A high-quality fence is perhaps the most impactful and stylish upgrade you can make to secure your home's outdoor space. While there are a handful of materials to pick from when looking for the perfect fence for your home, vinyl privacy fencing has grown to be not only one of the most popular choices on the market, but also one of the most practical. Whether you're looking for more privacy, to reduce noise, or give your curb appeal a guaranteed boost, vinyl privacy fencing offers a solution that's sleek, low-maintenance, and is likely favored by your HOA (if you've got one).
At Hurricane Fence, we have installed thousands of privacy fences across Virginia and the mid-Atlantic since 1994. In that time, we’ve found that more and more homeowners have turned to vinyl fencing for its durability, low-maintenance needs, and style. In this post, we will explain why vinyl privacy fencing's a smart investment, as well as how it compares to other fencing materials.
Ready to get started, and looking for a quote? Richmond, VA area customers can call 804-353-6030, and Tidewater and Hampton Roads, VA area customers can call 757-853-5669 to speak with one of our fence installation professionals. You can also submit an online request form here.
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What is Vinyl Privacy Fencing?
Vinyl fencing is constructed of PVC. Some manufacturers (like our friends at Catalyst Fence Solutions) use partially or fully recycled materials to create their vinyl fencing.
These fences come in a wide variety of styles, but vinyl privacy fencing is made up of panels featuring a “board-on-board” design made to fit snugly together without any gaps between them. This, coupled with the standard 6’ height, helps in both creating privacy from any nosey neighbors as well as reduces the amount of outside noise bleeding into your backyard.
Vinyl privacy fences are typically white in color, although there are plenty of options out there with more diverse options to match any style.
The Top Benefit of Vinyl Privacy Fencing
Now that you know the basics, lets get into what makes vinyl privacy fences so appealing for today’s average homeowner.
1. Total Privacy
There’s nothing worse than trying to enjoy your home's outdoor space in peace and feeling like you’re being watched. These fences were designed, in part, to nullify this issue!
Vinyl privacy fencing’s board-on-board design creates total privacy for your property at ground level. No one will be able to see in, and, as an added bonus, you don’t have to worry about anything getting out, making them a great choice for homes with pets or children. This mixture of privacy and security is the main reason this style and material have grown to be so popular over the last 10-20 years.
2. Low Maintenance Requirements
While wood fencing still reigns supreme in terms of pure ubiquity, it has not been what we would consider the “best” style out there for some time. One of the main factors for this is maintenance.
Unlike wood, which needs to be stained every few years and more regularly inspected for any sign of rot, infestation, and warping, vinyl fencing only requires a quick rinse with your hose, along with a gentle scrub with soap and water for any stubborn spots to keep it looking brand new for years. It is also not susceptible to warping, insects, or sun and water damage. If “set it and forget it” was a fence, it’d be a vinyl fence.
3. Long Term Value
The most noticeable hurdle to vinyl fencing is its up-front cost. While higher than comparable wood styles, it more than makes up for that up-front cost over the course of its life. Let’s break it down:
| Wood Fencing | Vinyl Fencing | |
| Initial Cost | $3,000 | $4,500 |
| Yearly Maintenance Costs | $150 | $50 |
| Expected Lifespan | 8-12 Years | 20-30 Years |
| Cost Breakdown Over a 30 Year Period | $3,000 (initial install) + $3,000 (replacement after 8-12 years) + ($150 [yearly maintenance cost] x 30 years) | $4,500 (initial install) + ($50 [yearly maintenance cost] x 30 years) |
| Estimated Cost Over 30 Years | $10,500 | $6,000 |
These numbers are simply rough estimations, but they illuminate the true value in investing in a fence that you can count on being around for a long time. Between lower overall maintenance costs and not having to replace it after only a few years makes a world of difference in these materials true value over time. As hard as the initial premium can be to afford, it’s clearly the more cost-effective choice in the long run, and worth every cent of added investment up front.
4. Aesthetic Versatility
With many fence materials, you are kind of locked in to their innate aesthetic properties. With wood, you get the naturalistic appeal of wood grain and your choice of stain, and with aluminum, while you have some variation in colors available, they are all typically different shades of black and grey.
This is not the case with vinyl fencing. They come in a wide range of colors meaning you are sure to find one that fits perfectly with your home's existing appeal.
Apart from color, vinyl fencing also comes in a variety of styles. Some styles are even mixed material, donning aluminum spindled tops and other visual accents.
5. HOAs
Typically coming in white with straight clean lines, vinyl privacy fencing’s modern look makes it a favorite in HOA communities. They help to give neighborhoods a sense of unity and togetherness that HOAs are built to accomplish. If you’d like more information on HOAs and fencing, check out our blog post on the subject here.
Vinyl vs. Other Fence Materials
Still on the fence? Let’s take a side by side look at how vinyl fencing stacks up against the other most popular materials in the industry.
| Vinyl | Chain Link | Wood | Aluminum | Composite | |
| Initial Cost | $$ | $ | $ | $$ | $$$ |
| Maintenance | Very Low | Moderate | High | Low | Very Low |
| Durability | Moderate | High | Low | Very High | Very High |
| Expected Lifespan | 20-30 Years | 10-15 Years | 8-12 Years | 20-30 Years | 20-30 Years |
| Privacy | High | Very Low | High | Very Low | High |
| Security | Moderate | Moderate-High | Moderate-High | Moderate-High | Moderate |
| Visual Appeal | Very High | Low | Moderate | Very High | Very High |
Why Choose Hurricane Fence for Your Vinyl Privacy Fence Installation?
If you’re looking for vinyl privacy fencing in the Richmond or Hampton Roads Virginia areas, you’re in the right place!
Hurricane Fence has over 30 years of experience installing fences of all kinds for homeowners and businesses alike. We are a licensed and insured contractor with a track record of outstanding customer satisfaction and craftsmanship. Our team are experts in their field and are ready to help you find the perfect fence for your home whenever you’re ready.
We are family owned and operated, and offer our customers the experience and expertise of a large scale operation coupled with our roots firmly planted in the central and coastal Virginia area; the best of both worlds!
Ready to Get the Ball Rolling?
Whether you’re set on vinyl privacy fencing or want to explore all your options with one of our fence experts, we invite you to reach out!
Richmond area customers can call 804-353-6030, Hampton Roads customers can call 757-853-5669, or if you’d prefer, you can always send us a request online here and we will reach out to you promptly.
Take your property back from prying eyes with a vinyl privacy fence from Hurricane Fence Company today. Happy Fencing!
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