PVC Fencing?

[rmonio]

I'm looking to install PVC fencing on my property in the next month. I've been looking at different suppliers and some offer the straight PVC and another has treated lumber wrapped with PVC on it. Since I live in a cold climate (Minnesota), I'm just concerned that PVC might not hold up well enough. Anyone have any comments on it? I don't think it should be an issue - there are alot of PVC fenced properties here, but I thought I'd check and see what people think.

Thanks for your insight! I also posted this on CountrybyNet, but TBN gets more traffic.... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

-Bob

 

[beenthere]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( - there are alot of PVC fenced properties here )</font>

What is your impression of the PVC fencing you see in use in your area? Does it look like it will hold up in the cold? Does it look like it will stay straight and will be strong over time?

I think it looks great when new, but seems like it starts to warp and fail after a few years, however I am not sure if that is the brand, or a cheap product, or because it is plastic.

Seems the best testimony could come from your neighbors who have had it up a few years. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[rmonio]

I've talked to a number of people - both serious and non-serious horse people. People choose the treated lumber to save on money and "durability" while others choose the plastic due to looks, lack of chewing, lack of upkeep, and good durability. No plastic will be as strong as wood, but this stuff isn't bad. The only drawback is the winter in extreme cold and if it gets hit hard.. but then again anything will break or crack in the extreme cold if hit hard.

Many people around here are now using the plastic. Major emphasis is on cementing the posts in vs. just setting them with rock (like treated posts can be done). But that's a small price to pay, I believe, for what one gets esthetically out of it all. And at 4$ a foot, it's not bad.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

-Bob

 

[EddieWalker]

Here's a pic of some vinyl fence my girlfriend and I did over the winter. It's simple to install once you get your holes lined up. I have more pics posted in a thread called "Creating an Entrance" in this Projects forum if you want to search for it.

Gates are the biggest disapointment I've come across. All the manufacturers have plans for building them out of the rails. Every one I've seen isn't very secure.

Instead of going the vinyl route, I used a regular metal gate and screwed vinyl rails onto it. From a distance it looks like the rest of the fence, but up close it works like a solid metal gate. To suport the gate I replaces the vinly post with a five inch steel tube that I welded on some nuts to thread the gate hinges onto. Then I painted it white and it blends in perfectly. It's extremely solid!!!

Every now and then you'll get some green alge or mold growning on the fence. Easiest way to fix that is to spray a mild mixture of bleach on the fence.

The biggest issue I'm facing is weed eating around the posts. I don't want to develop a wear pattern at the bottom of the post from constatnly hitting it over the years with my trimmer, so I'm super cautious around there, which is a royal pain.

I'm thinking about putting something over that area to protect it, maybe some strapping from Simpson Strongtie. I'm still undecided but will have to come up with something in time.

Eddie

 

[BB_TX]

Eddie- Did you do a lot of research into the different manufacturers? Who did you buy from and why?
My fence is barbed wire now and I just spray roundup along it about twice a year to keep from having to trim/mow around it. I figured I could do the same with the vinyl.

 

[EddieWalker]

After looking around online and locally, I chose Gardner Fence. www.gardnerfence.com for mine. It came down to price and what I was getting. My goal was an ornamental fence that would last and look good. They were the cheapest at $3.25 a foot if I bought 1,000 feet and picked it up. The closest location was a feed store in Celina. Prices were about a buck more to over $10 a foot when pricing the other brands.

The website is really good for general information on vinyl fences too. Worth looking at if your shopping around.

Eddie

 

[8NTX]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( After looking around online and locally, I chose Gardner Fence. www.gardnerfence.com for mine. It came down to price and what I was getting. My goal was an ornamental fence that would last and look good. They were the cheapest at $3.25 a foot if I bought 1,000 feet and picked it up. The closest location was a feed store in Celina. Prices were about a buck more to over $10 a foot when pricing the other brands.

The website is really good for general information on vinyl fences too. Worth looking at if your shopping around.

Eddie


)</font>

I just got on the Gardner site, and submitted their "instant quote" for only 150 feet of fence, and the quote came back at $10.53 per foot! Home Depot is half that unless it includes installation. Something sounds wrong here. (I triple checked the input data against the printout).

 

[EddieWalker]

It was awhile ago, but I do remember getting a higher price quote online. I also gave them my phone number for some reason when I first went on the sight and they called me back and offered me the price of $3.25 a foot for 1,000 feet if I picked it up.

They have called me several times since then to see if I'm ready for more fencing and have always said I could get it for the same price if I buy similar quantities.

They haven't called in quite a few months, so maybe somethings changed, or you just got an internet quote that doesn't reflect what they will really sell it to you for. Give them a call if your really serious and see what they say.

Eddie

 

[rmonio]

I got my bid from Gardner after looking around at other fencing companies and getting bids from them. Gardner was $3.75 a foot and the others were $4.25-$4.50 + shipping. I can pick mine up from Gardner's facility in Hugo MN and not have to pay shipping.

