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Frequently Asked Questions
We’re here to help, whether you need product guidance, install instructions, warranty details, or quick answers to common questions.
At Gardner Fence, we stand behind every product we sell and aim to make your experience as smooth as possible, from pre-purchase questions to post-install support.
Can I order vinyl fencing online?
Yes you can order some parts online but for larger orders please email or contact us direct for our best price available.
How do I contact Gardner Fence?
If you need to speak to a live person about vinyl fencing, call 800-788-3461 for sales and customer service. Or, if you’re having a problem and feel you need to talk to the President, call Trevor @ 651-263-1244, and his email is Trevor@gardnerfence.com
What is vinyl fence made of?
Vinyl fence is made of poly vinyl chloride, the same material as vinyl siding and vinyl windows. It is NOT PVC pipe. The difference is that PVC pipe does use some of the same ingredients but does not have the weatherability and strength found in siding, windows and fence.
How tough is vinyl fence?
When vinyl fence is made properly it is as strong as wood. Vinyl fence behaves differently from wood (if it breaks it usually won’t leave wood-like slivers or splinters to hurt you or your animals) it is more suitable for containing livestock than a wood fence. Vinyl fence can be climbed on and over similar to any other fence.
Will vinyl fence enhance my property value?
Yes, Gardner vinyl fence provides beauty for your property and security for your animals. This is why many of the biggest developments, ranches and stables in the world use Gardner vinyl fencing for their property.
Does sun and weather affect the fence?
Installed properly, vinyl fences are designed to withstand normal winds. The amount of wind the fence will handle depends more on installation than the actual fence itself. Again, with proper installation, Gardner Fence will withstand most anything “Mother Nature” can throw your way. Weathering tests have shown Gardner fence has an anticipated weathering life of up to 80 years. A surface coating of TI02 - titanium dioxide acts like suntan lotion to protect the plasticizer in the vinyl from leaching out, which is what causes most plastic products to turn brittle and fail.
How does my vinyl fence affect the environment?
Vinyl fence destroys no trees, requires no paint or chemical treatment, as does pressure-treated wood, so there are no chemicals to pollute the air or soil. It simply takes less energy (both fuel and human) to produce, install and maintain a Gardner Fence. And, if you should decide to remove your fence, it can be recycled.
Does vinyl become brittle in winter?
Vinyl will become less flexible in colder weather conditions. However, unless subjected to unusual impact, it will not break or crack. Our products have been engineered to accommodate normal temperature swings.
Does it expand?
It is normal for vinyl materials to expand and contract during temperature changes. This has little or no effect on the appearance or structural stability of a Gardner Fence.
Will vinyl fencing turn yellow?
Gardner Fences are warranted for a lifetime against yellowing! No need to worry about painting either. Simply wash with a power-washer and mild detergent for a clean-as-new look each time.
Will it crack, chip, peel or rot?
During the life of the product, you should not expect to find surface cracking, peeling, chipping or rot. Your fence is covered by a lifetime warranty.
What if a horse kicks it?
It can break, but it will take a lot of impact. It’s designed that way for the safety of both animals and riders.
What kind of maintenance does my vinyl fence require?
Virtually no maintenance is needed for your vinyl fence. Gardner Fence Systems are impervious to deterioration from moisture, temperature extremes, ultraviolet exposure and the wear and tear from time itself. You’ll never have to scrape or paint your fence again, unlike any wood, metal or imitation polyvinyl fence. From the day your fence is installed, all traditional fence maintenance halts. As with all exterior products, our fence will become dirty when exposed to the elements. Pressure washing with a mild detergent and water should be sufficient to keep your fence or deck rail looking new. For tough stains. Soft Scrub(TM) or baking soda works well. Simple Green(TM) and 0000 steel wool also works to clean stubborn stains.
Will it mildew or collect mold?
Mildew grows wherever there is high humidity. It doesn’t grow on the vinyl fence itself, but on the dirt and dust which sticks to the fence and gives the mildew a medium to grow. You can get rid of it by spraying with a diluted (1 cup bleach per 1/gal H2O) bleach solution. Or, by using a pressure washer, or simply scrubbing with soap and water using a sponge or brush.
How does it hold up to weed eaters?
As with all vinyl and wood products, direct contact with lawn and garden equipment can cause damage to the posts. Use caution when operating any type of equipment near fence posts, especially commercial trimmers, which are more aggressive.
What about cribbing?
Horses get no satisfaction from cribbing Gardner vinyl fence. It has no taste, provides no salt or slivers and, of course, no tasty but usually harmful paint chemicals. Some horses may scratch at it a bit, but usually give it up quickly because they can’t taste it and can’t chip off slivers.
Do you have a way to keep small animals and pests out…no climb wire?
There are several answers. You can use roll chicken wire, 2×4″ wire or even coated chain link fence. We recommend screwing the wire to the posts with galvanized automotive fender washers (which you can get at any automotive store) and stainless steel fender washers, self-tapping screws. Bury fine wire into the ground for burrowing critters.
How do I install vinyl fence?
See our informational Instructions for Vinyl Fencing for detailed installation instructions online.
Do you cement the posts?
We recommend that you treat vinyl posts the same as you would treat wood posts. Cement in all posts. Gate posts should be set deeper, using both concrete and two pieces of re-bar in the posts. We recommend setting posts at 24 inches minimum with cement around the bottom of each post.
Why shouldn’t I set the posts deeper and fill them with concrete?
Frost forms from ground level down. In spring, it thaws from bottom up which is what causes heaving. All our posts require is a “donut” of concrete at the bottom of the hole. Since the posts are hollow, they “breathe” up through the center so frost heaving is not a problem.
What are end posts and why do I need them?
In running fence, rails go through the posts, so posts have holes on both sides. End posts have holes routed only on one side and are needed where you start or stop a fence so the routed holes for the rails don’t show – on each side of gate, for instance. Or where your fence starts or stops.
What is a notching tool and why would I need it?
A notching tool is used to crimp the rails so they lock into the posts. Your rails come notched at both ends unless you request differently. The only time you would need a notching tool is when you cut a rail to shorten a section, or if you want to stagger rails, or when you add a gate. For smaller enclosures, people are inclined to cut rails short instead of bending them, which makes for a chopped up look. The rails are designed to bend, and generally enclosures look better when rails are used in their full length.
Why are your 3 Rail posts 6 1/2’ long?
The short answer is because that’s all they need to be…two feet underground, four and a half feet above. Over the years, the entire industry has moved from 8 feet to a 6 1/2 foot post standard because it found there was no advantage to taller or deeper-set posts. In fact, nothing was gained in strength for the extra digging labor and material costs of longer posts.
Please note that we can supply posts of any length from 4 feet to 10 feet to fit your needs.
How flexible is your fence? What is the minimum enclosure I can make?
What is the minimum enclosure I can make? You can bend the fence to make a 30′ enclosure. Smaller than 25 feet you need to cut the rails to 8 feet., but the rails are designed to take a flex, and when woven between the posts instead of cutting them short, it looks great.
Why is the fence color sometimes different on the inside than on the outside?
On the outside surface, we use virgin vinyl material for consistent bright color. Beneath the surface layer, we use high quality clean regrind from vinyl siding and windows, which is actually higher quality PVC than fence application would require. It is the strength and stability we’re looking for, and this regrind supplies it. But, because siding and windows come in colors, sometimes the inside of the posts and rails are a different color than the outside.