There is no such thing as entirely maintenance-free fencing, but this is not to say that there aren’t some incredibly low-maintenance fencing materials out there that are as close to maintenance-free.
There is also little wonder as to why people are so interested in finding maintenance-free fencing panels, as most people would prefer to have garden fencing that doesn’t need much effort to keep looking good.
In this piece, we will discuss the various different types of maintenance-free fencing on the market and weigh the pros and cons of each so that you’ll be able to make an educated decision on what fencing material will be right for you.
There are many benefits to having a maintenance-free fence that we will discuss below:
One of the main reasons people like maintenance-free fencing is due to the fact that all of the materials on offer are incredibly strong and durable.
A maintenance-free fence will generally never warp, or become infested with insects, rot, or crack, unless something extreme was to happen to it. Metal fences are often painted or powder coated and will only rust if this outer layer is compromised in some way.
Composite fences and vinyl fences will only crack if they are struck very hard or installed incorrectly. This durability and strength mean you’ll only ever need to replace your fencing if something extreme happens.
While wood fencing may look great at first, it takes a lot of effort to keep it looking that way. Many people would prefer to have a fence installed and then not have to worry about it much more after that.
It can also take a significant amount of time to paint or treat an entire garden fence, which a lot of people don’t have, even if it is only a few times a year.
As noted above, wood fencing looks great at first but will deteriorate quickly if it is not painted or treated when it needs to be.
Maintenance-free fencing, on the other hand, will often continue to look good for years and will often only need to be cleaned every so often if you want them to look good.
Many maintenance-free fence materials are great for privacy fences, as they can slat into one another easily. Composite fences are particularly great for privacy fences and can muffle quite a bit of sound, so your neighbours won’t be able to hear and see your every move.
A lot of manufacturers that sell maintenance-free fencing offer great warranties on their products due to how strong and durable they are.
This means that while it is unlikely that you will have an issue with your maintenance-free fence, if worst comes to worst, you’ll be able to have it replaced or repaired.
Here at Ecoscape, our composite fencing boards come with a 20-year warranty, so you’ll be covered for a long while to come.
There are quite a few different types of maintenance-free fencing materials out there, and all of them have both pros and cons that will be discussed below.
Aluminium is one of the hardest maintenance-free fencing materials out there and can be made to look like wrought iron but won’t rust like it.
One of the main benefits of aluminium fencing is the fact that it is rust-resistant and incredibly durable. It is also the easiest maintenance-free fencing material to install. If you apply a powder coating instead of painting your aluminium fence, it will also be even more low-maintenance, as you won’t need to repaint it at any point in its lifespan.
Aluminium will also not rot, warp, splinter, or be affected by any insects, so you won’t need to treat it with any chemicals, and the only maintenance it will need is some cleaning every once in a while. This makes aluminium fences basically maintenance-free.
Aluminium fence panels can be a lot more expensive than many of the other fencing materials out there, which means that if you want to install your panels horizontally for privacy, you can expect to pay a pretty penny, as you will need a lot more aluminium complete your project.
While powder coating is better than paint for aluminium fences, it can scratch and will then need to have more powder applied to it. Aluminium fence panels can also dent and bend if they are struck. This can happen if you are mowing your lawn and your lawnmower shoots up a stone, but it will likely not be something you should be very concerned about.
At Ecoscape, we specialise in composite materials, such as composite fencing, and we can explain why it is one of the best fencing materials on the market. Composite fencing panels are made from Wood Plastic Composite, which is made with reclaimed wood fibres, recycled plastic, some bonding agents and some colourants.
Composite fencing can be made to look just like wood fencing, which is not very low maintenance but is far more durable than wood. Unlike a wood fence, composite fencing does not need to be painted, varnished, oiled, or sealed at all, as the inclusion of recycled plastic protects it from rotting, warping, splintering, and insects.
This coating also makes composite fencing more fade resistant than wood, which means that consumers who want a traditional wooden fence can have the best of both worlds, as they’ll be able to get the look of wood but won’t need to do any of the upkeep that comes with it.
