Month: October 2022

There are many, many pros to choosing vinyl fencing for your residential fencing project, but there are also several cons. Let’s dive into both.

The hardest thing about installing a new or replacement fence on your property is deciding on the fencing material. There are so many options out there these days that it can be overwhelming. In many cases, one of the top contenders (and arguably one of the most popular choices, currently) is vinyl. There are many, many pros to choosing vinyl fencing for your residential fencing project, but there are also several cons. Let’s dive into both so that you truly have a clear picture of this fencing material before you make your final vinyl decision.

Pros Of Vinyl Fencing

The most well-known pro of vinyl fencing is that it is so incredibly easy to maintain. You don’t have to spend time sanding, painting, or staining it like you would for a wood fence or a metal one. It is super easy and simple to clean with just a cloth and some soap. Vinyl is also sometimes easy to install (it can be a good DIY project, even for people without extensive handy experience, if you have the right options). Vinyl is also incredibly safe, since it won’t ever splinter or develop rouge or sharp edges. Finally, vinyl is highly durable. It will stand up to near anything mother nature can throw at it. As long as it is correctly installed, it will withstand rain, wind, beating sun, and even a family with pets and kids.

Cons Of Vinyl Fencing

Just as there are pros of vinyl fencing, there are also cons. While there is a good variety of fencing available now, there there a limit on the amount of customization that you can do. There is a range of colors available, but you cannot easily change that color down the line. There is also is less variety of repair options if you ever need to do a repair (as unlikely as that may be). Vinyl is also more expensive up front than other fencing materials, though there are not longterm maintenance costs that you need to account for. Finally, vinyl is not the most eco friendly of choices. If you want to make sure that the materials you use around your home are having a positive impact on the environment, or at least not having a net-negative one.

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If you’re looking for ways to tackle fence cleaning, especially if you’re opposed to power washing, read on!

Your fence is a valuable part of your home security strategy, offering protection from trespassing, theft, vandalism, and (depending on the type of fence), even shielding your family and belongings from prying eyes. A properly installed, well maintained fence can provide decades of protection while also increasing your curb appeal and home value. The key here is that your fence needs to be maintained. This is especially true of wood fences, which if left unprotected, can succumb to weather, rot, and insects, but is generally true of every fence to one degree or another. Part of maintaining your fence is cleaning it. If you’re looking for ways to tackle fence cleaning, especially if you’re opposed to power washing, read on!

Start By Inspecting

From a distance, what you’re looking at could be dirt, but if you get up close, you may see that it is something else. In the best case scenario, it is just dirt and you can simply wash it away using these tips. In other cases, however, you may find that what you’re looking at is actually mildew, rot, insect damage, or even rust stains from the hardware (bolts, screws, etc) in your fence. In those cases, more care and attention might be needed than you are prepared to give – and in the cases of advanced rot, you may need a contractor to come out and replace parts of the fence.

Get The Right Cleaner

In some cases, you can simply use some dish soap and water to scrub the dirt off of your fence. If you’ve found that the “dirt” is actually mold, mildew, or algea, you can head to the hardware store for a cleaner that can do the job. While you’re there, you may find that they sell deck and fence cleaner that is designed for dirt as well – that is an option if you think you need a little more cleaning muscle than simple soap.

Protect Your Plants

Take time to protect the plants around the fence before you start washing. Depending on the chemicals you’re using to clean, spraying them on the plants may actually kill them.

Spray And Scrub…Or Sand

If you’re washing your fence with a cleaning agent, your best bet is to spray it down, let it sit for a few moments and then scrub it. Having the right tools can help (a course bristled outdoor broom or a scrub brush on a long handle, for instance), but this is still going to be difficult, physical work. Alternatively for your wood fences, you could sand the areas that have staining to remove that layer and then cover the whole thing with a new coat of paint or stain.

The post Wood Fence Cleaning Tips appeared first on Hercules Fence.

If you had planned to paint the fence this year but you just hadn’t gotten around to it yet, the good news is there’s still time.

You know that you need to be staining and sealing or painting your wooden fence every year or two to protect it from the potentially damaging effects of weather and moisture. While wooden fences provide many many benefits, they require more maintenance than almost any other fencing material. If you had planned to paint the fence this year but you just hadn’t gotten around to it yet, the good news is there’s still time (fall is a great season for everything from fence installation to fence maintenance). And we’ve got your inspiration right here with several paint colors that will give your whole yard a new look and feel.

Natural Wood

Natural wood is a great choice for your fence, but one that you likely need to commit to early. For many people, the natural wood look is a phase that you go through before you finally relent and paint a fence. Stain is a beautiful way to change the look of a fence without giving up the natural look. You can adjust the hue with just a tinge of color or a bold color choice, but still allow the wooden grain to show through. While not impossible, it is difficult to return to this option once you layer on coats of paint.

White

White is a traditional choice for fencing, with the white picket look being the most iconic. If you haven’t had a white fence before, the bold, crisp, clean color choice can make the whole fence pop in a more noticeable way than you might be used to. If you also have white trim on your home, painting your fence white can tie everything together and create a unified appearance.

Grey

Grey is a great color choice if you’re still staining or if you’ve decided to commit to paint. In pairs well with both traditional home styles and more modern looks. It is a great in-between choice and really won’t look off in any scenario. In fact, if you have certain types of wood, a grey weathered look is the result of letting it age naturally (this is not an option with all woods, however).

