Product Guide: Vinyl/PVC
A versatile option, vinyl fencing is cost-effective, aesthetically appealing, and low-maintenance.
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Cost-effective – Vinyl fences come with extensive warranties, with some manufacturers providing lifetime warranties for their products.
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Aesthetically appealing –Easy to install, vinyl comes in appealing styles, including ornamental, post and rail, privacy and traditional white picket fencing, which all provide a natural look with a variety of textures and colors.
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Low-maintenance – With different colors and textures to choose from, no painting is required for vinyl fences. Maintenance is generally delegated to a periodic washing.
Applications
Vinyl fences are used in many applications, including residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural.
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Residential – A versatile option, homeowners are attracted to the many styles of vinyl, from those that conform to pool safety codes to attractive privacy styles.
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Commercial – The low-maintenance needed for vinyl makes it a popular choice among businesses including restaurants, hotels, and amusement parks.
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Industrial – Vinyl is an economical choice to add architectural intrigue to an industrial complex, as well as provide a shield between citizens and any waste or storage areas.
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Agricultural – The smoothness of vinyl provides a safe environment, particularly for horses.
Product Guide: Vinyl/PVC
A versatile option, vinyl fencing is cost-effective, aesthetically appealing, and low-maintenance.
-
Cost-effective – Vinyl fences come with extensive warranties, with some manufacturers providing lifetime warranties for their products.
-
Aesthetically appealing –Easy to install, vinyl comes in appealing styles, including ornamental, post and rail, privacy and traditional white picket fencing, which all provide a natural look with a variety of textures and colors.
-
Low-maintenance – With different colors and textures to choose from, no painting is required for vinyl fences. Maintenance is generally delegated to a periodic washing.
Applications
Vinyl fences are used in many applications, including residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural.
-
Residential – A versatile option, homeowners are attracted to the many styles of vinyl, from those that conform to pool safety codes to attractive privacy styles.
-
Commercial – The low-maintenance needed for vinyl makes it a popular choice among businesses including restaurants, hotels, and amusement parks.
-
Industrial – Vinyl is an economical choice to add architectural intrigue to an industrial complex, as well as provide a shield between citizens and any waste or storage areas.
-
Agricultural – The smoothness of vinyl provides a safe environment, particularly for horses.
The Vinyl Process
Vinyl fences are manufactured to meet the needs of consumers. Manufacturers are able to offer extensive warranties because of the thorough manufacturing process that ensures a long lasting product.
Vinyl resin and various additives are mixed together in a heat/cool blending process that causes the ingredients to bond. The blend is then transported to an extruder where it is heated to the polymer melting point and forced through a die to create the desired shape. The formed profile polymer is calibrated to exact dimensions, then cooled to hold its intended shape and size.
The combined mixture of vinyl resin and the various additives makes the resulting material sturdy and weatherable. Vinyl remains strong, even in extreme weather climates, and will withstand high impact levels. The weatherability benefits ensure even coloring over the years and resistance to the physical implications of aging.
Several types of extrusion processes are in use today but primarily the vinyl fence manufacturers use mono-extrusion and co-extrusion. Both processes utilize blends of resin and additives. The mono-process uses only one extruder for the material blend, with the UV protector distributed throughout the product.
The co-process uses two extruders, which allows two blends of the material to be applied in two permanent layers. The outer layer called the capstock is the outermost layer and is usually a blend of 100% virgin resin and concentrated UV protection. The outer layer is naturally where the ultraviolet protection is most needed. The inner layer, called the substrate, is generally a blend with less ultraviolet protection.
Vinyl is manufactured for strength and durability but in addition, the properties of the vinyl make it resistant to fire. Vinyl is considered a self-extinguishing material.