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Here are some of the pests that can cause harm to your wooden fence.

Many fences that people use for their yards are made out of wood. They provide a traditional look for people’s landscapes, which is what makes wooden fences a timeless classic that will stay popular for a long time to come. Unfortunately, wooden fences are vulnerable to a few different types of pests, and these critters can cause unwanted damage to your fencing if you’re not careful. Here are some of the pests that can cause harm to your wooden fence.

Carpenter Ants

These ants are known for building nests inside of solid material, such as softwood. They are found in red and black colors, and they are known to expand their nests, which can cause a great amount of damage if you don’t take measures to address the problem.

Carpenter ants burrow inside of wood, typically wood that has already suffered some damage. Therefore, in order to deal with these ants, we recommend replacing any affected fence boards with new ones.

Termites

Unlike carpenter ants, which burrow inside of wood, termites are pests that actually consume it. This puts wood fencing at great risk when it’s in the proximity of these critters. They will often go after softwoods, but can sometimes infect hardwood posts as well.

These pests are a great danger to your fencing. If you have termites around your yard, not only should you replace your fence with a new one, but you should also get in contact with a pest control company so that you won’t have to worry about future termite problems.

Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees look quite close to bumblebees, but they are a much bigger threat to your wooden fence. These bees can tunnel inside of wood, creating large round holes. These holes allow water and fungi to seep into your fencing, which can promote fence rotting. To deal with the problems these bees cause, you want to seal any holes they create. This way, both the bees themselves, as well as water and fungi, are unable to get into your fence.

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 Pests That Can Damage a Wooden Fence appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Today, we’ll be looking at ways the winter weather can cause damage to your fencing.

The winter season is still in full motion, and the cold weather this season brings can present you with some challenges. One of these challenges involves applying pressure to your home’s fence, causing it to sustain damage throughout the season, but how exactly does your fence get damaged during this time? Today, we’ll be looking at ways the winter weather can cause damage to your fencing.

Rust

Winter brings snow and rain, and this results in additional moisture your fence has to handle. If you have metal fencing for your yard, this added moisture presents the possibility that your fence could rust. There are many areas where rust could occur, such as the fence posts themselves, the screws, or the fence gate if you have one. If rust starts developing, you’ll want to take action quickly before the damage has a chance to accumulate too much.

Freezing

Not only can your fence rust, but freezing is also a possibility under the cold of winter. Metal fences are prone to freezing, and when this happens, your fence can start to crack and break. This results in your border being more vulnerable.

Collapsing

With strong enough winds, or a sufficient amount of snow, your fencing could be put under too much pressure, to the point that it will be unable to stay upright, resulting in your fence collapsing. This risk is especially high if you live in an area that experiences plenty of winter storms throughout the year.

Warping

Perhaps you have a wooden fence instead of a metal one. While rusting isn’t a concern for wood fences during winter, you do have to worry about them warping. Warping occurs when the fence boards expand and contract in response to drastic temperature changes. Distortion in your fencing boards can result in the entire structure becoming unstable, leading to the collapse of your fence.

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 Your Fencing is Damaged by Winter Weather appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Let’s take some time to go over potential causes of fence sagging.

It’s likely that you’ve seen a yard that has a sagging fence at some point in your life. When a fence leans to one side, it makes your yard look less appealing. There are many reasons your fence could lean, and knowing the causes can help you prevent this problem in your own yard. Let’s take some time to go over potential causes of fence sagging.

Damage Caused by the Weather

When the weather gets intense enough, it can take a big toll on your fence. The extra strain your fence sustains due to the weather can cause it to lean. After the first noticeable damage sets in, all subsequent storms will only cause further damage.

Your Fence Has Low-Quality Hardware

Even if your fence is made from high-quality fencing material, using poor hardware to connect the pieces together can still result in fence sagging taking place. Always avoid using poor hardware such as rusty nails when constructing your fence because this will result in your fence boards shifting out of place as time goes on.

Your Fence Was Not Installed Properly

Whenever fences aren’t constructed with strong enough foundations, it won’t be long before stormy weather starts the process of fence sagging. A poor installation is likely the problem if you ever see fence sagging with fences that were just recently built. There are many factors that affect how a fence should be installed, including the soil, the type of fence you have, and how tall the fence will be.