Blue

If you’re looking to add a pop of dramatic color, but you don’t want to go too bold, blue is a great choice. It won’t have the same level of energy as a red, and in most cases it can blend into the background of sky and plants at least a little bit. If you want to be a little edgy with your blue, opt for something very bright or electric.

Black

If black seems like a bold choice, it is. People will definitely notice it. Once you get used to it however, it behaves more like a neutral. It fades into the background, but still gives a modern feel.

The post Paint Colors You Can Try On Your Fence to Give Your Yard a New Look appeared first on Hercules Fence.

When you are focusing on putting a new fence into place, there are a range of considerations that you need to address. You will need to understand your property lines and know exactly where you want it to go with gates located in key areas for ease of access. This decision is pretty cut-and-dry, but what about the type of fencing? This is something that you will need to mull over and here are some questions to get you going.

Why are we putting up a fence? This key question can really direct you the most in what type of material would work best for you. Fencing is available from us here at Fence Masters in wood, aluminum, chain-link, wrought iron and vinyl. If a reason you want a fence up is to keep your pets and children in and intruders out, then you can consider what each type of material will add to your property. For instance, wood may be a boost in curb appeal, but you may be concerned that your dog will scratch it up when it is playing outside.

Do we need more privacy? If privacy is a key reason why you are installing a new fence, then you will want to focus on wood or vinyl options as they offer a blocked view unlike chain-link or aluminum. Privacy fencing is important to homeowners who are near their neighbors and hope to enjoy some peace and quiet in their own backyards.

How much maintenance do we want to perform? Wood fencing is beautiful and can be tailored to your space with different stain or paint colors, but it does need to be maintained. Repairs may need to be done to your wood fence panels down the road after being affected by weather elements. Vinyl fencing is easier to maintain and can be just rinsed and occasionally scrubbed softly with a brush and detergent.

How can we boost our curb appeal? If your new fence is going to be very visible in the front, then curb appeal should be part of your decision. A fence has a function, but that does not mean that you cannot add a new style to your home as well. We offer tailored pieces for our wrought-iron fencing, which is a stylish avenue to a new look. Our in-house iron fabrication shop allows us to work on pieces just for you.

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Here are some of the biggest reasons why you should choose autumn for your residential fencing projects.

Summer is a hard time of year to tackle many home improvement projects, as the weather is hot, and thunderstorms can throw a wrench in your plans. However, fall is an amazing time of year to install residential fencing. Here are some of the biggest reasons why you should choose autumn for your residential fencing projects.

More Availability

Spring and summer are among the busiest seasons for home improvement, and that includes residential fencing. When you opt to have your fence installed in another season, like fall, you’ll enjoy more availability from contractors. This means that your process will happen more smoothly, and you will have a shorter length of time between when your project starts and when you’re enjoying your finished fence.

Growth Is Dormant

Installing a fence is somewhat destructive to your yard, as portions of it need to be dug up so that the posts can be properly placed. Adding your residential fencing during a period of the year when growth is dormant can minimize damage and allow you to fill in any patchy spots with overseeding in the fall or in the spring.

Get the Most Out of Your Fence

Scheduling your residential fencing project for the spring or summer means being unable to use your yard for a period of time. Getting the task done in the fall will allow you to get the most out of your yard all spring and summer long. Additionally, if you are installing a pool fence, getting it done now will make sure that your pool is ready to open when Memorial Day weekend arrives next year.

Better Weather

Finally, having your residential fencing project completed in the fall will increase your chances of having temperate, beautiful weather. Weather problems can lead to delays in installation, as fences should only be installed in certain conditions. While experienced fence installers like those on our team work as hard as possible to install throughout the year, fall is an excellent time for your fence project.

The post Why Fall Is the Season for Installing Residential Fencing appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Here are just some of the key signals associated with an improper fence installation.

For the most part, homeowners tend to gravitate towards fences for a variety of different reasons. In fact, homeowners typically opt for fencing to surround the perimeter of their properties for a number of different reasons — from being a lovely landscape feature to providing much-needed privacy or security. The reality is, fence installations are really essential for homeowners overall. Ultimately, installing a fence absolutely requires a professional to get the job done right — but when done improperly, you can be left with disastrous results. Here are just some of the key signals associated with an improper fence installation.

Completely Ignoring Property Lines And Your Neighbors

Before you hire a fencing contractor, it is key that you take the time to actually determine your property lines. In fact, there are typically very specific requirements associated with your locality that makes the most out of the rules and regulations regarding adding fences and other accessories to your property. The reality is, some local communities are a bit stricter than others — so it makes it necessary that you look at the rules and regulations that you need to abide by before you initiate a fence installation. Ultimately, knowing your property lines and the rules surrounding your property lines will be the perfect way to ensure that you make the most out of your fence installation — without worrying about getting into neighborly disputes.

Minimal Height

Having a fence that isn’t the proper height — or lacks height in general can be a clear sign that the fence installation might have been done improperly. In fact, when it comes to a properly installed fence, you want to make sure that the height makes sense with your property overall. The reality is, fence height is so important to the effectiveness and the efficiency of your fence generally. Ultimately, you’ll definitely want to consider your needs as you embark on finding the perfect fence for your humble abode — consider that if you have a swimming pool or plan on installing one, you’ll likely need a six foot fence installed around it for safety reasons. If you install one that is shorter, you’ll end up spending more money and time on installing another one in the end.

The post Signs Your Fence Installation Was Done Incorrectly appeared first on Hercules Fence.