Which Fence Styles are Trending for 2022?

A fence can add so much more than security and safety to your property. You can transform your property with a new style element as well as add to the beauty of your garden or pool area. Check out some fence styling ideas for 2022.

A place to call your own: Having an oasis that is just yours is more popular than ever. Creating a secluded backyard space that is just yours can offer a way to not only spend time with family and friends, but also a quiet spot to refresh and regroup. A wonderful way to add privacy is with a vinyl or PVC fence that is easy to maintain and take care of for years to come. At Fence Masters, we are honored to be an original manufacturer of vinyl in our region, and we are happy to discuss your space on how best to install a new fence.

A classic that keeps on going: Growing up, you may have dreamed of what your home would look like and a white picket fence has traditionally been part of this notion. Our American ideal is hard to chase, but a pretty picket fence can bring home this element in a way that adds style and timeless elegance. We work with a variety of wood styles that can be utilized on your fence panels and gates. Ask about our wood fence options, such as the classic picket, scalloped picket, stackpole or shadowbox. Our team members can take you through the process of putting in a new fence and putting together a classic, timeless look and feel for your home.

The trend that is always a trend: Wrought iron is truly an ageless choice for a fence that has style and creates a perimeter and border. While you will not gain privacy from a wrought-iron fence, you will gain the lasting beauty that customized and tailored pieces can bring to your property for years and years. We work on our wrought-iron panels, gates and ornamental components all in-house to bring you a unique design that you will be proud to display. Since we fabricate locally, we can turn around your fencing project as quickly as possible and get your job done. 

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If you’re worried that it might be time to repair your wood fence, read on to discover some of the signs that could be indicators of problems that require repairs.

If you’re seeking a traditional look, it’s natural that you’d land on a wooden fence. A wood fence is simply timeless, and it can also offer a good deal of security, privacy, and help you keep an eye on your children or pets. However, as great as your wood fence may be, they will degrade over time since they’re made of a natural material. It may eventually be the case that you have to look into wood fence repairs. If you’re worried that it might be time to repair your wood fence, read on to discover some of the signs that could be indicators of problems that require repairs.

Damaged Fencing

The clearest sign that you need fence repair is fairly obvious: broken sections or downed boards. High winds or personal accidents may be the cause, but if there isn’t any clear reason that part of your fencing is so damaged, it may be the case that your wood fence is getting up there in its age and more sections may need to be replaced. You can patch any problem areas, but it’s also a good reason to give your whole fence an inspection.

Swaying Boards

If heavy winds are causing your boards to sway, that’s a bad sign. Strong, healthy fence posts should only slightly shutter, even under the heaviest winds. Once the wood degrades, however, that shuttering becomes more apparent. If you can tell when looking at your wood fence, it’s a sign that you should contact a fence repair pro. They can see if your fence needs additional support or if there’s another issue that must be resolved.

Moisture in Wood

Ideally, wood in your fence should be kept at a distance from soil. Otherwise, moisture can begin to find its way into your wood fence. Sometimes, this can happen when a fence begins to bow and bend, touching the ground more and causing rot. You can also end up getting mold or mildew issues and eventually, the wood breaks down and may even change color.

Pests Moving In

Your wood should be treated to help withstand pest infestation, but nonetheless, it can become a problem over time. If you see any signs of pests, that may be a sign you should call a pro fence repair company. Catching pests early enough can help prevent further damage, so be on the lookout for issues.

The post How to Tell Your Wood Fence Has to Be Repaired appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Privacy fencing is great for turning your backyard into your own sanctuary.

Privacy fencing is great for turning your backyard into your own sanctuary. They look great, keep prying eyes away, and are a great investment to make to your property. If you take care of your privacy fencing with regular maintenance, you can make any fencing material last a long time. Therefore, your choice of material will mainly boil down to your aesthetic preferences – are you looking to add new design cues to your landscape, or are you trying to enhance an established aesthetic? Here are some of the best options for the material to use for your privacy fencing.

Wood

A classic fence material that has been used throughout history, wood makes an excellent base for a new privacy fence. They complement the outdoor setup of homes designed more traditionally. While you can stain the fence with a wide variety of different shades, the best option is one that brings out the natural appearance of the wood. It is arguably the most beautiful of the materials that you can use for a privacy fence, although note that it will require more regular maintenance to help keep it looking nice for years to come.

