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In addition to adding a boost to your yard’s security and bringing an elegant touch to your home, installing a wrought iron fence has many benefits. As a durable, customizable option, it’s no wonder so many are considering iron fences for their homes. At Fence Masters, Inc., we want you to get the most out of your wrought iron fence, which is why we have put together a guide to caring for your fence. Check out these maintenance tips, then call our experienced Chicago Heights fence contractors for repair or installation of your wrought iron fence.

Regular Cleaning

To keep your wrought iron fence looking great for years to come, regular cleaning is highly recommended. Washing with soap and water, fully rinsing soap residue, and allowing the fence to completely air dry helps to preserve your fence’s paint job and beautiful ironwork that you picked specifically for your home. We suggest taking the time every six months to give your fence a nice, detailed cleaning, as this will not only clean the surface but also inspect your fence damage and rust.

Fight Rust

Moisture and metal, unfortunately, do not go hand-in-hand, meaning you always run the risk of developing rust on your wrought iron fence. Luckily, there are a number of protective and preventative measures you can take to fight off the rust. Applying metal-grade wax, especially focusing on areas that frequently come in contact with moisture from a sprinkler system and vegetation, to your fence can help prevent rust from developing in the first place. If you do discover that rust is beginning to form on your fence, you can either remove the old paint that has been rusted, or you can contact Fence Masters, Inc. to repair the spot. 

Keeping up Proper Maintenance

When your wrought iron fence is shiny and brand new, it can be easy to remember to keep up with proper maintenance. Once you’ve had your fence for a few years, though, cleaning, checking for rust and imperfections, and keeping up with greasing hinges on your gate can easily slip your mind. Your fence is an investment, though, and should be treated like one. Making a habit out of casually looking over your fence while out in the yard and setting cleaning or painting reminders is a great way to keep on top of any issues that may develop.

Call a Trusted Fence Contractor

To ensure your fence is being properly repaired, always work with an experienced and trusted fence contractor. Fence Masters, Inc. is your go-to fence contractor when you need your fence repaired. While we currently only repair fences for past clients, we will happily provide you with a free estimate for a new fence for your yard. We have a large selection of fences to choose from, including the classic wrought iron. And, since we have our own iron weld shop at our warehouse, you can meet with our fence designers for a free design consultation. Get the wrought iron fence of your dreams at an affordable price! Simply call the professional Chicago Heights fence contractors at Fence Masters, Inc. to discuss your fencing needs.

The post appeared first on Fence Masters

Here are a few easy ways for you to decorate your vinyl fence.

Whether you’re trying to establish more privacy around your house or you want to go with a classic vinyl picket fence, you may be thinking that you could do more with your plain white fence. While some homeowners may feel that a coat of paint is the way to go for changing your fence’s look, there are other routes you can take to get a more desirable look. Here are a few easy ways for you to decorate your vinyl fence.

Start Accessorizing Your Vinyl Fence

A great way to boost the curb appeal of your vinyl fence is to add a few new accessories. By installing over-the-panel hooks, for example, you give yourself the perfect spot on your fence for displaying artwork or installing lights. Just be sure that the hooks you use won’t scratch the surface.

You could even go with corner-mounted shelving, which would give you the perfect place to put any potted plants or garden gnomes that you may have.

Solar LED lights are another option, and you can use these to give your fence a little extra ambiance without having to use wires.

Go With Plants, But Be Careful

People might get the temptation to plant all sorts of flowers along the side of their vinyl fence. However, you shouldn’t do this. While hedges can be a beautiful sight, they can also cause your fence to not last as long as it otherwise would. This has to do with plants’ root systems. Eventually, these root systems can extend far enough to impact your fence. Hedges don’t give you the easy access you need to get to your fence, which makes it harder to keep up with regular maintenance.

For these reasons, give yourself enough space between any plants you install and your fence so that you can still access your fence’s panels or pickets. Trees, which could be planted to give you extra privacy, follow this same rule. Having enough distance between plants and your fence will save your fence in the long run.

