Why Aluminum Fencing is a Great Choice for Dog Owners

As a dog owner, you will make decisions about your property with your furry friends in mind. That is also the case when you are installing a new fence. While you have a variety of options from a high-tech invisible fence to privacy wood fencing, our advice guides you to an aluminum fence for dog […]

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Here is how you can keep fence boards from warping.

Wood fences can warp because of changes in moisture content that cause them to distort and not be as sturdy as they once were. When parts of a wooden fence dry faster than the others, they can shrink more quickly. The relationship between the humidity in the air and the fence’s moisture content affects a fence board warping.

Equilibrium moisture content (EMC) is when fence boards have high moisture and constantly shrink until there’s a balance with the air’s humidity. EMC can take days, weeks, and months, depending on the wood’s size, grain, coating, and air temperature. On the other hand, when the wood has a low moisture content, it absorbs moisture from its surroundings, causing it to swell until equilibrium. Here is how you can keep fence boards from warping.

Understand Your Lumber

Different sawing techniques affect a wood fence’s quality. It’s best to pick wood with straight-grain patterns because they are less likely to warp. Wood sawed from the tree’s center is also more durable and doesn’t deform as easily.

Store Fence Boards Properly

Additionally, storing and maintaining your wood affects its ability to process EMC. Stacking fence boards based on their thickness level is best, and you should vertically align stickers and keep them flat. Stacking weights on top of lumber can keep them from cupping. However, wood needs air exposure for proper ventilation. Also, it’s best to store fence boards in a colder, dark, and dry place, and it requires wrapping if the humidity is above 80% to limit moisture absorption. Otherwise, the fence boards will warp.

Dry and Cure Fence Boards Correctly

Drying and curing wooden fence boards minimize warping. A kiln (thermally-insulated chamber) is a known technique that protects wood from warping while still allowing it to adapt to the air’s humidity. It’s also important to always dry your wood quickly while not over-drying your wood to prevent it from breaking.

Seal the Ends and Stain or Paint Your Wood Fence

Moisture can escape through the ends quicker than any of its surfaces. Sealing the ends can balance the EMC process throughout the board, lessening the chances of shrinking or wrapping. Stains or paints also serve as an additional layer that controls moisture absorption.

Choose a Cedar, Redwood, or Fir Fence: The Best Wood Fences for Warp Resistance

Have no fear if you want a classic, cost-effective wood fence but are scared that it will deteriorate far too quickly. Durable wood fencing that naturally resists shrinking and warping exist. For example, cedar is warp-resistant and doesn’t break easily. Redwood also has a straight-grain pattern that prevents moisture absorption, which causes wood to swell. Fir also combats wrapping and shrinking.

You could also take advantage of our pressure-treated ACQ lumber. Or if a wood fence doesn’t suit your fancy, we offer low-maintenance vinyl fences. Whatever your preference, Hercules Fence can install beautiful yet practical fencing on your property.

Let Hercules Fence Help Set Up The Perfect Fence For You

Hercules Fence takes pride in being experts in residential, commercial, and high-security fencing. We have been serving our clients since 1955, with only the most knowledgeable of staff. Our staff is ready to serve you from Maryland and the Washington Metropolitan area. Our branch offices are in Manassas, Richmond, Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia, and Maryland.

Visit our website to see how we can be of service to you. Also, follow us on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Linkedin to stay up to date with our latest news.

The post How You Can Keep Fence Boards From Warping appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Because a fence is such a significant investment, it only makes sense that you want to choose a fencing company that is skilled and experienced.

When you are ready to install a new fence in your yard or replace your current fence, there are many different factors that you need to consider. Because a fence is such a significant investment, it only makes sense that you want to choose a fencing company that is skilled and experienced. What are some of the different factors that you should weigh when you are determining what type of fence company is correct for your needs?

Ask Around

A reputable fencing company should be known in your community. If your neighbors have never heard of the fencing company and there are no reviews online, you should use caution with determining who you want to go with. Would you rather have the fencing company installing your fence be doing so for the first time or have installed hundreds of fences before? Experience and reputation matter.

Talk with the Company

Additionally, any fencing company that is legitimate should be eager to answer any questions that you have. If you find that the company is unwilling to answer your questions or that they do not respond at all, it’s a sign that they might not be a good fit for your needs. If they are unwilling to answer your questions before they get your sale, the odds of them answering your questions after they take your money is often even lower. It’s best to work with someone that is happy to earn your business like us.

Get an Estimate

Next, you should get a quote from more than one fencing company before you decide who to choose. Reputable fencing companies are happy to offer a free quote that gives you an idea of what you can expect to spend. We are always ready to provide you with an accurate quote for your fencing needs, and we look forward to earning your business.

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Read on for help choosing the best fencing material for the potentially snowy weather conditions we get in our area.

