FAQs

“Vinyl” is short for polyvinyl chloride, also called PVC, a plastic material widely used for applications that demand high durability. The prefix “poly” refers to the fact that the molecules are chemically linked to one another in long chains, called polymers. Although PVC is the principal ingredient in vinyl fencing, other ingredients are added to give the fencing desirable properties. For example, special ingredients, called impact modifiers, are added to improve the impact resistance of the fencing. Titanium dioxide (TiO 2) is a white pigment that is added for long-term resistance to ultraviolet (UV) light, a component of sunlight that tends to discolor and embrittle most substances that are exposed to sunlight over long periods of time. DuraMax specially formulates its vinyl to withstand the sunlight typically experienced in the US Southwest, which is harsher than elsewhere. It does this by using a higher proportion of TiO 2 as well as adding special UV inhibitors and modifiers. The resulting formula, called DuraResin, unique to DuraMax products, is the only one that has been created specifically for homes in the Southwest.

No. The initial investment for vinyl is much less than for custom ornamental iron fencing. Compared with decent quality wood and metal fencing, the initial cost of vinyl may seem to be a bit more, but when you consider that vinyl needs no sanding, priming, or painting, the installed costs are about the same. However, the most meaningful comparison for most homeowners is the total cost over the lifetime of the product or over the years that the property is owned. In the long run, vinyl is by far the most economical type of fencing you can buy. Vinyl will never fade, rot, rust, peel, or look old. It resists cracking and it never needs painting, so there’s no paint to chip off. That means it never needs repainting, either. Nor replacing due to aging or weathering.

No. The initial investment for vinyl is much less than for custom ornamental iron fencing. Compared with decent quality wood and metal fencing, the initial cost of vinyl may seem to be a bit more, but when you consider that vinyl needs no sanding, priming, or painting, the installed costs are about the same. However, the most meaningful comparison for most homeowners is the total cost over the lifetime of the product or over the years that the property is owned. In the long run, vinyl is by far the most economical type of fencing you can buy. Vinyl will never fade, rot, rust, peel, or look old. It resists cracking and it never needs painting, so there’s no paint to chip off. That means it never needs repainting, either. Nor replacing due to aging or weathering.

DuraMax fencing comes with a Lifetime Transferable Non-Prorated Limited Warranty. “Lifetime” and “Non-Prorated” are clues that when we say it lasts, we mean it. And “Transferable” is a clue that when we say it adds value to your property, we back that up as well.

Wind loads vary with location, and with the placement and installation of the vertical posts and horizontal rails. When the fencing is installed according to specifications, wind is never a problem. As for weathering, vinyl does not rust and it holds up better than any alternative fencing material on the market. All components are designed to allow for normal expansion and contraction with varying temperature, and the fencing will withstand even the most extreme weather conditions. It will not deform in the hottest weather, nor crack or break on the coldest night.

CAUTION: If you live in the Southwest, where the sun tends to be stronger than in other parts of the country, weathering due to ultraviolet radiation can be a problem—UNLESS it’s DuraMax fencing. DuraMax fencing is the only vinyl fencing manufactured in the Southwest. Its vinyl is extruded from a specially formulated DuraResin material that contains 12 parts per hundred titanium dioxide, which acts as an effective sunscreen. DuraResin also contains special UV inhibitors and modifiers designed to withstand strong UV sun rays. Unlike DuraMax, other brands of fencing are manufactured in regions where the sun is less intense, and they are extruded from resins that are NOT formulated to withstand intense UV.

Vinyl has a flash point of nearly 1000 degrees so it is hard to ignite. It is classified as a “self-extinguishing” material.

Under certain conditions mold and mildew can settle on the surface of vinyl fencing. But since it cannot penetrate the surface, it is easily wiped off with detergent and water.

A once-a-year washing will keep your fencing looking new indefinitely. The fact that this is the ONLY maintenance needed is one of the main reasons why vinyl has been gaining in popularity. Other fencing materials require an ongoing commitment to a costly and time-consuming program of maintenance.

Lawn equipment such as power mowers, trimmers, and weed eaters can damage any fence posts—vinyl included. But since vinyl fencing consists of standardized components that are easily replaced, damage is less of a problem than with alternative fencing materials that are variable and need to be carefully matched, or that need to be sanded, primed, and painted.

While all fencing is vulnerable to graffiti, vinyl is very easy to clean. In most cases, a little paint thinner does the job. In extreme cases, a pressure washer or some sandpaper may be required.

Installation requirements are no different than for wood fence posts. If you live in an area where concrete is normally used, you would use it for vinyl as well. If concrete is not usually used for wood posts in your area, you would not use it for vinyl posts either.

Our standard components come in a large variety of shapes and sizes. This provides a tremendous selection of “building blocks” and permits virtually unlimited customization of your fencing. Almost any style you’ve seen in wood, metal, or vinyl fencing—as well as many you’ve never seen—can be created with DuraMax.

No problem. Your local dealer/contractor knows how to use our standard vinyl components to fabricate gates.

Yes. Depending on circumstances and local building codes, high vinyl fencing may require reinforcement of the posts, but this is equally true for other materials.

Absolutely.