What’s Better – Wood or Vinyl?

If you're considering the construction of a horse fence to surround your pasture, chances are you’ve spent some time wondering what makes vinyl fencing so much better than a wood fence. Let's explore some of the factors that go into constructing a horse fence and take a look at how wood fencing compares to vinyl.

First of all, before constructing a new fence you must first examine the cost of materials. As we all know, the cost of high-quality wood is becoming increasingly expensive. As a result of this, the cost of material for constructing a vinyl fence is becoming almost equal to that of wood. While wood is still a bit cheaper in terms of material cost, the differences are so minimal that they’re almost nonexistent.

You’ve probably also wondered about the cost of installation or the labor costs of a vinyl fence versus the wood fence. While constructing a fence is labor-intensive, vinyl fencing is actually easier to install than wood. Because most laborers are paid by the hour, time is also money. The longer it takes your laborers to install your fence the more expensive it will be. Because there's no sawing or cutting involved with the construction of a vinyl fence, it becomes much easier to budget in terms of labor. Vinyl fencing panels are usually preassembled, which gives them an advantage over wood construction.

Another reason vinyl horse fencing is hands-down better than wood fencing is because the only real maintenance is required for a vinyl fence is a simple rinse with the hose. Wood fencing has to be pressure washed, stained, scraped, sometimes even painted. And, chances of dry rot or other decay with age is much greater with a wood fence than with a vinyl fence.

You will also find that vinyl fencing far surpasses wood fencing in terms of replacement. As we discussed before, vinyl fencing usually comes with a minimum of the 20-year warranty. Typically, wood has no warranty. Because wood is a natural substance and not artificial, it will decay and rot. Eventually, even chemically treated wood becomes weak and rotten. Because vinyl is a very sturdy manufactured material, it is less susceptible to an outdoor environment.

It's very common for people to choose wood fencing because the cost appears cheaper from the get-go. While this may be true straight out of the gate (no pun intended), it's not true in the long run. Overall, vinyl fencing is far less expensive than wood fencing and will last far longer.

Invest in the Best

If you've already made the decision to invest the time, money, and energy than it takes to raise and care for horses, you've probably already put some thought and consideration into the best possible way to protect that investment. However, in addition to proper shelter, food, veterinarian care, grooming, shoeing, and training, there is one particular responsibility that goes overlooked by many horse owners. This one overlooked responsibility happens to be fencing.

Your pasture fence will be one of the most major purchases you encounter in terms of raising your horses. Besides the area in which to plan to fence, the height of the fence, the style of the fence, the color of the fence, and most importantly, the material of the fence, should be at the forefront of your mind before undergoing construction. For most horse owners, deciding on a particular material and style of horse fence becomes a challenge. Because there are so many options to choose from, many horse owners find themselves making a purchase without having all the information. If you're interested in purchasing horse fencing, it's probably a good idea to do your homework on some of the available options in terms of style, shape, height, and material.

Experts will tell you that the No. 1 material used in horse fencing today is vinyl. You're probably already familiar with vinyl because if the material used to make vinyl siding. However, the process by which vinyl siding is made varies greatly from the process by which vinyl fencing is made. The good news is that the benefits of vinyl horse fencing are vastly similar to the benefits of vinyl siding. The utilization of vinyl horse fencing means far less maintenance, far less upkeep, far fewer repairs, and a longer-lasting fence.

The construction of a vinyl horse fence is pretty straightforward. The most important things to remember when selecting a company to construct your vinyl horse fence is to discuss the process by which they handle construction. You'll find that selecting both the right company and the right material in the construction of your vinyl horse fence will make all the difference both aesthetically and structurally.

Do your homework and make some phone calls or inquiries into local fencing companies, or better yet, consider shopping online for the top installation options in terms of your horse fencing. As they say, knowledge is power. Use your power to protect your investment.