Alternative Fencing in Portland: Vinyl Fences and Aluminum Fences
Most homeowners don't need to be convinced of the value of a fence for their home. Whether you have children, pets, or just want the peace of mind associated with the increased privacy and security of a quality fence, the advantages are clear. In fact, even homeowners without an extrinsic need for residential fencing can benefit from the beautiful landscaping features of a decorative perimeter or garden fence. Less clear, however, is the choice of fencing materials that homeowner inevitably face during the planning of a fence building project. Too many people assume that wood is the right material for them without investigating all their options. Although wood remains the classic and most popular choice, it is far from the end-all, be-all of residential fencing.
Portland Vinyl Fences
The biggest areas where wood fencing doesn't live up to the competition are maintenance demands and life expectancy. With the high volume of rain and moisture, wood fences will need annual application of sealant. By contrast, vinyl fences in Portland need no such maintenance. Moreover, they can last many decades, with a little luck the lifetime of your home, and certainly longer than wood fences, despite the most diligent maintenance and care. The old knock against vinyl fencing was that it couldn't match the look of wood. This may still be true, but newer lines of vinyl fencing in Portland won't bear much resemblance to the drab beiges and tans of decades past. These colors were indicative of a time when vinyl was susceptible to fading with prolonged exposure to the sun. Today, protective coatings and color treatments help vinyl retain its color and open up the decorative possibilities. You can find vinyl fences in any number of decorative finishes and textures.
Portland Aluminum Fences
Certain aspects of performance must also be considered when choosing a fencing material. Aluminum, unlike wood and even more so than vinyl, is pest and fire resistant and all but impervious to rain, sun, heat, and cold. You will need to purchase sufficient thick aluminum and dig fence posts to an appropriate depth to protect your fence from damage from high winds and storms. Plus, aluminum, too, has seen an exponential increase in decorative finishes and options. In Portland, aluminum fencing has been used for chain-link and as a wrought iron alternative, but this metal can be used for essentially any type of fence design. The sheer number of basic configurations can be overwhelming so take the time to look through magazines and what neighbors have done with their fencing.
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Installation of Vinyl and Aluminum Fences in Portland, OR
It may look simple enough, but a lot more goes into fence building than sweat and post digging. DIY fence installation kits can streamline the basic process of installing a fence, but you'll still need to watch out for underground power and sewer lines, property boundaries, and handling any slope your yard might have. Furthermore, soil consistency and weather patterns can affect how deep your fence posts need to be and how close together they should be placed. In other words, DIY fence installation isn't impossible, but you should have second thoughts if you've never been part of erecting a fence before. Remember, too, that even if you can install your own fence, it almost surely won't look as good or last as long as if you let the professionals handle it.
Cost of Portland Fence Installation
Naturally, without knowing the exact size and design of your fence, there is no way to tell you how much a fence installation will cost. Even for identical fence building, estimates will vary from different contractors. This is why soliciting multiple estimates is paramount to getting the best price. Be wary, though, of estimates that are substantially lower than the rest. One useful way to look at the cost of a new fence is to compare it to other fence projects. Our data shows, for example, that the average cost of a wood fence installation is $3,000 in Portland. Aluminum fences cost, on average, $3,500, while the average vinyl fence runs about $4,000. Keep in mind, however, that the initial savings of a wood fence installation is almost always gone after just a few years of maintenance.
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