Vinyl

Vinyl is a popular material for fencing because it is low maintenance and has a very clean look. This makes vinyl privacy fencing a great choice for homes with traditional design as well as contemporary design. While white may be the most sought-after color choice, there are also tan and khaki-colored vinyl which can make the overall impact of the fencing on your landscape more subtle. And vinyl naturally repels mildew, rot, and mold, meaning you’ll only need to wash the panels occasionally to keep this privacy fencing looking stellar.

Aluminum

Aluminum privacy fencing uses vinyl panels set up in an aluminum frame to create a very sleek, defined aesthetic. You’ll often see this fencing used as a way to make a statement in the backyard because it has arguably the most options for customization. Just as with vinyl privacy fencing, aluminum requires almost zero maintenance, so it’s perfect for homeowners who want to set it and then not think about it!

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Make your fence line something special by considering some of these plants that can be amazing additions.

Your new fence is a beautiful addition to your property, but fences are also just as functional as they are attractive. However, you can improve your fence line even more by picking the right plants. Some of them even have additional benefits like beefing up your privacy and making it even harder to see through your fence line. Finally, some of these plants may be just what you’re looking for to improve your home’s curb appeal. Make your fence line something special by considering some of these plants that can be amazing additions.

Cherry Laurel

Suitable for rich and moist soil, people love cherry laurel because it will adapt to just about any light condition. It’s notable because of its shrubs that bloom with dainty, small white flowers that contrast against their evergreen leaves. It has a sweet fragrance you will be sure to notice, particularly during the spring when its cherry-like fruits attract birds.

Clematis

When grown near your fence line, clematis will surely thrive and grow all around your fence. Its blossoms end up creating a wonderful sense of color thanks to their pink, purple, blue, or white blossoms. Since they climb so much, they will do well around a fence where they can take advantage and begin to develop vines. Full sunlight helps these climbers, too.

Privet

Nicknamed “America’s fastest-growing hedge” for a reason, privet can grow over 3 feet each year! This is why it is ideal if you’re looking for a privacy hedge for your fence lines. Some people who need less security but still want privacy even use privet hedges solely. However, their dark green hedges are the perfect complement to your fencing as well.

Boxwood

If you’re looking for ways to get privacy to your fencing, a privacy hedge made of boxwood is the way to go. Boxwood is seen in formal gardens due to its ability to be carved into geometric shapes or other art. It’s just as useful as a privacy hedge because it will keep its foliage all year long.

Arborvitae

A great addition to any fence line, arborvitaes grow in pyramid-like shapes that are ideal when planted in pairs. These little evergreens can keep their foliage throughout the year and are great for a number of climates, provided they receive at least 6 hours of sunlight every day.

Euonymus

Low-maintenance plants can be a good choice for your fence line, so you may want to consider euonymous. It’s a flowering woodland plant sometimes called the wintercreeper, as it generally looks like a small evergreen shrub. They’re richly green with white borders that will grow even in heavily shaded areas.

The post Plants That Can Go Well Along Your Fence Line appeared first on Hercules Fence.

To help ensure your wood fence painting project goes well, here is how to get prepared for it.

While painting a wood fence sounds like a simple task, it’s actually more complicated than it appears to be. You can’t simply run a paint brush down your fence and call it a day. There are many factors that have to be brought into consideration, such as what kind of paint you use and how the weather is during painting. To help ensure your wood fence painting project goes well, here is how to get prepared for it.

Tend to the Grass

Not all parts of the painting process involve the fence directly. For example, you need to prepare your lawn before starting to paint. Make sure the lawn is cut so that it doesn’t cover the bottom portions of your wood fence. Also, after trimming the grass, put some plywood between the fence and your grass. It will serve as a barrier to stop paint from getting on your lawn.

Get Your Equipment Ready

There are many pieces of equipment you’ll need when painting your wood fence. Equipment you’ll need includes tarps, ladders, and gloves. To make things easier on yourself, get the equipment ready beforehand. This means you won’t have to spend time gathering all of your materials later on.

Get Repairs Finished Before You Begin to Paint

Before you start painting, you should take care of any damage your wood fence has. Painting a fence is pointless if the fence itself is not in good condition.

Therefore, you should take a moment to observe your fence for signs of damage. If you notice problems, like broken boards or loose screws, you should get those problems fixed so your fence is in top form when you start painting.

Think About Your Climate

Your climate is going to influence the frequency at which you paint. For areas that experience frequent rainfall, repainting every other year is preferred at the minimum.

If you don’t know when you last painted your wood fence, throw a little water on the surface. Fences that absorb the water will require repainting, while fences that make the water bead up should be fine.

