Choosing A Garden Fence

Garden fencing can serve many purposes, but one of the best is to accent and define areas of your garden. Whether you choose a six or twelve inch high border edging, or stand a section of post and rail garden fencing in the center of a sweep of lawn, garden fencing can add a beautiful accent to your landscaping.

Wood lattice makes attractive garden fencing that affords some privacy while allowing glimpses of the garden. Lattice boards set into a wooden privacy fence add a whole new design dimension to the frontage of your garden. A single width of lattice fencing can provide a screen or windbreak, and support for any climbing vines.

Set a lattice panel at the edge of the garden nearest the house and train morning glories to climb it to provide a scenery wall outside a kitchen or bedroom window, or create a simple arbor with two full height lattice panels set six to eight feet apart. Use thick garden twine to create a ‘bridge’ for vines to climb across and form a living ‘roof’.

Border edging is another extremely versatile garden fencing option. Think outside the perimeter. You can use wire garden fencing to create smaller accents within a garden plot, or outline one corner or end of a garden with cast iron border edging.

Cedar shakes or redwood blocks can be used to create curved borders for slightly raised garden beds, or serve as a backdrop over which to spill indigo lobelia or white alyssum. Create a zigzag border of decorative low picket garden fencing and plant zinnias or marigolds in the V-shaped ‘teeth’ for a unique look.

Garden fencing can be used to create a beautiful background for patio dining. Choose a metal trellis and install it just off the patio edge behind the table and dining set. Twine climbing roses up over it to create an accent that defines the edge of the patio and creates an elegant, tasteful accent to your patio and garden at the same time.

Wrought-iron or cast-iron fences tend to be ornate, which suits more formal, historic houses, such as Victorians, or high-end urban homes. Today, similar styles are available in powder-coated steel, anodized aluminum or composite materials that are much more affordable and easier to maintain.

Stone fences, which are the oldest known type of fencing, make great garden walls or boundary markers around traditional homes, such as Colonials and Cape Cods, when built with native stone. Dry-stacked walls stay together with the help of gravity and friction.

The picket fence, a low, decorative style used to define property rather than secure it, is a universally popular style flexible enough to work with almost any home. There are many variations on the picket fence, including the Federal style, which features scalloped pickets and decorative finials.

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Choosing The Right Chain Link Fence For Your Home

Chain link fence (also known as chainlink fence ) is one of the most common styles of fencing for both residential and commercial applications. It comes in a variety of sizes, strengths, and finishes, each which should be selected based on the purpose of the fence.  

You may even discover some options you hadn’t considered before. The article presents some issues that should be taken into account when you choose a chain lnk fence.

When choosing a fencing system, always check local zoning regulations and know where your property line is. Also check for underground utilities. Before you begin any excavation you need to call and check for underground utilities.

Wood Panel Fencing is commonly used as a decorative means of providing privacy for homes in neighborhood settings. It’s also a good choice for setting boundaries for small children and pets. You can easily match the fence to your landscape with stain or paint.

If a wood fence doesn’t fit your needs, or taste, you certainly have other choices. From ornamental steel and composite wood products to PVC systems, chain-link and more, there’s sure to be a design and material choice to suit your home. Chain-link fencing is enduring, affordable and adds a practical investment to your home.

Chain link or hurricane fencing is an economical way to enclose an area. Chain link fencing comes in rolls from 25′ to 100′ long and 4′ to 6′ high, with prefabricated gates up to 5′ wide. If you don’t like the silvery look of the bare fence, it’s available with a weather resistant vinyl coating, usually green or brown. Chain link is a good choice for keeping pets in or other creatures out.

Choosing a chain link fence isn’t as easy as it used to be. This traditional, all galvanized steel product now comes in a multitude of colors and weights to meet the needs of any commercial, industrial or residential setting. Vinyl coating, powder-coating, and fuse bonding are all new techniques used to offer chain link in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and strengths. Consequently, the new chain link fence is a more viable option for settings requiring both security and style.
Identifying the purpose of your chain link fence is one of the most important steps you frequently not taken.

Not understanding all of the tasks you want your chain link fence to accomplish can quickly lead to disappointment with its performance. For instance, will the fence encloser a larger pet? Will it be subject to children climbing on it or playing near it? Will it be near to significant vegetation? Will motor vehicle traffic or parking be nearby? Organized sports activities?