If you aren’t sure about the right way to install your fence, you can consult a fence installation company for advice. With their years of experience, professionals will know the proper way to construct a fence regardless of terrain, fence height, fencing material, and more. Many companies come with warranties as well, which protect you in the event that the installation doesn’t go 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 Causes of Fence Sagging appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Here are reasons your dog could try to jump over your dog fence.

If you’re a dog owner, it’s nice to have your dog get fresh air while they hang out in your yard. A fear you might have, though, is that they might jump over your fence. Once your dog jumps the fence, it can be hard to get them back, and that’s what makes it such a serious concern for dog owners. That’s why it’s important to know why they might jump over your dog fence because you could possibly find a way to prevent the problem. Here are reasons your dog could try to jump over your dog fence.

They’re Bored

Perhaps there isn’t enough for your dog to do while they’re in your yard. Without sufficient stimulation, your dog will look for other ways to amuse themself. The other side of your dog fence holds many mysteries, and your dog might be tempted to see what’s on the other side if they’re not interested in your yard. You can tell your dog is bored if they’re rummaging through the trash or digging in the garden, along with making other kinds of messes.

They’re Lonely

Your dog might jump over your dog fence if they’re experiencing loneliness. That’s why it’s good to keep a close eye on your dog when they’re outside, and give them the attention they want. Once they’re left alone, they might try to make their move.

They’re Energized

If your dog has a lot of energy to burn, it’s more likely for them to try to jump over your dog fence. There are a few reasons why your dog could have so much energy. If they’re still in their puppy years, they’ll be highly curious about the world around them and be filled with the energy to explore. Jumping the dog fence is also more likely if your dog is a breed that naturally has more energy or is built for running.

To avoid having your dog jump the fence, engage in regular playtime when they’re outside. This way, they get tired and don’t try to jump your dog fence. All the while, you get to have quality time with your pet and make them happy.

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 Reasons Your Dog Might Jump Over Your Dog Fence appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Today, we’ll be showing you ways that you can decorate your fencing for the winter holidays.

Halloween and Thanksgiving are now behind us, but there’s still time to be festive since the winter holiday season is only just beginning. If you want to show your holiday spirit, one way you can do this is by decorating your fence. Today, we’ll be showing you ways that you can decorate your fencing for the winter holidays.

Put Wreaths on Your Fencing

Wreaths are a classic winter holiday decoration, and you can put them in many places around your house, which include your fence. You could place wreaths all throughout your fencing, or you could put one large wreath in the middle. Perhaps you have some lights to put on your wreaths as well so that they’re more noticeable at night. Sometimes, it’s tough to beat the simple, but effective, classics of winter holiday decorations.

Put Up Some Holiday Lights

Lights are a classic decoration for many holidays, and putting them up for the winter holidays is a great idea as well. You can hang up many lights throughout your fencing to keep your home looking festive all season long. The only question you’ll need to answer is whether you stick to white lights only, or you want to use multi-colored ones.

Put Up a Holiday Sign

Another way to celebrate the winter holidays is by putting a heart-warming holiday message on your fence. Consider looking for a sign that you can put on your fence. There are many messages you could choose, like “Season’s Greetings”, “Peace on Earth”, or, if you have a specific holiday you celebrate, you can find a sign to let people know which one you’re celebrating.

Create a Backdrop for Your Fencing

Not all decorations need to be put directly on your fence. You could also surround your fence with decorations, such as toy soldiers or inflatables, that can help promote holiday joy around 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 How to Get Your Fencing Ready for the Holiday Season appeared first on Hercules Fence.

If you have a fence around your yard, you have a wonderful feature that adds privacy to your home while also providing your house with extra curb appeal. Perhaps, however, you’ve been looking for ways to enhance your fence. One way to do this is by installing fence lighting. If you don’t have any fence lighting right now, here are reasons it could be a nice idea.

Improved Home Safety

Fences are already known for providing certain safety functions. They keep unwanted guests from getting into your yard, and likewise, they make sure that your pets and small children stay safely within your yard.

Fence lighting only serves to enhance the level of safety your yard has. This way, if you’re ever out in the yard at night, you’ll be less likely to trip over something since you’ll have lights that let you see your walkways.

