How do I Choose the Best Vinyl Privacy Fencing?

Budget should probably be one of the most important considerations when choosing the best vinyl privacy fencing. Unless money is not an issue, once you have determined how much you can afford to spend, your choices should have narrowed considerably. Keeping your budget in mind, you will then need to decide how much privacy you want. Vinyl privacy fencing usually comes in heights from 4 feet (1.22 meters) to 8 feet (2.43 meters), and some styles do not offer complete privacy, but have slats with small openings in between. In addition, vinyl privacy fencing is usually available in a wide variety of designs and colors, so you will need to determine which style and color best complement your home design and landscaping.

For utmost privacy, choose taller, solid panel styles of vinyl privacy fencing. Choosing a height of 6-8 feet (1.83-2.43 meters) offers a great deal more privacy than shorter versions. Some of these styles are embossed with designs, and may even have the look of wood. If your home and the surrounding landscaping are rustic, a wood look may work well. In addition, choosing a natural color such as brown or gray may complement the overall look.

For cottage style homes and landscaping, a slatted picket style could be a good choice, though if the fencing is truly slatted it will not offer as much privacy as a solid panel fence. Picket style fencing typically consists of slats with tops that are evenly pointed or rounded. Vinyl picket fencing generally imitates the look of real wood, and is usually available in a wide range of colors, though white best duplicates a true picket fence.

In selecting vinyl privacy fencing, you should determine if the fence should also serve security purposes. This is important because the security of the fence is often related to how much reinforcement the fence has. To make sure the fence is very secure, most installers recommend placing fence posts no more than 4 feet (1.22 meters) apart. This may be especially important for fences meant to protect entry to pools or to help contain children or pets.

Installation may end up being a large portion of the overall cost of vinyl privacy fencing. To help offset those costs, you might want to consider installing the fencing yourself. Some vinyl fencing is installed by using locking mechanisms instead of nails and screws, which usually simplifies installation. You may need to purchase or rent a post hole digger, as even vinyl fencing will require fence posts that are deeply embedded and secured.