Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

If you want to build a new fence, you are certainly thinking about the right material. Have you ever thought of a WPC privacy fence? You can find out the advantages and disadvantages of this here.

In a nutshell

  • Mixture of wood, plastic and composite materials
  • Advantages: robust, weatherproof, many designs
  • Disadvantages: large differences in quality, possible weathering, problems with environmental friendliness

What is WPC?

WPC is the abbreviation for Wood-Polymer-Composite or Wood-Plastic-Composite. Translated into German, it means wood-plastic composite. WPC is industrially manufactured and consists of a mixture of

  • 50 to 90% wood fibers or wood flour
  • 10 to 50% plastic matrix made of polypropylene or polyethylene

The proportion of materials varies depending on the manufacturer. The addition of additives also optimizes certain material properties. For example, biocides are used to increase pest resistance. This results in some advantages of WPC, but also some disadvantages.

Notice: With increasing awareness of WPC, more and more inferior quality products are offered on the market. So watch out for extremely cheap WPC elements.

WPC is a mixture of wood and plastic.

Benefits of a WPC privacy fence

WPC combines the properties of plastic and wood. It is therefore particularly suitable as a material for privacy fences. WPC fence elements can be used to build complete fence systems as well as individual elements. This creates opaque partitions that impress with the following advantages:

individual design

You can easily customize WPC privacy fencing to your liking. Unlike with wood, this does not involve more effort. By default, you can choose between different

  • heights
  • latitudes
  • Structures of the fence elements

Select. In addition, many manufacturers also offer plug-in systems in addition to the typical fence elements. You can then combine these with various glass or other elements as you wish.

diverse optics

WPC privacy screen parts can therefore be found in a wide variety of variants. You can also determine other optical details individually. WPC shines with a wide range of colors and shapes. For example, you can match the color of the privacy fence to your WPC floorboards. The fence parts are completely dyed through, so that even if damaged, no other color comes through. Due to the wood content, the parts do not look artificial; but have a natural, high-quality look.

easy cleaning

WPC privacy screen parts can be cleaned very easily. Depending on how dirty you need at

  • minor soiling: warm water and washing-up liquid
  • heavier soiling: warm water, washing-up liquid and a brush; high pressure cleaner
  • Water stains: vinegar-based household cleaners
  • slight scratches: abrasive fleece

Notice: Do not use any cleaning agents containing solvents or chalk. These penetrate the WPC privacy protection surface or the paint layer of the aluminum parts and dissolve them.

low maintenance requirements

Because of the plastic content, WPC privacy fences are also very easy to care for and require little maintenance. You don't need any

  • impregnation
  • paints
  • stain
  • painting
  • oiling

Nevertheless, they are permanently weatherproof. This not only saves you money, but also minimizes maintenance work.

Unlike pure wooden fences, WPC privacy fences do not weather without care.

Notice: WPC privacy fences can of course be painted. However, once you've painted the fence, you need to touch up the paint regularly or it will fade. In addition, the fence loses its weather resistance after painting.

longevity

WPC is considered to be particularly weatherproof and durable. Since WPC is not only made of wood, such a privacy fence works much less than a real wood product. WPC is therefore more weather-resistant than untreated domestic wood, but not than tropical hardwood. In addition, thanks to the plastic content, WPC privacy fences are resistant to rot and pest infestation. They are therefore ideal for use in the garden and sometimes last for decades before slats have to be replaced.

high resilience

WPC privacy fences are not only moisture-repellent, but also particularly resistant to

  • chemicals
  • heat
  • insects
  • oils
  • salt air
  • sea water

In addition, WPC is dimensionally stable and unbreakable.

low health risk

A WPC privacy fence offers another advantage, especially for families. Unlike wood, WPC does not splinter and therefore does not pose a risk of injury. Also because WPC is not quite as hard as concrete fences. However, WPC also poses a low health risk for the following reasons:

  • free from harmful chemicals
  • without PVC
  • non-slip even when wet
  • does not emit toxic gases in the event of a fire

environmental friendliness

WPC is considered a very environmentally friendly material. The reason for this is that it is not made of pure plastic, but also of wood. The latter constantly grows back if it is mined sustainably and has little impact on the environment. The plastic content can also be made more environmentally friendly by using recycled plastic.

disposal

Because of its environmental friendliness, the WPC can also be disposed of with normal household waste after use. Alternatively, it also comes to

  • Redemption by the retailer
  • after repeated use due to the high calorific value for thermal utilization
Old WPC privacy fences can be recycled into WPC planks, for example.

price

WPC privacy fences are also worthwhile in terms of price. They score with a great price-performance ratio and are therefore considered relatively affordable. However, when buying, you should be careful not to be tempted to buy a product of inferior quality because of a particularly low price.

easy construction

The construction of WPC privacy fences is considered to be relatively easy. WPC elements are usually relatively light and can therefore be easily transported. The elements can also be easily processed and laid on site. You can also get support for a professional installation.

