If it's time to put up a new fence around your yard, vinyl deserves some serious consideration. Vinyl fences tend to have a similar look and style to wood fences (many are even made to look like wood on purpose), but they offer several distinct advantages.

They don't require a lot of maintenance.

If you have a wood fence, you will need to treat it with water sealer or paint every couple of years to prevent it from rotting away and developing mold. You'll always have to be on the lookout for loose or cracked boards. Vinyl, on the other hand, requires very little maintenance. Aside from spraying it off with the hose when it starts to look dirty, vinyl fencing is essentially maintenance-free.

They won't splinter.

You have to worry about splintering wooded fencing if you have children or pets. A pet could chew on the fence and end up with splinters in their mouth, whereas a child could touch the fence and end up with an injured hand. Vinyl does not splinter, making it a far safer option if you have children or pets. Pets will be less likely to chew it because it does not break apart like wood.

They won't attract bugs.

Wood bees and carpenter ants love taking up residence in wooden fences. Once they settle in, they are hard to get rid of, since they build nests deep within the wood. Not only do these pests bite, but they damage the fence. Vinyl is not attractive to bugs, so your yard will be a safer, more enjoyable place to be. With vinyl, you don't have to spend money on insecticides, either.

They are better for the environment.

Wood might sound like an eco-friendly choice at first because it is natural. But think of the many gallons of waterproofing agents and insecticides you'd have to apply to a wooden fence over the years. Letting these leech into the soil and air is definitely not a good thing! Vinyl fencing does not require these treatments. Plus, you can find a lot of vinyl fencing that is made by earth-friendly companies who aim to produce their products with as little waste and pollution as possible.

To learn more about vinyl fencing, talk to a fence contractor in your area. Vinyl may cost a bit more up front than wood, but for most homeowners, it is a far superior choice.