Our Vinyl Fence Calculator is a simple tool that will tell you how many premade fencing components you’ll need for your project. If you’re planning on building a DIY fence, this calculator can help you estimate the supplies you’ll need. Prefabricated fences are quick to erect, simple to install, and can be put together by anybody – even those without masonry experience! Continue reading to discover more about this strategy and its benefits.

Take a look other related calculators, such as:

What is a prefab vinyl fence?

First and foremost, let’s look at what vinyl fences are comprised of. Vinyl fences are made mostly of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), blended with additional materials to increase its durability, stability, and weather resistance. As a result, vinyl fences need little upkeep and are sometimes backed by a lifetime guarantee. Let’s explore the numerous vinyl fence sections in the next section.

Prefabricated fences are a construction innovation in which the fence or wall components are initially fabricated at a factory. They are then brought to the job site and put together. Anyone who enjoys constructing things may use this innovation to quickly and simply construct a DIY fence. This form of fence installation is ideal for flat terrains, but it may also be used on sloping terrains.

Parts of a simple prefab fence

Posts, Backer Rails, and Pickets are the three major components of most residential privacy or spacing picket fences.

  • Posts

A wood fence’s backbone is made up of posts. Also, they are vertically positioned and concrete-set into the earth. A stable fence is ensured by properly positioned posts. Wood fence posts are usually 4×4 (really 3.5″ x 3.5″). The height of the posts will be determined by the height of the fence. (Keep in mind that the total post height includes the height of the fence as well as the quantity of post that must be buried in the ground.)

  • Rails on the back

Backer rails, also known as fence rails or fence stringers, stretch from post to post horizontally. They are the fence components to which the pickets are fastened, and they link to the posts via fasteners. Two or three backer rails may run between each pair of posts, depending on the fence height and design. 2x timber (1-1/2″ thick) is commonly used for backer rails. Because the backer rails stretch from post to post, the length is determined by the distance between the posts. The most common spacing for posts is 6′ or 8′.

  • Pickets

Pickets, sometimes known as slats or boards, are nailed or screwed to the backer rails. They are the most apparent component of the fence project since they make up the body of the fence. Pickets come in a variety of top designs, including dog ear, flat top, and french gothic. Pickets come in a range of thicknesses, with 5/8″ being the most prevalent.

Determining the materials needed

Even during the material procurement stage of building projects, we strive to save as much time and money as feasible. We’ll need to produce a precise estimate of the amount of building material required to accomplish so efficiently. This vinyl fence calculator is a quick and easy method to figure up a reasonable working estimate for any prefabricated fence job.

We must evaluate several aspects to accurately estimate the materials required for our project. We’ll need the following items for our prefabricated fence project:

  • length to encircle
  • your preferred fence height,
  • the length of each prefabricated fence panel,
  • the thickness or breadth of each panel column

First, figure out how many fence panels you’ll need.

Number of Fence Panels = (Total Lineal Feet of Project – Gate Width) / Width of Fence Panel

Second, determine the total number of posts.

Number of Posts = Number of Panels + 1 + Number of Gates

As simple as that! Don’t forget to include gate kits as well as nails or screws in your material list.

Estimating our required vinyl fence components

Let’s start with a section of the fence. We’ll need two columns on either side of the panels to hold a span of the prefabricated fence. We’ll use a tie beam to secure everything on top of the fence. There are different prefabricated fence layouts to explore, but this is one of the most basic.

We can observe that two neighboring spans share one common column by adding another span. We can comprehend what occurs if we expand the fence farther, and how we should think about the rest of the barrier. As a result, a span is defined as the distance between the center of one column and the center of the following column. To be more specific, we can now think of the span as having two column halves at either end of the panel. This is stated in the following equation:

Span length = panel length + column width

We need to add two sections of a column at either end of the fence to finish the length.

Fence length = (number of spans x span length) + column width

We can now get the number of spans in our fence by transposing this fence length equation.

Number of spans = (fence length – column width) / (panel length + column width)

We may deduce that the number of tie beams necessary is equal to the number of spans since we need tie beams to fix each bridge. We can determine the number of panels required now that we know the number of spans in our fence length.

Layers of panels = fence height / panel height

To get the total number of panels, just multiply the number of spans by the number of panel layers necessary.

Panels needed = number of spans x layers of panels

Benefits of using a prefab vinyl fence

Not only do nice fences create good neighbours, but they also make happy homeowners. But, of course, the type of fence you choose impacts how much fun (or annoyance) you get out of your yard, and vinyl is a popular option.

1. Installation Ease. Vinyl fence is quick and simple to build, whether you do it yourself or hire a specialist. The materials come in premade pieces that fit together effortlessly. To make a useful and stylish border for your yard, you don’t need to cut boards or move heavy supplies. Plus, once it’s up, you won’t have to paint, stain, or seal it.

2. Maintenance Ease. You can maintain your vinyl fence without purchasing new materials if you have a garden hose. This is because vinyl does not expand and contract in response to variations in temperature and humidity.

3. Long Lifespan. A vinyl fence should last between 20 and 30 years with appropriate maintenance, depending on the degree of care you give it.

4. Differentiation. When it comes to vinyl fences, you have many options in terms of colours, forms, textures, heights, and tops.

5. Durability. Vinyl fencing, as previously said, has a lengthy lifespan, but its durability also extends to its aesthetic. In addition, it won’t attract mould, mildew, or bugs because it’s composed of synthetic materials. Stronger vinyl fence materials have also been produced due to technological advancements, so you won’t have to worry if a storm comes your way.

6. Security. Because vinyl fencing is inherently pest-resistant, you won’t have to worry about termites compromising the integrity of your fence. In addition, vinyl doesn’t split, so there are fewer chances of harm, and it doesn’t need preservatives to keep its beauty and quality.

Example – How Many Vinyl Fence Panels Do You Need?

It’s easy to figure out how many panels you’ll need for a vinyl fence installation, but you’ll need to know the length of the panel you’re using and the length of each section of fence between each corner first. The usual procedure is to calculate the number of panels required for each fence segment, then sum the totals for each section to arrive at the total number of panels. The length of the section in inches minus the width of the post divided by the length of the panel in inches plus the post dimension equals the number of panels in a section.

Consider the number of posts required for a fence with 12 panels, 1 corner, and 2 ends.

Total posts = panels + 1
= 12 panels + 1
= 13

1 corner = 1 corner post
2 ends = 2 end posts
13 total posts – 1 corner – 2 ends = 10 line posts