In Ottawa, the extreme winter conditions put a remarkable amount of stress on our fences, especially those made of wood. Natural wood typically requires the most maintenance because it runs a higher risk of being damaged. During fall and winter months it is important to keep debris, especially leaves, off of your wood fence. Wet leaves and debris can cause your fence to warp and rot through the winter. You’ll be surprised by the amount of gunk, dust, mildew and other debris that can be coated on your fence. If you have a pressure washer, use it to spray clean the the debris. Short of that, good old fashioned elbow grease along with a sponge and some soapy water should do the trick. Waterproofing your wood fence can also help keep it in excellent condition for when spring comes around.

Consider painting or staining your fence. When selecting your paint or stainer, look for UV resistant types that will help protect your fence from the sun’s harmful rays. If you decide to paint your fence, a best practice is to prime your wood beforehand. A good primer can add years to your fence’s lifespan, saving you money and increasing the value of your home. After you’ve applied your primer, allow it to dry completely before applying your paint. When painting, we suggest you use a brush or a roller to apply the paint as opposed to spraying, which can be difficult to apply consistently. Start by painting the top of your fence and work your way down. Use a piece of cardboard at the base of your fence so that you can quickly paint the bottom without worrying about painting your grass or mixing mud into your paint.

Vinyl / PVC fencing

Vinyl fencing requires the least amount of maintenance of all the fencing materials. Vinyl is very durable and never needs to be sanded or repainted. The best thing you can do to maintain your vinyl fence this fall is to rinse it with soap and water when you notice that it’s covered with dirt and debris. Routine maintenance will not only help keep your vinyl fence looking great, but it will also help make it last longer. Due to weather related reasons, such as freezing and thawing, vinyl fence post caps can become loose. To keep the beauty of your fence up use plastic fencing glue to secure the caps back in place.

Iron fencing

Iron fencing also requires little to no maintenance. However, it can be susceptible to rust from regular moisture deposits without the lack of proper coating. You can fight the usual culprits of rust (Rain, morning dew and snow fall) by covering your iron fence with a clean coat of rust-resistant paint. Along with rust, wrought iron fence is susceptible to dents, deep scratches and chips. To ward off the scratches and chips of the surface of the fence, you need to use rust-resistant finish every year, just to maintain the beauty of the wrought iron fences. When it comes to deep scratches, bending and dents, above method of protection won’t work. We suggest not hanging heavy fall decorations on them and, as always, keep your fence free of leaves and debris.

To make sure your iron fences keep look looking new for years, you can give it a thorough washing with soapy and warm water, at least twice a year. Oil the joints, latches and springs of the fences and then follow up with a wax. Use formulated paint to cover small holes and scratches. Don’t forget to sand away all the scratches with steel wool before painting and allow each layer of paint to get dry before applying another layer, this way you can less the chances of dripping and flaking of the paint.

Chain link fencing

While chain link fence is known for its durability and ability to withstand the elements better than other types of fencing, without proper coating it can easily become vulnerable to rust from moisture. Rain, morning dew, and snow are the usual factors that cause rust. With proper coating of rust-resistant finish, you can easily fight them off. During the fall and winter, leaves and other yard debris can become lodged in your chain link fence, which can cause rust. It is helpful to use a leaf blower to keep leaves out of the links in your fencing. Dirt and grass from the ground accumulating on the fence are major reasons why you would need to clean your chain link fence from time to time. You can give your fence a good washing with soapy water between seasons in order to keep it looking new. Start with a wax and then oil the fence’s springs, latches, and joints, etc. with mineral oil. You can use steel wool to sand away light scratches. While painting, it is important that you let layers dry between one another, or else you will risk dripping and flaking.

Loose nails can become the cause of a bigger damage into your fence if not taken care of on time. Make sure that there are no loose nails on your chain link fence. Tighten all loose screws and bolts. Pay close attention to gate hardware as it gets the most use. If there’s a gate in your chain link fence, make sure that its hinges are rust free. Regularly apply oil on the hinges to keep it rust free. If you don’t do that, opening and closing the gate could become difficult as the hinges start to rust.

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Vinyl/PVC Fences

Pros

• Low maintenance.
  • Do not need to be painted or stained.
  • Easy to clean.
  • Immune to pests and fungus.
• Vinyl does not produce splinters, which makes it a great choice especially if you have small children or pets.
• Great aesthetics. The appearance of vinyl fences is very similar to wood.
• Lasting power and strength. Lasts much longer than wooden fence and is nearly 5 times stronger than wood.  This means you will be getting more for your money and are investing in something that should last a lifetime.
• Flexible and will not snap or break off as easily as wood.

