What You Should Know Before Building A Fence
There are many reasons why people build fences. One of them is increasing the size of your personal property. It can keep unwanted people out and also wild animals. It gives you a clear boundary of where your own property is. Build a fence can be a great asset to your home and something that can be enjoyable to build.
So what options are there when it comes to building your very own fences? Obviously, the first and foremost action you should take is to determine the reason for you building the fences. This will then affect the type of fences you will build.
If your reason for building fence is to mainly keep wild animals or unwelcomed people out, then you will need something strong and sturdy. The height of the fence should be tall enough to prevent would be intruders from climbing over. The materials used to construct this fence should logically then be very resilient.
If your goal is to simply mark your property, then the materials used to construct your fences need not be strong or hard. Such fences then can allow for more designs that has gaps in between. So what types of fences are there? Lets take a look. A Crossed Rail Fence is a type of fence that has spaces in between its boards. This is well-shown in its criss-cross design. Another similar fence is the picket fence. This kind of fence also has spaces in between and usually has a height that reaches up to the height.
For fences that provide more privacy, choosing the privacy fences would be ideal as it does not have gaps in between and is just a solid fence. Another type of fence, called the basket weave fence is also a solid fence. This is suitable to be build on homes that are situated on a hill.
So once you have determined your goals and the type of fence you are going to build, how do you go about building it? There are a few ways to go about it. One option is to go to depot stores and purchase kits which let you build your own fences. Usually this will suffice for building fences to mark your property. But for fences that need to be solid and keep out intruders, you will be better off finding professionals to help install your fences.
Things To Avoid When Building A Fence
People build fences everyday while they are done well by most standards, there are some things that could always be done better. Here are some things that can be done to make your next fence better. You start a fence by making holes spaced about every 8 feet apart for the 4×4x8′ treated posts. These holes should be dug 2 feet deep with a post hole digger. Most people stop right there with a cylinder shaped hole since digging these holes is the most strenuous part of fence building. To ensure the post is well anchored the fence installer should use the post hole digger at an angle around the whole diameter of this hole to make a ball shaped anchor at the bottom of the cylinder. Post holes are much better if dug this way.
Another mistake people make is not realizing the fact that wood never sticks to concrete. Drive by any concrete job and you will notice they use wood forms to frame the concrete held up by nails and wood stakes. The next day the concrete workers take the nails out and these wood forms just fall off of the concrete. Another problem is bugs and water in the soil can deteriorate the wood posts. To prevent these problems the fence builder should put black roof tar on the bottom two feet of the fence post that enters the ground. This will prevent the post from rotting and enables the concrete to stick to the posts. After the posts are leveled and set you should allow them to dry for one whole day before nailing on them. If you start nailing on them before the concrete is completely set you will knock the posts out of level.
Most often, people are only using two rails per fence slat. This is okay, but you really should consider more. To build a secure fence that will last for years, three rails should be used. The top rail should be placed on the top of the fence posts lying in a horizontal position. The fence slats should not be installed more than 8″ above this top rail. If so they will tend to twist and turn with age. The bottom rail shouldn’t be more than 8″ above the bottom of the fence slats for the same reason. The center rail should be placed evenly between the top and bottom rails.
One thing often over looked is that we assume that water only travels downward. That assumption is almost correct but don’t understand the lip or linger factor. There is one instance where water can and will travel up, and every fence builder should be aware of. If you are wondering why your fascia boards rot and warp, this is why.
Here is an example. Ever noticed that you see paint bubbling on the bottom of the fence? The paint or wood sealer should have protected the wood from moisture to prevent it from rotting but the linger factor wasn’t taken into account. Meaning, that the water traveled up and rotted the wood.
Many contractors never seal the bottom lip of the wood. Over the years as water drains down the face of the wood it lingers on the exposed bottom lip and begins to soak up into the wood causing it to rot. If you want to water seal or paint your new fence, always be certain to coat the top and bottom lip.
