Wooden gates are solid heartwoods. It can be used in ranches, garden and house entry, polo clubs and horse corrals. These are well-crafted from IPE wood, western red cedar or white oak. These woods are strongest part of the tree. The optimal performance of a wooden fence gates depends upon its durability, insect attacks, weather conditions, decomposition and low maintenance.

A wooden fence gate has three main elements. It is composed of the post, the rails and the panels or boards.

Posts are vertical components place on either side of the fence. Sometimes there several placed in regular intervals throughout the perimeter. It supports the fence gate and holds the panels firmly in place. It is the main foundation of a wooden fence.

Rails connect one post to the other to which the panels will be attached. It is the horizontal element parallel to the ground.

Panels are the vertical components that complete the fence structure. It comes with different designs, styles, and shapes.
Gate styles and shapes come in vertical bars, lattice design, solid pickets, spaced vertical pickets and gates with solid centers. Wooden decorative gates are available in custom sizes with a standard width of 3 to 6 feet. Below are some of the design types to choose from:
Design Types

The Country Escaped Gates are made from Western Red Cedar treated with sealers for a more natural look. Sealers help protect the woods against damaging elements. The gate can also be painted to match your fence décor.

Green Mountain Gate is a traditional concave gate made from western red cedar. It is a solid gate that opens in the middle. It comes in 5 sizes of 3, 3 ½, 4, 5 and 6 feet.

Next is the High Tide Gate. This Western red cedar gate is uniquely patterned for a more perfect accent in the garden entrance. It is very ideal for post caps and finials. The delicate and tough appearance makes it more adaptable to any fence style.

There is also the South Shore Gate. It exudes a homey and warm feeling as you enter the premises. The very attractive western red cedar gate can last for years when properly cared for.

The Surfside Gate is solid and comes in 4 sizes of 3, 4, 5 and 6 feet. It fits in a front or backyard and the pool area. Surfside can be treated and painted to match your home design.

Most of the popular decorative wooden gates use cedar wood. Cedar fence gates become a popular choice to any small or large property. These wood gates not only give a solid security but add an impressive look to your yard.

Cedar gates matches perfectly with any types of fence. People tend to buy wooden gates because it is easy to install and less expensive

Wooden Gate Maintenance

Wooden gates need to be crafted with the use of quality materials. This will avoid unnecessary sagging or slipping from the alignment in the future. Wood can twist and warp with the use of low quality woods and hardware. Gate posts should be able to support the weight of the gate. It is important to build larger posts for a wider gate.

A sag prevention kit can be used to avoid gate frames that harm your wood gates. The kit has a turnbuckle for easy gate adjustments. This will provide a strong structure on your rails to the steel frames.

Wooden gates present great craftsmanship and artistry with utmost functionality. Large wooden gates may vary from ,400 to ,000 or more. Price range depends on the gate’s level of craftsmanship, height and weight.

Cedar is perhaps one of the most popular wood types for fencing because of its ability to withstand rot and insects plus there are different shades you can buy cedar in. Northern White Cedar is pale yellow whilst Western Red Cedar has a red coloring.

Although you can have your cedar fence for quite a long time without having to care for it, you are very much advised to treat it so that it lasts even longer and keeps looking good throughout its lifetime. Oiling your cedar fence is recommended because it will help keep out moisture which can damage the wood. It will also make the wood look great. Alternatively you could choose to stain your cedar fence however you should look for a stain which gives a degree of UV protection.

If, for whatever reason, you decide that cedar isn’t what you are looking for, there is Redwood which you can choose instead. Not only is it very good at resisting insects, it can also help prevent fungi such as mildew which attacks the wood.

Many of the people who choose redwood do so because of the color. It is naturally the color they love which means staining isn’t generally done. However you should look to treat redwood to help protect it over the years. You could use an oil or a shellac as both of these will help extend the fence’s lifetime.

If you really don’t like the idea of having to treat your wooden fence then you should have a look at composite wood. You may already have seen composite wood for decking materials because it’s highly durable and doesn’t take much looking after. Composite wood is made from wood shaving and also resin so it takes on the appearance of real wood but offers you benefits that real wood cannot.