Once these issues have been identified, it’s time to look at the four components of a chain link fence: fabric, framework, fittings and gates. Fabrics is the diamond-shaped steel wire that comproses the „field” of the fence. Framework consist of the posts and supports for the fabric. Fittings hold the fabric to the framework. Gates are the entrance and exit portals into the space enclosed by the fence.

There are three critera you should use in choosing the fabric: how thick the wire is, the size of the openings in the wire, and how the wire is coated for protection. The thickness of the wire in chain link fence fabric, or gauge, is important in the fence’s strength. Thinner gauges are more often seen in commercial use. Be sure to choose a sufficient gauge of wire for the fabric, or the fence will look worn and tired well before it’s time.

Choosing framework components have similar considerations we saw with the fence fabric: gauge of the support pipe, diameter of the support pipe, and coating. Diameter of the pipe should also be chosen based on how high the fence is going to be.
As you might surmise, the fittings that hold the fabric to the framework should also be of sufficient gauge, and sufficiently protected, to keep the fence looking as new as possible for as long as possible. Here is also where you consider the aesthetics you want your fence to have.

Finally, consider making sure your gate and gate hardware is sufficiently strong to accommodate the anticipated use. Fence gates generally come in three styles: bnt-frame gates, where the frame of the gate is one pipe that has been bent to form the gate; wlded-frame gates, where four pipes are welded at the corners and asembled gates, where four pipes are mechanically attached to each other.

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Give Your Horses the Protection They Need with a Vinyl Horse Fence

Whether you own only a few horses or you have a horse farm, a proper horse fence is necessary to keep your animals safely within their boundaries. Horses have a tendency to stand with their necks hanging over the top of the fence. A horse will also try to force his head and neck through fencing if it is too flexible. That’s why many horse farmers are choosing vinyl fencing for horses over traditional barbed wire or wood fencing.

Vinyl horse fencing gives the look and feel of a wooden fence without the typical maintenance and paint requirements. It doesn’t weather like wood and it can be easily set up for a beautiful, safe horse farm. With proper construction, there are fewer worries of your horses getting out or getting hurt on the fence.

Vinyl Horse Fence Facts

Vinyl horse fencing is also called PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) fencing. When PVC powder is blended with other ingredients, a compound is created, which is subjected to heat and pressure along with mixing to create a malleable vinyl. The vinyl is died and shaped to create the desired look for fencing. Then it is cooled with water to finalize the process. Vinyl horse fencing is bright in color due to the deep pigmentation in the material.

Quality vinyl fencing is built to last many years and often comes with an extended or lifetime warranty. There’s no need to paint the fence, but it may be cleaned with a water hose to maintain its brightness.

Vinyl Fencing Compared to Wood or Metal Fencing

Vinyl fencing may cost a little more to set up, but the long-term benefits should be considered when comparing it with wood or metal fencing. Wood fencing can deteriorate and weather over the years. It usually requires paint or replacement boards every five to fifteen years. Also, treated wood may contain arsenic, which is harmful to the environment. Wire fencing can be bent or damaged easily by animals and it can rust over a period of time. Barbed wire can also cut your horses if they attempt to jump or run through the fence.

Brightness Makes a Difference

Horses need to be able to see their boundaries clearly. A vinyl fence is bright-colored, giving horses a clear view of where their limitations are. Wire fences are often difficult to see, especially if the horse is running fast toward it. With vinyl fencing for horses, you won’t have to worry about this. Your horses will have a safe, visible border at all times.

Choosing Vinyl Horse Fencing

When selecting a vinyl horse fence, choose one based on your needs. Every farm is different, and every horse or group of horses is different. You can choose vinyl fencing with two to four rails, and it is usually priced by the foot. So, you should consider your budget and how many feet of fencing you would need. If you’re new to horse farming, you might benefit from horse farm consulting with an expert. A horse farm consultant can help you determine where to place the fencing, barn, and gate so your farm will function smoothly and economically.

With vinyl horse fencing, you can have the best of both worlds – a gorgeous farm and safety for your horses. Check out online resources for vinyl horse fencing to find great bargains so you can get started with the horse farm of your dreams!

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Nosy Neighbors Got You Down? Consider A Privacy Fence

A privacy fence is a nice way to keep out unwanted eyes from your yard or home. These are generally solid fences that are fairly high so people can not easily peer over them. Families who have small children who often play in the backyard sometimes use privacy fences. Also, people who have pools or hot tubs often want to use a privacy fence in order to keep people from looking in on the activities occurring in the backyard. Anyone who wants an added bit of security will want to have a privacy fence installed if there is not one already there. 

