Fence Materials Compared: Wood, Vinyl, Metal & More for Your Tri-Cities Yard
Once you've settled on adding a fence, the next decision — material — has the biggest impact on cost, maintenance, and how long it'll actually last. Here's how the main options compare for a Tri-Cities yard.
Wood
Wood is still the most popular choice, and for good reason: it's the most budget-friendly upfront, fully customizable in style and height, and gives you the warm, classic look most people picture when they think "fence." The tradeoff is maintenance — wood needs staining or sealing every few years to hold up against our wet winters, and even well-maintained wood typically has a shorter lifespan than vinyl or composite before boards start warping, splitting, or rotting.
Best for: budget-conscious privacy fencing, a classic look, yards where some upkeep isn't a dealbreaker.
Vinyl
Vinyl costs more than wood upfront but essentially eliminates the maintenance question — no staining, no sealing, no rot, and it holds its colour for years without fading or needing attention. It's also resistant to the freeze-thaw cycling that's hard on wood in our climate.
Best for: homeowners who want a clean, consistent look without the recurring upkeep wood requires.
Aluminum & Metal
Aluminum and ornamental metal fencing are the go-to for pools, front yards, and anywhere you want to define a boundary without blocking the view. It's low-maintenance, holds up well to weather, and has a long lifespan — but it offers little to no privacy on its own, so it's less common as a full backyard privacy solution.
Best for: pool enclosures, front-yard boundaries, anywhere sightlines matter more than privacy.
Chain Link
Chain link is the most budget-friendly option by a wide margin, and it's a practical, durable choice for utility areas, side yards, or dog containment. It's the least private and least decorative option, but for pure function at the lowest cost, it's hard to beat.
Best for: side yards, utility areas, dog runs, budget-first projects where appearance isn't the priority.
Composite
Composite fencing is designed to give you the look of wood with the durability of vinyl — resistant to rot, warping, and fading, with minimal upkeep required. It carries the highest upfront cost of the group, but for homeowners who want a long-term, low-maintenance fence without giving up the wood aesthetic, it's often worth it.
Best for: homeowners who want wood's look without wood's maintenance schedule, and are comfortable paying more upfront for that tradeoff.
Quick Comparison
Lowest cost: Chain link, then wood Lowest maintenance: Vinyl and composite Best privacy: Wood, vinyl, composite Longest lifespan: Vinyl and composite Best for sightlines/pools: Aluminum & metal
Which Material Is Right for You?
If budget is the main driver, wood or chain link make the most sense. If you'd rather pay more upfront and avoid maintenance for the next decade-plus, vinyl or composite are the better long-term value. And if privacy isn't the goal — a pool enclosure or front-yard boundary — aluminum keeps things clean and low-effort. A lot of the decision also comes down to how the fence needs to hold up specifically to our wet Lower Mainland winters, which is where material quality tends to matter most over time.
Areas We Serve
Square Yards Landscaping proudly serves the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore & Belcarra), Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Burnaby, Vancouver, and the rest of the Lower Mainland.
Contact Us
Ready to talk fencing? Reach out today:
Phone: +1 (604) 314-2350
Request a Quote: squareyardslandscaping.ca/contact