If you decide you don’t like the color of your composite fence then you can paint it or you might even be able to stain it. However you don’t need to do either of these things because you can purchase composite fences the way you want them to look.

In addition to thinking about what type of material you would like for your fence, you will also want to think about the design. There are so many different designs of fences available so you might want to take some time over this. However, remember, if you buy a fence which is very fancy, you might quickly get bored of it. Choosing a fence which is a simple design might be a better choice.

Related Wood Fence Articles

PVC fence markets are posting rapid gains, prompting profile extruders to install new machines by the dozens and convert existing plants from pipe and siding production. New players are jumping in, too including makers of wood-filled composites.
As occurred in PVC siding and windows a decade ago, fence profiles are now seeing explosive growth and rapid plant expansions, including conversions of entire plants from pipe, siding, and other construction profiles. While demand for all types of fencing typically grows 5-7% a year, the PVC sector has been surging ahead by 20-30% annually, and this year’s growth could hit 50%, according to David Lawrence of Outdoor Advantage in Snohomish, Wash. “The only limiting factor may be the shortage of PVC,” adds the president of this two-year-old start-up, which operates PVC fence-profile plants in Florida and Texas.
Unlike windows and siding, fence makers such as temporary fence,wire mesh,fence manufacturers,steel fence post,wire fence,portable fence face few hurdles in the form of building codes or ASTM standards. There are a few notable exceptions. Acoustical fence must meet stringent performance tests. Pool fences and deck rails have to withstand specified lateral loadings. Ranch fence needs to be robust enough to keep horses in. And any fence in Dade County, Fla., must stand up to 120-mph hurricanes. But otherwise, fence requirements are mostly aesthetic, which has helped PVC profiles to become a mainstream product in just a few years. Forty-six percent of the current PVC fence market is in residential fencing, 36% in ranch (post and rail), 12% in encapsulated-metal railings, 4% in decking, and 2% in lawn and garden.
“Fences are at critical mass now, where a lot of processors are doing well and expanding rapidly,” says Harlan Doering, v.p. of Kansas American Tooling, McPherson, Kan., a maker of dies and calibrators for fence profiles. From a standing start in the early 1980s, PVC fence sales grew to about 0 million last year, industry sources say. “The larger market of wood fences is billion a year, so there’s still a lot of replacement potential out there,” says the sales director of one big vinyl fence company.
In the past year alone, Krauss-Maffei Corp., Florence, Ky., says it has delivered 16 conical twin-screw extrusion lines to three PVC fence processors, all of which are running dual strands for maximum output. “Usually with that kind of growth, you’d expect the product to be cheaper than the alternative, but PVC fences are more expensive,” says Michael Riese, product manager at Lawrence McCoy in Worcester, Mass., a distributor of vinyl, wood, and aluminum fences. Even a 10-15% price increase early this year hasn’t dampened sales, he notes.
What triggered this year’s explosive growth is sudden, broad customer acceptance of PVC fences, especially among smaller contractors and buildings-supply houses. They offer PVC as a high-end choice to customers. “There is clearly a shift to maintenance-free building products. It’s not that people love a product that looks plastic,” Riese explains. “But people are not in love with scraping and painting their fences, either, and they’re willing to pay more not to have to do it.”
“Ranch,” or post and rail, is the commodity end of the PVC market, and is the most price-competitive with wood fencing. In fact, some PVC fence makers say they can undersell wood in some cases. At the high end, residential fence sells for 30% to 300% more than wood, depending on the complexity of the fence system. But even in this sector, all the new extrusion capacity flooding the market is starting to depress profit margins, notes William Zell, sales and marketing manager at Westech Fence in Mt. Vernon, Ind.
The explosive growth of PVC fences, even at a price premium to wood, isn’t lost on the makers of wood-composite decks and rails. They are eyeing fences as their next potential market. Wood-flour-filled polyolefins and PVC have already gained acceptance in non-structural profiles for decking and in metal-reinforced railings. They have the advantage of the look and feel of natural woodgrain, which plain PVC fencing can only imitate with streaks of pigment.

