Category: Fencing

Many people are always stuck on whether to use steel or aluminum in their fencing. Both of them offer high utility and are durable. What then should you consider when making a choice of one over the other? Your fencing needs will determine which of the two metal to choose. But let this article highlight on the pros and cons of each so you have something in your grasp when your fencing company comes with residential fence designs.

Aluminum
Durability

As mentioned in the starting paragraph, aluminum is durable and will take ages before it looks ugly on your fence. It is resilient to weather and will stand strong with minimum maintenance, it should look as good as new for a very protracted period.

Cost:
Despite being durable it is not as costly as steel. If you want to reduce cost but still have durable and beautiful fence it is an option you can go for. It also has a very low environmental cost because it is 100% recyclable. You should not therefore fear replacing your fence when it looks ready to give way to another fence.

Security:
Aluminum fence materials are effective in holding in children and pets. However, if you are looking forward to raise your security levels, your fencing company will advise you against aluminum because it can easily be bent and thus can be brittle. Most fencing companies will advise you to use it when you have a goal of securing your yard or garden for the sake of your children and pets when you have high aesthetic goals.

Steel:
Security and durability
Steel is tough and is the best choice to be used to meet high security needs. Your fencing company will advise you to use galvanized steel if your goal is to have a fence that can last your lifetime and longer while still providing maximum security.

Cost:
Compared to aluminum, steel is more expensive. But the cost can be argued away because it is tougher and resistant to damage. You can therefore you can be sure it will last longer when faced by forces that could bend and break aluminum.

Con of steel:
Steel is heavy and may be difficult to install and that way may it may be time consuming and more costly compared to its aluminum counterpart.
Which one is best for you?

The question n of the best one will always depend on your needs, budget, and circumstances. If you need a security fence, galvanized steel may be the choice to go for. But still is not the best choice to go for when looking for a fence for your residential home. Steel is recommended for industrial fencing while aluminum is recommended for residence

Chain link fences are one of the fence types that people explore installing around their property. If you are interested in getting one, this article will shed more insight into what you must know before you get one.

The components

a) Chain link fabric

This is the fabric that is created by interweaving a series of wires. These wires are interwoven in such a way that they create a diamond pattern. Chain link fence Boston come in different sizes and gauges. The most popular size is the 2 pattern. 2 refers to the distance of the space between the wires.

b) Understanding the gauge

The gauge of the wire refers to the thickness of the wire. Gauges are graduated into different categories with the higher the gauge, the smaller the wire diameter. Below are the most common gauges in the market today:

i) 6 gauge

ii) 9 gauge

iii) 11 gauge

iv) 11 and a half gauge

9 gauge is mostly found in residences and commercial properties. 11 gauge and above are used to erect temporary fences. 6 gauge is utilized for security purposes.

c) Coatings for chain link materials

It is important that when you are looking for good fences to consider the coating. Make sure you get the top fence contractors Houston, Texas.This will impact the chain link fences durability as they will be vigorously attacked by the elements.

There are three type of coating for chain link fences: galvanized, spectra and perfused. Galvanized fences are coated in zinc. They are mostly found in residential areas. Spectra coated materials are coated with PVC and more expensive than zinc. Perfuse is where the fence is coated with a polyolefin and is very expensive. This is found in commercial properties where security and longevity of the fences is paramount.

d) Selvage

This refers to how the top and bottom strands are finished. There are two common types of selvage namely knuckle and barbed. Knuckle is safer than barbed wire which has sharp ends.

e) To do or not to do concrete footings

Sometime back, one would as supposed to add concrete footing to the posts before you worked on them. Nowadays, when you want to put up a chain link fence, you have the whole step and no concrete footings are required. Today, all you have to is drive the posts deep into the ground, four feet approximately with post driver. When you use a post driver, the integrity of the ground is assured since there is no digging involved. Plus, this new technology makes chain link installation quick.

Overall, finding the perfect fence needs the owner to put in some concerted effort in order to get right on the first try.