Improving the Look of Your Backyard

If you are looking to improve the shade conditions in your backyard, pergolas offer an aesthetically pleasing and relatively simply installation option. Because they come in all different sizes, you will want to be sure of what you want before you spend thousands of dollars on something that doesn’t work. You will need to look at the types and designs, working to compliment the flow and architecture of your backyard space.

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The popularity of fences has sprung up in the past decade to the point most homeowners can’t imagine what their yard would look like without one. Whether the fence is standing tall and keeping your area secure or short, delicate, and decorative as it lines the walkway or flower gardens, a fence is a thing of beauty and safety.

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In terms of commercial fence installation, aluminum fencing is a popular choice. The reason is because aluminum fencing is durable and elegant without being too expensive. These are popular choices to boost the curb appeal of your home or commercial property.

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Summertime brings lots of fun in the sun, and many homeowners look to a dip in their pool to keep cool and refreshed. Although it an excellent source of entertainment over the summer months, there are dangers inherent to owning a pool. As such, looking at pool fence installations should be a priority before your pool party begins.

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Fences can add security to a home, but modern fencing materials are also surprising, beautiful additions. While a fence was once used to mark property boundaries, it can now also add value to your home. Choose from many different heights, colors, and styles of fencing because the options are almost endless. Here are five types of home fencing materials for your consideration.

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Now that you have decided on an arbor installation to maximize and complement the beauty of your garden and landscape, you need to determine the style and material that will best suit your needs. Do you want something with a more classic appeal or with a modern twist? Do you want it made from materials that will weather with age or last for years to come? All of these questions can be discussed and answered with the landscape or fence company of your choosing, but it is a good idea to understand some of the basics before meeting with a professional.

Traditional

A traditional arbor is designed to allow for vining plants to crawl up the trellis sides, creating a unique and classic entryway for your garden or backyard retreat. Some units have benches built in or gates that can latch. However, the most basic forms are open with trellis sides and a slatted or solid roof.

Tunnel or Archway

If you are interested in adding a little more interest to your arbor installation, then consider using an archway. For larger lawns, you can stack two arbors back-to-back to make a tunnel effect, creating visual appeal and separation. This effectively creates a dramatic garden entrance, especially when coupled with picket fencing and plant life.

Wood Alternatives

While many arbors are made from wood, the upkeep is a tremendous downside. Therefore, many homeowners prefer to go with either vinyl or metal. Vinyl is a maintenance free option that will last for years to come, as it is weather and waterproof. Metal can add a distinctive appeal to your garden scape, but it is heavy and may be prone to rust. However, some property owners don’t mind the weathering and actually prefer it in their landscapes.

An arbor installation can offer a custom, beautiful and functional element to any landscape. However, it is always better to seek the help and knowledge of a professional when sorting through your potential options.

As garden structures go, a pergola is about as traditional as you can get. Made from wood, stone or metal, these structures have been around for centuries, adding beauty and functionality to garden landscapes. However, while the more classic models were made with open, slatted or crossed beams, designs have modernized a bit, allowing for several roof options. Therefore, before hiring a contractor for a pergola installation, review the materials available and choose a roof that will fit with your landscape.

Traditional

The traditional pergola was developed as a shade structure with a roof of crossed beams that were meant to support vines and other plant life. In essence, pergolas were built to be a type of living structure. The traditional roof and vine combination is still quite popular, but it has dwindled in popularity when compared to more robust and modern roof lines and options. Some will argue that vine-covered structures are hard to maintain and invite bugs, which makes it uncomfortable to sit and relax.

Transparent

While not everyone appreciates the idea of a vine-covered patio, many appreciate the beauty of the crossed beam layout. If you are only interested in a minor reprieve from the sun’s rays with your pergola installation, then a transparent roof of plexiglass may work. These roofs allow for some shade without obstructing the view of the sky.

Fabric

Another option for those who appreciate the crossed beams of more traditional pergolas may also like a fabric roof covering. This option allows for superior shade and comfort on hot days, but it still leaves the exposed wood beams.

Solid

If you are not completely attached to the traditional pergola structure, then you may be interested in more modern rooflines and materials. You can cover your pergola in metal sheeting or wood. However, the roofline may change slightly to allow for drainage. This is the most durable option for your garden structure.

Regardless of the roof you choose for your pergola, you should speak with a professional about your pergola installation and your options. Depending on the look you are going for, one roof may be superior to the other options.

