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Wood vs. Vinyl for Garden Fencing

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

cedar garden fencingWhen it comes to garden fences, many people struggle with choosing the perfect fencing material for their needs. Traditional wood fencing is attractive but requires more maintenance. Vinyl fencing is durable but can cost more initially. With so many questions, what’s a gardener to do?

The following are some pros and cons of both wood fencing and vinyl fencing as they relate to gardens.

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Privacy Fence Repair Tips

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

wood privacy fencePrivacy fences can be an attractive, useful addition to your home or garden. But what happens when that fence starts to sag, warp, peel or decay? Just like most homeowners don’t know how to install a fence themselves, most people also don’t know exactly what to do to repair one. The following are a few helpful tips on repairing a privacy fence yourself:

1. Identify the problem. Most of the time, if your privacy fence needs repairs, the problem is very apparent. But sometimes the fence just doesn’t “look right.” The first thing you’ll need to do in these cases is identify what exactly is wrong with the fence. Are the posts leaning and causing the fence to warp? Is the gate sagging and causing stress on the rest of the fence? Knowing exactly what’s wrong before you start repairs will help you avoid unnecessary work and costs.

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Composite Deck Maintenance Tips

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

composite deck maintenanceMany people choose composite decking material because it doesn’t require paint or sealer, it doesn’t produce splinters, and it is relatively easy to maintain. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t maintenance required. Here are five tips for keeping a good-looking composite deck:

1. Clean. One of the biggest threats to composite decking’s appearance is the growth of mold and mildew. These nasty annoyances can attack both the wood and the plastic in your composite deck, so keeping your deck free of them is a must.

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How to Choose a Quality Vinyl Fence

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

vinyl privacy fenceVinyl fencing is generally a durable, attractive and low-cost alternative to more traditional wood fencing. But like any product, there are some manufacturers and distributors trying to pass off shoddy vinyl onto unknowing consumers. If you’re in the market for a new vinyl fence, make sure you read these handy tips for choosing high-quality vinyl:

Examine samples. There’s a lot you can tell about vinyl fencing just by examining it. Holding a test piece lets you feel how sturdy it is, how resistant it is to pressure and impact, and whether it bends and stretches too easily. If a distributor doesn’t have a sample piece or is hesitant to let you hold it, beware.

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How to Set Fence Posts Like a Pro

Friday, August 27th, 2010

If you’re an ambitious do-it-yourselfer tackling your first fence build, setting the posts can seem like an arduous and never-ending task. Yet for the long-term stability of your fence, it is one of the most important you will perform.

Regardless of the scope of your wood or vinyl fencing project, properly set posts will help lengthen the life of your fence, reduce maintenance down the road and make the rest of your fence build go much more easily. Here are some expert tips for setting fence posts that won’t leave your new fence cracked or sagging:

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