Vinyl fencing and gates

[Jersey mike]

So I'm at a crossroads of decision time for replacing some fencing on the sides of my house.

I see the pros and cons of chain link and wood (which I have now) but desperately needs replacing. Vinyl has become the most popular option in our area over the last several years. I've driven around some neighborhoods in my area and some outside our area but couldn't a similar setup.

I'm curious if anyone out there has any experience with vinyl fencing and gates, especially double gates for a driveway or such that get daily usage (being driven through) and maybe opened multiple times a day and how well they hold up at the hinges.

From what I've seen with vinyl, there is a metal post insert and the vinyl post covers the metal insert.

My double gates would need to be appx 4-1/2' (54") each, appx 9' overall.

If anyone has any feedback I'd like to hear what you have to say.

Thanks.

[98valk]

wood cheaper than the plastic fences. wood will last at least 15 yrs longer if coated.

[carolinarider09]

While I do not have a lot of experience in building fences and gates, I have done some work at our home that resulted in a "Large Dog Run" and some other things that I hoped would be there for a few years (well maybe 10 or 20).

As mentioned above, properly treated wood will last well.  But it has to be properly treated.  While I cannot personally document what I am about to say, I can show you examples.

One thing I first noted when I started building our new home was a series of "fence posts" around one part of the adjacent property.  It appears that these posts were part of a fence that was built many years ago.  In the main, while the fenced had been "injured" by falling trees, the fencing material (like that use for farm ares) was intact but a little rusty.  What struck me most was the fact that the "cedar" posts were still mostly intact. 

Now, when I built my Dog Run, I did not use cedar posts but I really thought about it.  Instead I used "Pressure Treated" 4"x4".  These posts have a long life span (well for me so far, ten years plus) and are strong. 

Of course, if you are going to build this around your home, you do have to consider how the material would impact your view.

But, if I were going to build a fence surrounding my property, I'd probably elect to use Pressure treated 4"x4" whose length would depend on the fence hight. 

Now as for the gate, I would use some metal posts for the gate poles,  I have some metal lamp posts that have withstood the weather for the last 10 years or so.  But you have to ensure that the metal posts are apporopite for your job and properly treated. 

I would anchor these posts in "concrete".

As for the fence material, the only material I have ever used for fencing (again for my Dog Run) is metal fencing. 

Also, I did anchor the top of the metal fencing to prevent the metal from moving (I guess swaying). 

Here is a picture of my Dog Run. 



Regarding the "Pressure Treated" wood.  Ensure that it has been properly "Pressure Treated".  I have not really looked at the standard in recent years so, I cannot provide that information but I do believe there is more than one way wood can be pressure treated and, of these, one is better than the rest.  It will cost more but it will last longer. 

And yes, I have some wood that I thought was pressure treated but did not stay free of degradation.  It may have been misplaced or improperly "stored" at the place I purchased it.  Or it may have just been a cheap method use.  All are not the same.

Enjoy your project.
 

[Jersey mike]

I got 25 years out of the wood fence I have now, oil stained initially after installation and then about every 5-7 years after, so they've been stained with colored oil a few times.  They weren't making good pressure treated fencing back when I bought all the sections, it was all thin, low grade lumber so the sections I bought and installed were 3/4" hemlock which held up nicely but nature and time has taken its toll.

Around here many guys like to push that white cedar stuff and I'm not a fan, even stained it doesn't last too long.

I'm now looking to stop the maintenance and get something that will hold up and not need staining.

Chain link that has the nice vinyl coating with vinyl inserts keeps coming to mind but not really sure on the look and aesthetics. I have an 80' run across the back of the property that's wood and needs replacing but I'm in "negotiations" with my newer neighbor behind me to put their own fence up.

The previous owners behind me installed vinyl on both sides and across the front, I don't want to be responsible for the rear fence anymore so I told them I'd help pay for a new fence provided the old fence was removed and taken away as part of the agreement. They're a young couple with 2 small children, this way all the fencing on their property is theirs. When I installed my fence, both my neighbors on either side had fully fenced properties so all I did was join up to theirs, so all I need to contend with is front and rear.

[Jersey mike]

While I do not have a lot of experience in building fences and gates, I have done some work at our home that resulted in a "Large Dog Run" and some other things that I hoped would be there for a few years (well maybe 10 or 20).