Vinyl fencing is beautiful, and certain styles offer superior privacy because they are designed as single panels. However, while the fence style is lovely, the panels do require a certain level of precision when it comes to installation, which is why it is usually best to hire a professional. Any fence installation will require similar steps though, and it is good to understand these steps before the work begins.

Secure Permits

Before allowing any company to begin work on your property, be sure they have the necessary permits. Every municipality has different regulations, and it is essential that you or the installer receive the city’s approval before starting the work or you could end up with having to pay fines and penalties and still not have a fence or worse have to remove the fence you just put in.

Tie Off the Area

Once you have the proper permits and an installer, they will likely come out to your property and tie-off the area. This temporary boundary allows you and your contractor to make any necessary adjustments before the final fence installation, ensuring that when the work begins, there are limited, if any, hiccups.

Measure Posts Locations Precisely

One job that is extremely important to the installation process, especially for single panel fencing, is the precise placement of the posts. This precise step is why you will likely want a professional installer in the first place. If the posts are cemented in the wrong place, it can negatively affect the rest of your fence and may even inhibit the rest of the installation.

Vinyl fence Installation is similar to any other fence install, but when it is designed as single panel sections, there is an increased level of precision required. For that reason, a professional is usually your best choice, especially a contractor who has experience with vinyl fencing and is willing to prove that experience by providing referrals and a portfolio.

When deciding to hire a company for your fence installation, it is important to know the costs that go into that installation so that you understand the overall quoted price. Granted, every company will have a different estimate, and that can vary based on labor and whether the business sub-contracts. However, there are a few elements that are likely similar in pricing across the board.

Scope of the Work

Unfortunately, you cannot shrink your yard space. While it is an option to move the fence inward on the property, most people want a fence to go to their property line or as close to it as possible. For this reason, every company will require the same amount of materials, and most likely the job will take a similar amount of time to complete. If one company offers to do it quicker than others, keep in mind that they are probably charging more in labor or skirting a few crucial steps in the installation process.

Footing Material

Another contributing factor to the price of a fence installation is the footing material chosen. This material is the substrate used to secure the fence posts in place. You do have options other than 100 percent concrete. Straight up concrete can get expensive, but using a mixture of gravel, sand and cement can be just as effective and costs less.

Fence Material

One of the biggest contributing factors to your fence cost is the material chosen. Fences can be made of wood, aluminum, steel, vinyl and chain-link. All of these materials vary widely in price. For instance, an aluminum fence cost approximately $40 per foot while a wooden fence is about $3 to $9 per foot depending on species.

Fence installation is a significant expense. However, while you may not be able to control labor costs, you can make smart decisions regarding materials and fencing design that can have a positive effect on the installation budget. Talk to a professional about how to get the fence you want at a price you can afford; they may have suggestions you haven’t thought of yet.

Fence installation can be a massive undertaking, and while it may look easy enough, there is a substantial amount of labor and precision that goes into putting up a fence, especially if you want it to last for more then a few years. Longevity is the best reason to hire a certified installer. You do not want to be one of those people with a dilapidated new fence on your property, which is also why you should make sure that your installer has a few specific qualities before signing that dotted line.

Brick and Mortar

With the digital age, there has been a rise in the number of digital businesses, and while that is fantastic for startups looking to enter the marketplace, it can be a warning sign for you. Companies that have invested time and money into building an established business in an actual facility represent a reassurance for some consumers because it is not as easy for them to close-up shop and disappear in the middle of a job.

Sub-Contract or Permanent Employees

Many home improvement stores offer fence installation, but this work is contracted out to other businesses, and there is no telling whether these other companies are then contracting out the service to someone else. This chain of sub-contractors makes it challenging to apply culpability and responsibility for shoddy craftsmanship, which is why it is better to work with a company that employs laborers and doesn’t act like an intermediary between you and someone else.

Guarantees and Reputation

Before hiring anyone to do work on your property, you should look into any guarantees offered as well as the company’s reputation. Most businesses will be happy to provide referrals and a portfolio of their work. Don’t use someone unwilling or unable to share that information.

Fence installation is a big job, and it is one that is not suited for most DIYers, especially when it is specialty fencing that requires a trained eye. However, don’t just go to a big box home improvement store and get a subcontractor, find a quality professional with a brick and mortar business who does the work themselves.