Vinyl vs. Wood Fences

While historically wood fences have been the most popular option for residential fences, a new fence type continues to grow in popularity: vinyl fences. Of course, both fencing variations have their pros and cons – we will dive into them below!

Maintenance and Upkeep

If you’re familiar with wood fences, you know they need to be cleaned and stained, a task that can be both time consuming and pricey. Of course with staining, it’s not a one time thing either, you will have to restain it every couple of years, power washing it prior to stain application. With vinyl fences on the other hand, they’re practically maintenance free. In fact, if you notice a layer of dust or dirt accumulating, chances are the next rain storm will wash it completely clean.

Durability

While both fences are considered to be durable, wood fences do need regular upkeep to maintain their integrity. Obviously as a natural product, wood will decay over time, and weather will cause it to shrink and expand.

Most wood fences will last around 20 years with proper treatment and preventative maintenance, but that will vary based on the wood species used. Cedar and redwood will last the longest, but will be a little more expensive at the beginning.

On the other hand, because vinyl is a manmade product, you can expect it to last pretty much forever with proper installation. With vinyl fencing you don’t have to worry about weather affecting the fence and causing it to prematurely decay or rot.

Pricing

As we hinted at above, wood fences tend to be less expensive than vinyl fences. However, wood fences do require staining and other maintenance which can quickly add up. Depending on the amount of time you plan on living in your home you should also expect to have to repair your wood fence at some point. A vinyl fence will not require repairs unless it’s affected by a major storm or other physically traumatic event.

Aesthetics

This part is completely up to you and your personal tastes in design. Both fences offer a clean and uniform look, but with a wood fence you do have a few more customization options – you can select from a horizontal wood fence, a lattice wood fence, or a classic wood privacy fence just to name a few. While vinyl fences do come in various designs, your choices will be dependent on the manufacturer; if you want a unique fence a wood fence might be the best option for your yard.

While we can’t make your selection between the two fences options for you, we hope this blog post has been helpful in making your decision a little easier. No matter which fencing option you select, your decision to work with Austex for all of your fencing needs is the right one. Give us a call today for a consultation!