For whatever reason, you’ve decided that you need a fence between your yard and your neighbor’s yard. This is a very common issue, but it can often raise some sticky questions, and you’re going to want to think them over–and discuss them with your neighbor–before you begin. 

Something There Is That Doesn’t Love a Wall

The American poet Robert Frost wrote in “Mending Fences” that “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.” In that poem he asks what he was walling out or walling in, and whether there was a need for it. When it comes time for you to build a fence between you and your neighbor, these are questions that you need to consider carefully. You’re going to be neighbors for a long time–maybe for the rest of your lives–and you want to make sure that you’re making the right decision about putting up a fence between you. 

When it comes to what you’re walling out and what you’re walling in, there may be very good reasons to put up that fence that will be apparent to both of you: maybe one or the both of you have pets that are constantly getting into the others’ yard. Maybe one or the both of you have kids that are getting into mischief. (On the other hand, maybe one of you loves the fact that your pets and kids get together and play, and the other neighbor doesn’t. This can be a source of friction.) Maybe one of you has put in a pool or water feature and you want to be safe about keeping kids out of it. Maybe one of you has a garden that the other’s dog loves to dig up. Maybe one of you has a chicken coop that is getting harassed by the other’s animals.

Whatever the reason, you need to figure out what you’re walling in and what you’re walling out. Knowing this–and being able to articulate this–will make the ability to have that difficult conversation with your neighbor a little more smooth. 

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Also in Robert Frost’s poem, he says that “Good fences make good neighbors”, and that may very well be the truth. If you have plans for your backyard that include leisurely afternoons on the back patio, listening to nature and reading a book, and your neighbor has plans to use their yard as a recreation outlet, full of noise and ruckus and commotion, then odds are good you’re going to want a privacy fence. If you like to sunbathe on the back lawn and don’t want the prying eyes of the neighbor’s teenagers, then you might want a privacy fence.

Other Reasons For Wanting a Fence

Of course there can be other reasons for wanting a fence that have nothing to do with the habits of your neighbor, their kids, or their pets. It could very well be that you’re looking for security and you want a fence to keep burglars and vandals out of your yard. It might be that you’re simply trying to amp up the aesthetic look of your yard and know that a good fence can really enhance the look and feel of a yard. These are all good reasons to want a fence.

So what do you say to your neighbor when you tell them that you’ve decided you want to put up a fence between your yards?

Tips For Talking To Your Neighbors About Fencing

It can be a tricky conversation, because first, you don’t want to cause any friction between you and your neighbor. Maybe they love that their kids and your kids play back and forth between the yards–but you don’t. Maybe they don’t mind their dog wandering the neighborhood–but you do. Maybe they see nothing wrong with their loud boisterous parties that go long hours into the night and don’t see why it should bother you. 

You’re going to have to approach the situation with tact. Here are some tips to make it easier.

Talk About the Positives

You can absolutely bring up the fact that fences add to the value of the property. They really do, and the fence that you put up will add to their property value, too. You can bring up safety concerns, and liability concerns, if you’re worried about pets and children in each others’ yards. These are perfectly legitimate issues. You can bring up the fact that a security fence in your yard is going to add security to at least one part of their yard (maybe that fact alone might encourage them to add a fence of their own!)

Do Your Research

Before you start talking about fences, make sure you know where your property line is. If you’re even one or two feet over the property line in your placement of the fence, that can cause a lifetime of resentment between you and your neighbor. The same is especially true if putting up the fence is going to necessitate cutting down some trees or bushes. Knowing exactly where your property ends and their property starts–preferably with the plans in hand so they know you’re not trying to cheat them–will go a long way in making this conversation more pleasant and agreeable.

The Look of the Fence

Discuss the look of the fence with them. Maybe you have your heart set on a certain type of fence that you absolutely love. Maybe it was your spouse’s idea and they have their heart set on it. Here’s a situation where you absolutely must be willing to negotiate with your neighbor unless you want to completely sever the relationship between you. They’re going to have to look at that fence as much as you are, and they’re going to want something that’s pleasing to them, too. Granted, you may have to push a little bit more if you want privacy fencing and they want something with pickets they can see through, but being as open in communication as possible is essential to this process. 

