They chose Composite – It Failed Within 5 Years
This is what happens when composite fencing is chosen for the wrong reasons. In this story, we look at a strata project where the product seemed like a good fit at first, but the long-term results told a different story.
This Surrey strata approached us in 2018 seeking a full fence replacement. Our estimator booked a site visit; when he arrived, he found the cedar fencing in rough shape and discussed what the strata council wanted. They decided they wanted a long-term, non-cedar solution that didnโt require maintenance.
WHAT PREMIUM FENCE QUOTED
We suggested vinyl, our proven, high-quality product, with a 50-year product warranty and a 10-year installation warranty. The quote was not the cheapest option; it was mid-range, because, just like most products, you get what you pay for.
WHAT THE STRATA CHOSE
The strata homeowners voted and chose a competitor with a composite product and, most importantly, the cheapest quote for a non-wood fence. Council was sold on it because it looks good and has dark colors; however, they were misled as to the performance of the composite, especially in the wet Vancouver climate, with little to no warranty.ย
5 YEARS LATER
Five years later, our Premium Fence estimator got a phone call – a frustrated client felt like the contractor they chose had conned them into installing an inferior product that underperformed in our climate. A composite fence that was promised to be long-lasting, but instead failed them. Warping and looking terrible, and they couldn’t get a warranty or a refund from the original installer.ย
We were called back to the site and saw that the 2019 composite fence installation looked 25 years old, not 5. So, they came back to us asking for another fence quote because their’s looked like thisโฆ
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Why does this happen? The fence looks like this due to sun and rain exposure, causing it to bow and swell. Composite is a mix of wood and plastic; it needs a dry climate because it contains 60% fibre. As a result, many companies have chosen not to warranty composite fences installed in this area due to our coastal rainforest climate.
So, is vinyl really that much better?ย
Yes! Itโs 100% PVC, with no wood or fiber materials that can swell, UV-protected, unattractive to insects and rot, and 100% recyclable. Weโve installed thousands of feet of strata vinyl fencing systems. The product warranty callback is less than 2%, and we offer full warranty coverage with a 20- to 50-year product warranty and a 10-year installation warranty.ย
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