Cons

• Higher upfront cost compared to wood fences. However, because of low maintenance, the overall cost can be offset. Because you will not need costly maintenance, you actually save some money in the end.
• Vulnerable to extreme temperatures. They may become brittle when constantly exposed to cold or hot temperatures, making them prone to damage. Frequent heating and cooling of vinyl fences result in the contracting and expanding of components, making the components loose and gradually damaging them.
• When a single board in your vinyl fencing gets damaged, you may have to replace the entire section, which leads to costly repairs.

Wood Fences

Pro:

• Classic, timeless look.
• Durable
• Most affordable fencing option. Other materials, such as wrought iron, are expensive to produce and to install.

Con:

• Difficult to maintain.
  • Wood is more likely to rot and be infected by insects. This can happen more quickly if the post is set directly into the ground.
  • It requires regular maintenance, which is very essential to keep the wood sealed and protected.
  • It also needs to be painted and coated on a regular basis to keep it from cracking and the paint coat from peeling off.

Iron Fences

Pro

• Strength. Iron fencing is much stronger than other common fencing materials such as wood or vinyl.
• Durable. Iron fences will last much long than other fences.
• Easy to Maintain. For the most part, these fences are easy to maintain especially if they are painted. Paint will keep the tiny pits that may form in the metal from collecting substances that may cause them to corrode.
• Can be designed. The alloy itself has an elastic and malleable nature that many artists and designers can shape into interesting patterns. There are books and websites that feature interesting wrought iron fence designs and photos which are great for finding ideas to use in ones home.

Con

• No privacy. Open designs usually feature iron bars that are close enough together to keep people out, but wide enough apart to look through.
• Will Show Weather Damage Over Time. There are conflicting studies about whether wrought iron is better or worse than other iron alloys at resisting corrosion. Either way the fact remains: if a wrought iron fence is weathered long enough, it will begin to corrode. Rust on wrought iron is particularly hard to deal with because of the slag in the metal.
• Expensive because of its material and the difficulty involved in producing it, is more expensive than wood and vinyl fencing. Additionally, one may find it slightly more expensive to install it as well, especially if the design of the wrought iron is custom made.

Chain Link Fences

Pro:

• Affordability. Chain link fence is the most affordable fence option which can be installed by home do-it-yourselfers, although a professional can ensure a tight, lasting installation that will perform well for years.
• Low Maintenance. Chain link fencing requires little or no maintenance. All chain link fencing is galvanized, meaning the metal wire fence material underwent a chemical process to protect it from rusting. This extends the life of the chain link and limits the maintenance.
• Safety. Chain link is popular as it contains children and pets in yards while also offering a sight link through it to allow watching activity on the other side.

Cons

• Security . While chain link fencing can be built tall, and barbed wire added to the top for security, that is typically done only in industrial and manufacturing settings. Homeowners typically use a four-foot chain link, which, as most people know, can be readily climbed over.
• Appearance. Without vinyl coating or California style construction, and given its popularity and use at industrial sites, chain link is considered a generic, more pedestrian fence design. Even with galvanization, chain link fencing and fence posts can be scratched.
• No Privacy. Chain link fence won’t keep prying eyes away. There is an option for putting slats in the chain link to improve privacy, but that isn’t often used.

The post Pros and Cons of Vinyl/PVC Fences, Wood Fences, Iron Fences and Chain Link Fences first appeared on Capital Deck and Fence.

Fences

We believe that fences make better neighbors!

Capital Deck and Fence is proud to serve residential, commercial, and industrial clients throughout Ottawa and the surrounding areas. We have been installing high-quality fences and we have earned a reputation as a company that provides high quality work and delivers excellent customer service. We specialize in residential wood, vinyl and ornamental aluminum fencing. We offer a variety of different products so we can customize your fence to your exact specifications.

Our full product offering includes the following:

Vinyl / PVC Fencing

Wood Fencing

Chain Link Fencing

Iron Fencing

Why hire the fencing professionals from Capital Deck and Fence?

At Capital Deck and Fence, we believe that fences make better neighbors. In addition, a good fence design can add value and security to your home or commercial building, as well as improving its appearance. We, however, know that installing a fence involves a lot more than just digging postholes and nailing boards together. For this reason, we are dedicated to supplying our clients with the finest quality in fencing. Our unique and proven installation method is virtually trouble free and guaranteed for years of durability. We believe in quality service that is:

• Timely
• Courteous
• Convenient
• Reasonably Priced
• Efficient
• Dependable

If you are in need of fencing for your home, commercial building, or industrial facility, please give Capital Deck and Fence a call today for a free estimate. We look forward to working with you.

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