link fence around a Victorian-style home in a historic neighborhood. Just like you wouldn’t put up an eight-foot fence in your front yard. Fences have standards just like people do, and there is a time and a place for them, so we must think about these things carefully before we decide to invest in them.
Overall Property Value
Speaking of investments, what we do with our property can alter the value of our home significantly. Adding fencing around a property is one of the single best ways to increase the value of your home or business.
There are many reasons why you might want to incorporate a fence around your land, but one thing is for sure: everyone appreciates property that is properly cared for.
Upkeep and Maintenance
When we think about all the time it takes to maintain something, we might become a little anxious at the thought of it. Fortunately, with vinyl, your job is a breeze. You will only have to hose down and possibly lightly scrub the surface of your paneling and planks once every other month, if that.
This is one of the key features that allows vinyl to sell so well. The downside to this is the coloring. For years, the only option was stark white, which is attractive but not suited for all homes. Not only was this a problem, but you are likely to see dirt and mold growing faster than any other fence due to the color.
There are other options and patterns these days, but you will have to request them specifically. With wood, you will need to be even more careful not to allow it to absorb much water. So, you might need to scrub the fence and refinish it every so often. Wood usually takes more effort to upkeep and maintain compared to vinyl. Wood will last somewhere around 20 years on a solid fence.
Repairs and Replacements
With vinyl, repair is simple, as most of the pieces just snap together, so you can do the repairs yourself unless the plastic shards or breaks completely. You will then need to buy new panels, as they rarely come as individual pickets and can be very costly. Wood, on the other hand, can easily be replaced with individual pickets and a finish that will leave your fence looking like new.
Installation Details
Vinyl used to have a real appeal over most other fencing materials (other than wire) due to its ease of installation. This is because vinyl was offered in panels, meaning that you cover more ground at a faster rate, and you can do most of the work yourself if you choose to.
Wood, on the other hand, took real skill and precision, where you must measure everything out, make cuts, dig holes. Also, everything was by hand. Now, you can easily buy prefabricated wood panels just like you could with vinyl, so the competition between the two has increased drastically. Even the method of installation is similar, as you don’t have to worry about hiring out a contractor, and instead can do it all yourself at home.
However, if you do need to contract someone, you should explore different fence installation businesses in Ames, IA, for starters, as they’ll know how to give you great service every time.
Total Cost
Either way, because you’re looking at quality materials, it will be a cost to you. It’s better to make a firm investment in something that you know will be sturdy and hold up against all odds over the test of time rather than something you will have to replace and repair constantly. So, when you’re choosing between vinyl and wood, just know that you can take the cheap and easy way out, but it won’t truly be easier if you constantly must add to the overall value with repairs.
Sustainability for Life
The price of wood is going up because it’s becoming harder to sustain hardwoods. Many of them have been cut down, and they grow at a slow rate, making them even harder to farm. Softwoods can be treated for bugs and moisture, so they will hold up for a longer period compared to some hardwoods.
It’s also important to know that they are commonly farmed at a high volume and quick rate, making them environmentally friendly and more cost-effective over time. Vinyl can be mass-produced as it comes from a polymer resin, but the production of plastics isn’t environmentally friendly like softwood is. This comes as a problem, as many people prefer vinyl over many other choices for their fencing.
Both materials contend for the title of which material is right for you and your home, but only you will know the right choice for your needs. We hope that this article has given you enough information to work with when making a choice between a wooden or vinyl fence.
