Keep your Options Open with these Fences

By Sue Donahue, Walpole Woodworkers; Michel Mongeau, Omega II Fence Systems; Donna Carucci-Krumm, Wayside Fence; Jon Ball, Ball Fabrics

Double Wire Fence System?EUR??,,????'??????????????: Realizing security issues, facilities understand the need to be fenced in, but most do not want to feel imprisoned. By combining features such as non-obstructive see-through panels and sturdiness, this systems opens the doors for projects requiring even higher visibility.

The location, function, and surrounding architecture can play a role in the style of fence or outdoor structure you choose for a particular location. Your tolerance for upkeep and maintenance can determine the material that best meets your needs. Ground conditions may effect how your fence or structure is installed.

Inside Scoop on Outdoor Fences

Walpole Woodworkers offers more than 40 fence styles, from rustic post-and-rail to privacy board fence, picket fence and custom designs. You can specify arbors, pergolas and fences for every location from private homes, golf courses and theme parks, to forecourts of apartment complexes.

Newer materials help you control basic maintenance and upkeep costs. You may want your fence made from low-to-no maintenance wood-alterative cellular polyvinyl. This easy-to-maintain vinyl looks and feels just like wood, yet is durable, long lasting, and won't rot, split or warp. Modern cellular vinyl can be crafted just like natural wood. Craftsmen shape, router and miter it using time-honored methods and sophisticated tools.

A sample of fencing options: Fencing can be installed using several different methods. The following demonstrates common terminology for three of the primary types of fencing grading.

Today's Ornamental

As time evolved, so did the fencing demands of customers. Omega II has emerged between the chain link and the heavy ornamental demands and now offers contemporary and modern fence lines to the market.

Stylish and classy systems open the doors for projects requiring even higher security and reduce the many possibilities of vandalism associated with legacy chain link fence designs. Panels can be used as a fence art creating a green screen wall with plants to enhance the environment.

Many windscreens and privacy screens will accept a logo, such as this one created ball Ball Fabrics. These range from one color white logos to full color digital images. School mascots, corporate logos, architect drawings or even photographs can be applied to most materials. Some windscreens can even have patterns like bushes, bamboo or bricks digitally printed directly on to the fabric. The results are impressive and the creative possibilities are endless. A Google search for ????????+Windscreens????? provided an array of results.

Fence Uses

Pet containment fencing must do just that?EUR??,,????'?????<

This will affect what products you would suggest. Privacy fencing is great for keeping what is yours safe, as well as keeping out ugly neighbors. Privacy fencing styles offer solid panels. Semi-privacy panels offer solid bottoms with either picket or lattice toppers.

Terrain

If the property is hilly, fence installation will have to be installed straight, racked or stepped. Racked means that the fence section gives so that the fence bottom follows the terrain. Stepped means that the fence bottom looks like stairs. Straight means that the fence is installed straight, leaving a gap under the fence which gets larger as you go downhill. Many times the homeowner has a preference of how they want the final product to look.

If your wood fence or outdoor structure will be installed in areas where termite infestation or damp, wet soil might shorten fence life, you can use LifeGuard?EUR??,,????'?????????????? (inset) fence post bases. A natural choice over plastic or pressure-treated fence, these post bases prevent wicking or capillary action which can keep section tenons wet, causing premature aging.

Maintenance considerations

There are many fencing material options available. Many homeowners today are opting for low maintenance products, which fit easily into their busy lives. PVC Vinyl fencing has experienced tremendous growth since its inception in the early 90s. Now more styles and colors are available than ever. Companies are even offering PVC Vinyl fencing that looks like it has a wood grain to it.

Windscreens and privacy screens are often used around athletic courts and fields for their visual attractiveness and ability to block wind. They are also an excellent way to provide privacy around construction sites, utility areas, storage and marshalling yards and commercial facilities. Most windscreens can also have a logo or graphics applied for advertising or decoration.

Knitted Windscreens

Knitted windscreens and privacy screens are usually constructed with either polyethylene or polypropylene. The advantage to a knitted product over a woven product is that when a knitted material is torn, it will not continue to tear or unravel.

Pool enclosure fencing must meet local town codes. Professionals need to be aware of the pool codes in the areas where they quote jobs. Factors that are important are picket spacing, height of fence, location of horizontal rails, and self closing/latching gate hardware. New on the block is composite fencing which is fencing made from composite products such as Trex.

Woven Windscreens

Woven products are usually less expensive and will provide privacy with less material. Even though knitted materials are typically stronger, a good quality woven material will remain stable and can have similar strength characteristics to a knitted product. Higher end woven products are used for decorative applications because of their uniformity of construction.

Vinyl Coated Meshes

Sometimes woven materials are coated in vinyl to give them more strength and durability. In the windscreen market these materials are often referred to as vinyl coated meshes. The vinyl coating not only provides more strength and stability, but can also add more privacy.

Windscreen Installation

Windscreen is fairly easy to install. It usually requires two people. One person works at attaching the top of the material, while another person attaches the bottom. Once the top corner has been attached and squared the person at the top will work about 10 feet in front of the person attaching the bottom.

Usually the material will be hung temporarily with S-hooks so that it is easy for the person working at the top of the windscreen to keep a straight edge. The person at the bottom pulls the material tight without stretching it and fastens it near the bottom of the fence.