Tired of painting, patching and replacing rotted boards? Rancho Oxnard Fence installs vinyl fences for homes across Oxnard. Vinyl has become the first choice on a lot of Oxnard lots for good reason: it does not rot in damp sand, rust in salt air or feed termites, and it needs little more than a wash. How well yours lasts comes down to how we set and reinforce the posts, because a solid vinyl panel catches a lot of wind.
Why vinyl does so well here
Three local conditions work against other materials and in vinyl’s favor.
- Damp sand. Much of the city sits on poorly drained sand, with winter groundwater about 2.5 ft down. Wood posts rot at the ground line in that; vinyl does not.
- Salt air. Spray near the coast and the soil itself attack bare steel. Vinyl does not corrode, though we still use coated or stainless hardware on it.
- Termites. Drywood termites thrive on this stretch of coast, and vinyl gives them nothing to eat.
The tradeoffs are wind load, heat movement and repairs, and we cover each one below. For a full side-by-side, read vinyl vs wood.
Planning your fence
When we visit, we settle the system and the layout with you:
- Style. Full privacy, semi-privacy with spaced boards, lattice top or picket.
- Color. White and light tan move less in the heat and show fading least; darker colors look sharp but soak up more heat.
- Exposure. How open your lot is to the Santa Anas, which sets how we reinforce the posts.
- Height and placement. The City of Oxnard needs no building permit for vinyl up to 6 ft; how tall each run can be depends on where it sits, and we check that for your address.
- Gates. Width, swing and frame reinforcement.
Your estimate names the system and color and lists the reinforcement, so you know exactly what you are getting.
How we stop vinyl from blowing over
Vinyl posts are hollow. On their own they flex; set in concrete and stiffened with a steel or aluminum insert, they hold. We put inserts where the loads are highest: gate posts, corners, ends and long open runs.
Santa Ana gusts of 50 to 70 mph from the northeast have been forecast right to Oxnard’s beaches, and a solid 6 ft vinyl panel acts like a sail. On the most exposed lots we can:
- Set the posts closer together
- Put inserts in every post, not only the ends
- Use semi-privacy boards or a lattice top that let some wind through
See Santa Ana winds and fences.
Heat, movement and color
Vinyl grows when it warms and shrinks as it cools, so we cut the rails with room to move inside the posts and the fence does not bow or crack. You may feel a little play in a long run, which is normal. A post that moves at the ground is not; that usually means a shallow footing or a missing insert.
Color affects movement. White and light tan reflect the sun and move less; darker colors absorb more heat and move more. UV rating and wall thickness decide how the color holds up in years of coastal sun, and both are on the spec sheet. Ask for it whenever you compare quotes; we include it with ours.
Want the system named in writing?
Our estimate lists the vinyl system, the color, the post inserts and the gate frames.
Styles
Full privacy
Tongue-and-groove panels with no gaps. The most private, and the most wind.
Semi-privacy
Spaced boards that let air and a little light through. A good choice on a windy lot, or when your neighbor prefers a less solid look.
Lattice top
A solid lower section with lattice above: privacy at eye level, less wind up top. The lattice still counts toward the total height.
Picket
Low and open for your front yard, where height is limited.
For layouts built around privacy, see privacy fences.
Vinyl gates
We build vinyl gates on metal-reinforced frames so they do not sag, and hang them on posts with inserts. We pick hinges and latches for the gate’s weight and for salt air. Double gates for a trailer or a boat get drop rods and a center stop, so the wind cannot swing them open. See gate installation and driveway gates.
What does vinyl cost?
Rancho Oxnard Fence’s typical range for a 6 ft vinyl privacy fence, installed, is about $35 to $75 per linear foot. Heavier tongue-and-groove systems, premium colors and decorative tops can run past $100. Gates, tear-out and any permit are separate lines on your estimate. The Oxnard fence cost guide explains what moves your price.
Vinyl on a slope
Vinyl panels are made level, so a sloped yard needs a plan. On a gentle grade, some systems rack so the rails follow the slope. On a steeper one, we step the panels down in level sections, which leaves a triangle of space under each step. We can fill those gaps with a matching skirt or leave them open for drainage, depending on whether you have a dog. We decide on site, because it changes post heights and the order we build in.
Fixing it years later
You can usually swap a cracked panel or rail on its own if the same system is still made. Your estimate records the brand, color and system name so we can order a match later. Keep it with your house papers. See fence repair if a section ever gets damaged.
Caring for vinyl near the coast
- Wash it with a hose and mild soap a couple of times a year to clear salt and dust
- Keep sprinklers from hitting the same panels every day, which leaves mineral spots
- Check hinges and latches for rust, and tighten them as the gate settles
- Keep trimmers off the bottom rail; we set the fence slightly above the ground for that reason
For other coastal options, read coastal fence materials. Swapping a tired wood fence for vinyl? See fence replacement.
