Vinyl Fence Panels Are Breaking

Rising Posts

• If your vinyl fence posts have not been sunk below the frost line, they may be rising during cold temperatures. The frost line refers to the depth in the soil below which the temperature does not drop below freezing. If a fence post is installed above this line, it will get squeezed out of the ground as the soil freezes. This can place stress on the fence itself, leading to breaks and cracks. The fence posts will have to be sunk to below the frost line to prevent future problems.

Improper Trench Depth

• If the trench dug underneath the bottom of your vinyl fence is insufficient, the weight of the individual fence panels may not be sitting on their brackets and supported by the posts. Any high spots in the ground underneath the section of fence can lead to cracks and breaks in that spot. Clear out the area under the fence and leave a gap of at least an inch to prevent future problems.

Snow Removal Issues

• Vinyl is an alternative to traditional wooden or chain-link materials in many installations, but in some cases it can be damaged more easily. If you have a vinyl fence across the front of your house, you may find that the panels become damaged when a snow plow clears the street, forcing the weight of a snowbank on the material. The additional stress on the panels can bend and snap their brackets and, in extreme cases, even snap the posts. The only thing you can do is remove the snow as soon as possible, replace the panels as they break, or consider moving the fence.

Trimmers and Lawn Mowers

• Vinyl is a durable material, but it can be chipped or nicked by lawn maintenance equipment such as a lawnmower deck or a string trimmer line. Consider placing stones at the base of the fence to avoid getting a string trimmer or a lawn mower too close to the bottom of the panels. Powerful weed trimmers can chip the bottom of the panel and may even split the posts. Be extremely careful when landscaping around your vinyl fence.