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Find out if pre-made fencing panels or individual fencing pickets are better for your fence.

If you’re considering replacing your fence or installing one for the first time, you know that many thoughts are put into the decision. A solid fence can provide safety and security for your property and family. It can also offer privacy and help create a calm oasis in your yard by blocking out unwanted sights and sounds. Depending on your needs for the fence, you have many different choices about fencing material, fence height, fence style, and more. You will also need to decide if you’re going to hire a professional or go the DIY road and install it yourself. Both have their good traits and bad ones, but if you do decide to DIY, there will be one more decision to make. You’ll have to decide if you’re using pre-made fence panels or individual pieces, such as single pickets, to construct your fence. Read on to learn more.

What Is Available?

Depending on which type of fence you want, you may have more or less to choose from in terms of fencing panels or pieces. For instance, vinyl fencing is usually available as panels, though vinyl pickets are sometimes available individually. Wood is available as panels and pieces, whether for a picket fence or a privacy fence. Metal fencing is usually also assembled into panels. Even for the materials where you could use individual pieces to build your own panels, you have to ask yourself if the time and energy spent to do it is really worth the cost savings.

Which Is Better?

There isn’t anything wrong with buying the individual pieces and build your fence from scratch, so to speak, but it takes much more time and energy on your part to do it that way. Sometimes people assume that they will pay less for the materials this way or that they will have more freedom for their specific vision of the fence. While this may be true, is the extra workload justified? Pre-assembled fencing panels come in a variety of shapes and sizes, though the most common width is 8 feet. Even using panels, you still get to choose your fence material, fence height, and fence style, and for the most part, the quality of the panels is likely to be better than what you do on your own, unless you have fencing experience. Ultimately, you’re still installing the fence and for most people doing the work of setting the posts and attaching the panels is hard enough without the added work of constructing the panels yourself.

Pre-Made Fencing Panels Vs. Individual Fencing Pickets appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Today, we will review the best ways to get snow off of your fence.

In the United States, we’ll be dealing with snow while the winter season is in full motion. This means your yard is going to likely be covered in a white blanket of it at some point this season. This is perfectly fine for the most part, but some parts of your yard are best without snow, and your fence is one such area. Today, we will review the best ways to get snow off of your fence.

Start by Establishing a Catch Area

The snow has to go somewhere once it’s off of your fence, so knowing where the snow should go is the first step you should take. Wherever you decide to put this spot, make sure it isn’t too close to your fence. You don’t want the snow to potentially fall back onto your fence later. It’s also best to establish this location at a good distance away from pathways and driveways, among other important spots around your yard.

Get Snow Away From Your Fence Line

If you get enough snow around your yard, then eventually, it’s going to start piling up on your pathways and other areas around your landscape. It’s important that snow be kept away from your fence line because you don’t want your fence to absorb moisture and increase the chances of warping and rotting.

There’s an inch-for-inch rule that should be followed. For every inch of snow you have, the distance between your fencing line and the snow should be just as many inches. As an example, if there are 5 inches of snow on the ground, then the snow should be taken 5 inches away from the fencing line.

Distribute All of the Snow Evenly

You don’t want piles of snow to get too high. After snow melts, your yard absorbs it, and this allows the grass to make use of the water once we get to spring. Letting all parts of your lawn get equal levels of water allows all parts of your yard to get equally prepared for the spring season, which is why snow should be spread out evenly throughout your landscape.

The post How to Properly Remove Snow From Your Fence appeared first on Hercules Fence.

The decision on what fence material to install at your home is all about weighing many factors that may be important to you – from maintenance and cost to look and longevity. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, the time and effort down the road to maintain your fence is often a key part of […] The post appeared first on Fence Masters

For anyone with a wooden fence, here is how to keep it safe during winter.

We’re now in December, and the unforgiving cold of winter is starting to take a hold on our properties. Winter weather can be brutal, especially on wooden surfaces. If you have a wood fence, for example, you need to take measures to protect it during the winter season. For anyone with a wooden fence, here is how to keep it safe during winter.

Keep Your Wooden Fence Sealed and Clean

For a lot of people, they will turn to wooden fences rather than another kind of fencing because of the beauty that wood offers. Unfortunately, wood is vulnerable to moisture, and winter brings a lot of it.

Not only does winter bring rain and snow, both of which bring a lot of moisture, but the water itself undergoes changes. Fluctuations in temperature cause water to contract and expand as the water freezes and melts. Eventually, with enough repetition, freeze-thaw cycles will create gaps in your wood and even cause existing gaps to grow larger.

By keeping your wooden fence cleaned and sealed, you protect it from moisture and, subsequently, the effects of freeze-thaw cycles. Sealing a fence also protects it against mold and mildew.

Trim Any Back Foliage You Have

Even though this doesn’t focus on your fence directly, trimming your nearby foliage can be a great way to preserve your wooden fence. You don’t want branches falling onto your fence to cause any damage, and the problem with winter is that snow can pile on the branches of your trees. With enough snow, the weight will become too much, causing branches to snap off and fall. By trimming your branches back, you keep foliage farther away from your fencing, which keeps your fence safer overall.

