Increasingly, vinyl is becoming a material used to create attractive fencing for residential, commercial, agricultural or equestrian uses. It still takes up a small percent of the total market for fencing materials, when compared with wood and metal-based fencing. However, there are maintenance costs with wood and metal that you just don't have with vinyl fencing.

Benefits of Vinyl Fencing
The price for vinyl fencing is actually more than the cheapest wood products, like pressure-treated southern pine. One magazine estimated that the cost for vinyl decking was 30 to 50 percent more than a standard wood deck. When it comes to using harder and more high-end woods, like redwood, cedar, and tropical hardwood, the purchase prices are closer to that of vinyl.

Vinyl Fencing Lasts Longer Than Wooden Fencing
However, one must take into account all the maintenance and upkeep necessary with wooden fencing. Wood naturally degrades over time. A wooden fence needs to be replaced every seven to 10 years, depending on how well you take care of it. A vinyl fence lasts a lot longer, often around 20 years. Some makers are so sure of their product they offer lifetime warranties.

All of the upfront costs work themselves out over time because vinyl lasts longer and doesn't scratch, chip, or fade the way other materials do. There will always be adherents to the natural feel and look of a wood fence. But as lumber and labor prices rise, it seems that opting for vinyl could become a more popular choice.

In the category of railing systems, lightly welded aluminum railings are cheaper than vinyl systems. Welded commercial railings, however, cost about as much as vinyl ones. Within the vinyl products industry, the costs of using it for fencing vary widely, with cheaper options and more expensive options. This is because there are so many choices involved in the color, grade, and structural strength of vinyl.

There Are Dozens of Fencing Styles to Choose from
There are other benefits to vinyl. Wood warps, chips and cracks, while vinyl does not. Wood needs to be repainted every so often, while vinyl does not. Wood also requires toxic chemicals like wood preservatives, which can leech into the soil. Not so for vinyl.

Vinyl is very versatile. It is primarily used for fencing, decking, and railing. However, it can also be used for marine docks, trellises, arbors, and shade pergolas. There are dozens of models to choose from in the fencing category, in both the style of the fence and the type of post cap you choose.

Most choices are in the open, slatted style, but for those looking for more privacy, there are taller, plank-style vinyl fences. Like all of the vinyl products, these privacy fences replicate the look of a whitewashed wood fence. Installing a vinyl fence will still require digging post holes and pouring a little concrete, but overall, the experience should be easier and quicker than building a wooden fence.