Consider Curtains Around Your Vinyl Fence

You might treat your outdoor landscape the same way that you treat a room inside your house. If you do, you might consider using some decorating tips that would normally be used for indoor areas. Curtains are a great example. If you use some over-the-panel hooks, some fabric curtains, and a few curtain rods, you could have curtains along your outdoor vinyl fence, which will conceal your panels completely and give you a little more privacy for your yard.

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 Ways for You to Decorate Your Vinyl Fence appeared first on Hercules Fence.

There are procedures you can follow to help maintain your ornamental iron fence.

An ornamental iron fence can get exposed to all sorts of weather conditions throughout the year. It can fade due to intense heat in the summer. Sometimes, paint can get scratched up and leave the bare metal exposed, which can eventually lead to rusting. Fortunately, there are procedures you can follow to help maintain your ornamental iron fence.

Give Your Fence at Least One Inspection Per Year

If you inspect your ornamental iron fence at least one time every year, you’ll be able to find potential problems and get those problems fixed before your fence can take on additional damage. See if there are any missing caps, signs of rust, scratches, or any broken hardware. These are some of the problems you’ll want to address the moment you see them.

Get Your Fence Waxed and Washed

With the help of car wash soap, you can get rid of pesky specks of dirt and dust that may gather on your fence. Once your fence has washed, you can put wax on it, which offers additional protection against fading due to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Trim Vegetation So It’s Away From Your Fence

While plants and vines can look attractive around your fence, they also pose risks to it. Plants can slowly eat away at your ornamental iron fence, causing coats of paint to deteriorate, which will then leave your fence vulnerable to rust.

Cut back the length of your plants so that they don’t get too close to your fence. This way, you can still enjoy the appeal factor while avoiding the potential risks that come with the plants being too close in proximity.

Don’t Let Your Fence Get Wet When You’re Sprinkling Your Yard

You should never have your sprinklers be in the range of your ornamental iron fence. Too much exposure to water will accelerate the rusting and corroding process. If you use sprinklers around your yard, make sure that they cannot hit your fence with any water.

Deal With Rusty Spots the Moment You Detect Them

If you see rust on your ornamental iron fence, it means that the metal layer your fence has is getting exposed to air and moisture. You should use sandpaper to address rusty areas on your fence. Be sure to remove rusty spots entirely, then wipe down the spots where there was rust in order to get rid of rust dust. After all of that is done, paint over those areas to give them added protection.

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 Keeping Your Ornamental Iron Fence in Good Shape appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Here is what you can do to stop fence rotting from occurring.

For anyone who owns a wood fence, you know that one of the biggest problems you can face is fence rotting. Fence rotting impacts your fence’s look, making it less appealing, and it makes the fence weaker. Since most wood fences are stuck into the ground, rot can seem like an inevitability. But there are ways you can prevent rotting if you’re attentive to your fence. Here is what you can do to stop fence rotting from occurring.

Understanding Wet & Dry Rot

To know how to prevent fence rotting, you first have to know which type of rotting threatens your fence. The two main types of fence rotting and dry and wet rot. Wet rot happens when your wood is constantly exposed to moisture. Signs of wet rot include the softening of your wood and potential wood cracking. You might also see fungus growing or notice a damp smell on your fence.

Dry rot, on the flipside, occurs when your wood is left out in extremely dry climates. Protective oils will be removed, making your fence more vulnerable. Dry rot is signaled by your fence being easily broken. You likely have dry rot if pieces of your fence break apart easily in your hand. Just like with wet rot, you might notice a damp smell, which is caused by the decaying of the fence.

Keep Rot in Mind When Picking Out Fencing Materials

You want to be proactive when dealing with fence rot, and the best way to do that is to have your fence made from rot-resistant materials. Some of these materials include cedar, cypress, and juniper. It’s also recommended that you invest in treated wood because it’s good for fending off termites and lowering your chances of rot.

Stain Your Fence Whenever It’s Necessary

If you stain your fence consistently, you can help keep fence rotting under control. You should stain your fence at least one time every year. However, depending on where you live, that number could rise. Factors that affect how often you should stain include how much rainfall your area gets, your average outdoor temperature, and the soil that is around your fence.

