Owning a home can require continuous maintenance and upkeep and can be a scary thing for the inexperienced.  The good news is that if you are willing to take on a challenge and aren’t afraid to do some basic work yourself, you can save a lot of money on repairs.  You will also reap the benefits of that rewarding feeling of having accomplished something yourself and will gain an overall knowledge of how things in your home work.

Nearly EVERY homeowner has the resources to educate themselves on how to properly maintain their home they just don’t know it.  You don’t have to go buy a book, take a class or go to the library. In face, if you are reading this blog you are just a few clicks away from the greatest library of home maintenance available.  That’s right, it is the internet.

A simple Google search (or use your favorite search engine) will yield a tremendous amount of do it yourself guides, how-to’s and videos to help you on whatever projects you are about to tackle.

Before you run off to Google check out these helpful resources below:

Danny Lipford provides a great list of the homeowners top 50 challenging do it yourself projects. Check them out here: http://www.dannylipford.com/category/top-50/

Youtube is a great resources for how to videos and there are some excellent channels that are just full of informational guides. Check out this one from the Home Improvement Channel on how to install a wooden fence:

Here is the ehow Home Improvement Channel on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/ehowhome

The Do it yourself website is also a great resource: http://www.doityourself.com/

Remember, if you don’t know how to do something around the house you can almost always find a nice guide online.

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!

Spring is upon us and that means weeds are starting to pop up everywhere from the sidewalk cracks to the garde.  You may have been working out in your yard or garden last week come back no more than a week later to find a city of weeds have shown up.  So what is the best way to get rid of these annoying weeds?

There are a couple of options ranging from spraying weed killer to pulling the weeds roots and all.  If you go with a spray, be sure to research what is in it and make sure it is both pet friendly and won’t kill off vegetation in your yard that you want to keep.  If you choose to pull the weeds, try to get the root so it won’t grow back later.  Below are a couple of videos with tips on handling those pesky weeds that should help you with the process.

 

 

 

If you are considering a new fence or enclosure this year, now is the time to schedule an appointment with Fence Specialists.

Every year, around spring time, people start getting out of their houses and fixing up their yards in anticipation of summer.  This leads to a surge in inquiries for new fences and leaves fence companies swamped resulting in delays in estimates and installations.  Don’t put yourself in this situation.  If you are looking to get a new fence Now is the time to schedule an estimate! Fence Specialists offers free, no obligation estimates so there is no excuse!  What’s more, if you get the ball rolling on a new fence, the job will more than likely be completed just in time for you to enjoy during the summer months!

Call us today at (253)531-5452 or contact us online.

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!

With Spring upon us and hopes of rain subsiding, many of us Northwesterners are getting ready to head outside and enjoy what we hope to be the sun.  This means it is time to give your home it’s annual spring cleaning – both inside and out.  When your property is looking nice and clean you can really appreciate your outdoor living space.  Here are some tips and resources to help kick start your outdoor spring cleaning projects.

• Remember to clean decks and other horizontal walking surfaces.  Mold and moss can create slippery areas that are hazardous
• Start high and finish low.  Clean your roof and gutters, then house siding and windows,  and then the ground level.  This prevents any repeat cleaning.
• Scrub down furniture and tables
• Prune back shrubs and trees that may have gotten out of control during the long winter.
• Clean up down branches and debris
• Rent a pressure washer and clean up an walkways or driveways

Cleaning Solutions:

• Simple Green is an excellent cleaning solution and is environmentally friendly.  You can buy it in bulk at Home Depot or Lowe’s
• 30 Seconds Outdoor Cleaner is a stronger alternative to Simple Green but contains bleach so be careful where you use it.
• Nothing beats a scrub brush and a little soap and water.  Home Depot carries a variety of brushes to help you on your project.

Here are a few other websites with helpful hints on exterior cleaning:

• Home and Garden Spring Cleaning
• 10 Tips from TLC for Outdoor Cleaning
• Country Living cleaning Guide

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.