Vinyl Fence Bracing Techniques

Purpose

• Vinyl fences are lightweight and not prone to bending or sagging on their own. However, they can still require bracing. The weight of a vinyl fence, along with the strain from wind and rain, can cause a fence to sag downward or lean in one direction. Snow drifts and ice buildup can speed up the process, leaving your vinyl fence in need of repair prematurely. Bracing keeps a fence straight, preserving its appearance and ensuring that it doesn't fall into your yard or a neighbor's yard, damaging plants or injuring people.

Support Braces

• One of the most common and easiest ways to brace a vinyl fence is with a series of support braces. These are short, vinyl-clad posts that fit between the bottom of the fence's bottom rail and the surface of the ground below it. Some vinyl fences have bottom rails that are several inches above the ground between posts, meaning that the top and bottom rails can eventually start to visibly sag from the weight of the pickets. Support braces, which come with some prefabricated vinyl fences, eliminate this problem.

H-Braces

• Installing and tightening H-braces is an option for bracing vinyl fences that are installed between wooden posts using wire in place of vinyl rails. This type of fence includes vinyl T-posts that hang from the wire. If the wire loses tension, the vinyl T-posts can touch the ground or swing freely in the wind. You can tighten an H-brace using a ratchet until the vinyl T-posts come into alignment.

Diagonal Braces

• In extreme cases, you may need to add diagonal braces to the back of your vinyl fence. This is an option if large snow drifts or heavy winds are common in your region. Diagonal braces brace the fence by connecting its top rail to the ground at a point several feet behind the base of the fence. While vinyl diagonal braces are an option, you can also use regular lumber if the back of your fence is hidden from view.