What to look for…

Is the material VMA certified?

VMA (Vinyl Manufacturers Association) certified products are 3rd party, independently tested to ensure ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards are met or exceeded. This certification was designed specifically to protect the homeowner. Fence material that is not VMA certified will not have undergone the same rigorous pre and post extrusion testing. There will be inconstancies in the raw materials which can then lead to product failure and no protection for the homeowner.

Is the company insured?

As a homeowner, you could be liable for any damage caused by an uninsured contractor. Installing a new fence can be very dangerous due to the close proximity of underground services. Make sure the company will not only request all services to be located but also follow proper safety precautions when working near them.

Does the company have the capacity to complete your job on time?

Some companies will promise a certain date and be glad to take your down payment, but in fact, they will not actually stock the product which can lead to your fence being pushed back to a later date. If you are on a strict timeline, as a homeowner, be sure to write and include your requirements on the original contract.

Aren’t all vinyl fences the same?

No. Vinyl fence system components are available in a wide range of sizes and thickness. To reduce costs, some manufacturers decrease additives such as impact modifiers or use chalking TiO2, resulting in reduced strength and ultimately yielding inferior fence systems.

Is it recycled vinyl?

Homeland Vinyl Products use only virgin vinyl for all of their profiles. PVC resin is the main component used in vinyl fence profile compounds, equaling over 80% of the total. Like the flour used in a cake mix, a superior quality resin costs more than resin of inferior quality. We only use vinyl products we believe are superior to other available materials.

What is virgin vinyl?

This is the term used for vinyl product that does not contain recycled products. Recycled products that may be imported into an extrusion plant may contain impurities or lower grade vinyl which can seriously affect the finished product’s resilience, impact resistance and UV inhibition.

How does the cost of vinyl fencing compare with traditional wood fences?

The initial cost of vinyl (PVC) when compared to wood is slightly higher for the materials. However with the ever-increasing cost of wood this difference is becoming very minor. When all the varied cost factors are taken into account over the life of your fence, vinyl (PVC) becomes the true money saver. Factors such as having to replace the wood fence in 5-15 years, yearly maintenance costs (labor, paint, replacement boards, etc), and the effects on the environment because of arsenic in treated wood or the toxic chemicals needed to maintain a wood fence show that wood truly isn’t as cost effective in the end.

Some costs are hard to measure such as the costs to you of having a fence that looks in need of maintenance. The cost difference quickly vanishes, and in fact vinyl becomes a sound and financially viable investment in the future of your home. Once your vinyl (PVC) fence is installed you do not have to worry about painting, nails rusting, boards rotting, or splinters.

Are all product warranties the same?

No. A warranty is only as good as the company that stands behind it. The fence industry has seen products and/or companies enter the market, only to leave homeowners with a worthless piece of paper as a product warranty. That’s why you should check out the reputation of the company offering the warranty, just as you would when choosing the right contractor.

Will it break in extreme (hot/cold) weather?

No. The vinyl we stock has been engineered to accommodate temperature swings and climate condition changes. Any fence will break when enough force is applied. However, Homeland vinyl (PVC) profiles are formulated using impact modifiers in precisely engineered amounts to ensure the greatest impact resistance available. They are also engineered to withstand higher impacts than the minimum required by ASTM. Consumers may not be aware of the level of quality protocol necessary in the industry nor are they always knowledgeable of the standards by which manufacturing processes are examined. PVC resin is checked for moisture, color and content. The compound batches are analyzed in a pre-extrusion check for molecular fusion temperature and pressure. Extruded profile samples are cut and checked “on line” for color, gloss, radius and dimension and tested “off line” for impact resistance, as well as heat and freeze reactions.