February 2019

Snow Covered White And Blue Picket Fence With Falling Snow Flake

February 10 2019

How Can Winter Weather Affect Your Fence Northbrook

Living in the Chicagoland Area, harsh winter conditions are a fact of life. The same things you don’t like about winter, especially snow and cold, can also affect your fence. The winter preparation and care needed to preserve your fence for years to come will depend on the type of fence you own and the winter conditions that will affect your yard.

Wood fences require some maintenance prior to winter weather to make them last and look their best. A vinyl or aluminum fence will be fine without any preparation, which is one of the top benefits of those fence materials. No matter the type of fence you own, you should do some minor yard maintenance before and during winter, since things like snow and leaves can damage your fence.

If You Are Preparing Your Wood Fence

Winter creates a lot of moisture issues, which can be bad for your wood fence. Mold, mildew, and even rot can be the result of a harsh winter or can be created over time if your fence is not prepared for winter weather year after year. Choosing the right type of wood can help prevent moisture issues, but wood fences still need some annual care. Falling limbs and debris from nearby trees can also damage your fence over the winter.

What you can do to maintain your wood fence:

Make sure your fence is in good condition before snow falls.
Check for softwood, indicating rot, or tunnels with sawdust that are a sure sign of invasive wood-destroying insects.
Use wood putty to patch small holes or cracks, and replace any boards that are damaged beyond repair.
Gently clean snow and ice buildup off your fence with a broom

Prevent Warping by Using The Right Kind of Wood

Temperatures don’t just take a steady plunge during the winter time. They rise and fall just as they do in any other season.

The extreme cold and the sudden rise in temperature can cause the wood to expand and contract at a rapid rate. This can create knotholes in your fence.

Knotholes aren’t just unattractive, they’re also places where pests like to hide. Furthermore, knotholes exacerbate pests.

Fortunately, White Cedar fences don’t create knotholes easily, especially if you’ve treated them with stain. There’s not much you can do about this except choosing the right wood to build your fence with in the first place.

Prevent Shifting Soil

The soil beneath your fence can shift when the frost thaws causing your posts to shift. Your fence posts can also loosen when the soil shifts. As a result of this shifting soil, the entire structure of your fence can be compromised.

When we install fences, we put our posts 3 feet underground to ensure we get past the potential frost line. By doing this deep, you eliminate any worries of your posts shifting or getting loose during the spring thaw.

You can run a string along the top of the fence to make sure it’s still level. If it’s not you’ll have to get your fence posts repaired. We do repairs in early spring, but only when the weather is warmer than 25 degrees as it’s nearly impossible to work with cement when temperatures are extremely cold.

Keeping the cement footings of your fence free of debris, dust, and dirt can go a long way as well. It can keep additional moisture from getting trapped next to the concrete, eroding it.

If You Are Preparing Your Vinyl Fence

One major benefit of vinyl is that it doesn’t need to be sealed or painted, but this doesn’t mean there’s no winter work to be done in your fence area. The big risk to your vinyl fence in winter is damage from ice and snow. While some festive decorations are fine, the weight of snow can cause sagging, warping, and even cracking in your vinyl fence.

What you can do maintain your vinyl fence:

Keep snow away from your vinyl fence.
Shovel snow towards the middle of your yard so it doesn’t drift and pile up along your fence panels.
Gently brush off large amounts of snow off your fence and any decorations, being careful not to hit or scratch the fence itself.
Use a broom instead of a snow shovel if possible to clean snow off your fence

Generally, as long as you keep ice and snow from piling up, your vinyl fence should little maintenance.

If You Are Preparing Your Aluminum Fence

Like vinyl fences, aluminum fences don’t have problems with rot or insect damage and are also fairly low maintenance. That doesn’t mean that aluminum fences don’t suffer under winter weather conditions. While some aluminum fences can be damaged by the weight of snow, shifting soil or gravel is a winter concern that can displace your fence and make it less stable and secure. The constant thawing and refreezing of winter precipitation causes the soil to expand and contract, which may compromise your fence posts.

What you can do to maintain your aluminum fence:

Remove autumn leaves, snow, or ice dams to keep them in tip-top shape for the life of your fence.
Make sure you use a reputable fence installer who will create proper cement footings for your fence post.
Do not install footings when it’s very far below freezing since the cement will not set properly.
Check the area around the footings throughout the winter.
Keep trees and shrubs trimmed so your aluminum fence isn’t damaged or compromised by falling debris, such as tree limbs.

Maintaining a wood fence takes a bit more effort than a maintenance-free vinyl or aluminum fence that just takes some forethought when working on your driveway, sidewalk and yard over the winter months.

Taking these measures for preparation and maintenance will ensure that your fence will last for seasons and years to come and that you’ll get lots of enjoyment out of it. If you find yourself in need of a new fence, you’ll want to get this project out of the way before the weather turns. If you had a wood fence that you were unable to properly maintain, you may want to consider vinyl or aluminum next time, which requires less upkeep and may fit into your busy life better. Like it or not, we are in store for colder weather, but if your fence is in pristine condition, it will make a beautiful backdrop for snow and fallen leaves!

Concrete Pavement On The Outside Of The House Next To The Iron F

February 1 2019

When to Install a Fence Northbrook

admin Northbrook

What is the Best Time of Year to Install a New Fence?

