What’s so great about vinyl anyway? Is it as strong, durable, or as long-lasting as aluminum? What are the benefits? And are vinyl fences made from the same material as vinyl records?
What exactly is vinyl?
Simply put, vinyl is a synthetic plastic material made from polyvinyl chloride or more commonly known as PVC.
Now plastic is a man-made polymer. Think back to organic chemistry, a polymer is a large molecule made up of smaller repeating molecules called monomers. For example, cellulose is a naturally occurring polymer that creates the rigid cell walls of plants. So the point is that it is a strong molecule.
So Vinyl is a combination of ethylene from natural gas and chlorine. This creates monomers that are polymerized or linked together to create a sturdy, synthetic material.
How is Vinyl made?
You know how the plumbing section of your local hardware store is filled with PVC pipes? Well both Vinyl and those PVC pipes start as PVC resin. This resin looks like a white powder, however it can be melted and extruded into almost any shape.
But manufacturers can mix in additives to give the final product additional characteristics. For example, both vinyl fencing and vinyl records start out as PVC resin, but they need different additives to create their own functions.
Vinyl for fencing gets UV inhibitors to prevent sun damage, impact modifiers for improved strength, and plasticizers for flexibility. Meanwhile vinyl for records are mixed for acoustic qualities and improved moldability.
What’s so good about Vinyl Fencing? Is it as good as Aluminum fencing?
Vinyl and aluminum fencing share many properties. Both are highly resistant to rot, decay, insect damage, and corrosion. Both are much stronger than wood and don’t require the painting and staining wood needs. Plus they are both non-toxic so they’re great for pets and kids. While they are more expensive than wood, they require less maintenance and will often last for decades.
However, this is where aluminum and vinyl split. Vinyl can last around 20 to 30 years. Aluminum can last for decades longer, with the right maintenance.
Aluminum fencing also has a higher tensile strength. Tensile strength is the amount of pressure you need to apply to permanently deform a material.Aluminum fencing has a tensile strength of 35,000 pounds per square inch (PSI). Vinyl has a tensile strength of around 6,5000 PSI.
But what does that mean for you? Well, it means when you power wash your vinyl fence you should keep it below 3,000 PSI. Even that is overkill for cleaning off grime.
In essence, it means that vinyl fencing will break easier than aluminum. But it’s still pretty tough! The worst case scenario would be a car crash. A car will probably bend and mess up your aluminum fencing. But the same car might shatter through your vinyl fencing.
Which one should you choose? Vinyl or aluminum?
Well it depends on your priorities and budget. In fact, we have an entire blog on How to Choose Between Aluminum and Vinyl Fencing for Your Home.