More than Trim & Panels: Rethinking Solid Cellular Vinyl

June 28, 2021

With a renewed focus on reimagining outdoor living spaces to be as equally cozy and design-forward as those found inside the walls of a home, homeowners are considering every square foot of their yards as retreats for family and friends. Transforming outdoor spaces into timelessly stylish living areas is top of mind for many. The pandemic has certainly shed new light on the value of serenity at home with the desire for safe outdoor spaces to relax, reconnect with nature, and recreate with family. 

When putting the pieces of the backyard landscape design puzzle together, you’ll consider the use of space, aesthetic, and materials to adequately reflect the personality and purpose of those who will enjoy them. And outdoor spaces can come as varied as the homeowners themselves, no doubt. There is not one blanket style, one aesthetic, nor one particular color that will appeal to each and every homeowner. But there is a single material known to win over the hearts of many.

Leveraging innovations in material science to offer sustainable solutions, solid cellular vinyl has revolutionized the residential and commercial building industry. Offering the beauty and feel of real wood, high durability, and low maintenance, solid cellular vinyl is an alternative material that outclasses and outlasts its wood counterpart by a long shot. 

Solid cellular PVC offers the look, feel, and workability of real wood. It’s well-known as a decking, panel, and trim material, but with the right manufacturing and craftsmanship, it can be used for an exciting range of structural and aesthetic applications to fulfill your designs and make them last.

Many homeowners (and designers) may see “vinyl” or “PVC” and think of it as a flimsy, toxic, fake plastic substance to be avoided. In actuality, Walpole Outdoors products are crafted from PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) using a low-emission, environmentally friendly process. Walpole's solid cellular vinyl is a low-maintenance material that resists warping, moisture, and sun damage, retaining its sturdiness, carpenter-finish, and color for decades. 

Walpole Outdoors offers unique design collaboration and customization capabilities for architectural and landscape pros who choose solid cellular vinyl for their finished projects. With everything from easily integrated kit pergolas to graceful Arbors to custom planter boxes, Walpole’s extensive line of products are long-lasting, durable, and distinctive – ready and waiting for your next big plan.

When the Landscape Meets the Hardscape

As you know, the structure of a garden is not defined only by its annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees. Serving as a backdrop and defining the garden, dining, or living space, the architecture and the various elements integrated throughout the property provides the strongest elements of the landscape design. Inserting an Walpole Outdoors arbor into your design provides an easy and eye-catching element that can transform a garden from meh to magnificent.

Often draped with rambling wisteria, colorful clematis, or fragrant climbing roses, arbors create a dramatic focal point or serve as an entryway for welcoming guests. From elegant and traditional to modern designs, Walpole arbors can be configured into the framework of any design. Integrated into fencing, enhanced with lattice, a charming built-in bench, or other creative touches, arbors handcrafted in cellular PVC offer seamless style and little-to-no maintenance for your clients.

For a classic look so many homeowners envision for their home, a Standard Spindle Top Arbor offers plenty grace and charm. It’s lovely arched top flanked by two side lattice panels can seamlessly integrate with any of Walpole’s custom fences. Or it can be standalone in a garden for a swoon-worthy garden accent in your design. An arbor brings vertical interest to the horizontal ho-hum of a yard or garden. 

With the right arbor, you can enhance a walkway, make a grand entrance, or create a shady backyard retreat. With an extensive range of styles to complement a variety of fences, from cottage to contemporary, Walpole arbors are made of beautiful, low-maintenance solid cellular PVC. 

Walpole Outdoors arbors offer unrivaled high-performance and beauty because solid cellular vinyl is engineered to last longer than other wood alternatives but offers the most natural hardwood look. 

The Ideal Material for Open-air Living

Looking for ways to freshen up their outdoor space in a way that speaks to the unique style of your client’s home? You can open up new possibilities for how they work, relax, and play in the outdoor spaces by designing the perfect pergola. Walpole Pergolas add architectural drama, provide a little safeguard from the elements, and extend a living or dining space underneath protective arches for cozy three-season outdoor hideaways.

Whether at home or a place of business, the addition of a structure like a pergola to any outdoor space expands its usefulness and aesthetic appeal. Reimagine open-air living with the addition of a fully customizable pergola, creating an outdoor “room” for comfy seating, cooking space, or al fresco dining that is built to last. 

With steadfast color engineered to stay true over time, you can specify the color of any Walpole pergola (or other product) with a palette of more than 100 color choices in vinyl safe paint from Sherwin Williams, with a 25-year warranty against cracking, peeling, and blistering. And Walpole’s’ expansive line of diverse grain options - including intricate, hand-scraped looks - offers elegant style with better protection. Each Walpole Outdoors pergola has sturdy construction allowing for a manually operated ShadeFX canopy, offered in over fifty Sunbrella rain-resistant, waterproof, and commercial fabrics. And, Alloy Armour Technology provides a special capping protecting all four sides of the boards, empowering your client’s pergola to stand the test of time by resisting moisture and its corrosive effects.

Consider adding one of Walpole’s artfully designed weighted planter boxes to your pergola. Whether adding another layer to your customized design or serving as a sophisticated stand-alone statement piece, planter boxes are a versatile solution for homeowners and business owners alike. Solid cellular vinyl planter boxes have the look and feel of real wood but are far more durable and offer slim-to-no maintenance.  

Solid Cellular Vinyl: It’s more than Just Trim 

Available to a worldwide audience, Walpole Outdoors’ solid cellular vinyl product lines extend well beyond traditional Trim, Decking, and Railings. Synonymous with quality and innovation and made in America, Walpole Outdoors is an industry leader, continually collaborating with architecture and design professionals to deliver impeccable style and uncompromising quality. 

Your best work can shine in this exceptional material. From fences that incorporate customized milling to posts, gates, and railings. Walpole can make it real. From concept to completion, Walpole Outdoors is ready to provide you with unique engineering, CNC milling, and unparalleled partnership and support throughout the entire design and manufacturing process.