Regarding the accident with the horse - the first vinyl fence products put out were brittle and tended to be moreso with age and UV exposure - the ones put out now are much better about shattering. Bulldinkie, I don't doubt your story, but I think the story is over 10-15 years old. Any fencing, if hit by a large horse running at full speed (for whatever reason) can break and splinter. I have heard of horses running through wooden post and rail or post and board fences and being staked like that. The light-weight stuff could probably eventually be damaged by a weed whacker, but the heavy duty stuff, no. Vancleaveterry, many people here use white vinyl fencing for horses. I would run a hot-wire along it, but then, I would do the same for almost all horse fencing - it saves on breakage and escapes. And for horses, you NEED the heavy duty, purpose made weight of vinyl, which you probably won't get at a big-box store - you need to go to a fencing company. If you look in most of the horse magazines, they will feature ads from fencing companies - I know EQUUS does. Personally, I happen to like the look of weathered wooden fencing, but do admit that the posts will rot and will have to be replaced after 10-20 years, as will the boards and rails, depending on soil conditions and the wood used and how hard the horses are on fencing ( which is why I like a hot wire or even 2 strands of wire, one at the top to limit chewing and one halfway down to limit rubbing). Mostly, the vinyl fencing is maintenance free, BUT, it will grow algae/mildew, and can turn greenish. A scrubbing or pressure spraying with a bleach solution will turn it back to white, but it is ongoing in humid climates - you either learn to live with it or deal with it. If you want white fences and don't want to paint them every few years, then vinyl is the way to go, although you may have to deal with green algae. Vinyl is also, I think, a bit less expensive, over the long run, than wood.

I have a vinyl pergola and it has vines on it all summer. When I take down the vines, I simply spray it down with 409. I let the 409 sit for a few minutes, then run a very soft brissel brush all over it. Then I hose it down. It is rare that I have to pay any special attention to a given area. I clean the outside vinyl on all of my windows the same way, about twice a year. I've been in my house for 32 years and that vinyl is looks new.

Trying to decide between vinyl or aluminum railings for a screened porch. Interested in your opinions. Our contractor initially suggested aluminum, but has found the vinyl seems to clean up easier. I like the thinner look of the aluminum balusters, but easy cleaning is a priority. I might add this porch backs to woods, gnats are a problem in the humid summer and the porch will get filtered morning sun. Thanks!

I'm sure you know and understand the difference between wood and composite, therefore If you like wood railings, go with wood and don't listen to anyone... Nothing says anywhere that wood railing cannot be used with composite decking. That said if you install railing posts behind the deck's rim-joist, this way if you or anyone down the road would like to change it to the composite railing, all you have to do is slip post-sleeves over the posts and add a composite railing. Good luck