Glossary Category: Fence Materials
Fence Materials is about:
Understand the materials behind every Thrive Fencing installation — including western red cedar, vinyl (PVC), composite (Trex & Azek), ornamental steel, ornamental aluminum, and vinyl-coated chain link. Learn the strengths, limitations, and Iowa-specific performance of each option so you can choose the right material for your project.
A cellular PVC building trim product used by Thrive Fencing to fill gaps between fence components and adjacent structures, between stair-stepped panels and the ground, or wherever a weather-resistant, maintenance-free finish infill is needed.
A fence manufactured from composite lumber — a blend of wood fiber and recycled plastic — that delivers the natural appearance of wood with no staining, no painting, no rotting, and no splintering required.
Steel coated with a layer of zinc through a hot-dip or electroplating process — providing the primary corrosion protection for chain link fence posts, rails, and fabric in Iowa’s climate.
A lightweight, rust-resistant ornamental fence made from extruded aluminum — visually similar to ornamental steel but significantly softer, more prone to permanent denting, and not recommended by Thrive for most Iowa applications.
A manufactured steel fence system with vertical pickets, horizontal rails, and powder-coat finish — Thrive Fencing’s preferred ornamental product, supplied by Ameristar with lifetime structural warranties and significantly stronger than ornamental aluminum.
A fence manufactured from extruded PVC (polyvinyl chloride) — maintenance-free in terms of painting or staining, but requires stair-stepping on sloped terrain and becomes brittle under impact in cold Iowa temperatures.
Chain link fence fabric and hardware with a PVC vinyl coating applied over the standard galvanized wire — available in black, green, and brown to improve appearance and extend corrosion resistance compared to bare galvanized chain link.
A fence constructed from western red cedar boards — naturally resistant to moisture and insects, workable on sloped terrain through racking, and the most customizable residential fence material available in central Iowa.
A fence style named for a historic hand-forging process that is rarely used today — in modern usage, ‘wrought iron fence’ almost always refers to manufactured ornamental steel fencing that mimics the traditional wrought iron aesthetic.