Tip: If you do not start building immediately, you should store WPC in a dark, dry place. Otherwise the material threatens to deform.

Disadvantages of WPC privacy fences

Like every material, WPC does not only have advantages. Before you buy a WPC privacy fence, you should therefore better deal with the following disadvantages.

big differences in quality

Whether a privacy fence made of WPC is good or not depends primarily on the quality of the WPC. However, these differ significantly depending on the manufacturer. That is mainly due

  • materials used
  • different manufacturing processes

Since hardness and dimensional stability depend on the quality, WPC privacy fences cannot be assigned to any durability class. However, low-quality goods are generally considered to be less break-resistant and, in particular, WPC with a hollow chamber profile are not as durable.

inauthentic look

WPC privacy fences are produced in numerous colors and shapes, but not in white due to the natural fibers. In addition, the fences often lack charm because they are produced in one color and without any grain or individual color nuances. Due to the flawless surface design, WPC does not look like an authentic wood product.

You have to do without the typical wood grain and small bumps with a WPC privacy fence.

chalking

While a new WPC privacy fence may initially look beautiful, the color will fade over time

  • changes color depending on region, weather, air pollution and use
  • turns gray when exposed to sunlight
  • getting lighter and fading

Since this process, known as chalking, is influenced by the weather, the weather side is usually more affected. The process occurs even faster if stone flour or lime is added to the WPC to reduce costs.

Notice: However, after some time, the color ripening is complete. Then the color doesn't change anymore.

lack of persistence

Due to the wood content in the WPC, the material is susceptible to fungal and mold infestation. The addition of additives is intended to stop this process, but in the end it only slows it down. The degree of fungal growth and decay is more dependent on the following factors that cannot be influenced:

  • region
  • humidity
  • climate fluctuations
  • UV radiation

falsification of weight

Especially with cheap WPC products, the actual weight of the fence is often falsified. The addition of lime or stone powder during the production process makes the product heavier. This creates the impression that you are holding high-quality, robust goods in your hands. In fact, however, the opposite is the case: due to the ingredients, the WPC privacy fence becomes brittle and brittle more quickly. For example, cracks appear in the fence.

frequent cleaning

The cleaning of WPC is considered to be very easy, but you also have to clean the material often. This is mainly due to the following reasons:

  • Dirt clinging to rough surface
  • Surface with wood flour very prone to scratches
  • Wood fibers are not very resistant to external influences
  • brushed surfaces very sensitive

Even quick cleaning with a high-pressure cleaner is not unreservedly recommended for soft, moisture-sensitive WPC.

high consumption of raw materials

The plastic content in the WPC does not only have advantages. It is also associated with a very high consumption of raw materials and energy, especially in the production of cheap WPC elements.

Tip: There are also manufacturers who pay attention to sustainable and responsible consumption. These can be recognized by the PEFC seal.

recycling

Although WPC elements are generally considered to be recyclable, there is still no specific classification of WPC under waste law. However, since WPC is a composite material, the components must be laboriously separated before they can be recycled. However, this is only possible if it is a single-variety plastic.

price comparison

Good quality has its price - this also applies to WPC. The more durable the material should be, the more it costs. For example, fences with additives are more expensive than those without. In a direct comparison, WPC privacy fences are therefore not cheaper than others.

Conclusion

A WPC privacy fence has many advantages, but also some disadvantages that should not be underestimated. However, the fence is ideal for people who do not spend a lot of time in their garden. It is easy to set up and does not require too much maintenance afterwards.

frequently asked Questions

Should I choose a WPC fence or should I use another material?

That depends entirely on your preferences. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages. Think about what you expect from your privacy screen and what it must be able to do. After you have then informed yourself about all the materials, you can make a decision.

What do I have to consider when setting up a WPC privacy fence?

First of all, you should pay attention to legal requirements such as the maximum fence height. You should also consider how you want to attach the fence and then make appropriate arrangements.

What is BPC?

BPC stands for Bamboo Plastic Composite. It is very similar to WPC, except that bamboo is used instead of wood. As a result, BPC replaces some of the characteristics typical of WPC with those of bamboo.

Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Category:

Garden design