Fence Me In: Sustainable Fencing Options

(Page 2 of 2)

May/June 2009
By Lori Tobias 
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Different woods require different treatments—or none at all, depending on who you ask. Left untreated, the fence may fade, splinter, warp and rot. David Johnston, president of green building consultancy What’s Working in Boulder, Colorado, favors a penetrating stain, particularly for soft woods such as Douglas fir or pine.

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“You don’t want a low-VOC, water-based finish because water-based finishes tend not to penetrate wood, so they will wear off and need retreatment,” Johnston says. “Treat the wood with a solvent if you want it to be durable for 10 to 20 years. Outside, solvents are not as big a concern. They outgas relatively quickly.”

Another school of thought eschews chemical treatment. “Many people don’t protect fences,” Renner says. To keep the wood fresh, he recommends using linseed or tung oil. “They can be sprayed on with a garden hose. Keep it in your garden shed, and every two to three years, as the fence dries out, just walk along and spray.” 

Recycled plastic

It’s strong, durable and maintenance-free, and it keeps a lot of plastic out of the landfill. But buyer beware, Johnston says. “Some of it is recycled, some of it is not. It’s very hard to find out if it is recycled or virgin.”
 
Because few companies manufacture recycled plastic fencing, it can be pricey. Also, some don’t like its appearance. Plastic fades, and it could shrink or swell if not installed properly. “I would use screws over nails and go with the manufacturers’ recommendations,” Renner says.

• DON’T  assume recycled plastic fencing is a fail-safe green choice. Some brands contain a mix of virgin and recycled plastic, and it’s tough to figure out whether a product truly contains 100 percent recycled plastic.
 
• DO consider a less-complicated fencing option: plants. Simple hedges may be all you need if you’re looking for privacy; to keep animals out, try trained blackberry or raspberry bushes.

Resources

Cali Bamboo
(888) 788-2254
bamboo fencing

Fiberon
(800) 573-8841
recycled composite fencing

Heartland BioComposites
(866) 997-7637
recycled composite fencing

Trex
(800) 289-8739
recycled composite fencing

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  • Trex 5/7/2009 11:15:40 AM

    Hello:

    I am a representative of Trex and wanted to clarify some information regarding the quantities of recycled materials.

    - Trex keeps some 300,000 tons of plastic and wood scrap out of landfills every year. That comes to about 600,000,000 pounds saved annually.

    - NO TREES ARE CUT DOWN for the purpose of making Trex. Our wood comes from: reclaimed wood from woodworking operations,
    used pallets, sawdust (300 million pounds a year),
    - Trex recycles all forms of polyethylene.
    - Trex is one of the largest plastic bag recyclers in the United States.
    - 7 out of every 10 recycled grocery bags in the U.S. end up at Trex (about 1.5 billion per year)

    Additional information regarding our green policy can be found on trex.com at http://www.trex.com/whytrex/EnvironmentallyFriendly.aspx

    Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

    Pat M
    Trex Company

  • Trex 5/7/2009 11:14:47 AM

    Hello:

    I am a representative of Trex and wanted to clarify some information regarding the quantities of recycled materials.

    - Trex keeps some 300,000 tons of plastic and wood scrap out of landfills every year. That comes to about 600,000,000 pounds saved annually.

    - NO TREES ARE CUT DOWN for the purpose of making Trex. Our wood comes from: reclaimed wood from woodworking operations,
    used pallets, sawdust (300 million pounds a year),
    - Trex recycles all forms of polyethylene.
    - Trex is one of the largest plastic bag recyclers in the United States.
    - 7 out of every 10 recycled grocery bags in the U.S. end up at Trex (about 1.5 billion per year)

    Additional information regarding our green policy can be found on trex.com at http://www.trex.com/whytrex/EnvironmentallyFriendly.aspx

    Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

    Pat M
    Trex Company

  • marsha b 5/5/2009 12:57:04 PM

    We downsized into a home with a not so large yard. I investigated a number of the actual fencing options and got a heart-stopping quote on the Trex fencing system. It was so high tha we could not justify the cost. It was a shame, because it was rather attractive and would have fit our needs whereas other fencing systems were not appropriate. Hopefully prices will come down in the future so that others can afford the "greener" options.

  • Laurie 4/30/2009 10:13:09 AM

    At the beginning of your article you state that the Trex company recycles 300 pounds each of polyethelene and sawdust from landfills. For a company that makes much more than 600 pounds of trex flooring I would say that it is a pittance of an effort for a multi-million dollar company to say that. Bravo that they at least do that - sure but don't claim that you are a big deal in the recycling world if all you can give us is 600 pounds of this stuff. Sounds more like a marketing ploy to me. Unfortunately, too many of the claims by businesses in the green frenzy these days are false and the buyer must beware.

  • Laurie 4/30/2009 10:12:27 AM

    At the beginning of your article you state that the Trex company recycles 300 pounds each of polyethelene and sawdust from landfills. For a company that makes much more than 600 pounds of trex flooring I would say that it is a pittance of an effort for a multi-million dollar company to say that. Bravo that they at least do that - sure but don't claim that you are a big deal in the recycling world if all you can give us is 600 pounds of this stuff. Sounds more like a marketing ploy to me. Unfortunately, too many of the claims by businesses in the green frenzy these days are false and the buyer must beware.

  • Dori P 4/30/2009 9:17:43 AM

    I did a lot of research about green decking options, which is similar to fencing and Trex was rated a "C" by most eco sources I found. Many better options exist, including what I chose: Plastic Lumber Co's product called Leisure Deck (I think. It's made of 95% recycled soda bottles. It looks enough like wood and comes in several "natural" looking colors. My only complaint is that it gets really hot to the touch in the summer. Too hot to walk on in bare feet for my boys. Otherwise, I love the way it looks and love that we've saved tons of soda bottles from a landfill.

  • john 4/27/2009 6:08:07 PM

    i live in central texas. i wanted to do some fencing and liked the idea of bamboo. this is obviously a no brainer except that it costs quadruple the price of cedar and treated wood, which i did not want. i grow black bamboo in my yard because the texture and color of mature wood is very pleasing. does cost effective bamboo fencing exist?

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