Monday 19 May 2008

What You Need to Know About Chain Link Fences

Chain link fences come in many more styles than you probably give them credit. Once you start having a look at the range available you will truly be amazed. Most types of chain link fence are made from galvanized steel which are then powdered in zinc. Zinc can really help protect the fence and also gives a great appearance. Whilst the steel is a very effective barrier.

We have all seen chain link fences somewhere whether it be in a garden or surrounding a football pitch, but there are also different gauges that can be bought. The gauge is the thickness. The lightest of gauges are about 13 and you also have heavier gauges of 6. Most people will only need a light gauge but you might find that you need something stronger for your purposes, for example for using on a dog kennel.

In terms of galvanising the steel, this can happen either before of after the chain has been created. You might notice that some chain links are described as being GBW whilst other are described as being GAW. GBW means that the steel has been galvanised before it has been weaved whist GAW means that it has been galvanised afterwards. The cheapest option in GAW but for the best quality you should choose GBW.

Chain link fences can be seen as very utilitarian and functional however there are some that give amore contemporary look and can be found in a great selection of colors. The way in which these colors are achieved is thgouh using a polyvinyl chloride coating. The colors you can choose from include black, white, yellow, green, brown, blue and red. This is a great option for those who don't like to paint fences. Also the coating adds a further protection to the elements.

If at a later stage you feel that your fence needs to be re-painted then this can be done with a spray paint. You might do this because you want to change the color or because the fence has suffered from a bit of wear and tear.

Ornamental Garden Fencing You Might Like

A fence might simply be for pratical purposes to many people but for others it's a decorative object that should be designed with thought and care. It's tru to say that fences hav a great many practial uses such as keep out intruders and allowing your privacy if you wish to sit out in a nice sunny day. When you start to research ornamental fence designs you will soon realize that there are a plethora of options available to you. You might find it hard to decide what to choose.

Metals are often a popular choise because they can give a great sense of grandure and also allow you to cut, twist and bend them to whater design you have in mind. There are some metal fences you can buy that are already designed and just need to be made to size. However there are also specialst metal designers who can make fences and gates to whatever design you have created. However you can expect to pay for this privelage so it might not be the cheapest option avialble to you.

Aluminum is very popular for fences because they are lightweight and can made into a variety of designs. They also offere other practical benefits such as being able to resist oxidations. However you might prefer wrought iron because it has a more substantial appearance and is a lot more traditional. The good thing is that wought iron has improved a lot and rust is less of a problem compared to what it used to be.

Metal fencing isn't your only options, there is also wood too which is probably the most popular choice. If you don't like the maintenance of wood then there is also vinyl which is a more moden alternative.

Vinyl is often choosen over wood because it offers the ability to resist rot and insects. To keep it looking new all you have to do is give it a wash with some soapy water. There is no need for painting, staining or oiling. There is no surprise as to why vinyl is such an attractive choice in more ways than one. If you want a decorative fence made from vinyl then this is totally possible too as vinyl can be extruded into different shapes and come in a great selection of colors.

Despite the practical benefits of vinyl you might still be a traditionalist at heart and want wood despite the amount of caring required. Wood is a fantasic material for anyone looking for an ornamental fence because of the fact it's so easy to cut and shape. Scalloped edges and waves are two design options available to you.

In addition to looking at the design for the actual fence panels, don't forget about the design of the fence posts. These are equally important in terms of creating the appearance you are looking for. Fence posts come in different materials, can have lighting integrated into them and there are also metal caps that can be plced on top.

However the problem many people face when trying to design their prefect ornamental fence is using too many design ideas. This can become overpowering and might detract from the rest of your garden. Remember, you will also have a variety of plants and flowers in your garden so having a fence that is too fancy in design can be a bit muc on the eye. Be careful and don't be afraid of throwing out a lot of your design ideas. Even if you only have a vegetable garden you should consider what fence you buy.

Why Vinyl Fences Are a Great Choice

Gardens to many people are a means of escape from the hustle and bustle of modern living. However this doesn't mean that you only have to use traditional materials in your garden. Sometimes using modern materials are a great way to save you time and energy. One such material that is becoming popular in the garden is vinyl.

The main reason that you should buy a vinyl fence instead of a wooden one is simply the fact that it's so durable and stays looking perfect for much longer than wood. If you find that your vinyl fence has become dirty then you should just give it a wash over with some water and soap. It's not difficult at all and a whole load quicker and easier than trying to paint a wooden fence. Often wood fences suffer from insects but vinyl is immune to this problem.

However you will perhaps notice some mildew developing on your vinyl fence but this only happens if your vinyl fence is dirty. The dirt is an organic substance that allows mildew to grow. Get rid of the dirt and you also get rid of the mildew. If you want to prevent the growth of mildew even further than you can dilute some bleach and spray it onto the vinyl.

You will need to decide for yourself how good an alternative vinyl is compared to wood because everyone will have a different opinion on this matter. In general you will have to look pretty close to tell the difference between vinyl and wood and most people don't look at fences that carefully. If you don't like the idea of painting wood then you will be delighted to know that vinyl already comes in different colors and you only need to paint it at a later date if you decide you want to change the color for your own reasons. Although dark colors can have a tendency to fade over time so this is something that should be noted.

In years to come and you decide you want to change the color of your fence then you should give it a good clean and then use an appropriate type of paint. You will see on the tin whether it's suitable for vinyl or not and you should also make sure that you can use it outside otherwise it might not be as durable as you would expect.

Vinyl fences are amongst the easiest to install just because they are sold with molded tabs built in. This means you don't need to know anything about nailing and screwing in order to install you vinyl garden fence. So you will want to know how to build an affordable vinyl fence.

You will see that picket fences are everywhere you look and there is certainly nothing wrong with this. If you decide that you also like picket fences then having one made from vinyl is very easy to achieve as they are already made to the usuall dimensions you find in picket fences.

Overall vinyl fencing materials are well worth having a look at if you want a fence that looks great and will continue doing so for many years to come. Life is too short to be constantly having to attend to all the variety of home and garden maintenance jobs that need to be done. A vinyl fence will really make your life much easier.