Enhanced Aesthetics

Fences can look beautiful on their own, but with fence lighting, you can take a fence’s aesthetic appeal to the next level. There are multiple lighting options from which to choose. You could go with lanterns that you hang from your fence. Alternatively, you could go with string lights that stretch for the entire length of the fence. Whatever fencing lights you choose, they’ll be sure to make your fence more pleasing to the eye.

Raise Your Property Value

When your home has great aesthetic appeal, it helps to improve its overall value. That’s why fence lighting can be a simple, but effective, way to give your home a boost in value if you’re looking to sell it in the near future. Homebuyers will also appreciate the extra level of safety and security that your fence lights offer, especially if they have pets or younger children that they need to keep protected.

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 Fence Lighting is Good to Have appeared first on Hercules Fence.

To find the best fence contractor, here are traits you’ll want them to have.

Choosing to build a fence is a big decision for any homeowner. Once you make this decision, you’ll likely want to find a fence contractor who can help you with the installation. Not all contractors are identical, however, and you want to be sure you have the best one in your corner getting your fence built. To find the best fence contractor, here are traits you’ll want them to have.

Longevity

You want a fence contractor who’s been in the fencing industry for a long time. The longer a contractor has been in business, the more experience they’ve acquired. Also, a contractor would unlikely stay in business if they couldn’t satisfy the needs of their clients. That means that long-standing contractors know how to please the customers who work with them.

Responsive

Your fence contractor should care about the needs of the customer, and that means they should be responsive to whatever needs and concerns you have. You likely want a specific result from your fencing project, and your contractor should want to know all of the specifics of your project to ensure that they complete it to your liking.

Look for Licensing and Other Credentials

A fence contractor should have credentials such as licensing that can back up the quality of service that they provide. Many will also offer warranties for the work they do, which can help you feel safer about working with them. This way, even if something goes wrong during your fencing project, your contractor will address the issue on your behalf.

They Have References

If warranties and licensing aren’t enough to convince you to work with a fence contractor, maybe other customers can be the ones to convince you. A reputable fence contractor will not hesitate to bring out references from previous customers who can attest to the high standard of service that they provide. If other customers have been happy with a specific contractor, there’s a good chance that you’ll be happy as 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 Traits You’ll Want in Your Fence Contractor appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Here are fence decorations you should think about trying this Halloween.

Fall is a wonderful time of year. The weather becomes more mild and pleasant, the leaves change color, and it’s a season filled with all sorts of festive holidays. One of these holidays, Halloween, is arriving very soon, and it’s possible that you’ve been thinking of ways to get festive for the occasion. One way you can prepare your property for Halloween is to put decorations on (or around) your fence, but what decorations should you pick? Here are fence decorations you should think about trying this Halloween.

Lighting and Paper Ghosts

Nothing screams Halloween like ghosts, and nothing brings screams quite like them either. That’s why it could be a great idea to design paper ghosts that you can hang on your fencing. You could even go a step further and invest in eerie lights that you could put around your fence to really commit to an ominous vibe for your yard.

Surround Your Fence With Pumpkins

Pumpkins could practically be the poster child for fall, and they’ll let your whole neighborhood know how enthusiastic you are for the season. You could choose to leave the pumpkins as they are, or you could decide to transform them into jack-o-lanterns once Halloween is here. The design possibilities for jack-o-lanterns are only limited by your imagination, so you could design them in pretty much any way you want.

Add Spider Webs

Spider webs are classic fence decorations for Halloween. They can make your home feel like it’s been abandoned for years. You could even go the extra mile to add fake spiders to your webs, adding to how scary your fence could be. For added effect, you could put fake bats around your fence as well. Bats are another Halloween classic, and they are a simple way to improve the scare factor of 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 Fence Decorations You Can Try for the Fall/Halloween Season appeared first on Hercules Fence.

Here are potential problems your wire fencing can experience.

Wire fencing has many different uses in a variety of settings. It helps to establish property boundaries. It keeps intruders away from you. It also helps keep pets within your yard, if you’re a pet owner. Unfortunately, there are issues that these fences can encounter. The best way to be ready for these issues is to know what they are ahead of time, which is what we’ll be discussing with you now. Here are potential problems your wire fencing can experience.

