Easy to maintain, protected from weathering, and impervious to moisture, rust and termites, vinyl fences come in a wide variety of types, heights, colors and looks including wood grain. A three-man crew installed this Illusions Vinyl fence in one day.
KompareIt.com assigns the typical costs, per linear foot installed, of vinyl fences at $25 to $40, and wooden fences at $10 to $30. The added costs over time of wooden fences include painting, repairing damage from termites and weather, and more frequent replacement giving vinyl fencing a long-term edge in value according to USA Vinyl, the makers of Weatherables® fencing. Photo: USA Vinyl
When setting posts, it is recommended to place them approximately 6" inside of the property line so that the concrete footings do not encroach onto the adjoining property. Photo: Landscape Communications, Inc.
Vinyl fence is reported to be one of the most popular fencing solutions in America today due to its appearance, long-term durability and low maintenance. Other advantageous features include UV protection, enough structural strength to withstand normal wind loads, and resistance to rotting and corrosion.
The Vinyl Manufacturers Association provides certification that their materials meet or exceed the ASTM Industry Standard, ASTM F964-13, which establishes a recognized standard of quality for exterior vinyl profiles for use in assembling agricultural, commercial, and residential fencing and railing.
The standard states in part that the "PVC compound in extruded section shall maintain uniform color and be free of any visual surface or structural changes, such as peeling, chipping, cracking, flaking, or pitting after weathering in hot, dry climates such as Phoenix, Ariz.; a hot humid climate, such as Miami, Fla.; and a temperate northern climate, when tested in accordance with ASTM Performance Weathering Requirements."
To insure quality installations, some vinyl fence suppliers, like SCIW, the makers of the Hometown Vinyl line of PVC fencing, distribute their products exclusively to industry professionals: in this case licensed contractors only. To find out more about their required qualifications, visit their website.
In addition to licensure, the American Fence Association offers courses and certifications in all subject areas of the fence and access control industry. (https://americanfenceassociation.com)
Digital Tools are available to help with the different tasks. Illusions Vinyl Fence offers a fence designer app available for Apple, Android, PC, and Mac, created for the specific purpose of helping your customers choose which style and color combination is best for them. The app includes over 60 standard styles of vinyl fencing that can be mixed and matched in 35 colors and six wood grains to create thousands of different looks with different heights, caps and gate combos. Once the customer has selected a fence design, a PDF can be printed for them.
For installing a fence on variable terrain, there are two basic methods: racking and stepping. With racking, the fence rails angle up and down to follow the slopes, which when 10 degrees (a 2" rise in terrain per foot) or more, the rail holes have to be enlarged slightly, and rails and pickets have to be mitered, to allow for the angle. Photo: Hometown Vinyl
With stepping, fence rails remain horizontal and the posts are extended to accommodate the change in terrain. Because of the height change, longer posts are often needed, and their rail holes will have to be altered.
Vinyl fence components can be cut like wood to size. To do so, it is advised to use a power saw with a fine-toothed blade. Photo: Landscape Communications, Inc.
A suggested hole depth is 30" or down to the frost line. Hole diameters for 5" x 5" posts are approximately 12", and for 4" x 4" posts approximately 10". Photo: Little Beaver
Manufacturers' websites are a great resource for help with project management. As an example, Weatherables® by USA Vinyl provides a step by step approach on their website to help find the right fencing materials and estimate cost. This includes a schematic to serve as a guide when plotting out the installation.
They advise measuring off the entire area where you want the fence installed and drawing a layout of the area to determine the number of fence panels as well as the number and type of fence posts that you will need.
There are three basic post styles:
Line posts are used as the in-between posts
Corner posts are used when there is a 90 degree or right angle turning a corner
End posts are used at the end of runs or for in-between gates
Other manufacturers also provide specific gateposts.
A few extra tips from this manufacturer: When installing gates, measure your gate after you put it together and add the gate hardware variance to get your inside to inside dimension. And fences can be cut like wood if you end up with a section that is too wide.
Before starting, it's important to check that fence footings do not exceed legally established property lines. If uncertain, refer to a real estate agent's line plot or consult a professional surveyor. Research local codes for specifications regarding frontage locations, allowable fence heights, etc. to determine if a permit is required. And consult with local utility companies for locations of underground cables or pipelines.
When working with fence components on the ground, place them on a non-abrasive surface such as a drop cloth to prevent scratching the vinyl. If any cutting is necessary, whether with a power saw or hand saw, use a fine-toothed blade.
The level of the ground will sometimes rise and fall along the fence line. According to vinyl fence manufacturer CertainTeed, there are two methods for installing a fence on variable terrain.
Stepping:
The fence rails remain horizontal and the posts are extended to accommodate the change in terrain. Longer end posts will be needed, which can be routed in the field with a drill and saber saw to alter the rail holes.
To meet ASTM's standard of quality for exterior vinyl (ASTM F964-13), the PVC compound has to be able to maintain uniform color and be free of any peeling, chipping, cracking, flaking, or pitting after weathering in hot, dry climates such as Phoenix, in hot humid climates such as Miami, and in temperate northern climates. According to CertainTeed, their Bufftech vinyl fences are installed in cold northern climates such as Alaska and will not break unless subjected to unusual impact.
Besides a variety of vinyl fence styles, one of which is pictured, PrivacyLink offers a composite, vinyl and wood fence alternative. Photo: PrivacyLink
Racking:
The fence rails follow the slope of the terrain. When the slope is 10 degrees (a 2-inch-rise in terrain per foot) or more, the rail holes will have to be enlarged slightly, and rails and pickets will have to be mitered, to allow for the angle. Also, the posts must be closer together to attain even picket spacing at the ends of fence sections.
To determine the slope of the line, first calculate the angle, or the rise/foot, of a section by stringing a level line between two pieces of wood stuck vertically into the post-hole marks. Measure the vertical rise in inches then divide this by the length, in inches, of the section to get the rise per inch. To determine the rise/foot, multiply by 12.
Other tips from this manufacturer include:
When cutting rails for short sections or gates, measure rails from the center and trim both ends.
When assembling the components, avoid excessive force, particularly over-tightening screws. And always drill 1/8-inch pilot holes for #8 screws.
Gate hinge and latch posts as well as end posts can be solidified by using an aluminum gate post stiffener inside each post.
For more information, find these LC/DBM advertisers in Marketplace or at landscapearchitect.com:
