What is a picture without a frame? In the same way a garden will appear incomplete without a fence. A garden fence not only adds to the overall beauty of the garden but also gives the entire landscape a more complete look. A fence can be erected around the front yard, backyard or around the entirety of the property. Adequate fencing adds to the security of your house and property as well.

The different styles of fence that you can choose from include post-and-rail fences, picket fences and shadow box fencing. You should also take into consideration the average cost of popular fence types which include wood, vinyl, wrought iron and chain link. A drive through the Pacific Northwest makes it clear that the cedar wood fence is the fence of choice for most of the residents.

The western red cedar is the most popular type of material used throughout the Northwest. This type of fencing offers natural insulation for the property by blocking the cold winds. It also acts as a sound blocker and is great for keeping down the noise from loud neighbors.

Cedar also acts as a natural insect repellent. The cedar oil acts as a deterrent to mosquitoes, termites and other bugs, which in turn protects itself as well as the surrounding property. As the wood contains natural thujaplicin, it makes it one of the most durable woods. This prevents the wood from rotting away due to decay causing fungi and damage. Therfore, this type of fence will have a long lifespan if it is properly cared for. It is also ideal for sawing and nailing, thus making it the perfect choice for fencing material. However, if you want to give your property an elegant look, wrought iron or aluminum fencing is your best bet.

After you have made up your mind of the style and type of fence you want to build around your garden you can go about designing it. Depending on your needs choose a proper height for the fence. However make sure that it adheres to the local regulations for residential fence heights. The state of Washington requires you to acquire a building permit if you decide to build a fence taller than six feet. It is always a good idea to research your local laws and regulations before breaking ground on a new fence.

Begin your assignment by determining the location of the posts. Make markings for each location with spray paint. Depending on the fence the depth of the holes will vary. To build a strong and stable fence do not keep the spaces between the holes more than six feet apart. Before you start digging the holes make sure that the depth is within the regulations and check with authorities so as to not damage underground pipes or wiring.

After the digging is done place the posts in the hole and pour the concrete. Use a shovel to mix it. You can use some soil at the top to hide the concrete giving it a neater look. Use a spirit level to level the post and once the post has been leveled leave it overnight.

On the next day choose a desired height for your posts and saw it to that height using a circular saw. The next step is to draw a line with chalk from two outside posts so as to keep the fence at the right level. Next make cuts on the post with a circular saw. The cuts should be made such that they resemble shutters. Use a chisel and a hammer to chip away the scored wooden pieces.

The next step is to attach the rails. Make sure that the rails are leveled to render them straight. For a double sided fence, attach the rails to both the front and the back. Once the rails have been attached add the fence boards. Make sure that the bottom board is at least two or three inches off the ground to avoid rotting through contact with the soil and moisture from it. Once the rail and boards have been placed and attached, add the cap. The cap needs to be nailed down to both the posts and the top rail.

It would be an advantage if you have some experience with carpentry or if you have a neighbor to help you out. However you also have the choice of calling your local landscape professional to help you do it.

Check out this short video on how to set a Fence Post.

The simple answer is NO!  Installing a gate on a hillside presents quite a few challenges and if it can be avoided try to install the gate in a flat area with as little slope as possible.  In fact, installing a gate in a flat area can be challenging enough for the inexperienced.  If you think about it, installing a gate on a hillside will present opening and closing problems.  Depending on how you install the gate, it will most likely be interfered with by the hillside.

If you absolutely must install a gate on a hillside consider the following.  Try and keep the gate as narrow as possible.  The wider the gate, the more likely you are to run into operational problems.  When installing the gate, think long and hard about how it will be swinging open and closing.  Is it opening in a fashion that it will run into some sort of interference?  If so you may have to make some modifications ranging from digging out the slope or creating a gap under the gate where it is interfered with. Also consider have the gate open on the downward side of the hill.  In some cases this may not work but it is another option.

In conclusion, it is best to try and avoid installing a gate on a hillside but if unavoidable, test every option and consider interferences before finalizing the installation.

Staining a wood fence is an important step to making the most of your new fence and keeping it standing for as long as possible.  What’s more, a nice stain can really make a fence stand out.

There are plenty of ways to stain a fence including a paint brush, roller or paint sprayer.  For larger projects, it may be worth the money to invest in a quality sprayer as it will make the job go much faster.  For smaller projects, a simple roller and paint brush for those hard to reach areas should work just fine.

