17 June 2022
 Categories: , Blog

If you need to install fencing around a coastal property to improve security or privacy, you might be considering traditional timber or durable metal fencing. However, coastal weather patterns, salt spray, and other hazards unique to coastal areas can make these choices impractical in some circumstances.

Vinyl fencing is an excellent alternative to timber or metal fencing and is well suited for use in coastal locations. Here are three reasons to install vinyl fencing on your coastal property:

Resistant To Salt Spray

During windy days by the sea, droplets of salt water are carried from the tops of waves by the breeze. Some of these droplets are microscopic, and so light that they can be carried several miles inland. When these salty droplets impact the sides of fences, they can cause damage to fencing materials that are not resistant to salt spray.

Steel fencing in coastal areas is very vulnerable to corrosion caused by salt spray particles and will rust quickly without some kind of protective coating. Galvanized coatings provide some measure of protection, but these will also wear away more quickly in coastal areas, and can be expensive to replace. Painted or powder-coated steel fences are more resistant but can be prohibitively expensive.

Aluminum fencing is not immune to salt spray either. Its layer of protective surface oxide will help to prevent serious corrosion, but the metal beneath can still fall victim to corrosion over time.

Timber fencing can also be damaged by salt spray. Its porous surface will absorb droplets of salt spray. As the water evaporates, the salt crystals suspended within the droplets expand, damaging the grain of the wood. Salt spray damage can cause timber fencing to become cracked, brittle, and discolored.

Vinyl fencing is completely invulnerable to salt spray damage. It does not corrode when exposed to salt or moisture, and its smooth, impermeable surface will not absorb salt spray droplets.

Wind Resistance

High-quality vinyl fencing can also withstand high winds without buckling or toppling, a useful quality if your coastal property is in an exposed location by the beach or on a cliffside. Vinyl is slightly flexible, allowing vinyl fences to bend rather than break when buffeted by high winds. 

Low Maintenance

If your coastal property is a vacation home that you don't live in year-round, you should choose a fence that can go for long periods without any hands-on maintenance. Timber fencing requires regular treatment with preservative oils and stains, as well as insecticides and anti-fungal treatments.

Metal fencing requires less maintenance, but any holes or cracks in its protective coating can cause rapid corrosion when exposed to salt spray. If a metal fence's coating is damaged while you are away, you may come back to your coastal property only to find a damaged fence riddled with rust.

Vinyl fencing requires virtually no maintenance and can be left alone for long periods without worrying about rust or fungal rot. It can also be cleaned very easily using a hosepipe and mild detergent, so it will only take a few minutes to make your fence look as good as new after a long period away.   

For more information, contact a local company that offers vinyl fence installation services.