Ornamental aluminum fencing is ideal for commercial applications because it is very strong but it has some give, so it flexes when struck by objects, which allows it to withstand the extra stress placed on it in a commercial environment. And it is lighter than ornamental iron, which facilitates taller tubes with thicker walls than residential applications. In addition, it doesn't rust or corrode, making it virtually maintenance free.

This project near Raleigh N.C., consisted of 2,100 lineal feet of 6-foot-high Grand Illusions vinyl fence for a new neighborhood that would eventually total 500 to 600 homes. Installers set line posts by hand digging the postholes. The installation crew installed post-panel-post-panel for several hundred feet, and then went back to level the tops, plumb everything up and cement the footings.

The panels were fitted with vertical and horizontal straps at the factory to facilitate easier handling.

Historically, wood has been the most common fencing material but not anymore as the majority of fencing projects rely on metal and vinyl, both of which have many advantages over wood. You may have had to subcontract these projects because of an unfamiliarity with this segment of the industry. In order to help you become better versed, LC/DBM reached out to the American Fence Association, Eastern Wholesale Fence Company in Medford, N.Y. and several fence manufacturers to compile this report on the various types of metal and vinyl products.

Chain Link
For over a century, chain-link fence has been widely used because it is economical and secure. Today's innovations have made them more versatile and better looking, which has improved their appeal.

Adding vinyl color-coatings to traditional chain link gives a smoother, soft-to-the-touch finish and prevents rusting.

Colors such as black, green and brown are designed to blend into the landscape and minimize their own presence. Colors can be custom ordered to match specific hues. To help prevent the color from fading, the coating should be UV-stable.

Ornamental gates and new framework styles have been introduced such as square posts that have attractive ornamentation like balls, finials, and post caps. Some frameworks are built with wood frames and painted or left with a natural wood finish. According to the AFA, chain-link framework can have structural stability for 150 mph winds.

 

This Fiberon post and rail vinyl fence in a wood tone is constructed with concealed fasteners, as are most vinyl fences and railings. Post and rail fences are available from two to four rails or in crossbuck styles.

Both ornamental aluminum and iron are coated with environmentally friendly finishes. There are two methods: powder coating and electro-coating. Powder coating is sprayed on separate components before their assembly. Electro-coating is a complete liquid body bath that assembled panel sections are dipped into. It consists of an epoxy primer and an acrylic topcoat. Electro-coating provides 100 percent coverage to the finished product.

This is a Natures Composite semi-privacy fence, which offers homeowners some seclusion without making them feel completely closed in.

Traditional chain-link fences can now come with vinyl color coatings, which give them a smoother, soft-to-the-touch finish, and prevent rusting. Colors such as black are designed to blend into the landscape and minimize their own presence. To prevent color fade, the coating should be UV-stable.

Traditional metallic-coated chain link, commonly referred to as galvanized fence, is simply woven steel coated with zinc to prevent rust, There are two kinds: galvanized before weaving (GBW) or galvanized after weaving (GAW). The AFA reports that the vast majority on the market today is GAW.

Uses
Chain-link fencing is reportedly now being used in more residential settings to create a stately, elegant image for a home. Its open weave allows homeowners to share the beauty of their landscape with the community and view the community from inside their yard. This open line-of-sight also makes chain link an excellent choice for pool perimeter fences.

In spite of the design changes that have added to its general appeal, chain-link fences are still cited as being primarily a perimeter security product for commercial and industrial applications. According to the AFA, chain-link fence is the number one way to create safe and secure work environments, and is very cost-effective.

With its heavy-duty framework and fabric, industrial chain-link fence protects valuable and potentially hazardous corporate assets. It can be combined with automated and secure gate operators, barbed wire and mini-mesh fence that is hard to cut and climb to create a more secure installation.

Ornamental Metal
These fences can be made of aluminum or iron, which is also referred to as ornamental steel and applies to both traditional wrought-iron and today's tubular product.

Traditional wrought-iron is hand-hammered out of solid bar pickets. Most of the ornamental iron fencing produced today has hollow pickets made out of tubular steel, with cross rails made from C-channel shaped sections of stamped rolled steel. The posts are tubular, as well.

Ornamental fences can be customized by installing arching, swooping or twisted pickets, and by adding rails, rings, scrolls and finials.

Both ornamental aluminum and iron are earth friendly and are coated with environmentally friendly finishes. In fact, many manufacturers have green certification to that effect, which specifiers commonly look for.

Replacing paint as the finish of choice are two coating methods, powder coating, which is sprayed on, and electro-coating, or e-coating, which is a full dip process of an entire assembled fence panel.