Thinking of getting a cedar fence in Massachusetts? Here are some tips and advice to help you make a smart purchase!

There are a lot of different types of wood fence that you may see in the Boston area. For example, you’ll see a lot of cedar privacy fencing in suburban yards. However, in the city proper you’ll see smaller yards, more distinctive architecture and different types of fencing to mesh with these conditions. In Boston, you’ll see a little less fencing than you will in many other cities. Why? Well, while Boston has the fifth highest population density among major U.S. cities, it also is small in terms of land mass ? third smallest, in fact! However, the classic and timeless look which only a wood fence can achieve lends itself perfectly to this, a city with so much history that it’s there to be found around every corner.

If you’re interested in putting up wood fence on your property, then you’ll need to determine which fence design best meets your needs and the look of your home. Suburban Bostonians have a lot of options for fencing. 6′ cedar privacy fencing is not uncommon in suburban areas, but the traditional stockade picket fence is more common and fits the look of new constructions as well as the older colonial homes and the new homes which take their look as a template.

In the city proper, the homeowner can decide what works best for the particular features of their home. Brownstones which are common in many neighborhoods often have low picket fencing out front which delineates property lines without hampering the sense of close-knit community which is famously a part of Boston neighborhoods. Backyard Boston wood fencing may feature either these same low picket fences or higher basketweave privacy fences which turn a backyard even in the most crowded urban area into your own private oasis.

Based on homeowners who have located Boston wood fence contractors to build their fencing, we can give you a good idea of how much you’ll pay to have a wood fence built. In the Boston area, the cost for most wood fence installation by contractors we work with is somewhere between ,000 and ,000, with ,500 being the average cost with materials and labor. The job generally took a speedy two weeks, with four weeks being the slowest and eight days the fastest. Naturally, the longer the job takes, the more expensive it will tend to be.

So for you as a Greater Boston homeowner, what does all of this mean? For homeowners, it’s actually good news. The prices of Boston wood fencing are more or less consistent in the area ? so as long as you find a good contractor to work with, you can be sure of getting your money’s worth out of your wood fence. For a Boston wood fence, cedar is what you want. The hot, humid summers and harsh winters; not to mention the Nor’easters and offshore storms seen here call for durable woods. Cedar’s natural oils repel moisture, making the best choice for the sometimes harsh weather of New England.

If you want a cedar fence to stay looking its best and protected from weather damage, you should treat it every five to ten years; a small price to pay for a wood fence which looks great and will last. If you don’t use cedar, pressure treated lumber is the next best option. Be sure to paint it if you want to keep that fence around for a long time though.

Finally, always do your research into any wood fence contractor you’re thinking of using and evaluate their track record. It may take a little of your time, but it’s well worth it for a fence which will hold up over the long run.

PVC fence designs are becoming more elaborate. They developed in the early 1990s from simple posts and slats into complex interlocking systems with tongue-and-groove “privacy panels” and a variety of molded finials and caps.

The big design news at January’s Fence Tech 2000 show in Tampa, Fla., was a 1.5 x 13.4 in. tongue-in-groove privacy panel with eight internal support ribs, which Outdoor Advantage says is the widest fence profile on the market.

Cap layers are blooming with new colors in the past six months. Whereas fences have typically been either white, tan, or gray, Kroy recently added khaki, navy blue, forest green, burgundy, and “Timberlast” woodgrain (made by striping black ink into a monolayer tan or gray profile). Bufftech introduced a marbleized woodgrain effect two years ago.

Most processors of fence profiles are evaluating foam as a way to raise output and possibly gain other attributes like sound deadening. Foam is used in PVC building profiles, but these tend to be light trim pieces, not free-standing ones, because foam reduces PVC’s impact strength, though it can increase stiffness.