The post Getting a Wood Fence Ready to Be Painted appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Today, we’ll go over how you can decorate your fencing with hearts this Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day is coming up, and the first things that may come to mind during this holiday include flowers, chocolates, and letters/cards to those we love. In addition to all of these heart-warming traditions, you can express these feelings right in your own yard by decorating your fence with Valentine’s Day-themed designs.

One way to decorate your yard for the holiday is by adding hearts to your fencing. It’s a simple yet effective manner of showing your Valentine’s spirit. Today, we’ll go over how you can decorate your fencing with hearts this Valentine’s Day.

Go With Bright and Noticeable Colors

You want people to easily notice the decorations you have on your fence. Therefore, bright and vibrant colors for your hearts seem most appropriate. Red is the traditional color of choice, and if you’re going to have any color of heart on your fence, red is likely the most suitable pick.

You can switch it up if you want and add a variety of colors if you wish, though. Other colors, such as yellow, purple, and blue, can be just as captivating.

No Need to Spend Too Much on Decorations

Decorating your fence for Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be an expensive ordeal.  All it takes is some balls of yarn that have a few festive colors, and you’re good to go. You can make larger hearts or go with smaller ones, and you can even use polymer clay to make your hearts even nicer. An extra perk of these hearts is that you can store them and reuse them in future years, or for other special occasions, such as birthdays.

Consider Using String Lights

Have you thought about placing string lights on your fence? It’s the perfect way to add some more elegance and beauty to commemorate the holiday. Just put some up along your fencing so that your fence has a warmer feel to it. This way, your fence will even have extra appeal at night.

Put Up a Festive Wreath

Holidays like Christmas aren’t the only times you can use wreaths. You can put up a festive heart-shaped Valentine’s Day wreath to help get into the holiday spirit. Some wreaths are even available in white and red colors so that your wreath can be even more in touch with the holiday.

The post How to Make Hearts as Valentine’s Day Fencing Decorations appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Lakefront living is all about a laid-back lifestyle, soaking in the sun and hanging out on the beach or your boat during the warmer months of the year. A worry that you can cut away is the fencing around your property. Living lakeside does not mean that you do not want a perimeter to your property, but you also do not want to work on maintaining your fencing material. Life on the lake can bring more moisture, dampness and weather elements to your fence and property than living inland. There are certain types of fencing materials that work better than others and we explore those selections here. 

• Vinyl or PVC fencing. A main element that you need for lakefront property fencing is its ability to withstand wind, rain and other weather. Our team at Fence Masters provides PVC fencing that is made up of rigid and flexible materials. UV inhibitors and additional additives can help protect your fencing from wear and tear from the sun and wind. But the material is also able to flex enough to prevent cracking and breaking. We are honored to be an original vinyl fence manufacturer in our Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana region. Another benefit of vinyl fence panels is that it can help keep critters and other lakefront animals out of your space and off your property.
• Aluminum fencing: This choice can add a stylish element to your property while also being a way to maintain your perimeter and keep invaders of the four-legged variety away. It will need to be inspected to ensure that it is staying at its best. An aluminum fence still allows you to take in your lakefront views, which is why you live where you live.
• Gates add access: Consider having points of access to your property that allows you to walk down to the lakeside. Our Fence Masters crew can review with you the best placement of any gates, so that you can enjoy your access to the water while remaining safe and secure.

Keep These in Mind When Installing a Lakefront Property Fence

Living by a body of water definitely affects the location of your new fence. You need an expert to review where a fence can be installed safely and where it will last a long time. Also, the fence’s proximity to water can make a difference to its lifespan no matter what material you select. Water can be destructive to fencing when it is constantly battered by spray or waves.

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Today, we’ll go over what maintenance tasks you should follow in order to care for your aluminum fence.

Aluminum fences come with plenty of appeal and durability. There’s a reason that there are so many homeowners who turn to aluminum as their fencing material of choice. Something else great about them is that they don’t require too much maintenance; however, there are still some maintenance procedures you need to get done. Without proper maintenance, your fence isn’t going to perform as well as it should. Today, we’ll go over what maintenance tasks you should follow in order to care for your aluminum fence.

Aluminum Fence Cleaning

Over time, an aluminum fence can become susceptible to collecting dirt and dust, as well as a few grass clippings here and there. This means you should take time to clean your fence occasionally. A garden hose is a good tool to use for all of these kinds of messes.

Maintenance

The maintenance needed to take care of an aluminum fence isn’t a lot. All it takes is a couple of simple tasks with some prevention measures to avoid having your fence get damaged. Don’t put anything heavy against your fence so that it can’t handle the weight. Make sure that posts are always firmly placed into the ground. Don’t let anyone play on your fence because it is not meant to be used for recreational purposes. Lastly, see if you have any loose screws every year.

