Steel is strong. So why don’t we put steel inside our vinyl fence posts like some of our competitors do?
It’s a fair question.
At first glance, the logic seems obvious: if steel is stronger than vinyl, putting steel inside a post must make the entire fence stronger.
But a fence isn’t just a post.
The strength and long-term performance of a vinyl fence depend on how the entire system is designed, manufactured, installed and allowed to work together.
That’s why we’ve chosen a different approach.
We Don’t Need Steel to Make Our System Work
At Fence-All, we manufacture our Alexandria-style vinyl fence using a routered post system.
Instead of attaching pre-built panels to posts with brackets or fasteners, the fence rails actually pass into the posts. The components fit together as an integrated structure.
Think of the difference between attaching pieces to something and actually building the pieces into one another.
That distinction matters.
Our posts aren’t simply supports for a panel. They’re part of the structure itself.
It’s Not About What’s Inside the Post. It’s About the Whole System.
A fence has to deal with much more than a static load.
It has to deal with:
- Wind
- Temperature changes
- Vinyl expansion and contraction
- Frost and ground movement
- Repeated movement over many years
- The connections between posts, rails and pickets
In our experience vinyl fences age better without the rigidity that steel adds to the posts.
A well-engineered fence has all of its components working together.
And that’s where our approach differs.
Our Manufacturing Process Is Part of the Design
There’s another important piece of the story that isn’t always obvious when comparing vinyl fences.
Fence-All has invested significantly in state-of-the-art, in-house routing facilities that allow us to precisely machine our vinyl posts and components.
That investment isn’t about finding a way to leave something out. It’s about building the fence differently.
Rather than relying on steel reinforcement to compensate for a panel-and-post construction method, we use precision manufacturing to create an integrated, routered system.
The rails pass into the posts. Components fit together precisely. The finished fence becomes a system rather than a collection of panels attached to posts.
That’s a deliberate engineering choice.
Ottawa Is a Tough Environment for a Fence
A vinyl fence in Ottawa doesn’t live in a laboratory.
It lives through freezing temperatures, spring thaw, summer heat, wind and continual changes in the ground around the posts.
That’s why we believe the way a fence handles movement is just as important as how rigid an individual component is.
A fence needs to accommodate the realities of its environment rather than simply resisting every bit of movement.
Our routered system is designed around that principle.
The system matters more than any single component.
Ottawa winters can be tough on a fence. Our precision routed systems are designed to roll with the punches. It’s why we’re confident offering a lifetime warranty on our vinyl fences.
The Bottom Line
We’ve chosen to go without steel in our vinyl posts because we believe our system installs straighter and lasts longer. And we back that up with a lifetime warranty.
More Questions?
If you’ve got more questions about how we build our fences give us a call at (613) 736-1122. We’d love to hear from you!