A privacy fence can be very decorative. It can be made from a variety of materials and depending on the area you want blocked off you can make it an industrial look or a very homey look. Whatever your personal style and taste is, there is a type of privacy fence available to you. Some people choose to not even use a traditional fence for privacy but instead use shrubs or trees. They will line the area with close fitting tall shrubs or trees. This is very nice because it lends an attractive look to the landscape. For people who have gardens, hot tubs or pools, this option may be particularly appealing. The downside to this type of privacy fence is that it will need much more maintenance to care for and trim the shrubs or trees so they stay attractive.

Privacy fences can be made of wood also. These are usually treated wood that is approximately eight feet tall. A decorative topper can also be added. Because the privacy fence is typically solid, it can look a little plain especially if it is being used around a home. You will want to make it a little more attractive while maintaining the functional use for it as well. A decorative lattice work on the top will help achieve that. A privacy fence can also be made of other materials including chain link and vinyl. For a chain link fence, slats are woven among the links to create a solid wall.

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White Picket Living – Build Your Dream Fence

People employ fences for many reasons. There are those who do so for security, noise reduction and boundary definition purposes. There are also those who feel that well-designed fences are stylish additions to the landscapes of their homes. Whether for security or for aesthetic reasons, fences are the best way to go. Adding fences to a particular property can definitely enhance your quality of life and the value of your home. 

1. Fence Material 101

There are many types of fences that can be chosen from by those who are thinking about acquiring their own. These include wood fencing, vinyl fencing and ornamental fencing. Wood fencing is traditional, functional and aesthetically pleasing while vinyl fencing has timeless styling and is more intricate than wood fencing. Ornamental fencing, in turn, is high quality, elegant and high in toughness and strength. Among these three, it is wood fencing which is the most popular. This is because it combines both function and fashion in one single entity. There used to be a time when fences such as these were built entirely from scratch by those who want white picket fences for their homes. These days, however, preassembled fence panels which make fence construction faster and easier can be availed of from the market with no hassle at all.

2. Fence Panels And Styles

The market has many different fence panels available to suit all tastes. These fences differ in detail and are uniquely designed so that not one is the same with the other. There are, however, three major preassembled fence panel styles for people to choose from. These include the solid, the spaced picket and the shadowbox fence panel styles.

3. Solid Style

The style referred to as solid is that which is used as containment fencing. This style allows for complete privacy and is commonly used to surround swimming pools and divide property lines. The solid style is also used to hide unsightly areas or major roadways from view. Fences with solid styling generally use very closely-spaced pickets that vary in style, two of which include the basic dog-ear style and the pointed top or elaborate design.

4. Picket Style

The style referred to as spaced picket is that which is ideal for keeping children and pets in defining boundaries. This style also allows fences to wear a distinctive look and aesthetic appeal. Fences that sport the spaced picket style are generally shorter than those that sport the solid style. The advantage this styling has over all the others is that the fences which it employs do not completely block view from the surrounding area.

5. Shadowbox Style

The style referred to as shadowbox uses alternating panels across the back and front. This is to be able to give the fence the same look on both sides. The shadowbox is an ideal fence style for the reason that people from the other side have a pleasant view of the fence as well. Fences that sport the shadowbox style are taller than usual and have the look of full containment while allowing more air circulation.

6. Durability

In buying durable fences intended to endure all storms, it is important to pay special attention to the materials that the fences themselves are made of. The mark of quality found in these materials hold a very special bearing on the fences that they make up. For wood fencing, it is important that the fences themselves are made of the right kind of lumber. Wood fencing treated with paint, stain or waterproofing sealer as well as those which employ weather-resistant galvanized nails and exterior screws are those which should be considered by people who want to acquire fences that are meant to last for eternity.

7. Make It Last And Save Money In The Long Run

Perhaps the most excellent bit of generic advice that anyone can be given as far as buying fences is concerned is that one should buy the best he can afford. Paying a significant premium for the best and the real top of the range stuff allows one to own fences that will not wear or break much faster than intended. This is particularly true for wood fencing, because it is more popular and has the tendency to be particularly abused. Wood fencing is that which is much more consistent as far as standard is concerned and is assured to outlive those which purport to be stylish but do not have the capacity to last a day anyway.