If you’re unsure of whether or not your fence needs staining, spray some water on it. Water that gets absorbed into your wood’s interior instead of beading on the exterior needs a new stain.

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 to Keep Fence Rotting From Happening appeared first on Hercules Fence.

If you aren’t repairing or maintaining your wood fence, here are the reasons you should.

Many homeowners have a fence surrounding their yard, and these fences are installed for different reasons, depending on the homeowner’s intentions. No matter what purpose your fence has, however, repairs and maintenance are always going to be necessary for keeping your fence intact and functional. A wood fence can last for as long as 12 years if it is made from lumber that is untreated, while fences made with pressure-treated lumber can stay up as long as three decades. If you aren’t repairing or maintaining your wood fence, here are the reasons you should.

Why Your Wood Fence Needs Repairing

A wood fence isn’t going to stay in good shape on its own. Weather plays a heavy role in how long your fencing lasts. Heavy rain and wind can cause serious damage, and as we get closer to winter, snowstorms can impact your fencing as well.

Beyond that, your fence can get damaged by impact, such as if a vehicle runs into it. Insect damage is also a possibility.

What Repairs Should Be Done?

Your fencing repairs will vary based on the type of damage it sustains. Areas suffering from rot need to be cut and replaced with new wood so that the rot doesn’t grow. If you have nails popping out, they need to be replaced with new ones so that they don’t injure anyone. Sagging fences can be fixed with tension rods or braces.

What Maintenance Needs to Be Done?

To avoid bigger problems down the road, regular maintenance is a must. If you keep up with regular maintenance, you won’t spend nearly as much time or money fixing bigger problems. It can also help with your fence’s longevity. There are a few things you can do to minimize your odds of your fence taking more serious damage later. First, keep leaves and vines away from your wood fence because these can fall or grow on it. Keeping sprinklers away from your fence can lower your chances of having it develop rot. Lastly, pressure washing can help it look like new all of the time.

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 Why Wood Fence Repairs and Maintenance are Important appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Here are some color recommendations we have for your fence.

If you want your home to serve as a trend-setter, it all starts on your home’s exterior. Fencing will be one of the first things that garners people’s attention. These days, fences do far more than give your residence a little added protection; they are also the perfect feature to help give your house a brand new look.

One of the main features to consider when designing captivating fencing is the fence’s color. Different homes work with different colors, so you’ll need to consider what colors work best for your home and setting. Here are some color recommendations we have for your fence.

Ideas for Homes with Bright Colors

If you have a home with a light shade, you’re in a good spot because light colors match pretty much everything. You can easily have fencing designed to complement the look of your house. You could go with a color that’s identical to your home’s color, which helps establish your fence as an extension of your home. If you want your home’s look to stand out more, a neutral tone can be used for your fence.

Ideas for Homes with Dark Colors

Dark exteriors work fine on houses as well. However, if your house has a dark tone, it might be best to take a different approach when deciding on your fence’s color. Go with a color that contrasts with that of your home’s. If your house is a black color, for example, try pairing it with a white-colored fence. Red, blue, and yellow are other viable options that are vibrant and capable of catching the attention of passersby.

Ideas for Homes with Unique Colors

Your fence should not be the main attraction. That honor goes to your home, and your fence should play a supporting role in bringing out the best of your home’s appearance. If you have a home with a bright exterior, a subtle fence color is a great option. Going with a bright fence color, in this case, could make it hard for people to know where to focus their attention. Some of the safest fence options you could use are white vinyl fences or wood fences with neutral stains because they go well with nearly any home’s look.

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 Fence Color Recommendations for Different Home Exteriors appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Here are some suggestions we have on what the best material could be for your commercial fencing.

You may have reached the decision that you want to have a fence installed on your property, but you aren’t quite sure where to begin. Commercial fencing helps increase your business’s curb appeal, which can help to draw in customers. Fences are made from various materials and deciding which material is best for you can be a daunting task. Here are some suggestions we have on what the best material could be for your commercial fencing.