This area sees an amazing variety of weather conditions, from beautiful temperate springs (and the pouring rain they bring) to scorching summers and crisp falls. But this time of year, the thing on everyone’s mind is snow. We do get a pretty good dose of snow most years, and occasionally we get a winter that gives us way more than enough. While it is impossible to predict how much snow a year will actually deliver, we can predict how well your fence might survive the season. Read on for help choosing the best fencing material for the potentially snowy weather conditions we get in our area.

Choosing The Material

The material that you choose for your fence requires careful consideration. When you’re thinking about snowy weather, metal cannot be beat. Metal will not absorb water like wood can, making it a better choice in wet weather. Metal also needs less maintenance than wood fencing – if you aren’t maintaining your wood fence, you are setting it up to fail. Metal also tends to be sturdier than other choices like vinyl. Vinyl is a great fencing material, but it will bend and break before metal will. If metal is outside of your budget, vinyl is the next best choice for winter weather resistant fencing. Modern vinyl is often reinforced, making it extremely durable.

Choosing The Style

While the potential for snow should not be the end all be all of your fence style decision, it should contribute. When we get a lot of snow, it is often the very wet, very heavy variety. Our snows don’t tend to be light and fluffy. And heavy, wet snow is the type that can do the most damage to a fence. A privacy style fence can be perfect for a lot of reasons, but it also provides a solid surface for snow to land on and freeze to. All that snow building up on a privacy fence does make it more likely to come down. Rails or pickets provide less surface for this action to happen on, as does chainlink style fencing.

Choosing Professional Installation

Finally, when it comes to withstanding the harshest conditions of winter, the way your fence was installed matters. The posts need to be buried deep, below the frost line. This way, they are protected from the expanding and contracting action of the freeze-thaw cycle. If you must DIY your fence installation, make sure that you are doing it right and don’t skimp on the depth of those post holes.

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The natural beauty of wood is a wonderful way to add a privacy fence or secure perimeter to your home or business. A “white picket fence” has been a symbol of the American dream as a homeowner forever. But there is work that goes with installing a wood fence. Wood needs treatment and to be […]

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Security fencing plays an important role in protecting your business.

Security fencing plays an important role in protecting your business. A secure workplace perimeter offers better privacy and security, and in many industries is an absolute necessity. In order to better understand the value of security fencing, it might be helpful to know more about the five top elements of a security fence. Let’s dive in and look at what they are and why they’re important to the safety and security of your property and business.

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Fence Height

For residential fencing, the height that you choose often has to do with either the presence of kids and pets or the limitations of your budget. For security fencing, the purpose of the fence is to secure the perimeter and height helps to achieve that. Most security fencing is 5-6 feet high. The height itself acts as a visual deterrent and also makes it physically harder to scale.

Entrenched Foundation

An entrenched foundation for your security fencing makes it much harder to topple the fence, even with a vehicle. The posts should be entrenched in concrete to withstand the leverage force from a collision. The interior components (panels, pickets, or links) can also be entrenched for added security. By entrenching the entire perimeter, you also create a fence that can withstand digging.

Strong Materials

For residential fencing people often opt for wood because of aesthetics or vinyl because of ease of maintenance. For security fencing, strength trumps all of that, so metal is the material of choice. Industrial steel can withstand great forces, including most collisions. The strength of industrial steel coupled with an entrenched foundation makes a very formidable perimeter.

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Anti-Scaling Options

For security purposes, having a fence that is as difficult as possibly to climb is ideal, which is where anti-scale options come into play. For fencing like chain link, smaller gaps or added material woven into the links can impede climbing. For iron fencing, having vertical rungs and fewer cross bars make it harder to climb. For most security fencing, removing the top rail makes it almost much more difficult to top the fence even if one can climb it. As long as there is enough support to keep the fence sturdy, the top rail is superfluous.

Secondary Fencing

Some security fencing utilizes a secondary layer – either a second layer of fencing material or an actual second fence within the perimeter of the original fence (usually about 10-20 feet within). This secondary layer can help to increase privacy by limiting vision into the property and by limiting sound bleed in either direction. A secondary fence also increases the difficulty of entry, since it would be a second fence to break through or climb over.

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The post Attributes Your Security Fencing Needs appeared first on Hercules Fence.

If you’re trying to increase the curb appeal of your wood fencing, look no further.

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Wood fencing is a great option for so many properties. It can add a sense of security or privacy, it can help define the bounds of your property, and it can make your property look nicer. Wood complements just about any other materials you’re using for your home or commercial building, so it’s no wonder that it has become such a common fencing option.

That said, if you want to get the most out of your wood fencing, you need to think about maintenance and keeping the curb appeal as high as you can. If you’re trying to increase the curb appeal of your wood fencing, look no further.

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Seal Your Panels

If you’re one of many fence owners who choose not to paint their wood fencing, you’re going to enjoy the natural beauty of wood for years to come. That is, provided you seal the wood panels. Sealing panels will alter the color slightly but will mostly retain the natural look of your wood fencing while protecting it from moisture. If you notice water soaking into the wood of your fence, it might be time to seal it.