Address Leaning Fence Posts

All wooden fence posts should get installed no fewer than 36 inches into the ground. This puts your posts underneath the frost line, and it’s at this depth that it will be difficult to make your fence posts lean or move at all.

In winter, however, due to the freeze-thaw cycles that tend to happen, water buried underground will cause soil to shift, meaning your fence posts are more prone to being moved. This is when you need to contact a professional fencing company to help put your fence posts back where they need to go.

The post Keeping Your Wooden Fence Protected During Winter appeared first on Hercules Fence.

These are among the mistakes you should avoid making during fence maintenance.

When deciding on a fence for your property, one factor to consider is how much maintenance will need to be done on it.  No fence is without its maintenance procedures, but some fences require more maintenance than others, such as aluminum or vinyl ones. If you want your fence’s longevity to be as high as possible, you need to make sure you’re performing your maintenance procedures the right way and not making any mistakes. These are among the mistakes you should avoid making during fence maintenance.

Don’t Plant Greenery Near the Fence

Planting greenery right next to your fence is not a good idea. If you really feel compelled to plant any bushes or trees nearby, you need to give your fence at least one foot of distance away from them. For larger trees, you’ll need even greater distance.

Also, if there is mulch around your fencing, the fence could absorb too much moisture, which could allow mildew and mold to develop. This can make your fence rot, and while you could make mold and mildew cleanup a part of your fence maintenance routine, it’s easier to just not put any mulch near the fence, especially with wooden fences, because replacing wooden fences impacted by rot isn’t easy.

Don’t Paint Wooden Fences

For anyone who owns a wooden fence, you might think it’s a good idea to paint it. However, painting a wooden fence often has more negative effects than positive ones. Paint makes it easier to trap moisture within the fence, which causes rotting to occur more easily.

It’s also not advised that you paint vinyl fences. If you see that a vinyl fence looks more dull than normal, you should scrub it down using some warm water and soap instead of painting it. After you’ve scrubbed it down, just rinse it off, and you’re good to go.

Don’t Lean Heavy Items Against Your Fence

While many fences are incredibly sturdy, you should still refrain from resting heavy items against them. Over time, your fence could get damaged this way. Sometimes, fence panels could bend, and in other instances, they could break off entirely. That’s why it’s safer to keep any heavy objects away from your fencing as a part of your fence maintenance procedures.

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 What Not to Do During Fence Maintenance appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Installing a new fence is a huge investment requiring knowledge and the best contractors to complete. Not all fences are built the same, however, and depending on your needs, budget, and personal style, certain fence materials may be more appealing than others. Whether you’re looking to add some flare to your yard and want to […] The post appeared first on Fence Masters

Here are four kinds of wood that a wood fence could use.

Wood fencing is a timeless classic. It’s been around for decades, and it allows homes to establish a more traditional feeling to them. Are you aware that there are different types of wood you could use for a wooden fence, though? Different types of wood have different attributes, and we want to review a few kinds of wood with you to help with your decision if you’re going to install a wood fence. Here are four kinds of wood that a wood fence could use.

Redwood Wood Fence

You could make your whole fence using only redwood, but there are different grades of redwood that could be used throughout the installation. If you want high quality for your redwood fence, you want the type of wood that has a deeper red tone to it. This kind of wood should get treated by using either a clear finish or some kind of stain. If you don’t apply a finish to your redwood fence, the captivating red color you would normally get will be replaced with a less appealing gray-like color.

Cedar Wood Fence

Cedar is the perfect type of wood for people’s backyard fences. This is because cedar comes with acids and natural oils that help keep pesky insects away from your fence, and it makes your wood more rot-resistant. With the added protection that cedar wood provides, it helps your wood fence last much longer.

Cypress Wood Fence

If you’re trying to find an appropriate alternative to redwood or cedar, then cypress wood fences are perfect for you. They have a reddish-tan color to them, which gives them that charming aesthetic, but at the same time, they still retain rot-resistant and insect-resistant properties. These fences are great both for ornamental and structural purposes.

Pressure Treated Wood

Of all of the options we’ve listed, pressure-treated wood is the one that is most budget-friendly. This chemically-treated wood is also resistant against insects and rot, and can last you for as long as 20 years, sometimes even longer. Just be sure to maintain these fences properly to ensure you get as many years out of them as you can.

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 Four Kinds of Wood a Wood Fence Could Use appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Here is how to make your fencing more bird-friendly.

There are an abundance of reasons that people decide to install fences. Sometimes, they want to protect their yards. In other situations, they may want to keep wildlife away. On occasion, a fence may go up for privacy purposes. Whatever the reason may be, fencing will always serve a purpose.

Unfortunately, not every creature benefits from fencing, and birds are among the creatures that can be harmed because of them. Sometimes, birds collide with fences and can become injured, sometimes even killed if they crash with enough force. If you’re concerned for the birds in your area, there are steps you can take to make your fence more pleasant for them. Here is how to make your fencing more bird-friendly.