Reedy International Corp., Keyport, N.J., recently introduced Safoam RIC-FP chemical blowing agent for PVC. It’s said to have the smallest particle size on the market—7 microns vs. 35 microns for previous products. Reedy sources note that foaming increases throughput by 10-20% because CO2 generated by the blowing agent in the extruder acts as a lubricant or processing aid.

The next wave of fence developments is likely to include wood -composites. Wood-filled PVC and polyolefin rails, with and without cap layers, are already commercial, though they are heavier and more expensive than conventional PVC fences. Cap layers give a painted look, but the composites can also be embossed or finished to look like natural woodgrain.

Adding wood flour is a natural progression for current PVC fence makers, because of the greater heat resistance of wood composites. “Hypothetically a wood composite should do better in hot climates,” says Al England, v.p. of Strandex Corp., Madison, Wis., which licenses proprietary wood-composite profile technology that is now widely used for decks and rails.

Meanwhile, makers of wood-composite “plastic lumber” for other applications are being drawn to the fence market which include such as temporary fence,wire mesh,fence manufacturers,steel fence post,wire fence,portable fence etc. One of these is Comptrusion Corp. in Toronto, a three-year-old maker of wood-filled PVC decking, railing and window profiles. Says v.p. Jim Pratt, “Our initial market analysis was that it would be a stretch for composites to compete with pressure-treated wood fences. But we can compete with plain PVC. I’m glad the PVC fence growth curve is going off the charts, because it will stop people from comparing the cost of plastic alternative fences to wood.” Comptrusion plans to expand production next year in Canada and the U.S. “We’ll be going after the fence market once we get a handle on the volume for the rails and decks—probably next year,” Pratt says. “We’ll look at performance-rated fences like acoustical fence first, which is something PVC alone can’t do.”

Trex Co. in Winchester, Va., which makes nonstructural plastic-lumber decking and slats out of waste wood fibers and reclaimed PE grocery sacks and stretch wrap, also is producing fence slats. “Fencing is a growing application for us and an excellent use for nonstructural components like vertical pickets and slats,” says sales and marketing manager Andy Ferrari.

Louisiana Pacific Corp. in Portland, Ore., set up its first wood-composite decking plant at ABT Co. in Selma, Ala., last month. “The next logical extension is fencing,” says product development manager Scott Sackinger.

Equipment suppliers have started to tailor products for wood-composite profiles. ESI Extrusion Services Inc. in Akron, Ohio, recently delivered its first downstream finishing chamber for wood-filled polyethylene deck and rail profiles. It has rotating brushes that create surface grooves resembling woodgrain. Fences could be its next application. ESI has also developed an in-line routing and cut-off system for standard plastic or wood-composite fence posts. Up to now, post holes for railings have been cut off-line with CNC routers.

As an example of how PVC fencing operations are growing, Bufftech in Buffalo, N.Y., had one PVC fence profile plant when the company was bought by Certainteed in 1996. Certainteed has since converted one of its own pipe plants in McPherson, Kan., to fence extrusion and is adding fence capacity at another Certainteed plant in Social Circle, Ga. In five years, Irwin Industries, Peachtree City, Ga., has expanded its PVC fence capacity from zero to 18 coextrusion lines, or 36 extruders. Twenty extruders were added in just the past six months.

We all hear horror stories about contractors that don’t do what they say.  Here we have come up with another project to do around the house – installing a fence.  For whatever reason you may have for this new fence, the questions are looming.

Where do you start?

The first thing is to find out what types of fences are permitted in your area.  If you live in a neighborhood that is governed by an HOA, there may be some restrictions.  Check with your local association to find out the different types of fence including the height, spacing, and colors that are acceptable.  One neighborhood may allow decorative aluminum, while another may say that wood and chain link is okay.  With regards to the wood fencing, the main styles are privacy, picket, and split rail.  Some or all may be permitted.

Next, you may want to check with your local government laws.  Specifically, if you have a pool that you need to get enclosed.  State, county, and local entities may have unique laws.

It is important that you understand all these factors before your fence is installed.  It will cost a pretty penny to have the fence taken out and then reinstalled.

