All About Wood Fence
There are
many practical purposes for a fence: to gain privacy, safely corral kids and
pets, block wind and noise, and prevent unsupervised dips in a swimming
pool. But the right type of fence also makes a strong aesthetic
statement to your homes curb appearance to neighbors or even home
buyers.
Going back 400 years, the
popular residential fencing materials in this country has always been
wood. In 2007 alone, people put up an estimated 59,000 miles of wood
fence, enough to
circle the world twice, and then some. Why wood? It's inexpensive and
lightweight, to be sure, but so is chain link which offers no privacy
unless you add privacy slats and the cost raises to the same price as
Wood Fence just shorter in height. The main reason is that a
wood fence can easily be shaped to give properties character and
individuality. You can choose from dozens of styles, including linear
post-and-rail and crisscrossing lattice, as well as myriad picket
patterns and post-cap designs. And you can stain the wood to make it pop
out or recede from the landscape as either a vibrant or subtle frame for
what's behind it.
How Much Do They Cost? Fence
panels run about $45 to $75 per 6 linear feet uninstalled,
depending on style and wood species.
DIY or Hire a Pro?
Are you an accomplished DIYer with a strong back, a yen to dig,
and plenty of time? Go for it! But hiring a pro gets the job
done quicker.
How Long Do They Last?
About 20 - 30 years, if made of rot-resistant wood. Then posts are
usually the first to go panels survive longer because they
typically don't touch the ground, although prebuilt panels from
Lowes or Home Depot etc seem to only last about 5 to 7 years
before they start to crack in the rails and collapse.
How Much
Maintenance? Posts should be plumbed and tamped every
three years or so. If the wood has a coating, the schedule
varies; clear toners and waterproofers need annual refreshing,
semitransparent stains last two to three years, and solid-color
stains go four to six. Paint is not recommended ever as it peels
quickly.
Fence Masters Unlimited can typically install a fence in two
days for the average size fencing whereas a DIY project seems to
take people a week and sometimes weeks to complete the back
breaking experience that most homeowners are not accomstommed to
doing day to day in the fencing industry.
Cotact us today at 803-235-6846 to schedule a free estimate or
email us from our
contact
page.
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