Looking out your kitchen window would be a different experience if you had a new fence to look at. You’ve been thinking about beautifying your backyard by adding or updating your current fence to a new one, but when are the conditions just right? You can’t imagine installing a fence in the cold weather, but believe it or not, fall and winter are the best times of year to install a new fence. Here’s why.

Avoid Springing into Action

Everyone does this in the spring and summer seasons; followed by spring cleaning with all the necessary housework and upgrades almost every homeowner talks about all winter long. For most projects, summer and spring are the peak seasons; then fall and winter are the perfect times to get the service done while having all the attention from us here at Durabilt! Research during the warmer months on what fence would best suit you and your needs, then prepare for the installation during the fall and winter.

Contractors are Prepared

Our team at Durabilt Fence are prepared to handle any condition, including chilly winter weather of Chicagoland. Experts like us have the tools and expertise to install your fence during the fall and winter so you can focus more on what’s important during those months. This also allows you to be certain that the cooler weather doesn’t affect the quality of the fencing.

Give your Fence Time to Season

Wood pickets are less likely to experience warping in the cooler months. The heat and strength of UV rays in the summer can dry the wood out too quickly, causing warping and splitting. Fall and winter give the wood time to “season,” allowing a slower, more even dry.

You May Save Some Money

Since all seasons outside of winter are busy for installers, they may have surplus materials, meaning you can potentially save on fencing materials by having a fence installed in the winter. Certain types of fences may even cost less, but the best thing is just to call us at Durabilt Fence to get a free estimate. Be sure to ask of we are having any offers or upgrades for fall and winter installations!

Shorten your Time Frame

By scheduling the work during the winter when crews are less busy, you won’t have to wait to get your project started. Plus, we are more likely to commit a larger crew to your project to get the work done faster. If you wait until spring to contact us, you likely will be on a waiting list and may not see your new fence until closer to summer, and the actual construction could take longer as crews are split between many ongoing projects.

Another time-saver comes if there are any bureaucratic hoops we need to take care of to make sure your project meets all city codes. This can get accomplished more quickly when building permit staff are less busy.

If you have other work you are considering for the winter, such as a basement repair/finishing or a pool installation, we can work with your other contractor to coordinate the projects and minimize disruption to your life. We can potentially help make that work go smoother if we need to take out an old fence to allow them to get equipment in, then we could install a temporary fence during the work. Once the work is completed or heavy equipment is no longer needed, we can get your new fence in.

Landscape Friendly

Having crews work during the fall and winter causes less damage to your plants in your landscaping. If you have bushes or roses that are near where the fence will be installed, they can be trimmed back or even relocated during their dormancy without causing long-term damage.

Your grass will have gone dormant and won’t be affected as dramatically by our equipment and workers. Also some of your perennials will be safely protected under the soil as our crews work above them.

If you do need to replace some plants or re-landscape areas where the fence was installed, getting the fence project done during the winter will give you a head start in getting new plants in the ground come spring. By getting them in early, you\’ll ensure they are well established before the summer heat causes stress that can harm immature plants.

If you work with a professional landscaper or designer for your lawn, they will gain the benefit of planning their design around the actual fence and not just making their plans on a computer with a notion of how the fence will look after installation. They will be able to take photos of the completed fence, then show you precisely how their proposals will complement your new fence.

If you are thinking about upgrading your fence or buying a new fence, contact Durabilt Fence today!

We will help you find the fence type to match your needs and the style of your home so it blends seamlessly. Contact us today!

February 1 2019

Styles of Fences for Pet Families Northbrook

admin Northbrook

Fence Styles Best for Pet Families

Your pet is very important to your family, so it\’s just as important to keep them safe.

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Contact us at: 847-499-1094

Pets and Fences

According to a survey conducted by the APPA (American Pet Product Association), an estimated 68% of all households in the U.S own a pet, equalling to about 85 million families. Some families are in rural areas that allow animals to roam about the larger properties, but many live on smaller suburban properties.

Fence Panels

Paneling within the fence itself is important based on the pet that you are trying to keep in the yard. Having a fence for a home or veterinary clinic is very important in keeping animals safe. A standard fence may not be the best for small animals such as puppies, due to the spacing between the panels or the overall height of the posts allowing them to get out easier.

There are puppy specific fences that are created for keeping your puppy inside your yard without having to sacrifice the look aesthetically. There are also dog fence panels, just the space between the posts are not as small, to allow your dog to look through the fence but also tall enough not to jump over the fence.

Fence Styles

Fences for pets don\’t have any standard or style that confines you and your aesthetic. Aside from the common aluminum bar fencing, vinyl fences have the appearance of wood but much less maintenance.

With any dog, they go through a chewing phase where everything in site must be chewed on, this goes for fences as well. The fence should be durable enough that even the most stubborn chewer cannot get through.

The materials for the fence can play a role when making a decision. Aluminum fences never rust, thus having never to worry about tetanus. But for bigger breeds, aluminum may not stand up to their size as it is light-weight and can bend under pressure easily.

Some instances may require more than just a fence if your animal is persistent towards escaping. A training collar may be needed to help diminish instinctual habits to protect your pet from getting injured.

Gates

With any fence, there will need to be a gate to come through. Most standard fences have gates with lockable gravity latches, but some dogs that are smart can figure out how to open these.

Magnetic latches tend to not fully lock if the magnet didn\’t make contact or is blocked. This can pose a problem for bigger dog breeds that can easily force their way through the gate. A general rule of thumb to remember when changing or picking latches is if a 5-year-old can open it, then it isn\’t secure enough for your dog.