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Building A Garden Fence

They are privacy and shelter are two important things in the garden. The latter is often a problem in gardens which are exposed to cold prevailing winds. Both these points are important not only for the gardener himself, but also for the plants in his garden.

Young growth can be severely damaged by cold winds and frequent buffeting will cause a great deal of root disturbance. Although privacy and shelter can be provided by trees and shrubs, fences also have an important part to play.

The choice of fencing must never be undertaken lightly, for serious consideration must be given to its appearance and construction. 

Strength is very important. A fence is only as strong as its supports. Most fences are supplied with strong posts, usually 4-6in (10-15cm) square. Sometimes concrete posts are supplied; these are extremely strong. Strength of timber also depends on the prevention of rot, and unless cedar wood is used (except for posts), all timber should be treated with a suitable preservative. Creosote can be used, although it should be allowed to soak into the timber for several weeks before plants are trained against it. Unless this is done, there is the danger of stem and leaf scorch and its use is not generally recommended where plants are to be grown against or near a fence. A safer treatment consists of the use of copper naphthenate preservatives such as the green, horticultural grades of Cuprinol or Solignum.

Types of fencing

The most popular types are purchased as units or panels. Usually they are from 5-6ft (1.5-1.8m) in length with heights varying from about 3-6ft ( 90cm-1.8m). A solid or close boarded fence is, as its name implies, a design which consists of upright or horizontal strips of wood, some 6in (15cm) wide and 1in (2-2.5cm) thick. The strips are nailed to two or more supporting rails at the rear of the panel. These provide complete privacy and wind protection.

Weather board fencing consists of wedge-shaped strips of wood, (1 in 2cm) in thickness at one edge, tapering to 0.5 in (1cm) at the other. Each strip overlaps the next by about 1 in(2cm). The advantage of this design is that it is virtually peep proof.

Trellis fencing is suited as a support for climbing and trailing plants. It is not a strong design but can be used to good effect for covering unsightly walls or as an additional part of a fence design. It usually consists of laths of wood 1 by 3/4in ( 2.5 by 1.5cm) thick, fastened across each other vertically and horizontally to form 6-8in (15-20cm) squares. The laths are attached to a more substantial framing of 1 or 1in (2.5 or 3cm) square timber.

One of the latest advances in fence production is the sale of kits which are so accurately machined and complete that even an unskilled person can erect panels without any trouble. With these kits have come new ideas in design, and many can be made up into contemporary designs. This is especially useful where bold effects are required in the construction of patios. Many ultra-modern properties are being built and this advance in fence appearance will be welcomed by their owners.

Fencing can also be provided in the form of chain link or mesh netting. The best quality is heavily galvanized to withstand the rigors of the weather.

A more recent innovation is the plastic coating of chain link over the galvanized wire. Standard colors of dark green, black, white, yellow and light green can be obtained.

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Build a Redwood Fence In Five Easy Steps

Fences are built for many reasons. Fences keep children or animals in the yard and define property lines. Fences also provide security and privacy, and complement other backyard amenities, like pools, spas and decks. 

Redwood is often the material of choice for fences because it is durable, looks good, and resists warping, splitting and checking.

Many homeowners save money by building their own redwood fence. Fence building isn’t difficult. Here are some tips for successful fence building from the California Redwood Association:

1. Designing the fence: Most redwood fences are variations of a simple post, rail and board design. The post and rail support structure is made of standard dimension lumber, while fence boards of different shapes and sizes give a fence its individual style.

2. Choosing quality materials: Most redwood fences are built with knot-textured “garden grades” of redwood. These rugged grades are economical and provide the best combination of performance and value. It is important to use noncorrosive nails and hardware to avoid unsightly stains.

3. Setting redwood posts: Setting posts is the most critical part of the job. They must be straight and evenly spaced, which requires patience and lots of measuring. Construction Heart grade redwood is the right choice for fence posts because it resists decay and insects.

4. Attaching redwood railings: Two or three horizontal rails run between the posts, depending on the fence height. Upper rails should rest on the tops of the posts for support. Bottom rails can be toenailed into place, but the preferred method is to place a block underneath the joint for extra support. Use metal hardware, such as “L” brackets, to secure rails to posts.

5. Nailing redwood fence boards: Nailing the fence boards in place is the easiest and most satisfying part of building a fence. Near the ends of the board, predrill holes before nailing to avoid splitting. For fence boards four inches wide or less, use one nail per bearing. For wider fence boards, use two nails.

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