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We live in an era of abundant choices. And just like everything else, there is a variety of fence and deck materials you can choose from. Each material has its own set pros and cons. This article can help you decide which is the best fence and deck material.
Various Fence Materials
Wood
The best part about wooden fences is their aesthetics. They look natural yet elegant. The durability of these fences depends on the type of wood you choose and the weather conditions. Some common wood fencing options are pressure-treated lumber, softwoods like cedar, and hardwoods like Ipe. The biggest disadvantage of wood is that it requires a lot of maintenance, repainting, and staining.
Vinyl
Vinyl fences are the easiest to maintain. They are water-, scratch-, mold-, and rot-resistant. Vinyl fences are available in several colors and styles. You can customize them according to your choice and preference.
Wrought Iron
Wrought iron fences are flexible yet strong, durable, beautiful, and light in weight. They require regular maintenance and care to maintain their aesthetics. Wrought iron fences need to be sanded or repainted every 2-3 years. They can be custom made to suit your house.
Aluminum
Aluminum is one of the most basic and attractive fencing types. Aluminum fences are durable and moderately weather resistant. Though these fences do not corrode or rust, they aren’t as stiff, rigid, strong, and flexible as iron fences.
Chain linking
Chain linking fences, also known as hurricane fences, are ideal for high-level privacy and security. These fences come in different mesh sizes and wire thicknesses made of galvanized steel, a weather-resistant material. As they are made of steel, chain links are strong and durable.
Various Decking Materials
Pressure-treated lumber
This is the most common type of decking material. Pressure-treated lumber is light in weight, easy to install, and can survive up to 15-years with regular maintenance. The disadvantage is that it is not entirely weather-resistant and it can also split, crack, or warp with time.
Hardwoods
These are the toughest wood decking materials. Ipe, Ironwood, Heartwood, etc. are highly dense, heavy, and most durable wooden deck materials. It becomes difficult to work with these variants because of their rigidity.
Vinyl
Vinyl decks are made of high-quality plastic polymers that may, in rare cases, look cheap. They are extremely easy to maintain and don’t require any additional painting or staining over the years. Available in several colors, finishes, and textures, vinyl is highly customizable.
Composite
Composite decking material is a blend of plastic and waste wood fibers. This material requires low maintenance and would not splinter or split for over 20-25 years. This material can mimic the look of a wooden deck.
Aluminum
Aluminum is the ideal decking material. It is cool on feet, weather-resistant, safe against pests and insects, and also do not warp, crack, or splinter. But it is the most expensive decking material, which is why aluminum decks aren’t commonly seen.
You can call our fence and deck builders to discuss the properties of each fence and deck material in detail. We have an experience of over 20 years in servicing, maintaining, and renovating homes across Alberta. If you aren’t sure which is the right fencing and decking material for your home, get in touch with us today, we will be more than happy to provide the best Alberta home services to you.