Choosing a stain is the biggest decision you will have to make when staining your fence.  There are so many variations of stain offered and big box retailers offer generic brand stains at an affordable price.  Remember though, as is the case with so many things in life, you get what you pay for.  So be sure to do PLENTY of research before settling on a stain.  Going with a cheaper brand of stain without doing your research can mean re-staining the fence in just several years. Another thing to consider is the color of the stain and how it will look on your fence.  If possible, try and get a sample of the stain prior to applying it to the whole fence.

Finally, it is time to stain the fence.  It is often a good idea to wait several weeks if the wood is new for the treatments to settle in a and if you live in a wet climate like the Pacific Northwest, allow time for the wood to dry in warmer weather.  Make sure to apply plenty of stain to the fence and paint away!

Choosing the correct fence for your property can be a difficult task. There are so many different types of fences available and you may be installing a fence for many different reasons. When choosing a fence for your property you need to ask yourself why you want a fence installed and what purpose it will be serving. This can range from increasing security to keeping pets, livestock or children enclosed in your yard.

Fence Enclosures:

Fence enclosures are typically designed to keep something in. Whether it be a pet, children or livestock these fences all serve the same purpose: keep whatever is inside them from getting out. Depending on your needs these fences can vary drastically. For example, livestock can be kept in with a simple barbed wire fence or post and rail fence. Children and pets, on the other hand, may require a more robust fence installation such as a full 6 foot cedar fence or chain link fence.

Decorative Fence:

Another fence type is decorative fence. Fences that fall into this category include picket fences, some vinyl fences, iron fence and more. These fences can also serve as a dual function providing security and enclosures as well. When choosing a decorative fence it is important to also ask yourself if the fence needs to provide security as well. Decorative fences can also bring up the visual appeal on the property and really make your home stand out.

Security Fences:

Security Fence can range in make and style but all serve the same purpose: to keep whatever is inside the fence safe and secure. Whether it be to deter from break-ins or altogether keep people out, these fences vary drastically. If you are looking for a residential friendly security fence your best bet is to go with something both aesthetically pleasing as well as functional. A starting point would be a wooden cedar fence and other options include stone, vinyl and chain link. If you are a commercial outfit it may make sense to install a high security fence with some sort of barbed or razor wire at the top to prevent intruders from climbing the fence.

Privacy Fences:

Privacy fences serve purpose of creating a visual barrier that both keeps others from looking in as well as blocking noise. These types of fences vary as well from wooden fences to vinyl slatted chain link fences. If noise is an issue it may make sense to install a tall stone fence to truly block out the sound. The main thing the privacy fences is to really assess your need an make a decision based on what best suits you.

Conclusion:

As you can see there are MANY different types of fences that serve a variety of purposes. To ensure you get the correct fence that fits all your needs contact Pacific Fence & Wire today for a free estimate. We will walk you through all your options and thoroughly explain the differences in the types of fences we offer. Our number is (503)233-6248 and we would love to hear from you!

These days more and more people are turning into “do it yourselfers”.  If you are one of those people, you have come to the right place.  At Fence Specialists of Tacoma we sell fence materials at wholesale prices and provide professional advice at no additional charge.  Weather you are looking to build a custom cedar fence and install a gate, we can help you out with both materials and advice.

Why go to a large home improvement store when you can get wholesale pricing with professional advice?  Contact us today for more information at (253)531-5452

If you are a dog owner you more than likely have seen you furry free-loader digging in the yard or at the base of a fence.  Dogs dig because, well, they are dogs.  They get bored, want to escape or just like to dig.  Stopping a dog from digging can be challenging and a dog that digs not only creates unsightly holes, but can create costly damage to fence, plants, lawns, etc.

There are quite a few options to choose from to keep a dog from digging under a fence.  The right solution may vary for each situation and you may want to test out a few different ones to see which works best.

Place Rocks around the Edge of the Fence

You can place rocks around the areas of the fence where the dog likes to dig.  This will make it harder for the dog to dig and once they try digging the rock they will see they are getting nowhere and stop.

Fill in the holes with rocks or dirt

Depending on your dog you can try filling in the holes with rocks or dirt.  Dirt may just encourage them to keep digging and provide constant work for you… it just depends on the dog.  You can also fill in the holes with gravel which makes it harder for the dog to dig.

