Philadelphia homeowners association selects Bufftech® vinyl privacy fence for durability and expansive color options
The 138 Montrose condominiums located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, recently underwent a dramatic exterior update with the help of Everlasting Fence Company of Glenside, Pennsylvania, and CertainTeed Bufftech® vinyl privacy fence. The quiet, wooded 64-unit community – laid out in three circles across eight acres – was built in 1986 and is maintained by the Montrose Homeowners Association (HOA), whose property manager helped facilitate the group’s decision to replace the complex’s wooden fences and gates. Bufftech was selected because of its high-quality material and wide variety of style and color options to maximize curb appeal and seamlessly complement each home’s exterior, while also blending in with the lush, natural landscape.
“We wanted a fence that would match the aesthetic the complex already had, and we were impressed by CertainTeed’s broad list of colors to choose from,” said Pat McPherson, president of the Montrose HOA. “We had already replaced our wood fences twice, so this time we decided to consider options besides wood. After looking around, we knew vinyl was the way to go.”
With extensive research for long-lasting fence products that would highlight the area’s natural beauty and require little upkeep, the property manager, HOA and homeowners ultimately chose Bufftech Imperial Select Cedar Texture fence and Bufftech Chesterfield with CertaGrain® Texture in Weathered Blend. CertainTeed recommended the renovation be handled by Everlasting Fence Company, a credentialed, CertainTeed 5-Star Fence Contractor. After a thorough bidding and vetting process that included multiple contractors, the HOA selected Everlasting Fence Company for its experience, price and quality.
“The HOA board was very engaged and wanted to ensure they chose not only the right materials, but the perfect company to install it. CertainTeed representatives joined us at multiple meetings with the board and with community members to answer questions about the product and about our company,” said Erik Egelkamp, general manager of Everlasting Fence Company. “The board and community members are devoted to their homes and were seeking the best value for their dollar. Each person I met was really engaged and committed, which gave us the chance to explain our training processes and how talented and hardworking our installation teams are. It was also a great opportunity to showcase our commitment to each customer and the steps we take to choose products that benefit the unique needs of each property.”
In total, Everlasting Fence Company renovated the front entries of all 64 units, the back patios of 50 units and the community’s shared pool area. The three-person installation team – with up to six people on site when necessary – used 3,000 feet of five-foot Imperial Select Cedar Texture fence with 83 gates and 208 feet of six-foot Chesterfield with CertaGrain Texture fence. The two-phase project consisted of renovating the front of each unit from December 4, 2017, to February 12, 2018, and the units’ rear patios October 8, 2018, until January 1, 2019.
Both phases began with the removal of the existing wooden fences, which had begun rotting, and all the gates, which were either sagging or torn off due to age. Once the team had set up string lines to visualize the fence line layout, they marked post locations and dug 36-inch holes for the posts. Finally, they set the posts in their concrete footers and assembled the panels before finishing with hanging gates and installing post caps.
It was especially important to the team not to disturb residents or interfere with their daily lives, so everyone from the fence company took special care to work quickly, cleanly and quietly – especially during the layout phase when they were setting string lines and digging holes to set the posts, both of which can be a tripping hazard if not handled correctly.
“Bufftech is a brand we install frequently,” said Egelkamp. “Certainteed is known for its quality and holds itself to a standard higher than other manufacturers on the market. It doesn’t skimp on thickness or quality of raw materials, which is why it has guarantees that no other company can touch. CertainTeed also guarantees its dark colors, which is unheard of in this industry, due to the high fade potential that is inherent with other dark PVC fences. It even covers labor on product warranties for the first five years. This is the most superior PVC fence product on the market, across the globe.”
Imperial Select Cedar Texture Fence is molded from real wood, giving an authentic woodgrain texture, and provides homeowners with a satisfying balance between privacy and airflow. It is available in nine colors that include the solid hues Almond and White, as well as seven stain blends. Chesterfield with CertaGrain Texture is a full privacy fence made complete with a realistic woodgrain finish and using tongue-and-groove picket design. It is available in 12 colors: three solids – Almond, White and Clay – and nine stain blends. Imperial and Chesterfield’s vinyl compositions offer high-quality performance and many years of low-maintenance beauty, eliminating the need for staining or painting. As with all Bufftech fences, both products are backed by ColorLast® dark color fade protection and a lifetime limited warranty with SureStart™parts and labor protection.
“I think the product was paramount to this project,” said Egelkamp. “The HOA’s goal was multi-faceted: They wanted to have a fence that blended into the landscape and feel of the property, that would hold up for decades to come and that would keep a clean look. Entering the community now, to see the new fence, landscape and retaining walls, gives off a very welcoming and warm feel.”
The addition of Chesterfield solid privacy panels and gates – also in the Weathered Blend color – seamlessly complemented the Imperial slatted fence to give the community a cohesive look, and it offered homeowners the extra seclusion and security they desired in necessary areas.
“The finished project looks terrific,” said McPherson. “The difference between the new, woodgrain-textured vinyl material and the old rotting wood fence is like night and day, and the homeowners are very pleased because the job was done professionally and with care. We highly recommend working with CertainTeed for the quality of their materials and exceptional customer service. And we can’t say enough about the Everlasting Fence Company crew, who paid such close attention to the details of our project. We are so pleased!”
Established in 1980, Everlasting Fence Company is a family-owned business offering fence installation and restoration in Pennsylvania’s Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware and Chester Counties. The contractor specializes in wood, PVC, chain link, aluminum and pool fences.