As mentioned above, properly treated wood will last well.  But it has to be properly treated.  While I cannot personally document what I am about to say, I can show you examples.

One thing I first noted when I started building our new home was a series of "fence posts" around one part of the adjacent property.  It appears that these posts were part of a fence that was built many years ago.  In the main, while the fenced had been "injured" by falling trees, the fencing material (like that use for farm ares) was intact but a little rusty.  What struck me most was the fact that the "cedar" posts were still mostly intact. 

Now, when I built my Dog Run, I did not use cedar posts but I really thought about it.  Instead I used "Pressure Treated" 4"x4".  These posts have a long life span (well for me so far, ten years plus) and are strong. 

Of course, if you are going to build this around your home, you do have to consider how the material would impact your view.

But, if I were going to build a fence surrounding my property, I'd probably elect to use Pressure treated 4"x4" whose length would depend on the fence hight. 

Now as for the gate, I would use some metal posts for the gate poles,  I have some metal lamp posts that have withstood the weather for the last 10 years or so.  But you have to ensure that the metal posts are apporopite for your job and properly treated. 

I would anchor these posts in "concrete".

As for the fence material, the only material I have ever used for fencing (again for my Dog Run) is metal fencing. 

Also, I did anchor the top of the metal fencing to prevent the metal from moving (I guess swaying). 

Here is a picture of my Dog Run. 



Regarding the "Pressure Treated" wood.  Ensure that it has been properly "Pressure Treated".  I have not really looked at the standard in recent years so, I cannot provide that information but I do believe there is more than one way wood can be pressure treated and, of these, one is better than the rest.  It will cost more but it will last longer. 

And yes, I have some wood that I thought was pressure treated but did not stay free of degradation.  It may have been misplaced or improperly "stored" at the place I purchased it.  Or it may have just been a cheap method use.  All are not the same.

Enjoy your project.
 

The fencing on the one side of the house that's used for a driveway is toward the front of the house which also serves to block access to the side entrance door to the house, it can be bolted so there's no entry if we want, the wife is a big fan of this.

Almost every fence in the neighborhood is now vinyl with the exception of just a few. Many are several years old and still look very nice. My 2 neighbors on either side just got new vinyl as well but something about the vinyl makes me cautious.

[hubcapsc]

I think woven 2x4 no-climb horse fence looks a 100 times better than
chain link. One of my fences is 20 years old now, the round wooden posts
from the farm supply store are all still solid. I understand if this
might clash with where one lives.

-Mike

[Timbo1]

A couple things to think about on vinyl fencing.  My neighbor has a vinyl fence between our yards and it looks very nice.  It's low maintenance with about the only thing it needs occasionally is being washed off due to mildew or mold growing on it.  However as you can see from the attached picture they are not the strongest. This picture was taken after we had high straight winds and the vinyl flexed enough to come out of their upper & lower beams.  We had already fixed most of it as almost every section was missing panels. His fence was the only one in the area that had any issues but we did lose quite a few shingles.  Also since it's vinyl when it's cold the vinyl gets brittle and can crack or break if something hit's it.  I know he has a couple holes in his fence that he'd like to fix but in his case the particular panels are no longer made or available so he's out of luck.

[Jersey mike]

A couple things to think about on vinyl fencing.  My neighbor has a vinyl fence between our yards and it looks very nice.  It's low maintenance with about the only thing it needs occasionally is being washed off due to mildew or mold growing on it.  However as you can see from the attached picture they are not the strongest. This picture was taken after we had high straight winds and the vinyl flexed enough to come out of their upper & lower beams.  We had already fixed most of it as almost every section was missing panels. His fence was the only one in the area that had any issues but we did lose quite a few shingles.  Also since it's vinyl when it's cold the vinyl gets brittle and can crack or break if something hit's it.  I know he has a couple holes in his fence that he'd like to fix but in his case the particular panels are no longer made or available so he's out of luck.

Wow that's a shame.

I didn't think about anything going out of production but I know the vinyl doesn't like to cold and can crack and break on impact.

Maybe vinyl is out of the equation for us. On the one side of the house it's high volume usage.

[Jersey mike]

I think woven 2x4 no-climb horse fence looks a 100 times better than
chain link. One of my fences is 20 years old now, the round wooden posts
from the farm supply store are all still solid. I understand if this
might clash with where one lives.

