CertainTeed builds its fence line

Orlando, Fla. — Some might say CertainTeed Corp. left no stone unturned when it came to filling a gap in its fence line.

The Malvern, Pa.-based company acquired SimTek Fence in Orem, Utah, for an undisclosed sum last summer and showed off the results at the International Builders' Show, put on by the National Association of Home Builders from Jan. 9-11 at the Orange County Convention Center.

CertainTeed now offers what it calls the only rotationally molded fence on the market — it's made of low density polyethylene and recycled materials — and it comes in a stone style that had been missing from the company's product line.

"We had the wood-look vinyl fencing, and our customers said we needed a stone look so we started working on that," Senior Marketing Manager Doug Mucher said. "It was a situation where we could develop our own product or talk to this company that we came across. It worked out. It was a natural fit."

SimTek is now a fence brand of CertainTeed, which also manufacturers roofing, siding, decking, railing, trim, insulation, drywall and ceilings. The company is the fifth-largest pipe, profile and tubing extruder in North America based on estimated PPT sales of $640 million, according to Plastics News' ranking.

The SimTek fence collection includes EcoStone, which comes in six shades inspired by granite, and Ashland, which comes in five wood tones. CertainTeed says the fences won't rot, warp or split and can withstand temperatures from -40º F to 140º F.

EcoStone also makes a good sound buffer for a quieter yard, according to the company, which says it blocks 98 percent of direct sound and has a sound transmission class rating of 26.

SimTek fences are manufactured in Orem with PE and up to 25 percent recycled material. They come in panels with steel frames to withstand severe weather and impacts.

CertainTeed's vinyl fence line, which is called Bufftech, is manufactured in Buffalo, N.Y., and has been offered for about 30 years.

"A lot of dealers are excited about SimTek being part of CertainTeed," Mucher said. "When you marry a young, innovative company with an experienced market driver, that's a recipe for great success."