Once you have an understanding of what is permitted in your area, now you have to decide if you (or your husband) are feeling handy or would rather a fence company to do the installation for you.

There are so many fence companies out there.  Check with the Better Business Bureau in your area.  Find out from family, friends, and coworkers for good companies.  They may have had a good – or bad – experience with a company.  This is the best way to discover how a company operates and what you can expect.

Contact the company.  Talk to them.  Find out if they have all the necessary insurance and permits that are required to operate as a business.  Ask for references.  If they have nothing to hide, they will be glad to offer this information.  BUYER BEWARE–HANDYMEN ARE NOT FENCE COMPANIES!!  If you are comforable with any Joe Smo putting in your fence, well you might just get what you pay for.  The pricing may come in cheaper, and after it’s all said and done, you might just realize why.

You have to be comfortable with the company that you are going to do business with.  Trust your instinct.  Pricing should be a factor, but most compaines should be in line with one another to a certain extent.  Be leary of the low guys.  Ask questions regarding your pricing.  You may be surprised.  Call the company and see if they can move their pricing any.  Maybe they can and maybe they can’t, but it never hurts to try.

Some companies offer special discounts.  Check with them and see what they offer.  Times are tough right now for everyone.

Fences of all types can make suck an improvement to any landscape.  As they say, “Fences make good neighbors”.

There are a variety of fences available in the market, ranging from wood, chain link, vinyl, aluminum to the more decorative wrought iron fences. Vinyl fences are long lasting and maintenance-free; and come in a variety of shapes and patterns. The patterns range from picket fences, basket weaves, shadow box to several full privacy selections. They are the most frequently used fences available in white and tan colors.

Extremely durable, decorative fences like wrought iron fences add class to your property. Made of iron, wrought iron fences can be mounted flush to the ground or they can be constructed atop brick walls. You can choose from a wide variety of patterns, colors and heights.

Wood fences are robust and combine the natural beauty of wood to provide you with several years of serviceability. Wood fences are made of different kinds of wood; Western red cedar, cypress, treated pine among others. It is known that cedar does not warp and if well maintained, it is built to last for a long time.

Picket fences have gained popularity through ‘Tom Sawyer’s stories’ that we all read in school. Typically, built to a height of about 4 feet, picket fences are best suited for situations where a small child or pet needs to be protected or stay close at hand. Primarily, used as a front yard enclosure, picked fences have evenly spaced 1.5 inch gaps between the boards.

Hiring a contractor to build fences can be most convenient, easy and provide best results. www.hire-a-contractor-now.com is a comprehensive website providing information on all contractors providing a wide array of services from interiors to fencing to flooring.

For security reasons, even barbed wire fences are used in commercial and industrial properties to provide maximum protection against potential thieves and vandalism. You may decide on the type of fence to suit your home or business depending on your budget, requirements and purpose for the same. One thing is for sure, having a fence is an absolute necessity!

Fence maintenance can be frustrating if you are not sure how to clean a fence. Regardless if your looking for tips on how to clean a vinyl fence, wood fence, chain link fence or steel & aluminum fences; This article should teach you everything you need to know for proper fence maintenance. Each section will explain the materials needed for cleaning your fence, how to clean your fence, level of difficulty (based on a 1-5 scale with 1 being easy and 5 being hard) and the recommended time frames for cleaning… Let’s get started.

HOW TO CLEAN A VINYL FENCE:

Materials Needed:

* Water hose
* bucket of soapy water or spray bottle of vinyl cleaning solution.
* Soft cloth rags
* Soft scrub brush (for tougher stains or dirt)

Level of Difficulty:

* 2 – Vinyl fence is relatively easy to clean but can require a little “elbow grease” or extra scrub for some tougher stains and dirty spots.

Recommended Time Frame for Cleaning a Vinyl Fence:

* For maximum results; you should clean your vinyl fence at least once every 3 – 6 months.

Cleaning:
A few reasons why you would need to clean your vinyl fence would be: dirt and/or grass from the ground accumulating on the fence due to cutting the grass, leaves or other debris after a storm and rarely; you will notice a type of chalk build up develop on parts of the vinyl fence. These reasons are not major and are easily cleaned as explained below.

