If you’ve been on the market for a new fence or if you think it is time to finally replace your old wooden fencing panels, then you’ve likely heard of composite fencing.
The fencing material has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, and it seems to be for more than a few good reasons.
This might make you wonder what makes composite fencing so popular and what composite materials actually are. Thankfully, you won’t be left wondering for all that long.
In this piece, we will explain what composite fencing is made from and how exactly it is made, so you can figure out if it will be the right material for your new fence.
What Is Composite Fencing Made From, And How Is it Made?
Before we delve into how a composite fence is made, we should first discuss the material it is made from and how it is created.
Wood Plastic Composite
Wood Plastic Composite, or WPC, was created in order to make a stronger, more sustainable building material than wood.
The result was a mixture of recycled materials, which are recycled plastic and reclaimed wood fibres. Some bonding agents and colourants are then added to join the materials together and colour the composite fencing panels.
At EcoScape, our composite fencing panels are made from 45% recycled HDPE and 55% reclaimed wood fibres, which makes it a very eco-friendly choice.
The wood fibres used in the process are gathered from old wood chips and sawdust that would otherwise end up at a landfill.
How is it made?
Once all of the components have been added to the mixture, it is heated to a very high temperature and then extruded into fencing panels or poured into a fencing panel mould. They are then embossed and left to cool.
The resulting composite fence panels look similar to wood fence panels, as they are often fitted with an imitation wood grain finish but are much more durable.
What Is The Difference Between Capped And Uncapped Composite Fencing?
Composite fence panels come in two main types, which are capped and uncapped composite fence panels. There are some slight differences between the two, which will be explained below:
Capped composite fencing panels
Capped composite fence panels are newer than uncapped composite fence panels and therefore offer a better feature.
Capped composite fence panels are co-extruded, which is a process that provides them with an extra coating. This coating is a membrane that uses UV inhibitors, antioxidants and colourants, which preserve them and offer improved protection from damage and sun exposure.
While they are slightly pricier, capped composite fencing panels are much more durable than traditional wooden fencing panels, so they will last you a lot longer and need significantly less maintenance.
If you have the extra money to spend, then capped composite panels will be your best bet.
Uncapped composite fence panels
Uncapped composite panels are usually made through compression moulding and do not receive an extra membranous coating.
This makes them slightly less durable than capped composite panels; however, they are still far more durable than wood fencing panels.
They will be less scratch resistant and fade-resistant but will almost be the same in every other department, so if you don’t have the money to spare, then uncapped composite panels will be just fine for composite fences.
What Are The Benefits Of Composite Fencing?
Composite fences are popular for a reason, as they offer many extra benefits when compared to traditional wooden fences.
Listed below are some of the most important reasons why you should choose composite fencing for your home:
Durable
Composite is one of the most durable fencing materials that money can buy, and this is due to the inclusion of recycled plastics.
This plastic causes composite fence panels to keep their colour for longer, withstand weather conditions better, and last longer in general.
Composite fencing will never rot, warp, splinter, or become infested with insects, as the inclusion of plastic keeps the wood fibres from doing so. The recycled plastics also make it more resistant to scratching than wood fencing.
This is one of the reasons why wood fencing lasts between 15 to 20 years, while composite fencing can last for much longer than this if it is properly cared for.
If you buy your composite fencing from us here at EcoScape, we will also provide you with a 20-year warranty, so even if you do encounter any issues, we’ll be able to solve them long before your warranty expires.
Low maintenance
While real wood fencing can look very good when you first install it, it can take a lot of work to keep it that way. A wood fence will need to be varnished, painted, stained, or oiled a few times a year if you want to prevent it from rotting.
If you have a large garden fence, this process could take you quite some time to complete. Not to mention the fact that you’ll also need to purchase these products and hire someone to do it for you if you don’t have time to do so yourself.
Composite fencing, on the other hand, only needs to be cleaned every few months or so. This can easily be done with a pressure washer, with the pressure set to low; otherwise, you could end up damaging your fence panels.
If you don’t have a pressure washer, a soft-bristled brush, hosepipe, some soapy water, and some elbow grease will do the trick just as well.
Composite fencing can look just as good as natural wood fencing, but it can do so without all of the extra hassles.
Sustainable
Climate change is a very real issue that the world is dealing with, and we should all be doing our part to reduce our carbon footprints as much as possible.
While you might think that wood fencing would be quite eco-friendly, the timber used to make it often needs to be transported great distances to get where it needs to be. This means a lot of fossil fuels need to be burned to get it there.
The trees used in for wood fencing also take a long time to grow and are often grown in man-made forests that do not have any natural fauna or flora.
Composite fencing, however, is made almost entirely from recycled materials, which would otherwise have ended up in a landfill, taking up unnecessary space. Instead, these materials are being used to create durable, aesthetically-pleasing fencing materials.
Composite materials are also made locally in the UK, so they do not need to be transported all that far to end up as finished products.
Versatile
While you can use any colour of stain that you want on your wood fence, the stain will often mix with the colour of the wood if it is not laid on thick enough. This causes the colours to blend, so you might not end up with the colour you want.
Composite fencing panels can be almost any colour, as their colour is added during the manufacturing process, so you’ll easily be able to find a colour you like. At EcoScape, we currently have three different colours to choose from, with more to arrive in the future.
How Much Does Composite Fencing Cost?
If you decide to purchase your composite fencing from EcoScape, then it will cost you around £15.31 per fence board.
While this might be a bit more expensive than wooden fence panels, you will end up saving money on time, as you will need to worry about maintenance far less. Our 20-year warranty will also cover you if anything goes wrong with your fence panels.
FAQs
Is a composite fence worth it?
If you take into consideration that composite fencing is much more durable and lower maintenance than wood fencing, then it is most definitely worth the extra money.
You also won’t need to spend any money on treatment products like you would with timber.
Does composite fencing fade in the sun?
Your composite fencing will fade to become a few shades lighter a few weeks after it has been installed; however, the colour will soon stabilise after this and should stay consistent for many years to come.
Is composite fencing maintenance-free?
Composite fencing is basically maintenance-free, as you’ll only need to clean it every few months. It does not require any annual treatments or the application of protectants and stains.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how composite fencing is made and what it is made from, you can make an informed decision when you decide to purchase your new fencing panels.
EcoScape is the best place to do so, as we offer great warranties, delivery, and competitive pricing.