Wood Fencing Archives - Trex Fencing, the Composite Alternative to Wood & Vinyl

Stockade Wood Fence

November 3, 2016Edmund Rose

Considerations on the drawbacks of stockade wood fencing

The most popular wood fencing in the United States is built in the stockade style. The wood material varies by region and may include treated southern yellow pine, cedar, or redwood. This traditional design has its benefits. It is relatively inexpensive because it typically uses either 4×4 wood or round pipe steel posts, 2×4 backer rails, and 1×6 butted slats. It is easy to install and is so common, it matches other fences in a neighborhood. However, it also has its disadvantages:

Even when treated, wood fencing will eventually rot
Wood tends to warp, curve, splinter, and crack
Some wood is susceptible to insect damage
Wood pickets shrink, creating gaps which reduce privacy
Painting or staining must constantly be applied to reduce degradation and retain the fence’s appearance

Maintenance is the hidden cost that most homeowners do not consider enough when installing a wood fence. Regular painting and staining can be costly, time-consuming, and messy. Moreover, after a few years fence components will have to be replaced as they rot or break. Replacing a few slats here or there may not be too costly, but as soon as posts begin to fail, the expense can go up significantly, particularly in labor. It isn’t just the appearance of an old, broken fence that is a concern, a rotted post could cause fence sections to lean or fall over.

: Stockade fencing does not look the same on both sides

: Wood will shrink and rot over time

: Wood fencing requires regular maintenance

Trex Fencing is an excellent alternative to wood fencing

While the up-front cost is higher than a traditional stockade fence, there are several unique advantages to Trex Fencing:

The fence looks the same on both sides thus helping buyers avoid awkward conversations about who gets the “ugly” side of the fence
Trex will not rot, warp, crack, or splinter
Trex is fully private; even as it ages, the interlocking pickets will not allow gaps to occur
Trex never needs to be painted or stained
Trex stands out; the aesthetics of Trex are just as important as the function

One way of looking at Trex fencing is that all costs are front-loaded at the initial purchase. After that, while neighbors continue to pay for their fences over the years, Trex fencing customers will be able to spend their money elsewhere while still enjoying an attractive, durable fence for a very long time.

Trex fencing has the same appearance on both sides

Trex Fencing – Privacy Considerations and More

May 5, 2016Edmund Rose

Trex Fencing Offers Advantages Over Wood

In thinking about a property in high visibility area, particularly where a home or building is in an urban space or where the buildings on the property are close to the fence line, Trex provides several unique benefits:

The interlocking picket system completely blocks the view through the fence. Wood fencing is susceptible to shrinkage and can create unpleasant gaps which reduce privacy. Even a board-on-board design in wood isn’t fully private as wood pickets tend to warp creating gaps as well.
The fence looks the same on both sides. Most wood fences have framing on one side, but with Trex you will see the same elegant design as the passers-by on the other side.
Unlike wood fences where pickets are usually attached with nails or a significant number of screws, Trex is easy to disassemble if you need to replace some of the components. The interlocking system makes the fence secure, but if you need to take it apart, there’s no need to extract a large number of screws.
Trex provides better sound suppression than other fences. While it won’t entirely eliminate street sounds it can muffle them more effectively .
Trex is much thicker than vinyl. Kids kicking balls or throwing small rocks against the fence aren’t likely to break it in normal situations, whereas thinner-wall products break more easily with similar force.
Trex can be painted. For example, if graffiti has adhered and can’t be removed, the tagged area can be painted over. You can do that with wood as well, of course, but not with vinyl or similar manufactured products. And, unlike wood, Trex won’t rot, splinter, crack, or warp.
Block wall is susceptible to cracking as it settles. It also has a harsher “look” than a fence. If aesthetics are a big part of an owner’s decision, Trex soars past mere functionality.

Before & After Fence Installation in Chino Hills, CA

October 5, 2015Edmund Rose

One of the primary reasons homeowners select Trex fencing is to eliminate the nuisance of upkeep. Here’s an example of a project that shows a wood fence that was beyond the point of repair and what it looks like after Trex was installed.

It’s always nice to see BEFORE & AFTER shots. They demonstrate how much of a difference a new Trex fence can make in improving the appearance of a property. This particular Saddle color fence in Chino Hills, California is also a good example of how well Trex handles steep slopes. The brackets accommodate a significant angle and the rails cut just like wood.

Using Trex Posts with Ornamental Fencing

November 13, 2014Edmund Rose

Using Trex Posts with Ornamental Fencing

We spoke about the benefits of Trex® fence posts in a previous entry. This time, we’re talking about using Trex posts creatively with other materials besides the Seclusions rails and pickets. Since Trex posts don’t need to be used explicitly with the rest of Trex fencing, there are several different ways they can be applied … alternatives to wood posts in combination with wood pickets and rails, colonnade beams, landscaping timbers, railing posts for decks and patios, etc. Our blog post today describes one of the most popular ideas.

Get creative with ornamental fencing!

Of course, the Trex post is the standard support for the Seclusions fence. However, because it isn’t routed or grooved it has become popular to use it in conjunction with other materials. The most common configuration is to use the Trex post for ornamental fences. It gives an ornamental design the striking appearance of a more stately fence. It is also particularly attractive when a portion of a fence line is created with a full Trex Seclusions fence and with the remainder in ornamental such as iron or aluminum, creating the statement that these two fences compliment each other. Attaching the metal panels is often as easy as placing flat-mount brackets against the face of the Trex post.

It isn’t just looks that makes a Trex post an excellent alternative. The beefy 5″ x 5″ composite post is stronger and longer-lasting than 2″ x 2″ or 2.5″ x 2.5″ metal posts used with ornamental panels. Trex won’t rot or rust, and does not need to be painted or stained.

Trex Fence posts used with ornamental iron panels