The majority of vinyl fences can be cleaned very easily by just spraying the fence down with a water hose; however, if there are some tough stains that a water hose does not take care of, just follow the method below and your fence will look brand new every time you clean it!

To prepare for cleaning a vinyl fence, you will want to decide if you are going to use a bucket of soapy water or a vinyl cleaning solution (can be purchased at your local hardware store) or a combination of both. If you are using a bucket of soapy water, you will want to fill the bucket with water to your desired amount and mix an environmentally safe cleaning solution in the bucket. (TIP: If it is environmentally safe,… It is vinyl fence safe)

After you have your bucket of soapy water, all you must do now is get your soft cloth rag wet via the water in the bucket and wipe down the areas of the fence that need wiped down. If you are using a spray bottle of vinyl cleaning solution, just spray the areas of the fence that need cleaned and wipe with a dry soft cloth rag. When you are finished cleaning an area of the fence, rinse it off with a water hose and allow it to air dry.

HOW TO CLEAN & STAIN A WOOD FENCE:

Materials Needed:

* Water Hose or Power Washer (for deep cleaning and removing old paint)
* Wood Stain, NOT PAINT (desired color)
* Bleach or wood cleaning solution
* Plastic Sheets (to protect grass under fence) OPTIONAL

Level of Difficulty:

* 4 or 5 – Cleaning a wood fence can be a little easier than our mentioned level of difficulty depending on the type and amount of cleaning that will be taking place.

Recommended Time Frame for Cleaning a Wood Fence:

* For maximum results we recommend that you clean/re-stain your wood fence once every 3-5 years.

Cleaning:
IF you have a cedar fence, you may notice that it will begin to turn a grayish color or the paint/stain will begin to lose its brightness and regardless of what kind of wood fence you have, you may notice a mold begin to develop on the fence. This section of the article will explain how to take care of these problems and get your wood fence looking new again!

If you decided to use plastic sheeting to protect your grass, you will want to lay that on the ground underneath the fence prior to starting any cleaning. (Using plastic sheeting will protect your grass from any harmful chemicals that may be in the cleaning solutions).

A mixture of “1 part bleach and 2 parts water” is very common when cleaning wood fences; however, you may also purchase wood cleaning solution from your local hardware store. What you will want to do first is apply the cleaning solution to the fence and allow it to soak in until you notice that the fence is becoming brighter and/or clean. You will then want to spray the fence off with a water hose (use a power washer for removing old paint or tough stains – make sure power washer is on the widest spray setting and held about 12 inches away from fence).

After the fence has been cleaned and sprayed off you will want to allow it to air dry. If it still needs cleaning in certain spots after it dries, repeat the above mentioned process. Once the fence is clean and dry you are ready to apply a strain. (If you do not wish to stain a certain color, you can use a wood sealant to ensure that the fence will look new for a long time). NOTE: DO NOT USE PAINT ON YOUR WOOD FENCE, INSTEAD USE A STAIN.

Properly apply the strain and allow the stain to dry. Your wood fence should now look beautiful and brand new. If you apply this process at least every 3 – 5 years, your wood fence will look beautiful and brand new for a long time!

HOW TO CLEAN CHAIN LINK, STEEL AND ALUMINUM FENCES:

Materials Needed:

* Water hose
* Soft scrub brush
* Bucket of soapy water OPTIONAL

Level of Difficulty:

* 1 – Cleaning metal fences such as chain link, steel and aluminum is very easy and does not require much time/effort to complete.

Recommended Time Frame for Cleaning a Metal Fences:

* For maximum results, we recommend that you clean your metal fences once a year or as needed.

Cleaning:
If you want to give your children a chore to do around the house, now is the time. Cleaning a chain link, steel or aluminum fence is very easy and can be performed by almost anyone. Most of the time you can clean your metal fence by simply spraying it off with a water hose; however, if you come across some tough stains or areas that need a little scrubbing, the following advice should do the trick.

