Are you considering a plastic fence vs. a wood fence? First, let us admit—there is something rustic and beautiful about a (well-maintained) wood fence. But that beauty quickly fades when the fence becomes weather-worn, damaged, or rotten.

Good news! Advances in new engineering materials have made the modern plastic fence (or vinyl fence) a worthy alternative.

But is a plastic fence right for you? How does it compare to a traditional wooden fence regarding things like beauty, construction, and home value?

It’s time we made a head-to-head comparison of plastic vs. wood fences for your home.

Wood Fencing: Pros and Cons

Wood fencing is a traditional way, and many older houses sport this kind of fencing. It offers a variety of styles, but if you want something outside of a few industry-standard types, you will need to hire a carpenter to do a custom job.

Pros: Advantages of a Wood Fence

For all the nostalgia tied up in wood, there are only a few benefits for a homeowner or property owner:

• “Rustic” look that some people appreciate and enjoy
• Close-picket styles of wood fences offer a little more privacy (though there are both wood and plastic privacy fences available)
• Ability to customize

Cons: What Makes a Wood Fence Difficult

Many of the cons of a wood fence have to do with the material and its maintenance:

• It needs painting or staining to get the color you want
• Quickly rots/degrades if you don’t paint or stain immediately
• Paint or stain will need to be reapplied every few years
• Is prone to warp, shrink, and crack with the weather
• Easily damaged with severe weather or collision
• Prone to pests (such as carpenter bees)
• Prone to splintering and exposed nails
• Repairs are frequently needed because of the above
• It can be rather costly, especially if you are getting a custom-style

Plastic Fencing: Pros and Cons

Today’s plastic fencing is not like the plastic fences of your father’s generation. Most have lost that “cheap vinyl” look and can now mimic the shape and feel of wooden fencing. This makes plastic fencing an excellent overall compromise between budget and beauty. Plus, they’re significantly more straightforward to maintain than wood fences.

Pros: Advantages of a Plastic Fence

There are different brands and types of plastic fences, but they all share a few qualities in common:

• Do not need painting or staining (they come pre-colored, with a variety of colors available)
• They come in a variety of popular styles; some even mimic the look of wood
• Resist the elements (including intense sun, rain, snow, etc.)
• Do not warp, bend, or shrink (significantly) with temperature
• Do not rot with moisture
• Resistant to pests
• Easy to wash/clean
• It does not splinter; fasteners are not exposed
• Costs less than most other fencing options
• Available in privacy fence styles, too

Cons: Why Some People Still Resist the Plastic Fence

Much of the reason you don’t see more plastic fences is psychology. People associate “plastic” with “cheap” or “fake.”

But here’s an industry secret—many fences you see nowadays are plastic or vinyl. People overlook that, and the fences look so good! So, there are more plastic fences out there than you might think.

Here are some reasons people give for still resisting plastic fences:

• Less sturdy/robust than decorative steel or aluminum
• Harder to get unusual custom styles
• The homeowner still knows that it is not a “traditional” wood fence

Another issue some people have is that they’re worried their white vinyl fence will stain or fade over time. And for low-quality models, that might occur.

But when you work with a trustworthy company, the vinyl fence panels will typically be treated with a protective coating, preventing that fading and staining altogether.

Is a Vinyl Fence the Same Thing?

In a word, “Yes.”

These days, most “plastic” fences are made of PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, resin, the same material they use to create modern plumbing pipes, sign material, and several other products that need solid and maintenance-free.

The PVC resin is combined with other key ingredients that improve its sturdiness and weather resistance, making it an ideal fence material.

So, if a company offers you a vinyl fence, they use the industry name for what most people call a plastic fence. (So beware of the company that tries to “upsell” you a vinyl fence over their plastic one! Either the plastic fence is low quality, or they are trying to charge you more for the same product.)