So there you have it. The key things to remember are to make sure the posts are actually sealed, and you make sure that the bottom of the wood gets sealed to prevent rotting. If you are in the process of making a fence then you can make these simple changes.
7 Ways to Turn Your Backyard into a Suburban Retreat
Lawn Care - Your lawn is the key to a beautiful back-yard oasis. It is the foundation that ties together all of the other amenities in your yard. Start early on planning to grow a plush thick green carpet of grass. Preparation of the ground and soil is important as well as the choice of what type of grass you prefer. A maintenance program will help to ensure your lawn stays healthy and the investment in your lawn is enjoyed for seasons to come.
Landscaping - This is more than throwing in some potted plants and mulching around them. Landscaping is like turning a canvas (your backyard) into a beautiful painting. You start off with a plan for the spaces to be used, to what types of plants and colors will complement your backyard. Through planning you can experiment with many different color schemes until you find the perfect match.
Gardens - A more personal addition to your backyard than probably any other you might do. Gardens can be very therapeutic and an extension of you, the gardener. From what type of garden you choose to the type of plant, flower, herb, fruit or vegetable you choose to plant and grow. Not to be forgotten is the time and care that goes into growing a healthy garden that you can be proud of and show off to your friends.
Fencing - Having a fence put around your yard a sensible thing to do. It can give you the privacy you desire to relax in your yard and the security of letting your children and pets spend more time outside playing and enjoying the fresh air. It can really make you feel relaxed and secluded from everything and just let you get away.
Lighting - And why not enjoy your backyard retreat at night? Nighttime is a great opportunity to spend family time in your backyard. Lighting walkways and pool areas help with safety but can also be used to highlight the beauties of your yard. Spotlights can help show off your plants, shrubbery or any other area you choose.
Decks and Patios - Building or installing a deck or patio area gives you a space that can be used in a multitude of ways. There are probably more uses for either one than there are for types of material, size, design and style to choose from. And, that’s saying a lot.
Retractable Awnings and Patio Covers - Either of these will help add comfort and enjoyment to your backyard experience in any outdoor element; rain, sun or snow. Being able to relax and take it all in while at the same time being offered protection from the sky above is priceless. When looking at different types of awnings and covers you should take into consideration what its main purpose will be. Also, look at patterns and color usage and how they will tie in with your outdoor color scheme.
Steps to Protect your home or business from loss
FENCE - Having a fence installed puts a physical and visual boundary on your property. This can be an effective way of adding an element of security to your property for people and animals. The intent is to keep them in or out. Fencing can be constructed from many types of material and styles. They can also be installed with height requirements.
AUTOMATED SECURITY GATES - This allows you to control when someone has access to enter or exit your property. An automated gate might be the added finishing touch that you need to complete your outside security measures. An automated gate installed with an access system can be set up with different options and in various configurations.
WINDOW GUARDS - These are basically protection at one of your home or buildings weakest points for entry or exit. Now depending on what your needs might be plays a large role in what you would have installed. Are they to stop someone from entering, for child protection or both? Security bars or window guards can be set up to be low profile or highly visible depending on the purpose and area.
LIGHTING - When you add lighting directly to an area on your property it adds safety for the people that are entering and exiting at night. This is also a great way to deter any criminals that might be in the area.
SECURITY MONITORING - Electronic point of entry monitoring is also a good way to safeguard your property. This is typically set up on all entrance and exit doors and at least on all first floor windows.
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS ” Closed circuit systems may be installed with various types of cameras and recording devices. This is a measure more commonly used in the commercial sector but is gaining popularity in residential use.
GUARD SERVICE - Hiring an on-site security company allows for a response person to be immediately available and adds to the overall security on your property. When hiring a contract security guard service keep in mind that they should be able to work with you based on your specific requirements
7 Security Measures To Protect Property
FENCE - Having a fence installed puts a physical and visual boundary on your property. This can be an effective way of adding an element of security to your property for people and animals. The intent is to keep them in or out. Fencing can be constructed from many types of material and styles. They can also be installed with height requirements.
