4 minute read
Trends in Vinyl Fencing
PVC and Composite Fencing Trends in Vinyl Fencing
About 20 years ago, vinyl fencing was limited to certain heights and styles and available only in white. Thanks to a lot of research and technology advancements, vinyl is now available in a wide variety of colors and finishes.
“Throughout my 20 plus years in the fencing industry, I’ve seen many changes occur within vinyl products,” explains Jessica Burton, president of Poly Vinyl Creations in Florida. “My father, Robert Burton, a pioneer for vinyl fencing in Florida, incorporated many of the trends at my childhood home in Florida growing up. My dad would always tell me that next to Florida, Utah would look like a white sheet of snow in the middle of the summer due to all of the white vinyl.”
As the years progressed, lighter colors in tan and gray hues began to make their entrance into the industry but they were still very light because the titanium dioxide used in vinyl is a very white fine pigment that limited early adoption of colors, especially to provide long-lasting darker colors.
However, as the vinyl fencing industry has often mimicked the siding industry (with much simpler profiles), so have the color options available on the market, especially in the last five to ten years. Tan has started to replace white in many neighborhoods because it does not give off the bright white look while the call for more wood-like looks continues to be more appealing.
“The trends in color vinyl have skyrocketed in recent years as availability, new technology and demand grows. Initially, about 15 years ago, when colors were just starting to come about, we were nervous about the sustainability and weathering of color products. However, through research, design, and product testing, new formulations, especially over the past five years, have created time-lasting products from lighter woodgrains to black vinyl,” says Robert Burton, consultant and founder of Poly Vinyl Creations.
Initially colors began with the basics of white, tan, gray and clay. Then, mixing the colors and adding variegated or texturing to these colors increased product variety. However, market demand still wanted darker colors. Adding the variegated or the texturing or both helped meet part of the demand, but people truly valued the desire for “wood-looking” vinyl that would withstand the test of time.
“Initially for the industry, there was a large trial-and-error process as lab tests and reality do not always mix. However, today one of the most popular formulations to gain the deeper colors involves ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) to reach and sustain long-lasting dark colors,” explains Jessica.
“When I first started in the fence industry 15 years ago, there were a lot of subdivisions that would not allow vinyl fencing because it was not aesthetically pleasing as new wood fence,” explains Kristin Zommer, vice president of administration for Poly Vinyl Creations. “But with the onslaught of new colors and textures in new technology, vinyl fence is now on the forefront of achieving the outdoor living concept the market is demanding.”
Whether you have been in the industry for quite some time or are a newer entrant, the past three to five years has shown an uptick in all colors. Whereas white used to be over 90% of sales, it has now decreased to closer to 70% - 75% of sales with the variety of colors to meet the demands of architects, homeowners, and builders alike. Trends for outdoor living concepts have gained in popularity and are expected to grow for at least another 10 years and the vinyl industry is going to be a large part of that concept.
“As a newer entrant to the vinyl industry, I oversee a variety of specialty quoting within our company,” explains Samantha Carr, corporate office manager with Poly Vinyl Creations. “Since I started with the company four years ago, I have seen a continued trend, even during the pandemic, of increased requests and ultimate sales of our color product, specifically our darker color products. While installation requirements differ from basic colors and have been a bit of a learning curve for contractors, when installed properly, these darker colors truly withstand the test of time and increase home values and the aesthetic nature of the property.”
“Colors are definitely a process where we expect white and the lighter colors to continue to trend downward,” says Jessica. “Even with the increased costs we have seen in the past 24 months, the demand for specialty colors continues to increase. As demand and ultimately supply increases for the specialty colors, we fully expect that variety and color customization, which is already on the market, will continue to expand. White and even tan vinyl have become more of commodity product lines for the vinyl industry, whereas colors and specialty designs, textures and more are setting itself apart as the premium in vinyl fencing.”
Poly Vinyl Creations is a multi-generational corporation with multiple manufacturing locations and a certified Women Business Enterprise firm serving primarily the southeastern United States with specialty outdoor living products to the trade only – no retail sales. For more information, visit www.polyvinylc.com or call 800-780-FENC(3362).
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