The primary functions of a fence are either to contain what’s inside or to protect from what’s outside, in addition to privacy and decoration. When building your own fence, one of your first decisions is which material to use. The most modern and versatile fencing materials are generally considered to be aluminum and vinyl. Before you start your fencing project in Bergen County, NJ, you may want to narrow down your choices to these two materials.
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Function
Aluminum fences are suitable for home security, pet containment, and pool safety. They are less commonly used to define spaces and as decorative elements, although they can perform these functions in style.
Vinyl fences tend to be suitable for privacy fencing, decorative fencing, pool safety, and surrounding gardens. They are less commonly intended as security fencing or pet containment, although vinyl fencing can perform these functions if you install privacy fencing.
Durability
An aluminum fence is incredibly durable and long-lasting. It can flex slightly and withstand a big dog jumping against it. The structure allows snow to pass through during accumulation so that snow pressure is not an issue during the winter. Likewise, aluminum fences are impervious to hail and wind. An aluminum fence can last many years with virtually no maintenance. Aluminum is resistant to rust as opposed to wrought iron, although you can achieve the same elegant look. Aluminum fences come powder-coated in a variety of colors and will not require painting.
A vinyl fence is also durable and built to last. It’s more rigid than wood but slightly more flexible than metal. Vinyl fences won’t yellow, warp, or split. However, they can experience damage from hail or high winds. Vinyl fences are often built to mimic the attributes of other fencing materials such as wood or sometimes metal. Vinyl fences do not need repainting, either, although they will need an occasional cleaning especially if you choose white or light colors.
Ease of Installation
Ease of installation is a major factor in deciding which fence material to use. Aluminum fencing is easy to install most of the time owing to the uniformity of the pieces, especially when you use ActiveYards fences, which easily snap together. While aluminum is lighter than wrought iron, the panels can still be relatively heavy if the panels are large, so be sure to work with a helper.
Vinyl is also easy to install. ActiveYards vinyl fences are premade as panels, which then snap securely to the posts. Vinyl is lighter than aluminum, but you’ll still get your fence built faster if you work with a helper.
Appearance
Aluminum and vinyl fences are both designed to be a more durable version of their more-traditional counterparts. Aluminum fences are designed to mimic traditional wrought iron fences but they also have their own wonderful presence as a sleek modern style offense with minimal ornamentation.
Vinyl fences are designed to be similar in appearance to some metal fences or almost identical in appearance to painted wood fences. Vinyl fences come in more design styles than aluminum, including privacy fences.
Cost
A thick, durable vinyl fence can be more costly initially than aluminum fencing, but it may be less long-lived than an aluminum fence.