Repainting Panels

If you do choose to paint your wood fencing, it’s important that you pay close attention to it over the years. Not only does it look good, but it’ll also seal your panels just like sealant alone would. This is why it’s important that you repaint your fence every few years. Plus, a freshly painted wooden fence is the epitome of curb appeal. Get creative with it!

Maintain Your Landscape

If you have your shrubs, plants, or even overgrown lawn too close to your wood fencing, it may cause some issues and reduce its curb appeal. All of that additional moisture can cause mold and rot, both of which make your fence look much worse. Instead, keep everything pruned, cut, and far enough away from your fence such that it doesn’t become a problem.

Quick Fixes

If you notice any small damages, take care of them quickly. Replace any rotten panels or posts and it will go a long way in terms of your long-term curb appeal. Unsightly damages might seem small enough, but if they aren’t taken care of, they may open the door to bigger, more serious issues.

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Cleaning Your Fence

Even though your fence is exposed to plenty of rain, that doesn’t mean it’ll magically get clean. In fact, rain can cause more dirt than you’d think! Instead, use a power washer on your wood fence regularly to remove any dirt. If you don’t have a power washer, use some warm water and a gentle soap mixture to get your fence clean again.

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These are some big indicators that it may be time to replace all or part of your chain-link fence.

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When on the hunt for a fence that is durable and offers protection, you may have stumbled on the chain-link fence option. It’s an instant classic that is used in so many industrial and commercial areas, but even homeowners take advantage of installing a chain-link fence on their property at times.

However, despite the durability that this kind of fencing offers, there will inevitably come a time when it needs to be replaced. Over the years, sections or even the entire fence will become damaged and should be replaced by an expert who has knowledge about chain-link fences and what to do. This ensures that your chain-link fence replacement is done right and will last for many more years to come. These are some big indicators that it may be time to replace all or part of your chain-link fence.

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Rusting Out

One sign you should always be on the lookout for with any kind of metal fencing, including your chain-link fence, is rust. Rust is an indicator that the structural integrity of your fence has been compromised and will only get worse, meaning that it won’t keep you as protected as you wanted when it was initially installed. If only small parts of your fence are rusted, those can be replaced individually. Just make sure you remove moisture from the area to prevent it from becoming a problem again.

Broken Posts

Once the posts on your chain-link fence begin to break, it will lead to a host of other problems. This includes allowing the chain-link material to become loose, overall resulting in a less secure fence. If left for long enough, the weight of a broken post can even pull on the rest of the fence, removing the chain-link sections entirely. Get a pro to come in and replace your posts in order to restore your fence to its former glory.

Worn-Out Links

While the posts are responsible for creating the overall structure of your fence, the links are equally as important. The links are what actually create security and close the area off. So if you notice that your links are coming apart or otherwise wearing out, it’s a good sign that you should replace them and patch up any weak points that could compromise your security.

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Read on to discover the unexpected benefits a new installation or fence replacement fence for your property.

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If your fence has seen better days, you may be watching the weather forecast and simply crossing your fingers that the most recent wintery mix on the radar doesn’t do it in for good. All you can do is hold out for the spring, because everyone knows you can’t replace a fence in the winter, right? Wrong! Winter is actually a fine time to replace a fence – in fact, in can be one of the best times, if you can fit it in the right window. Read on to discover the unexpected benefits a new installation or fence replacement for your property.

Potential Discounts

Having a fence installed during the winter may actually lead to a lower price for you. In some cases, the materials for constructing the fence may be cheaper in the winter, since there is less demand for them during the slow time for the industry. This could be passed on to you. During the inter, you may also find that some fence installers give discounts to increase their business during the slow period as well.

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Easier Scheduling

By opting for your fence replacement in the winter, you may find that you have a much easier time scheduling the work. Most fence installers are much less busy in the winter, and because of that you will likely find that you have your pick of days to have the work done. If you wait till the spring or summer, the most busy season for many fence installer, you may have to wait weeks after the consultation to actually get on an installation calendar.

Less Life Interruption

You and your family are likely spending less time outdoors during the winter, so having your fence installed now will interrupt your outdoor time less. If you wait until the spring or summer, when everyone wants to be outdoors, you could miss out on that time.

Forestall The Need To Repair

If you wait till after the winter to have your fence replacement completed, you may end up doing more work. If your current fence is already suffering, the winter weather could seriously damage it. In that case, you may have to make emergency repairs over the winter (possibly several times) to continue keeping your family and pets safe. Replacing your fence before it breaks gets ahead of this potential cost by ensuring you go through the winter with a new, strong fence.

Be Ready For Spring

Finally, if you get your fence replacement done during the winter, you will be all ready to go in the spring, while everyone else is still trying to get their fencing tasks started.

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The post Why a Fence Replacement is Best Done During Winter appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Fencing material is the top decision that needs to be made when you are installing a new fence at your home or business. Narrowing down your fence material to steel and aluminum can still cause some confusion as to which is best for your particular purposes.  Here we look at the two types of fencing […]

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