Rusting and Corroding

This is one of the more common issues that wire fencing will experience. When the fence rusts and corrodes, its structural integrity is compromised and, eventually, the fence will fail you. You can prevent this from happening, though, if you get your fence built with coated or galvanized wiring materials since they have more resistance against rusting and corroding. It also doesn’t hurt to clean your fence occasionally.

Fence Sagging

Something else that could happen to your wire fencing is that the fence could start to sag or get misaligned. This is what happens when your fencing doesn’t have sufficient support keeping it upright. This is something that’s easier to prevent than it is to fix later, and you prevent this problem by ensuring the fence is installed well initially. Frequent inspections of your fence can help as well. In both cases, working with a trusted fencing company can do wonders.

What Materials To Use When Fixing Your Wire Fencing

While prevention of fence damage is best, there’s always the chance you might need to make repairs to your current one. If so, here are materials you should use to rebuild your wire fencing:

• Fencing staples: useful for securing wiring to your fence posts
• Post caps: shield the tops of your fence posts from problems like water damage
• Tension wire: helps to combat issues with fence sagging

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 Issues That Wire Fencing Might Face appeared first on Hercules Fence.

The term “fence leaning” may sound harmless, but it can lead to more significant problems if left unaddressed.

Your fence is more than just visual indication of some municipally-derived boundary—it’s a statement! …If you so choose it to be! -A message that can confidently signal both your personal aesthetic style and your home’s security. Alas, no matter how boldly stated, all fences potentially stand to face a common issue: leaning.

The term “fence leaning” may sound harmless, but it can lead to more significant problems if left unaddressed—and costly ones to boot. Understanding what causes fence leaning and how to tackle it from the get-go will help maintain the integrity of both your fence and your bank account.

With that in mind, read along below.

The Whispering Winds

Nature’s forces can play a significant role in fence leaning. A strong wind, especially when focused on a specific section of the fence, can exert immense pressure on the posts. This force concentrates on the posts, potentially causing them to break, bend, or topple over. Choosing stronger materials and installing longer or more secure posts can mitigate this issue. Materials like chain link or iron bars, which allow wind to pass through, can also be more resistant to wind-related leaning.

Roots Unleashed

Trees, often our beloved backyard companions, can be silent culprits in causing fence leaning. The expansive root systems of large trees can exert pressure on fence posts over time, gradually shifting them out of alignment. This slow, stealthy process can lead to noticeable sagging and tilting of the fence. To address this, you need to carefully dig up the earth around the affected posts, locate the intrusive roots, and trim them back. This not only stabilizes the fence but also ensures the tree’s health.

Water Woes

Excessive rain or flooding can soften the ground, causing it to lose its stability and making a fence more susceptible to leaning. That soggy soil just can’t provide the necessary anchorage to keep the fence posts upright. Solutions to combat this include the preventive (e.g., digging deeper holes during installation) and the proactive (e.g., securing longer posts as needed with concrete or composite reinforcement).

Animal Instincts

Furry or feathered neighbors can also tend to contribute their fair share to fence leaning. Larger animals leaning against the fence  in tandem with “relatively” little critters burrowing in/compromising the soil around your posts can gradually lead to dread tilting. Choosing materials that can withstand any animal contact—or otherwise taking measures to ward the creatures off on way or another—can certainly help prevent this problem.

Tree Trouble

They look so peaceful in their verdancy,  and all the while acting sneakily as culprits in that lawnscaping crime known as leaning.

Over time, branches or even entire trees may grow into a fence’s space, exerting harmful pressure that can cause structural issues for your entire fence. Be diligent about perimeter checks and strategic trimming to stop these slow-motion fence hazards in their tracks.

Installation Errors

Sometimes, the problem stems from the very beginning. Poorly-executed fence installations can introduce taxing, irregular tension into the structure as if it were a desired feature; as you can imagine, such fences are quite prone to leaning. Even the slightest miscalculation during post-hole digging can compromise the fence’s stability… before it’s even been placed!

-And of course, inexperienced installers are more likely to inadvertently create such issues. Relying on tried-and-true fencing professionals to assess and rectify any snags will guarantee that your fence can stand and deliver your personal statement to the neighborhood for years on end.

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 Natural Causes for Fence Leaning appeared first on Hercules Fence.