-Mike

Thanks for the idea, I had to look up what a horse fence is. I don't think that's an option for what I need though.

[Hook#3287]

Imho, vinyl fencing, like all fences, are only as good as the installer, but vinyl just does not have the structure or longevity of wood.

I'm sure there is good vinyl fence that if installed correctly and not messed with will last a very long time, but in the same situation same install criteria, wood will out last vinyl with just minor maintenance.

There's pluses and minuses to all and you got to do your homework to see what system works best for your situation and needs.

I don't have any fences, but if I wanted some, I'd go with 6x6 PT posts set in concrete footings with PT wood panels that I'd stain with used motor oil.

Absolutely going last longer than me.

[Jersey mike]

Imho, vinyl fencing, like all fences, are only as good as the installer, but vinyl just does not have the structure or longevity of wood.

I'm sure there is good vinyl fence that if installed correctly and not messed with will last a very long time, but in the same situation same install criteria, wood will out last vinyl with just minor maintenance.

There's pluses and minuses to all and you got to do your homework to see what system works best for your situation and needs.

I don't have any fences, but if I wanted some, I'd go with 6x6 PT posts set in concrete footings with PT wood panels that I'd stain with used motor oil.

Absolutely going last longer than me.

Stained with used motor oil...really?! I've never heard of that before. That's quite interesting.

[LadyDraco]

Here are some stronger vinyl horse type of fencing..

https://huskervinyl.com/?msclkid=6bb0b3e0ed041a4adf57d921d5e2fc87&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=II%20%7C%20Vinyl&utm_term=vinyl%20horse%20fencing&utm_content=Vinyl%20Fencing

[ridingron]

I don't have any fences, but if I wanted some, I'd go with 6x6 PT posts set in concrete footings ...

Here in Florida, my experience is the post last longer without concrete. I just dig the hole,install the post in the correct position and start filling the hole. Of course, it's not that difficult since there are very few rocks. 

[LadyDraco]

Here we  pound  posts  in , with a  big hydraulic pounder, that sits  on a  skitsteer

[Jersey mike]

Here are some stronger vinyl horse type of fencing..

https://huskervinyl.com/?msclkid=6bb0b3e0ed041a4adf57d921d5e2fc87&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=II%20%7C%20Vinyl&utm_term=vinyl%20horse%20fencing&utm_content=Vinyl%20Fencing

Unfortunately I don't think a horse fence style would give us the privacy and security I'm looking for but maybe an 3 rail across the front lawn near the street it might look nice.

[Jersey mike]

I don't have any fences, but if I wanted some, I'd go with 6x6 PT posts set in concrete footings ...

Here in Florida, my experience is the post last longer without concrete. I just dig the hole,install the post in the correct position and start filling the hole. Of course, it's not that difficult since there are very few rocks. 

None of my pressure treated posts with the exception of one are set in concrete and only 3 over 25 years have gone bad at ground level. On 2 I left the original post in place since it was nailed to the fence and just dug a new hole with a new post behind the old post and lag screwed the new into the old.

[Hook#3287]

A ground contact rated 6x6 is going to last a very long time.

Every situation requires different approaches, but if you want your fence to stay plum in most soils and external force, bedding your posts in a concrete footing is the most common way.

In the old days before PT and concrete in a bag, oak posts would be fire chard and set with boulders around them.

That's in New England, the best thing grown here is boulders, so the old farmers had plenty.

Mostly though, the fences were made of field stone.

It really comes down to the install on how a vinyl fence will hold up.

I've seen good quality systems installed wrong and not working well and lesser quality systems installed right and work great.

[LadyDraco]

LOL Living  on a  mountain , privacy and security..
I  lock the  gate , if I want added  security, Longhorned  cattle  take  to the  driveway ..
    But knowing NJ , showing  horses  there .Back in the  70's.
Yeah I can see wanting  privacy

[h13man]

Frost line is important to the area. 48" deep regardless takes care of that and the sturdiest for wind resistance especially with PT variety which hold up the best but don't skimp on the actual fence board themselves. I don't have any fence but I used 4x4 in concrete x 48" dp. deck support post and after 33 yrs. still perfectly level though the 5/4 boards showing signs of needing replacement in the near future. Higher fences if needed, 40% in the ground.