Will a vinyl fence survive a hurricane in Brunswick?

A well constructed fence may very well stand a chance. A vinyl fence is only as strong as its weakest point and that is not the panel itself. It's the post. We pour posts in concrete. We reinforce them with aluminum or steel inserts for long runs and at gate points. We use routed rails which interlock in to the post. Our fences have stood up to the tropical storms which have been running across Glynn County over the past few years.

Does vinyl turn yellow or brittle in the Georgia sun?

Yes, cheap vinyl does. We install fence grade vinyl. It has titanium dioxide and UV inhibitors mixed into it (not just coated) to maintain color and flexibility in the heat of Brunswick summers. This is why it does not need paint either.

What about mildew on the shaded side?

Vinyl does not rot to feed mildew like wood does. But here in Brunswick's humid climate, there's sometimes a green film that grows on the north (shady) side. You just spray it off with a garden hose & soft brush, or a little diluted household cleaner for the tougher spots. That's the extent of maintenance.

Is vinyl more expensive than wood in Brunswick?

Yes typically significantly so. It usually ends up the same or better after 15+ years (no staining, no replacement of board, no repaint) etc. We provide both numbers at estimate time for you to make the choice.

Do I still need a permit for a vinyl fence?

Yes. It all depends on your lot's location if you get it from City of Brunswick or Glynn County. Height and setbacks don't change on what the material is. We will check and apply for it.

Can you set vinyl posts in the wet ground near the marsh?

Vinyl posts don't rot, excellent for lower Brunswick lots. But you still need a good foundation if you have soft ground. More depth and width for the soft areas, and if you hit real marsh swamp you may want to switch to firmer ground where the line crosses it.

Vinyl fencing in Brunswick, GA: a privacy fence that ignores the humidity

Brunswick's climate is hard on wood. Vinyl was made for exactly this kind of place.

Ask any Brunswick resident that's had a wood fence for a decade about the bottom rail. It's just a fact in a town where it's humid for weeks after a summer shower and never really seems to get dry that the bottom rails of a wood fence are always the first thing to fall apart. Because vinyl doesn't absorb water. It doesn't rot. Doesn't feed termites. Doesn't require stain. We often recommend vinyl as the choice of material for those in Windsor Park, Country Club Estates, Sterling and all the new developments off the Golden Isles Parkway if they're looking for a fence to forget about.

We install vinyl privacy, semi-privacy and picket fences all over Brunswick and the rest of Glynn County at Golden Isles Fencing and Excavation. We're a locally based family-owned, Christian-based company that builds vinyl the way it needs to be done around here, by putting the focus on posts instead of panels.

White vinyl privacy fence being installed between two houses, with bracing and offcuts still on the ground — A white vinyl privacy run going in between two houses, panels braced until the posts cure.

Why the post matters more than the panel

A vinyl fence panel is light, flexible. It will flex and spring back in a high wind. The failure point of the fence is that the post which you lock it to will lean, crack or come out of the ground. And in Brunswick we have a problem of ground. The high water table, fine sand. The post doesn't grip as well in that ground as it does on the clay inland. We set 6' privacy fence (vinyl) to a 5" post deeply set into concrete footing in Brunswick. If we have long stretches of fence without breaks in the line, we put an aluminum or steel stiffener inside the post. Also at corners. At each gate. We crown the footing so that water will run off from the post rather than collect in a cup around the post.

We also use routed posts and rails as opposed to surface mounted brackets. So that the rail goes thru the post and locks. So you don't have the panel pop out as the fence flexes. Sounds like a small detail but it's the difference between a fence that is still there after a tropical storm and one that's in the neighbors yard.

Wind, sun and salt in Brunswick

Brunswick gets the same tropical storms that the islands get, only slightly less direct salt spray due to the marsh and islands between the city and the ocean. We don't worry about salt on vinyl anyway but we do worry about wind and sun. If you have an open lot near the river or causeway or airport we suggest using a wind rated panel with the heavy rail or a semi privacy with narrow gaps to allow pressure escape. The fence grade vinyl we install has the UV inhibitors in the entire material so it won't chalk or turn yellow or brittle on a Georgia August. White fence in Brunswick will stay white.

Finished white vinyl privacy fence and matching gate enclosing the back yard of a newer home — A finished vinyl privacy line with a matching gate, closing a back yard off from the street side.