Add Some Ribbons to Your Fencing

Ribbons are a simple yet effective way to improve your fencing for your avian visitors.  They make it easier to notice your fence, which means there will be fewer birds crashing into it and getting hurt.

Make Sure Your Fence is Maintained

Your fence can get damaged over time, resulting in possible hazards for birds, such as jagged edges or broken wires. These can pierce through birds fairly easily, especially at the velocity at which they travel. If you maintain your fence, you’ll notice when there are broken pieces sooner rather than later. This minimizes the time during which birds could get themselves injured due to these imperfections.

Don’t Make the Fencing Any Higher Than it Needs to Be

While birds do fly, not all of them fly too highly. There are some that fly near the ground, especially when they are looking for food. Because of this, your fence shouldn’t be any taller than necessary. By keeping your fence height lower, there’s a lower chance that birds will fly into it.

Install a Brush Line

Consider installing some vegetation along your fencing line. This makes it less difficult for birds to determine when there’s an obstacle in their path, which makes it easier for them to avoid your fence. Adding some greenery also has the benefit of making your fencing look more appealing, so there’s added incentive for making this decision.

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 Making Your Fencing More Suitable for Birds appeared first on Hercules Fence.

When installing a new fence, there are many questions to be considered. First and foremost is: What type of material do you want your fence to be? At Fence Masters, we work with aluminum, wood, wrought iron, chain link and vinyl or PVC. We are happy to help you determine what type of material is best for your residential or commercial property. 

But exactly how many gates you want at your place is more of a personal decision. While we can offer some basic help, you will have to finalize what works best for your yard. We do find that having just one gate is typically not enough for ease of use and being able to enter your yard. Homeowners definitely need to be able to access their home from more than one point, so at least two gates are vital. 

A front yard gate will allow you to leave your home from this point and allow family and friends to easily enter your back yard from your driveway. While a gate that is positioned in the back of your fence will allow for movement of items in and out of the back. Do you have a shed or outbuilding outside of your fence’s perimeter? Then a gate should be positioned near this structure so you can bring equipment and tools easily in and out of your yard. The last thing you want a new fence to do is to make working and living on your property harder!

The size and width of your gates is also an important component to consider. A slimmer-sized gate will be best in areas where mainly people will be entering and exiting. A wider gate is needed for moving anything from lawnmowers to equipment from one place to another. 

Our team understands that putting in a fence at a business may be more for security and protection and more than one gate may be seen as a vulnerable access point. That is why we also recommend that you consider commercial gate operators. You do not want your property to be a fortress that is inaccessible! Gate operators are easier to use than manual gates as they move electronically. They also are limited to those who know the keypad number or have the proper key or card, so the gates are still secure. Again, business owners need to remember that they will still want to get into their property at different points, so strategically placed gates are key to the best fence installation.

We Are Happy to Help

Our Fence Masters crew can come out and view your project plans as well as discuss over the phone what you need and want. Decisions on all aspects of your project are part of what we offer all of our customers in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana area. Connect to us through our online contact form.  

The post appeared first on Fence Masters

Here are some of the reasons you may have accumulated fence damage.

Fences are great to have for pretty much any property. Whether you need to keep pets or kids from leaving the yard, or you want to keep intruders away, a fence will always have a purpose to serve you. Over time, fences start to get worn down, though, and eventually, you’ll start to see hints of fence damage.

You’ll want to know why your fence was damaged because you might be able to prevent future damage from happening if you know the source of the problem. Here are some of the reasons you may have accumulated fence damage.

Fence Damage from Pests

There are many critters that can pose a threat to your fence, depending on what fencing material you use. Some people are gravitating away from wooden fences because they are more susceptible to damage from wood-boring beetles, carpenter ants, and termites.

When you see damage from pests, there are a few different routes you can take towards a solution. You could get in touch with an exterminator, or you may be able to purchase a spray to fend them off, depending on the pest in question.

Holes usually form when pests damage your fence, so make sure to patch them up. Otherwise, nests could be built inside of those holes, and you could have an even bigger problem down the road.

Weathering

Weather is a common reason for fence damage. There are all kinds of weather conditions, such as high winds, snow, rain, intense heat, etc., and they can all cause different kinds of damage. For example, intense heat and sun can discolor your fence, while rain and other moisture presents risks of fence rot. Think about what weather conditions are common in your area, so you can assess what types of fence damage you should watch for more often.

Physical Force

The last way your fence could get damaged is due to physical force. This type of fence damage isn’t as likely to occur, but you still have to be ready for that possibility. It’s more likely to happen if you have any pet dogs because they might try to jump over your fence, climb on it, scratch it, or dig underneath it.

Kids can also cause problems for fences when they climb on them because it adds more strain than the posts are meant to handle.

You can try fixing the problem by installing a highly durable fence, but it also helps if you establish that it’s not okay to play with the fence so that it doesn’t sustain unnecessary pressure.

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 Finding the Reason for Fence Damage appeared first on Hercules Fence.