Upgrade to Vinyl Railings

Vinyl railing manufacturers have been pulling out all the stops to get you, the buying public to use more and buy more of their product. That is only to be expected given we are in the middle of the worst recession in 60 years but at the same time, there are some very compelling reasons why vinyl railings should be your choice when it comes to home improvement or new project construction.

Wood railings are the main competition for vinyl railings at this time but wood suffers from some very serious drawbacks. It is harder to install and requires more upkeep as it is subject to weathering and attack by insect pests - redwood and cedar (very hard woods) only have a life expectancy of 10 years or so. Vinyl will last a lot longer than a wood alternative - just take a look at a vinyl railing warranty (20 years or more) versus a wood railing warranty (a what?).

Vinyl is resistant to the elements and will keep looking great no matter how long you have it fitted. It is resistant to weather and insects do not look at it and see lunch. It is simple to maintain vinyl - it just takes a damp cloth and soapy water to make it look as good as new. With wooden railings you will need to sand, varnish, paint and treat on a regular basis to make sure it lasts even the restricted lifetime that is usually attributed to it.

Vinyl can take a beating - it is scratch resistant and hides wear and tear. If wood is scratched, the finish must be attended to not only to regain the appearance but actually to physically maintain the integrity and longevity of the wood itself. This requires sanding, painting, waxing, etc, and you are back to high-maintenance when a vinyl railing is simple – clean it!

Vinyl railings are also a cost-effective alternative to wood. Initial costs are pretty much the same across the board whether you want wood or vinyl but it is the cost over a lifetime of ownership where vinyl really comes through on top. As wood is high maintenance you need to scrape, sand, paint, polish, wax and spend hours doing this year-in and year-out – this is not just a time element but there is a clear financial cost as well. Maintaining wood requires financial expense to pay for these materials and they are not cheap – you must keep this in mind when you are trying to calculate how much wood will actually cost you over the life of the material. In the end, wooden railings can cost up to four times as much as vinyl and that does not include upkeep and maintenance of the wood. Vinyl railings clearly win on the cost factor by a very wide margin.