Chain-Link Fences

The first thing you need to consider when planning your commercial fencing installation is your location. For industrial areas, chain-link fencing can be a great option. It’s a cost-effective choice that simultaneously provides your business with extra security. You can get chain-link fencing in a variety of heights, so you can have them made to suit the needs of your business.

In addition, chain-link fences don’t require much maintenance. They can hold up just fine for years at a time due largely in part to their durability and ability to resist inclement weather conditions and corrosion.

Ornamental Fences

If security isn’t your primary concern, and you instead only want to improve the aesthetic of your business, ornamental fencing becomes an ideal choice. You don’t have to entirely relinquish security for the sake of appeal, but if you are looking to impress passersby with a captivating fence, ornamental commercial fencing is often going to be your best bet. Ornamental fencing is often made from materials such as aluminum or steel, and the material you use will depend on the look of your business. No matter which material you use, however, it will be sure to help your business stand out among others.

Wood Fences

Wood commercial fencing is your best option if privacy is what you value most around your business. Wood fences can hide less appealing aspects of your building, and it offers a moderate level of security due to how thick the fencing is, which makes it hard for people to peer through it and get a look at your property. You also achieve a natural-looking aesthetic for your business if you have a fence made out of wood. Businesses that commonly use wooden fences include shopping centers and restaurants

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 Best Commercial Fencing Options for Businesses appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Is your wooden fence ready for the upcoming colder weather? 

Keeping up with your wooden fence maintenance is one of the most important things you can do to extend its life while also preventing potentially costly repairs or full replacements. Regularly inspecting your fence, or at least taking a good look at it at the beginning of both spring and fall, is a good habit to get into. The team at Fence Masters, Inc. wants to help you stay ahead of issues with your wooden fence, which is why we put together some of our most essential fall maintenance tips for your wooden fence!

Remove Debris from Around Your Fence

Branches, limbs, leaves, and other plant material can build up around the bottom of your fence, especially when the leaves begin to change and fall in the autumn. To prevent these materials from rotting against your fence, always be sure to clean up the immediate area surrounding your fence. In order to prevent a massive haul towards the end of the season, we recommend tidying up a few times throughout the fall and into winter.

Restain the Wood

After a long summer of constant sun exposure and afternoon storms, the staining on your wooden fence may have begun to fade. Inspect the wood for any discoloration and, if desired, restain those sections. Doing so will prevent a complete fence restain and help you stay on top of the appearance of your yard.

Check (and Triple Check) for Problems

Take the extra time to do an in-depth inspection of your wooden fence. Splitting, holes, and decay can easily fly under your radar if you do a glance over. Finding these issues before they turn into a major problem will prevent extensive fence damage, such as collapsing posts. This is also a great time to inspect your fence for loose posts. The weight of potential winter snowfall and other weather-related problems can cause your fence to topple over if some posts or stakes are not secured in the ground. 

Why Fence Maintenance is Important

With the proper maintenance and professional repairs, your wooden fence can last upwards of twelve years or more. Frequent inspections are a great way to identify and take care of any potentially extensive and costly repairs while also giving you a chance to appreciate your wooden fence fully.

Contact Fence Masters Today!

Your fence plays many roles in your yard. Maybe it was installed to define the boundaries of your property or contain a pet or rowdy children. Or maybe you invested in a wooden fence for extra backyard privacy or to increase the value of your home. Regardless of its function, you invested a lot of money into your wooden fence, and it’s important to keep it in the best possible condition. That’s why Fence Masters, Inc. offers fence repairs for all fences that our contractors have installed. Whether you need to get a single panel repaired or a full fence replacement, we are here for you when you need expert fence services. Contact us today for more information or to schedule your fall fence maintenance.

The post appeared first on Fence Masters

Fences are a great way to protect your property, but when there are disputes between neighbors, the fence may be at the heart of the dissension. Whether it’s an argument over responsibility for livestock, fence repair, tree limbs, or boundaries, it’s wise to learn a little bit about fence law in order to successfully work through these neighborly tiffs. Sometimes, with some understanding of the law and a willingness to compromise, neighbors can avoid legal action and come to an agreement on their own. Let’s take a look at some common causes of friction and the applicable fence laws.