First you will want to prepare a bucket of soapy water. To do this, simply fill a bucket with warm water and mix with any cleaning solution that will not increase chances of rust development. You will then want to take your soft bristle scrub brush and dip it in the soapy water. After the brush is wet, simply scrub the areas of the fence that need cleaning and rinse by spraying off with a water hose… Its that easy.

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More Wood Fence Articles

Indeed, there may come a time when we will drive down the street of any given neighborhood and see mostly vinyl fencing or stucco walls surrounding most homes.  Until that time, homeowners with wood fencing can easily learn to rejuvenate and add years to the life of their own fence by staining, sealing, or painting it.    

What ever path you choose to take in reviving the current lifeless state of your wood fence is entirely up to you, but should in fact take in to account a number of different contributing influences around your property.   Here is a 5-step process to help you decide:

Your personal preferences:  What do you like?  No, really, what do you prefer?  Be sure to include your spouse for their opinion.  Significant, non-married others I would avoid consulting, since they may give bad advice and leave you to deal with the poorly chosen outcome alone.  Nonetheless, decide on whether you like a transparent sealed appearance which enables the grain of the wood to show through yet still protects the wood from the elements, a painted finish that will completely mask the grain and sometimes emphasize the existence of the fence, or a stained finish that is somewhere in between.  Staining your fence can be accomplished with either a solid stain for some transparency to have the grain show, or a solid stain that masks the grain yet still soaks in to protect it.  You may want to also ask a knowledgeable salesperson at the home improvement store what they know of the different brands of sealer, paint, and stain.      

The color scheme of your home:  Look at the colors of your home, including the trim.  Your best bet is to complement the colors of your home when applying a finish to your wood fence.  You may want to match the fencing to the base color of the home siding or stucco, or simply pick a color that matches or complements the trim or fascia. 

The color scheme of your landscaping:  Ideally, your landscaping choices complement the color scheme of your home already, and will make it that much easier to pick a stain or paint color for your fence if you decide to go that route.  If you watch any of the landscaping improvement shows you find on TV, what the designer will typically try to do is pick plant colors that flow with the color scheme of the home.  The same goes for the color of the wood fence.  Quite often, the natural wood color of the fence will complement the scheme well enough.  If not, that is where your talents for picking colors will be needed.  If you have trouble picking colors, find someone with a good color perspective to help you out.

The color scheme of your hardscape:  Do you have hardscaping (rocks, pavers, masonry) that were chosen to bring texture to your property?  If they already flow with your home’s color scheme, that is all the better.  If not, you may want to take a quick look at how they would appear framed along side or near your painted or stained fence.    

The continuity or contrast of your neighboring fences:  Here is the killer.  You may end up following all the steps above, from considering your personal preferences to evaluating your color schemes, only to find your choice clashes with the theme of your neighborhood.  If you reside in a newer community governed by a homeowners association, your choices may be limited anyway.  However, if you are fortunate enough to have some flexibility in rehabbing your property, just remember to never go overboard and completely clash with the neighboring homes.  It will not benefit your property value to make it stand out so much like the proverbial sore thumb.  Neither will it do your inner desires to revive your fence and home any good to simply replicate what may be a community cookie cutter look.  

What ever you decide to do, take some time to decide and never make a choice just because you saw a finished fence project you liked on TV or somewhere nearby.   Just follow this 5 step process and you are more likely to be much happier with your choice in the end.   

          There is a an old saying that goes, “Fences make better neighbors”, but as most people will share a fence with their neighbor, one might want to learn a bit more about fencing before deciding about whether to make your neighbor your friend or your foe. I have been the owner of a Fence Company for the last 20 years, and have grown up in the business, and would like to share with you some important things to know about the types of fence available, as well as some important facts about the details of installing fence. First, let’s look at the four most common fence types available and how each type fits different needs.

