Vinyl fence is a popular building products choice for homeowners who are looking for a low-maintenance, durable alternative to wood. It offers a number of benefits over traditional wood fencing, including a low maintenance surface that doesn’t require regular painting or staining, and a nonporous surface that’s easy to clean with water.
Choosing the right color for your vinyl fence is an important decision. While most people prefer to stick with a white fence, darker shades can be a nice addition to homes with more traditional architecture or a more rustic setting. Fence contractor also offer blended colors and textures that mimic the look of wood grain.
Installing Your Vinyl Fence
The first step in installing a vinyl fence is to dig holes for each post in the ground. These should be 10 inches (25.4 cm) in diameter, and they should be deep enough to hold about 1/3 the length of the post plus 6 inches for a gravel base. You’ll need either a power auger or a hand post-hole digger to do this work.
Use a level to make sure each hole is plumb from front to back and side to side before moving on to the next one. After the posts are in place, you can then backfill each of the holes with concrete. Be sure to mix the concrete to the proper depth, and then pour it into the holes. Let it set for a few hours before moving on to the next hole.
Once the concrete has set, you can begin installing the vinyl fence panels. Depending on the type of fence you have, you may want to pre-drill a pilot hole before installing the rail screws. If the rails will be positioned on uneven ground, or if you’re approaching a corner where the 8′ rails are too long to fit in the post, you might need to cut some of the rails.
As you’re installing the fence, keep a level handy so you can check that each panel is plumb from front to back and side-to-side before completing the installation. Having a level at the ready can save you a lot of time and headaches down the road, especially when you have to correct a fence that’s out of level later.
If your vinyl fence is on an unlevel slope, it’s wise to add a few inches of extra depth to each post hole before you fill them with concrete. This will prevent the fence from sagging or bowing down on a slope, which can be a serious safety hazard.
For added strength, you can also use fence posts that are made of heavier-duty materials, such as wood or composites. These are usually more expensive than the standard-duty vinyl fence posts, but they will provide better structural integrity to the fence.
Before digging your post holes, call the local utility diggers hotline to have all underground lines marked before you start. This will make the job easier and reduce your risk of damage from utility wires.