The Pros and Cons of Vinyl Railings
Whether you’re a homeowner or experienced contractor, it’s natural for you to want the best materials for an outdoor living space. The decking material is chosen and now it’s time to decide what type of deck railing is best for the project. We are continuing our deck railing series with an in-depth look at the pros and cons of vinyl railing.
When Is Vinyl Deck Railing a Good Option
With aluminum, composite, steel, and vinyl materials, there’s no shortage of deck railing materials to choose from for your outdoor living project. With all these other options, it’s natural to wonder when vinyl railing would be the best choice. Some of the main advantages of vinyl deck railings include:
- Low Maintenance: Since vinyl is incredibly flexible and durable, this railing option is very low maintenance. It can stand up to sun exposure and does not collect dirt and dust as much as some of the other options.
- Easy to Clean: When vinyl deck railing accumulates dirt, it’s much easier to clean compared to other types of railing. All you need is a power washer. With other types of railing, such as wood, using a power washer may erode the natural coating.
- Budget Friendly: Both homeowners and contractors have to work on keeping their project within a budget. Vinyl railing is a budget friendly option for building outdoor living spaces without compromising on strength. Plus, color options like Khaki and Almond, make it easier to match HOA guidelines.
- Durability: Vinyl railings are smooth and are resistant to cracking. They also won’t splinter like wooden railings, making vinyl deck railings a good option for homes with kids or pets.
- Strength: All the vinyl railing from Envision Outdoor Living is built with an aluminum core that offers metal-to-metal bracket attachment for increased strength. It’s a large part of what makes the deck railing from Envision so special.
What Are the Cons of Vinyl Deck Railing?
While vinyl railing offers plenty of benefits for an outdoor living space, there are times when it may not be the best option. For starters, vinyl railings come in limited color choices and typically aren’t able to support darker hues. As a result, if your outdoor living project calls for black deck railing, you’ll want to explore other options.
When you’re thinking about using vinyl railing, take style into account. Even though vinyl railings have a unique and attractive style, they don’t always match homes that are interested in a more modern or elegant look. Vinyl deck railing also use bracket covers in their design and installation process; although those brackets make installing the railing easier, and hide unsightly fasteners, they often clash with the aesthetic of higher-end and historical homes.
An Inside Look at Envision Outdoor Living Vinyl Railing
Along with the attributes mentioned above, Envision Outdoor Living’s vinyl railings offer several additional benefits. Our goal was to make our vinyl railing as installer friendly as possible. Instead of struggling with a tedious trial-and-error process, all you have to do is slide the vinyl sleeve over a wood post for a perfect fit.
With some vinyl railings, you hear a “ping” or metal clanging when walking on the deck. This happens because the bottom and top pieces of aluminum support inside the vinyl railing are making contact due to the vibration. Our vinyl deck railing features proprietary noise-reduction technology to eliminate that from happening.
Re-Envision Outdoor Living Spaces with Vinyl Railing
Whether you’re a homeowner looking to re-envision your outdoor living space or a contractor trying to differentiate yourself from the competition, our vinyl railing products can help. Our robust selection of railing options offers reliable performance in the style you want. Contact our outdoor living experts today and get started on your next project.