AUTOMATED SECURITY GATES - To have control of when and who enters or exits your property an automated gate is an added plus. These gates can give you the finish to your exterior security that you might be looking for. An automated gate comes with several options and in different configurations. The access system can also be set up for your specific needs.
WINDOW GUARDS - Your windows are one of your house or buildings weakest points security wise. The main purpose of window guards is basically to protect against entry or exit.You should consider the main purpose that you are having window guards installed. They can be installed to be seen as highly visible or low profile, This depends on the area and the purpose that the window guards serve.
LIGHTING - By adding direct lighting to areas on your property will help to add safety for the people that are coming and going during nighttime hours. Also, this is a great deterrent for criminal purposes.
SECURITY MONITORING - Electronic point of entry monitoring is also a good way to safeguard your property. This is typically set up on all entrance and exit doors and at least on all first floor windows.
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS - CC or Closed Circuit systems can be installed with different types of cameras and also recording devices. This measure is more commonly in use by commercial property owners but has gained in popularity with home owners as well.
GUARD SERVICE - Having a guard service on your property can add an element of immediate response and overall on location security. Any company that you would hire to provide guard service to your property should be able to fulfill the required needs of their client.
Beautify Your Property With An Outdoor Fence
Fences can be used as a trellis for roses or other vine type plants if they are open. If fencing is closed, it can be used as a guard against wind or sun, or as a privacy fence. The materials used to make the fence will determine largely on how it can be used. The most attractive fences are the ones made of wood in various forms, but there are some newer fences that can be made of asbestos-concrete and corrugated sheet metal, these are colorful and guard against rot much better. These types of fences are heavier and they are usually used in a zig-zag pattern to stand up against strong winds.
People can encounter some serious problems when trying to sustain the life of a wooden fence from rotting at the ground line. The bottom of the fence experiences both wet and dry conditions. Some of the best woods to use for withstanding rot are the California redwood and Southern cypress, white and red cedar are also sufficient as well. When painting the wood with a preservative, it will do no good at lengthening the life of your fence, if it will not penetrate the wood.
This is why a post that has been machine treated will do much better at resisting rot. If you use a good preservative product, on clean, dry wood, paint on two or three coats and that should be good enough.
Additionally, the point where the post touches the ground, any place where two pieces are nailed to each other on a wood fence is subject to rot, so treat the wood where the pieces are joined, prior to installing the fence. This preserves it much better then painting it later.
You will need to place your fence posts deep enough into the ground that they will be able to withstand strong winds, so an average of 2 feet or deeper is recommended. Set heavier posts using concrete and tap them firmly into place so the fence does not wiggle. Any hardware used should also be galvanized.
The most common types of fencing to use is the traditional picket fence. This post and rail fence and the hurdle fence, but with increasing stress on privacy fencing, the louvered and lattice fences are gaining even more popularity.
The post-and-rail type fence is made of posts being spaced about every 10 feet, and have large slots cut into them. The 11 feet long railing is tapered to flat ends, which are then inserted into the posts. Hurdle fences are split rail that are built into a frame work that is braced into the posts. Then they are nailed together with the end pieces of each panel then forming the posts.
Picket fences are traditionally white and have posts that are spaced from eight to twelve feet apart, rails that are 3 by 4 inches and pickets that are 2 to 3 inches wide and pointed on the bottom. The pickets need to stand about 2 inches off the ground and extend above the top railing by quite a distance. The spindle fence is a type of picket fencing with round spindles which pass through the holes in the rail.
There are many different variances in building a board fence when used for screening purposes. Board fences are easier to construct than a hand weaved fence. A broad board can be alternated with a narrower rail, or the board can be applied vertically, like palings, and a staggering of boards on either side of the railing. Boards can be slanted in a sort of louver effect to give it a sort of privacy, while still allowing air flow and sunshine.
A basket-weave type of fence may be constructed from thin, flexible boards and can provide total privacy and an attractive background for plants. It is a hard project for the do-it-yourselfer however.
