Articles & Advice

Alternative Fencing in New York: Vinyl Fences and Aluminum Fences

by Marcus Pickett

See if We Have Top-Rated
Fencing Professionals in Your Area

Related Articles

  • Find Top-Rated Pros
Fences

Too many homeowners run to wood for their fencing material without even considering the alternatives. For years, the commercial and industrial sectors have been scooping up low-maintenance fencing, while wood continues to dominate the residential fencing market, largely unchallenged. Wood is beautiful; few would argue with this maxim. The huge drawback of wood, however, is the cost and time investment required to reseal it every year or two. In New York, vinyl fences and aluminum fences are the fencing materials of choice for homeowners who want simple privacy and security fences without the hassle of another item on their spring cleaning list. By paying just a few extra hundred dollars for the initial installation, you can have your next fence, be the last fence you'll ever need. The gap in aesthetic has greatly diminished, too, as fencing manufacturers have begun to market their fencing lines for residential homeowners.

More Benefits of a New York Vinyl Fence
Vinyl is the best approximation of wood in terms of alternative fencing. The softer texture is more appropriate for homeowners concerned about the traditional appeal of wood fencing. It won't have the same smell, and it probably won't outright fool most people, but you'll still have a quality looking fence. You will also need to pay a little more for quality, decorative vinyl fencing. Older forms of vinyl fencing eventually had to be replaced because of fading associated with prolonged exposure to the sun. This is also why older forms of vinyl were available primarily in drab, neutral colors. Finally, vinyl fencing is fire and pest resistant to a much greater extent than wood.

More Benefits of a New York Aluminum Fence
Although aluminum fences in New York have been around for quite some time in the form of chain-link and wrought iron imitations, decorative aluminum fencing has opened up the possibilities for this material in traditional privacy and security fences. There is essentially no fencing type or design that aluminum can't appropriate, and the number of options can be overwhelming as much as illuminating. Some finishes, colors, and looks are available in aluminum and no other material. To guarantee a durable, long-lasting fence, you may need to purchase slightly thicker aluminum to withstand the severe weather of the Atlantic Coast, but if you do, you have every reason to believe that your new fence is the last one you'll ever need.

Need privacy or protection? We can help! Use this link to

Install a Fence

Cost of Vinyl and Aluminum Fencing in New York
There is little point in attempting to determine exactly how much your new fence will cost until you talk to specific contractors. Estimates tend to vary wildly. The size, materials, and design of your fence will naturally play a role in determining cost, but they are far from the only things that will ultimately decide how much you pay. The level of service and flexibility you require from a contractor can affect the cost of a fence installation by several hundred dollars. To this end, each and every contractor in our system is put through a rigorous ten-step screening process. We also publish our extensive collection of online customer ratings and reviews. Schedules for the best contractors tend to fill up quickly, however. You can often find several quality contractors for your fence building project, and by spending some extra money, you may be able to hire someone who can start on your fence immediately. You should be wary, though, of estimates that are substantially higher or lower than the competition.

That said, the best measurement of cost in the planning stages of a fence installation is to compare the cost of different materials. In New York, fence installation averages about $3,000 for a wood fence, $3,500 for an aluminum fence, and $4,000 for vinyl. Again, the initial savings for a wood fence is generally erased within the first few years of wood fence maintenance. Whether estimates seem outlandishly high or reasonably sensible to you, be skeptical about undertaking your own fence installation. More than fence posts and manual labor, proper fence installation requires surveying property lines, watching out for underground plumbing and electrical wiring, and navigating the slope of your yard. In the end, even if you do get the fence up, it almost certainly won't last as long as the professionals could deliver.

Marcus Pickett is a professional freelance writer for the home remodeling industry. He has published more than 600 articles on both regional and national topics within the home improvement industry.