Styles that work on Brunswick lots

Tongue-and-groove privacy. 6 ft tall solid panels for backyards and pool area and pet owners. Most popular vinyl fence in town.
Semi-privacy and lattice-top. Solid bottom with lattice or spaced picket top section to break it up when you have a long run. Allows wind to pass through.
Picket. 3 and 4 ft for front yard areas (height restriction from city and county) for older neighborhoods.
Ranch rail. 2-3 rail vinyl for larger properties (towards Sterling and Blythe Island area) if you just want a boundary not a screen.

Permits: city or county

No rules change with Vinyl. Fences inside the city limits are a City of Brunswick thing. And Glynn County Community Development. For fences outside. And the setback is different. And the front yard height is different. And corner lot sight lines are different. We get a lot of surprised homeowners that find out they're in the county, with a Brunswick address on Altama Avenue for example. Or Blythe Island. We check the parcel before quoting. And we do the application. Plus, if it's a street-facing fence in Old Town historic, it may also have to go thru the city's historic review. Usually want to see picket style as opposed to solid panels in front of house.

How a Brunswick vinyl job runs

Estimate. We line out. We check pins and low spots. We verify jurisdiction. We price wood and vinyl side by side for you to compare.
Prep. We take out old fence. Clear brush. Level (a quick one) wet line. Our crew does all that.
Posts. Deep set concrete, internal stiffeners where designed for, cured.
Panels and gates. Routed rails locked in post. Stepped or racked panels to ground. Adjustable stainless hinges on gates.
Walkthrough. All gates checked. Glued on caps. Removed scrap.

White vinyl privacy fence with a gate running alongside a white clapboard house — White vinyl against a white house: no staining, no sealing, hose it down and it is done.

Maintenance, such as it is

Wash off your fence once or twice a year. In Brunswick's humid weather you can get a light green film growing in the shade over a summer. Hose and soft brush remove. Or mild household cleaner (a little bit diluted) if there's a tough spot. Don't use string trimmers on the bottom rail. That's it. Don't stain it, don't paint it, don't replace boards.

If you're considering using vinyl in your Brunswick yard, we'll visit, measure, and give you a written estimate of cost for vinyl and wood side by side. Free estimates, and financing available for larger jobs.

Vinyl fencing across the Golden Isles

Island lots bring different wind and covenant rules. Read about vinyl fencing on St. Simons Island, vinyl fencing on Jekyll Island, and everything we do as a fence company in Brunswick.

Comparing options in Brunswick

Not sure vinyl is right? See our wood fencing in Brunswick, aluminum fencing in Brunswick, fence repairs in Brunswick, and vinyl fencing service overview.

White vinyl privacy fence with a double gate beside a house

Questions and answers

Common questions about vinyl fencing in Brunswick

What Brunswick homeowners want to know before choosing vinyl over wood.

A well constructed fence may very well stand a chance. A vinyl fence is only as strong as its weakest point and that is not the panel itself. It's the post. We pour posts in concrete. We reinforce them with aluminum or steel inserts for long runs and at gate points. We use routed rails which interlock in to the post. Our fences have stood up to the tropical storms which have been running across Glynn County over the past few years.
Yes, cheap vinyl does. We install fence grade vinyl. It has titanium dioxide and UV inhibitors mixed into it (not just coated) to maintain color and flexibility in the heat of Brunswick summers. This is why it does not need paint either.
Vinyl does not rot to feed mildew like wood does. But here in Brunswick's humid climate, there's sometimes a green film that grows on the north (shady) side. You just spray it off with a garden hose & soft brush, or a little diluted household cleaner for the tougher spots. That's the extent of maintenance.

Yes typically significantly so. It usually ends up the same or better after 15+ years (no staining, no replacement of board, no repaint) etc. We provide both numbers at estimate time for you to make the choice.
Yes. It all depends on your lot's location if you get it from City of Brunswick or Glynn County. Height and setbacks don't change on what the material is. We will check and apply for it.
Vinyl posts don't rot, excellent for lower Brunswick lots. But you still need a good foundation if you have soft ground. More depth and width for the soft areas, and if you hit real marsh swamp you may want to switch to firmer ground where the line crosses it.