Eddie, you say they are easy to install. Any words of wisdom for someone that hasn't done this yet? I'm getting a PHD for my JD4600 and I have 152 poles and 228 rails that they believe I'll need. That's 152 bags of concrete also. I figure 1-2 days to do 1200ft of poles and 1-2 days to do the rail inserts. How did you work the depth - did you always go down to 2 ft? Just curious either way.

Also - any thoughts on how cold affects these?

-Bob

 

[EddieWalker]

I went down 30 inches. I marked my auger at that with some bright orange spray paint so I could see it. Also mark you hole real good bacause you might jump the hole when you start to dig and if you don't put a very big x there, the dirt will wash away a small mark.

The real trick is getting your holes drilled where you want them. Rocks, roots and things in the ground will send your bit off at an angle.

I have a 12 inch auger, and it's not near big enough. I bet about half of the holes I drilled I had to go back with the clamshels to make adjustments.

Assembly is easy enough, but better with two. Just be sure to line up the angle of the rails when slideing them through the posts. They will stick real bad if they aren't real staight.

I like to set a post with a few rails in it. Then with the next post still loose, I slide the rails through it into the previous post, which is set in compacted clay or concrete. Most of mine are just tamped in with the top end of a shovel.

But again, I don't have horses, nor want them. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Eddie

 

[NevadaSmith]

rmonio,
Something that is lacking in these posts.... make sure you get the heavy gauge fencing if you are doing horses. The stuff they sell at Home Depot is thin and will crack. Look for .160 wall thickness vs. .100 thickness. Most places do not advertise the thickness...but you can tell by the price.

NevadaSmith

 

[BB_TX]

If you really want horse fence, some of them also sell true 2"x 6" rail. The standard rail is 1-1/2" x 5-1/2". But the larger rail is also considerably more expensive. I have not bought any yet, but I got several quotes a couple years ago. The standard rail was quoted at $3.75 - $4.25 per foot including delivery. No tax since they were out of state. The large rail was more like $8.00/ft. A quote for 4 rail fence (2x6) was about $10/ft.
There are several of the fences that have been in my area for several years. All seem to be holding up well. Have only seen one rail on one fence down. It was a half rail at one end of a fence. But I have not noticed horses behind any of them.

 

[rmonio]

I get the impression that the PVC fencing is pretty heavy and with all posts concreted that there is enough strength inherently in the fence. My questions to the group are:
1) how does it hold up in the cold?
2) is 4-rail stronger than 3-rail?
3) how is hot-wire (electric) wired to the plastic? Is it mounted outside the rails (to the inside)? And if so, what is the typical mounting technique?

I think the pricing that Gardner gives is very reasonable and I'm still checking with other vendors locally to see what they offer. My only real worry in this is not being able to talk to someone locally who can give me pointers on install, have him look over my perimeter layout and give me recommendations, etc. I don't want an installer to do the work - we'll do it ourselves - and Gardner has a local facility so bringing it home shouldn't be an issue.

If anyone from MN reads TBN and has PVC fencing, I'd be happy to talk them about it!

Thanks!

-Bob

 

[bearhawk]

We are looking at building our fence with This.

The posts need to be set firm, but can be up to 12' apart.

Jim

 

[Foxpoint]

I highly recommend the flex fencing. It's advertised as maintenance free. Hoever, it does require periodic re-tensioning which is simple with two 1/2 drive ratchets and a 3 foot length of pipe. We put up a system with the 5.25 inch top rail with four vinyl coated wires to keep the costs down.

 

[rmonio]

Okay - final comment here...

I've talked to several vendors and installers. Gardner is by far the cheapest (best I've seen is $4.50 a foot). Most of the local firms/installers want $10 a foot and a god's price for installation. Since the range is so incredible, I contacted John Lyons (the horse fellow from RFD) who recommends Gardner. The feedback was very positive. I guess at this point I'm wondering what is the general consensus from everyone on Gardner (I've asked Eddie directly for his comments). One local firm has Gardner listed as a serious flake, major issues, etc... but I don't think John Lyons would want to recommend someone like Gardner if they weren't decent.

Please help and chime in where you can. Thanks again!

-Bob

 

[rmonio]

Well, we finally got the fencing in and will be doing the final railing this next weekend. 1350 feet of fence - 155 posts, concrete, rails, etc. I expect to put in the brick pillars next year in the front and then mate the adjoining fence to the pillars - so it will stay finished 2 posts short at the driveway. This is a start - but it's been a great project for our family and we're really pleased with how it all turned out. The Gardner PVC has gone well, too. Here's some pictures!

-Bob

 

[rmonio]

Another Shot - this time going down the road to the South.

 

[rmonio]

Another Shot - this time looking to the North and the corner.

 

[rmonio]

Another Shot - looking down from the Hill to the East.