The Best Vinyl Fence for Extremely Cold Weather

Standards

• Vinyl manufacturers aim for a precise point between flexibility and rigidness when the material is extruded during production. Too flexible, it becomes limp; too rigid and it cracks too easily. Manufacturers add an impact modifier that gives a strong rigid cast to the vinyl without making it too brittle. Before buying any vinyl fencing, you should ask the retailer if the materials meets the American Society for Testing and Materials standards for acceptable vinyl formulations. If not, you have no assurance that the vinyl meets even minimal quality standards.

Brittleness

• The best vinyl for extremely cold weather depends upon the cold spell's duration and temperature. Vinyl becomes brittle when exposed to extreme cold, but different manufacturers have different tolerances for their materials. Some vinyl may easily withstand 0 degrees Fahrenheit, but -10 may push it over the edge to become brittle and subject to breakage. If the weather is calm, the fence should be fine, but a high wind of 30 miles per hour or more may break it.

Different Applications

• Manufacturers generally do not provide cold tolerances for their materials to consumers, but fencing companies have access to that data and should be able to tell you which material will work best for your situation. Because extremely cold weather is different even between cities, such as Chicago and Minneapolis, what brand works best in the winter for one may not be best for another. The height of the fence, its style and the location all help determine which particular vinyl fence is the best.

Knowledge

• For manufacturers it may take a decade or more to spot problems in vinyl formulations, so working with a fence company that has been in business for 20 years or more gives you the assurance that the company has the experience to know which material is best for your particular climate. Ask how long the vinyl manufacturer has been in business; if less than 10 years, the manufacturer may still be in the process of fine-tuning its formulation.