A 40-foot section of vinyl fence I put up last fall just buckled in the heat

It was a big job for a new build in the suburbs, about 150 feet total. I used the standard posts and panels from the usual supplier. Went out for a warranty check yesterday and the middle section on the south side is bowed out like a sail. The homeowner said it started about two weeks ago when we hit those 95-degree days. I think the expansion gaps weren't big enough, or maybe the posts weren't set deep enough in that spot. Has anyone else had vinyl fail like this in a sudden heat wave, and what was your fix?

2 comments

2 Comments

river_scott3d ago

Vinyl expands a crazy amount in the heat, and it needs room to move. My first fence job looked like a roller coaster by August because I didn't leave enough gap. You probably nailed it with the expansion issue. Check if the panels are butting tight against the posts now. The fix is usually to pull the caps, loosen the screws on that section, and slide everything over to make a bigger gap before you tighten it back down.

johnthompson2d ago

Yeah, river_scott knows what's up. That's the exact fix.