Composite fences only need to be cleaned every few months in order to keep them looking spick and span, so you’ll end up saving a lot of time with this maintenance-free option.
Composite fencing is also very environmentally friendly, as it makes use of recycled materials. It is also cheaper than metal fencing while being almost as durable.
One of the only drawbacks of composite fences is that they are slightly more expensive to purchase than wood fences, but you will likely end up saving money in the long run, as there will be no need to purchase any maintenance materials. On top of that, the value of your property is likely to go up thanks to a durable fence.
Vinyl fences are made from polyvinyl chloride, which is more commonly known as PVC and can be a great maintenance-free fencing option if you are on a budget.
Vinyl fencing is the cheapest maintenance-free fencing option out there, which means that if you don’t want to spend a whole lot of extra time looking after your fence after it has been installed, but are on a tight budget, then vinyl fencing is a great choice.
Dust, dirt, debris, and mud can easily be cleaned off of a vinyl fence with just a garden hose and a cloth. Vinyl fences also never need to be painted or touched up in any way after they are installed.
You will also be able to find vinyl fences in many different types of styles, so you’ll likely be able to find one that suits you and your home.
Unfortunately, vinyl fence panels can scratch quite easily, which will make them look much duller, and there won’t be much you can do to brighten them up again.
Cheaper vinyl fence panels can also be quite brittle, so they can crack if they are struck hard enough by something like a fallen tree branch. This will mean that you will need to buy a whole new section of fencing, as vinyl cannot be repaired if it has cracked.
Some stains will also be nearly impossible to remove from a vinyl fence, and if these stains both you, you will once again need to replace the section of fencing, which can become costly.
Steel is the strongest and most durable maintenance-free fencing material that you can get and can also be made to look like wrought iron, just like aluminium fences.
Steel fencing is extremely hard to bend or dent due to how strong it is, so it is better than aluminium in that regard. It can also be made to look very aesthetically pleasing if it is styled and painted well.
A steel fence is your best bet if you want a fence for security reasons, as it will be very difficult to scale or break. Steel is a great option for a low-maintenance fence, as it only needs to be painted around twice a year and hosed off every so often to be maintained.
If you opt for a powder coating instead, you need to spend even less time maintaining your fence.
Unfortunately, the strength offered by steel fencing comes at quite a high cost, so you’ll need to be prepared to empty your wallet if you want your entire garden fence made from steel.
Steel fences also mainly come in the form of pickets and railings, so it will be difficult to find steel fencing panels for privacy fences.
If the powder coating or paint on your steel fence is scratched or compromised in some way, you will need to touch it up as soon as possible; otherwise, it could end up rusting.
The materials used to make a maintenance-free fence are often more expensive than wood, and the manufacturing process to make them also takes quite a bit more effort.
This drives the price up, but the fact that these fences are low maintenance means that you will eventually end up saving money by not needing to spend anything on maintenance materials like varnish, wood oil, and paint.
Ecoscape offers a wide variety of different colours of composite fencing boards that are guaranteed to keep looking good for years to come, long after they have been installed.
Go and check out Ecoscape‘s product website if you’re interested in purchasing some high-quality composite fencing of your own.
Composite fencing is made from Wood Plastic Composite, which is a mixture of recycled plastic and wood fibres, while vinyl fencing is made entirely from PVC.
If you want a fence that will last you for a long time, requires very little maintenance and looks good while doing it, then composite fences are certainly worth the money.
Yes, adding a fence to your property can most certainly add value to your home. It can give it a more secure look and make it more aesthetically pleasing all around, while providing a definite boundary to your property as well.
There are many different types of low-maintenance fencing to choose from, and nearly all of them will serve you well, but if you want to find out why everyone is so crazy over composite fencing, then our customer team at Ecoscape will happily show you why.
You can order free samples from us, as well, so you will be able to know exactly what our composite fencing colours will look and feel like in your own home.
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