Bury Wire or Fence in the Ground

Burying wire in the ground requires a bit of work but is a sure way to stop your dog from getting through a fence.  The only trouble is, it does not stop the dog from digging.  This works if you have a dog that is an escape artist and you want to stop them from getting out. Another, similar concept is to buy metal stakes that are about a foot and a half long and pound them into the ground at the base of the fence.  Consider the size of your dog and space the stakes appropriately.  This is a similar approach to burying wire but requires less digging and overall work.

Install an Electric Wire

A great solution to stop your dog from digging at the base of a fence is to install an electric wire around the perimeter.  Make sure it is low enough to the ground so that if the dog tries to dig near the fence they will get a solid shock.  No dog likes a shocking and this will stop the digging at the edge of the fence altogether.

Train Your Dog

If you have the time and knowledge, train your dog.  This is your best bet because it fixes the source of the problem and will stop your dog from digging even if you move.

Have other ideas of how to stop a dog from digging under a fence?  Please share in the comments as we would love to hear them!

Spring is officially here but for those of us in the Northwest you wouldn’t know that unless you looked at a calendar.  We are experiencing what is forecast to be an exceptionally wet spring this year which surely will lead to a busy fencing season for us when the rain subsides. This extended winter brings an increased level of moisture wreaking havoc on our already drenched properties.

When the clouds part and the rain lets is a great time to assess any damage on your property and make sure you book a time to have a professional come up and fix any damage before it gets worse. Fences are especially prone to water damage and can weaken significantly after a long and wet winter. Further, fences can act like dominoes.  When one section goes it weakens the other sections and they will tend to go soon as well.

To inspect your fence for damage walk the fence line make sure all the fence ties are in tact and securely fastened.  Give each section of your fence a gentle shake to see if it shows any signs of weakness.   Take note of areas with an abnormally high amount off moss or algae as this is a sure sign of excessive exposure to moisture and could lead to problems in the future.

Don’t forget to take a close look at your fence posts as well.  This is the main structural area of your fence and should not be overlooked.  Inspect the base of your fence posts and make sure they do not show any signs of rot or decay.  Additionally, make sure the ground around the post isn’t overly saturated as the can weaken the fence.

After you inspect your fence you will need to decide what is worth fixing and what needs to be replaced.  Simple board repairs are usually easy and can be swapped out in a few minutes.  You can also go through your line of fence and repair any nails or screws that are coming loose.  Rotting fence posts may need to be replaced which can take more time and effort.

Depending on the amount of damage your fence has experienced over the long winter you may need to bring in a professional for more extensive repairs.  Give Fence Specialists a call today and we can help you get your fence back to where it needs to be.  (253)531-5452

When it comes to replace your old wooden fence most homeowners have it hauled away, taken to the dump or burn it.  Before you go throwing away all of that old fencing material consider these options to recycle intact material and use it around the house.

Here is a short list of ideas on what you can make out of your old wooden fence:

• Vintage looking planter boxes
• Birdhouses, bird feeders or  squirrel feeders
• Garden trellises
• Garbage container corrals
• Old picture Frames
• Simple retaining walls (only very small walls – consult a professional if unsure)
• Garden Stakes
• Vintage looking picture frames
• Rustic looking bench
• Mail Box

As you can see there are plenty of simple uses for an old fence and if you are creative you can come up with your own uses that are not on this list.

Sometimes a portion of a fence is in poor shape but the rest of it is still in great condition. Rather than replacing the entire fence, you may still be able to get a few more years out of your current fence if you just repair the damaged section. Here are some tips to help you through this process.

1. Determine the Damaged Area: Assess the damaged are and decide if it is worth repairing or if you need a new fence altogether.  This is usually a personal decision and is based on how much repair you really want to tackle.  If the damaged area spans more than two consecutive panels (roughly 20ft) it may be time for a new fence.  The larger the repair area, the more difficult the repair job.
2. Get Replacement Material and Necessary Tools: Before you go tearing down the old section of fence it makes sense to get the proper tools and replacement material ahead of time.  In some instances you may just need a few support brackets to reconnect your fence, in others you may need to replace as much as the post.
3. Tear Down the Damaged Section: Time to remove the damaged area of fencing.  You may be able to re-use material here so be careful in what you tear down.  Obviously, try and salvage as much of the old fence as possible.
4. Repair the Fence: Install your replacement material.  Make sure everything is square and level and give the fence a good shake to make sure it is stable enough to handle winds and random impacts from the environment.

Reparing a fence is not an easy task and if at any point you are in doubt, contact a professional fence installation company for assistance.