Vinyl is the most energy-efficient major plastic. It is largely derived from salt — an abundant and inexpensive resource. Vinyl products consume less energy, generate fewer emissions, and save more energy than many competitive products.
Durability
Vinyl is the most widely used plastic for building and construction. Because it's strong and resistant to moisture and abrasion, vinyl is ideal for siding, windows, roofing, fencing, decking, wallcoverings, and flooring. Vinyl will not rot or corrode like many other materials and does not need cleaning with harsh chemicals or frequent painting.
Excellent fire performance
Vinyl's chemical makeup makes it inherently flame resistant. Rigid vinyl building products are slow to ignite, their flame spread is slow, and they cease to burn after the flame source is removed. Flexible vinyl building products may contain plasticizers, which are flammable, but either because the amounts are sufficiently low or because the materials also contain fire retardants, most flexible vinyl building products also resist burning.
The products of vinyl combustion are no more hazardous than those produced by burning many other common materials, both natural and synthetic.
Vinyl is one of few materials that meet the stringent National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements for insulating electrical and data transmission cables, including in plenum applications.
Compare Fencing Materials:
|
Vinyl
|
Wood
|
Iron
|
|
| Projected Life |
50+ Years
|
5-7 Years
|
5-10 Years
|
| Maintenance Free |
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
| Graffiti Resistant |
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
| Termite Free |
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
| Fungus & Dry Rot Free |
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
|
Free of Harmful Chemicals (Arsenic, Lead, Creosote) |
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
| Needs Painting |
Never
|
Regularly
|
Regularly
|
| Color Stable |
Yes
|
No
|
No
|
| Price | Moderate, but requires virtually no maintenance or replacement | Less expensive in the short-term, but more expensive long-term because it requires frequent maintenance and replacement | Expensive, and requires frequent maintenance and replacement. |