Figuring Out a Fence
Many people start with security when thinking about what type of fence they want to install. In today’s market, you don’t have to sacrifice look and style for a fence when looking for security. You can find a good match for both.
You will want to choose the style before you choose the material because not all styles come in all materials. If you choose the material first, you may be limited to the type of fence you can choose. Decide which is more important to you before you start your search.
The fun part is looking at all the choices of wood fences, aluminum, vinyl and wrought iron and learning about the upkeep and maintenance of each. Sometimes you can just purchase the right kind of fence and have little or no maintenance. Other times you want a certain kind of fence that requires a sealant or some other type of treatment to protect it from the elements.
Though there are some people that don’t like the way it looks, vinyl is the most maintenance free choice you can make. Wrought iron doesn’t need a lot of care but you do need to look for and treat for rust if it develops.
One of the most fun things to choose for your fence will be the finishing pieces known as post caps and finials. The post caps come in an array of choices that include Red Western Cedar, Redwood and copper topped caps and is one of the reasons so many choose wood fencing. Finials can be added as well for the final touch. Iron and aluminum fences come with pre-set finials and you can sometimes choose the cap for your vinyl fence.
Post caps are more than decorative. They have the very important function of protecting the top of the post from cracking and splitting as well as water pooling on the wood. Many people forget this and end up having to replace the posts on down the line. You can also add finials to further enhance your outdoor decor for your perfect look.
Fences - Beyond Landscape Beyond Privacy
Fences serve a variety of purposes. They can be latticed as a simple boundary between areas or as a support for roses or other plants, or they can be closed to protect one from the elements or to act as a barrier for privacy. Fences can also come in a variety of materials depending on their use. The majority of fences are built from planks of wood, and are probably the most attractive and natural looking. Other fences may come in materials made from cement or corrugated sheet-metal, and these more effectively withstand the elements. These are usually erected in a lattice or zigzag pattern to better withstand the force of the wind.
The most prevalent ailment facing fences is rot at their base, as the base is most susceptible to both wet conditions, from pooling water, and dry conditions. Good forms of wood for withstanding rot include California redwood, southern cypress, white and red cedar, locust and chestnut wood. Additional steps can be taken to preserve wood from rot by coating or painting them with preservatives. These must penetrate the wood to be effective, and may require different products depending on the brand of wood used. A good preservative applied two to three times to any strip of unpainted, clean and dry wood should do an admirable job in protecting it.
Besides the base, another area susceptible to rot is any point at which two pieces are nailed together. Coating these areas before erecting the fence will prove more effective than simply coating the length of the fence afterwards.
Your fence posts will need to be set up deep into the earth, the depth of which will differ depending on the fence height and weight of the boards. Heavy posts should be set in concrete.
The most popular fences in common use are the white picket fence, the post-and-rail fence and the hurdle fence. With an increasing eye towards privacy, styles like the louvered and lattice fences are also gaining in use.
Post-and-rail fences are constructed from posts placed at 10 foot intervals, with 11 foot long tapered rails inserted into the posts. Hurdle fences have a braced frame with split rails along its length, with the end pieces from each panel making up the posts.
Picket fences, most commonly painted white, have posts spaced anywhere from 8 to 12 feet apart, with 3×4 inch rails and pickets two to three inches wide. The pickets should be raised at least two feet off the ground and extend beyond the top of the highest rail.
Board fences are ideal for privacy purposes, and can be slanted in a louver effect for even greater results in this regard. Board fences can be styled any number of ways, with alternating broad and thin boards, boards applied vertically, or even a staggering of the boards on the sides of the rail. This makes a nice backdrop for bromeliad plants.
Basket weave fences are made from thin, pliable boards, and also provide a good screen for privacy or a perfect background for planting.
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We’re planning to post a video soon that explains how we found a fence contractor in the metro-Boston area and the process we used to make sure we didn’t get scammed.
Hopefully, this video and other resource will help others avoid mistakes and find the best Boston fence company!