Repairs

We might try our best to avoid having our fences get damaged. Unfortunately, we can only do so much, and certain factors, such as the weather, can end up damaging our fence despite our best efforts to protect it.

Depending on what kind of damage your fence sustains, it could become a safety hazard to pets and children. If you have any damage on your aluminum fence, you need to get it repaired immediately. A professional fencing company should help you with the repairs to ensure that no mistakes are made during the repair process.

The post Tips for Aluminum Fence Repair and Maintenance appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Before you dive into choosing the first fence color you like, read on for a list of things not to do!

Your fence is a very important component of your curb appeal, as well as being an important part of the safety and security of your home. Fences ensure the safety of your family and pets, provide privacy, and may even increase your home’s value. This is all dependent on the fence complementing the rest of your home, however, which means the style, size, and color of the fence are all important considerations. Before you dive into choosing the first fence color you like, read on for a list of things not to do!

Don’t Dive In Without Research

While this may be a project that you want done yesterday (especially if it has been on your to-do list for a while), it is a bad idea to rush in without research. The first thing you’ll have to consider is if you want to stain or paint. If your vision for your fence is a bold, totally opaque color, then paint is likely your best choice. However, once you paint, you cannot easily come back to staining (it’s possible if you sand down the entire fence, but that is an extreme job). Transparent and semi-transparent stains (clear or tinted) can last 2-3 years before they fade or need to be reapplied. Solid stains last 3-5 years. Paint lasts longer, but it still needs upkeep. Most people progress through these options as the fence ages, so you may find that you want to start with little to no color at first. Take time making the decision. If you’re putting in a new vinyl fence, however, you won’t need to stain or paint it – the color you choose now is the color you will have.

Don’t Automatically Opt For A Trend

Just because your neighbor put up a beautiful cedar fence doesn’t mean you can stain your oak fence orange and get the same result. Likewise, choosing a neutral shade that is popular online but doesn’t coordinate with the colors of your house will look thrown-together and disorganized. Start by assessing the colors in your home, especially external trim colors, and build from there.

Don’t Assume You Have To Color It

Just because you can color a wood fence doesn’t mean that you have to. Letting wood age and weather naturally can achieve beautiful and striking results. It may decrease the overall lifespan of your fence, but if you know that there is no way you will be able to maintain the stain or color of your fence, this is a reasonable choice.

Don’t Forget Landscaping

Plan your landscaping while planning your fence. There is a possibility that a hedge could be a better solution than a fence for you. If not, think about the flowers that you hope to have and the colors that you want to see in your yard. If you’re picturing a riot of poppies, don’t opt for that orange fence – they’ll get lost.

The post What Not to Do When Picking a Fence Color appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Winter weather can vary from above and below normal temperatures to ice, rain or snow. An ice storm is typically a weather event where freezing rain is falling as temperatures are on the precipice of freezing to above freezing. Ice will often form on trees, cars, streets and your roof. While ice storms can be hazardous to drivers and walkers, what can they do to your fence? How can you help your fence stay at its best?

Wood Fencing

1. Moisture can be enemy No. 1 for your wood fencing. Maintaining your paint and stain seal will help create a tough barrier against the water that comes from ice, rain and snow. Take a close look at your fence at various intervals throughout the season to ensure that there are not any areas for concern.
2. After a particularly strong storm, make sure to remove any branches or limbs that have fallen on your fence to prevent any damage. Also, gently brush off build-ups of snow or ice with a broom when weather permits.
3. If you are noticing that water is not beading on your wood panels during the winter, then add a spring project to your to-do list: repaint or restain your fence to keep it at its best for years.

Vinyl Fencing

1. The concern with this type of fencing material is potential damage from ice or snow. As with any maintenance strategy, taking the time to look at your fence carefully is the first line of defense. Stroll along your fence line in the snow and utilize a broom gently as necessary, being careful not to scratch it up.
2. While you may be tempted to hang seasonal decorations on your fencing, remember that these add weight and crevices for weather elements to build up. If you do decorate your fence, take even more time to keep an eye on it.

Aluminum Fencing

1. Aluminum is similar to vinyl as there are really no concerns about rot or insect damage. But you should watch out for how ice or snow can weigh down your panels. Also, shifting soil at your fence’s base may cause instability. 
2. If you have a large pile of snow or buildup of ice near or on your fence, take care to clear it as soon as you can to prevent damage.

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