          The newest type of fence on the market is the Vinyl/PVC type. These two words are interchangeable in describing this type. PVC is an acronym that stands for Polyvinyl chloride which is a thermoplastic polymer. This material is widely used in construction as a building material, the most familiar being plumbing pipes. It is a hard plastic used primarily for its durability, low maintenance, and it can be recycled for repeat use. You can easily see why it would work well for fences. Vinyl fence requires posts that measure 51/2” X 51/2” or 4” X 4” wide, depending on the height desired. These posts are 6 to 15 feet long, and are buried at the base 2 to 3 feet into the ground, again, depending on the height. It is long-lasting, and many like its clean, neat look. This type also has many styles including three rail ranch, tongue and groove privacy, and picket, and comes in white, tan, and gray. Newly available on the market is wood grain vinyl fence from Bufftech. Popular manufacturers of PCV fence also include Homeland Vinyl Products and Maximum.

          Aluminum fence, also referred to as ornamental fence, is the first choice when you think elegance, and is always used when installing estate gates. Many new neighborhoods have opted for an aluminum only rule because of its quality. This style is powder coated, and is guaranteed not to rust, peel, chip, fade, or crack if purchased from a premium supplier. There are three different grades for this type which include residential, commercial, and industrial. Below is a table showing the differences in grades:

Specs:

Residential:

Commercial:

Industrial:

Rails:

1-1/16”x.062

1-1/16”x.062

1-5/8”x.075

1”x0.72

1-1/2”x.072

1-5/8”x.100

Standard Posts:

2”x.062

2”x.062

2-1/2”x.075

Gate Posts:

2”x.125

2”x.125

3”,4”x.125

Pickets:

5/8”x.50

¾”x.060

1”x.062

Aluminum fence comes in five basic colors: black and white, which is considered standard, green, bronze, and tan. The only drawback to aluminum fence is that it is not intended for privacy, only enclosure. The most popular manufacturers of premium aluminum fence are Ideal Aluminum Products, Delgard and Ameristar.

Wood fence utilizes cedar, pine, pressure treated pine, and cypress woods. Wood can have a tendency to warp, or crack due to moisture swelling or extreme temperature; therefore, different types are used in different parts of the country. Cedar fence is not commonly used or recommended in southern states because the heat and higher humidity levels have been found to warp it too quickly. Pressure treated pine and Cypress is popular in the south because it is more resistant to higher humidity, heat and pests, such as termites. 

Wood constructed fences utilize posts that are typically 4”x4” wide and 6 to 10 feet long. They are buried at the base 2 to 3 feet in the ground, depending on the height desired; from 4 to 8 feet tall upon completion. The decision to use cement for your posts depends entirely on how much moisture exists in your ground. Cement tends to hold moisture thereby contributing to faster rot. It is usually not recommended in southern states. Life expectancy for wood can range from 10 to 30 years, depending on weather conditions, and how well it is maintained, and if it is painted or water sealed.

Wood styles can be constructed with the pickets horizontally or vertically depending on the look you are trying to achieve. The most popular continues to be vertical construction. Pickets can be arranged side by side, or overlapping, which is called board on board. If maximum privacy is desired, board on board is the style of choice. Yellawood, and Sunbelt Forest Products are the most popular manufacturers of wood fence.

The most simple and affordable of the common fence types is chain link fence. It consists of linked together galvanized metal wire attached to a hollow galvanized metal frame. Like the aluminum style, it is not designed for privacy, although slats are commonly inserted between the wire “links” to achieve a minimal amount of privacy. The height for chain link can vary from 4 to 12 feet high, and can accommodate barbed wire for protection. There are many gauges of chain link which can be viewed at www.chainlink info.org. Chain link fence also comes vinyl coated in three common colors; black, brown, and forest green, although vinyl coated fence is a bit more expensive. Master Halco, and Merchants Metals are the most commonly used manufacturers of chain link fence.

         Lastly, I would like to share a few tips to remember when installing a fence. Always check with your neighborhood association, county and/or city before choosing your style to make sure you choose what is allowable. Know your property boundaries, found on your home survey. And finally, a call to your local utility company can help direct you in identifying where your underground utilities lie. These three things can help you avoid needless delays in enjoying a long awaited new fence.

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