• Livestock issues are often covered by open range doctrine. If livestock are hit on a roadway, owner liability is dependent on whether the accident happened in an open range or closed range area. In a closed range area, also called fence in, landowners are legally obligated to keep their animals contained. If the animals escape and the landowner has not acted reasonably to prevent this, that owner can be held liable. In an open range, or fence out, area, there’s no obligation to prevent animals from roaming, so there’s no owner liability if an animal is hit by a motorist. Being familiar with this law and knowing whether you live in an open range or closed range area can save you from facing legal consequences.
• Another livestock issue is the question of strays. If livestock wanders onto your property, what should you do? If you know the owner of the animals, you should let the owner know what has happened so that the situation can be remedied. From a legal standpoint, there are certain specific procedures you must follow if you don’t know the owner, and these procedures vary from state to state. You need to try to find the owner, because you can’t just keep stray livestock because it’s on your property.
• Who is responsible for fence repair? Is your neighbor required to contribute when you need to repair or build a boundary fence? The specific rules are different in different states. Look into the laws in your state, also taking into account local zoning laws or homeowners association covenants.
• What happens when trees overhang a neighboring property? In most states, the responsibility falls on the neighbor on whose property the tree originates. However, property owners are often legally permitted to remove tree limbs or roots that encroach on their property.

If you’re involved in a fence law dispute, try to resolve it amicably. If you’re ready for a new fence, call Paramount Fence Inc. for professional installation. A full-service fence sales and installation business in the Chicagoland area, with more than half a century of combined experience, we’re dedicated to providing creative and affordable solutions that address our clients’ needs and fulfill their requests. For more information, call us at 630.239.2714 or contact us through our website.

The post Fence Laws: Here’s What You Need To Know appeared first on Paramount Fence.

There are certain sources of fence damage that are more likely for homeowners to encounter.

A fence will only be reliable when it is well-built and given plenty of care. It will also help give your home extra beauty and elegance. But if you have any fence damage, you might not get that same appeal and functionality. There are certain sources of fence damage that are more likely for homeowners to encounter.

Corrosion

Most construction materials could start corroding after a long enough time period because of the constant exposure they get to moisture and the sun’s UV rays. Fences corrode in different ways. For example, wooden fences will show rot and mold when they corrode, while metal fences may start rusting.

To stop corrosion from happening, choose fencing material that’s well suited for your climate. For wet climates, you should get a fence with water resistance, as an example. Keep your fence clean to keep grime from building up, and get your material refinished. Take your fence manufacturer’s recommendation when refinishing your fence material.

Holes or Gaps

This type of fence damage is often associated with wooden fences more than any other type of fencing. Fence damage like this usually occurs from heavy storms or if your fence suffers a large impact of some kind.

If you don’t want holes to appear on your fence, make sure your fence is installed and repaired professionally. Usually, whenever slats fall off, it’s because proper fastening wasn’t done. Also, the steps needed to prevent corrosion apply here.

Sagging Gate

Your fence gate will start sagging over time. Sometimes, the deformation that results from sagging can make it harder to use the gate. On top of that, your fence won’t be as safe because sagging can create holes that are large enough for any kids and pets you have to get through your fence.

To avoid this problem, let a professional fencing company assess your gates every season. The evaluation should go over components such as the main gate and your hinges. If you need any parts replaced, get them replaced immediately.

Stains

Stains are an ugly sight for any fence, and even the best fences will feel the effects of nasty stains. While metal fences are usually fine because you can wash stains away, wooden varieties don’t fare as well against stains. Wooden fences have to be monitored closely because stains can sink into wooden material and turn into permanent marks.

Wiping and brushing your fence regularly is a good precaution to combat stains. Don’t use any substances on your fence until you’ve tested them on material separate from your actual fence. You should also go with a color that can be maintained with ease. Darker colors are often a good choice since they hide stains well.

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 Typical Sources of Fence Damage, and How to Stop Them From Occurring appeared first on Hercules Fence.