Polymer look-alike a viable alternative to wrought iron fence

Homeowners who covet the stately look of a wrought iron fence but not the maintenance worries have a new champion in polymer fencing.

From even a few feet away it's hard to tell polymer fence from its iron brethren. Both are sturdy and have the traditional good looks homeowners expect in this sort of fencing. It's just that the polymer version doesn't need much if any upkeep.

Plus, the polymer lookalike is self-installed with a minimum of tools and skills.

The maker of a national brand of low-maintenance fencing says consumers increasingly see polymers as a viable option to its heavy metal forerunners.

"It's hard for some consumers to think of this traditional fencing as anything other than iron," says Dick Cantley of GeoMatrix, the Troy, Mich., manufacturer of EverIron fencing. "But once they touch this or lift it and see it in action, it becomes a good-looking fence. That's the bottom line for people."

The fence was introduced last year in a solid black. Cantley says EverIron now makes a white version, too. Both colors are available with or without arrow-shaped finials. Lowe's has the exclusive rights to sell the fencing.

Unlike steel, the black or white colors are blended directly into the solid polymer. No painting is necessary. Even dings and scrapes have no visible impact and won't ever rust. Sun, wind and cold have no effect on the material, either, according to the manufacturers.

Don't be deterred by the difference in weight between iron and polymer. Like many items made of this material, the light weight delivers super-strong performance.

Consumers can install the fencing themselves. Cantley says only basic tools are needed. The polymer is fabricated into 4-feet-by-6- feet fence panels and 4-by-4 inch posts plus gates. Like wrought iron, the posts are sunk in concrete down to the frost line.

Copyright 2004
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.