A recognized standard of quality for rigid poly vinyl chloride (PVC) used in assembling vinyl fencing has been established and is known as ASTM F964-09. This specification's requirements help ensure sufficient color maintenance, color uniformity, impact resistance, tensile properties, heat distortion temperature, flexural properties, flame spread value and burn rate.

Ornamental iron fencing has hollow pickets made out of tubular steel, with cross rails made from C-channel shaped sections of stamped rolled steel. The posts are tubular steel as well. According to the American Fence Association, homeowners represent 70 percent of the market for ornamental fences.

Uses
According to the AFA, homeowners represent 70 percent of the market for ornamental fences. The spaced picket design allows homeowners to see the property while also securing it. Ornamental fences are usually constructed so a child cannot slip through the vertical pickets or climb the fence.

Ornamental aluminum fences are ideal for pool applications because they stand up well to the damp environments and their design allows monitoring from other areas of the yard.

Since ornamental fencing is available in a variety of strengths, heights and wall thicknesses, commercial applications should be of a stronger grade and use larger, taller tubes with thicker walls than residential applications. Extra protection can be achieved with metal mesh installed on the pickets.

For industrial uses, both aluminum and steel are appropriate barriers in low and medium security areas. For high security areas, steel is more appropriate because it is more rigid and harder to cut. To make ornamental fences even more secure the view of the property can be restricted with thicker pickets can be thicker, or the view can be totally obstructed by attaching solid or louvered metal sheets to the pickets.

A taller fence further restricts the view and discourages climbing. Other security features include solid gates, hydraulic gates with alarms, free exit gates and panic gates.

Vinyl Fences
Vinyl fences come in a wide variety of styles and several color choices including wood tones. The main styles are post and rail, ornamental, picket, privacy and semi-privacy.

Ornamental fencing provides a vinyl alternative to wrought iron, ornamental steel or ornamental aluminum fences and comes in a variety of configurations, as do picket fences. They both can be customized with ornate post caps and picket finials.

Privacy fences also come in a wide range of styles such as arched and shadowbox. Semi-privacy fences offer seclusion without a closed-in feeling. Both styles can be dressed up with decorative latticework or post caps.

In addition to fencing, vinyl is used as a material in other outdoor applications, like railing and decking. An entire outdoor project might include a fence with a matching decking and railing system. To its advantage, vinyl stays cooler in the summer, and has no splinters or exposed screws.

Uses
The versatility and low maintenance of vinyl fencing appeals to homeowners. The sheer volume of choices helps them find the right look to complement their home. Many privacy, picket and ornamental styles conform to safety codes for pools. Post and rail helps keep horses contained or provides an attractive border to homes.

The same qualities make vinyl fencing a popular choice for businesses. The open picket style, in particular, is well-liked because you can see through it, and it's strong. Many developers are turning to vinyl post and rail or privacy styles to enhance the entrance of a neighborhood or to enclose an entire subdivision because it adds value to an area, and it does not rot or need to be painted so it remains attractive for years with minimal maintenance.

For industrial applications, vinyl fencing provides an attractive, maintenance-free screen to shield unsightly waste or storage areas. Other uses include enclosing outdoor employee areas and adding architectural interest to an office building within the industrial complex.

Green Fencing
More and more, designers and customers are specifying green materials in their projects. As stated in an article by William and Patti Feldman in Fencepost, AFA's official publication, there are many different ways that metal and vinyl fences can fit this bill.

Fence materials can contain recycled materials or post-consumer and pre-consumer scrap in percentages that would justify being called environmentally friendly.

Manufacturers may use eco-friendly processes in making their products and adhere strictly to system-wide policies that establish and reinforce a commitment to reduce their footprint on the environment such as reducing air emissions, and minimizing or eliminating storm water and wastewater discharges. They might also have recycle programs for scrap steel and aluminum, wood, cardboard, plastic, paper and oil products.

Chain-link fencing often contains a percentage of recycled steel and the fencing itself is recyclable at the end of life. Also, coating processes can be low in volatile organic compounds, reclaimable, and constantly monitored for environmental impact.

Aluminum is 100 percent recyclable, can be recycled repeatedly without breaking down, and is solvent free. Manufacturers can include substantial percentages of recycled scrap. Sometimes the percentages are high enough to contribute to the eligibility of LEED points in the Recycled Content category.

Vinyl fence and rail products are made from two abundant natural resources - sea salt and natural gas. They never need painting or staining so are not culpable in the release of VOCs into the atmosphere. And, most vinyl fencing is substantially recyclable.