Bring them your fence catalog, or show them the fence manufacturer’s website on a tablet so they can see what you’re envisioning. Let them swipe through the options and see if you can land on something that you’ll love equally. It would be a shame if you built an aluminum fence that you thought looked nice and they just put up a privacy fence beside it to hide it from their view. 

Who Should Pay For the Fence

You should have the conversation of who is going to pay for the fence. If this was totally your idea and they’re not interested in the fence, then it’ll probably be you who foots the bill, and rightly so. But if they’re in agreement that a fence should go up, you can have the conversation about who is going to pay and how much. It might be fifty fifty. It might be sixty forty. Maybe they can’t afford to pay for a new fence, but they’ll offer the labor to install it. And then remember that if this is a joint purchase, work out who is going to maintain the fence: who is going to repair it if it gets damaged or starts to rust.

But if they’re against the fence from the beginning, and you’re pressing the issue, don’t expect them to fork over any money to build the thing. 

Communication is Key

The biggest thing in all of this is to communicate. Talk through every step of the process. Talk about why you want the fence. Talk about what benefit you’ll both get from the fence. Talk about exactly where on the property line the fence is going to be installed. Talk about who’s going to pay for it. And talk about what kind of disruption there will be to your yards during the fence installation. 

One of the main reasons to get a fence–indeed, probably THE main reason to get a fence installed–is for security. Either you want to keep something inside, like children or pets, or you want to keep something out, like vandals, thieves, and burglars. So when you’re looking into buying a security fence, it’s important to know the ins and outs of security fencing lingo. You want to be able to get what you’re looking for, and by knowing what to ask for–what each thing does and what security benefits it has–you’ll be better prepared for getting a secure fence that can give you peace of mind.

Here are a few of the main terms used when talking about security fencing:

Aluminum:

While there are many types of fencing that are touted as good security fences, such as chain link or wrought iron, aluminum is an ideal candidate for a security fence because it blends the best of both worlds: it is a strong, affordable fence that can repel most climbers, but it also looks good in the yard. This is in opposition to wrought iron, which is incredibly expensive and difficult to install, and chain link, which looks cheap and can be easily scaled.

Bottom line: Aluminum fencing is strong, affordable, and attractive.

Powder Coating

The term “powder coating” often accompanies aluminum fences. Powder coating is a baked-on compound that keeps aluminum looking good and protects it from scratches and damage. It prohibits the oxidation process, which means no rust, which means that your aluminum fence will last the test of time.

Bottom line: Powder coating keeps your security fence in tip top condition, as well as attractive.

Finials

A finial is a distinctive ornament at the top of a picket. These can take all manner of shapes, but some of the most common are fleur de lis, tri-point or quad finials. They give decorative character to the fence, making it more attractive. But they also make the fence more difficult to climb, making it more secure. While some finials are better at this than others–a tri-point pointed top is more intimidating than a rounded pressed point–all of them make a fence harder to climb than a horizontal top… be it with a spear top… with or without finials attached.

Bottom line: Finials, depending on the shape and design, can discourage trespassers from attempting to scale your fence.

Spears

A spear or pressed point picket top is a standard type of picket top that is the most common type to deter would-be trespassers. As the name suggests, a spear is a rounded pressed point that makes the fence top look dangerous and injurious to would-be climbers. Spears come in a variety of designs, some very basic and some ornate. All of them are imposing, though some are more attractive than others.

Bottom line: Spear tops are a fearsome threat to would-be trespassers as they could stab the thief trying to climb over the fence.

Pickets

Pickets are the vertical, evenly-spaced verticals that are attached to the horizontal rails. Most pickets are topped with a pressed point, though the well-known picket fence is made up of simple pointed wooden boards. These seemingly innocent fence posts are dangerous to climbers, as the name’s origin suggests: pickets come from the sharpened logs that were used to defend positions and forts by early settlers and colonists. 

Bottom line: While a low picket fence might not seem imposing, a well-made, sturdy one can deter opportunists from crossing it and entering a yard.

Plant Life

Plant life has long been associated with fences, especially hedges and vines which are planted either adjacent to the fence or even incorporated with the fence. This vegetation serves two security purposes with fences. First, it blocks line of sight, keeping the yard private and hiding any potential targets for thieves, and second, hedges and large vines can make it harder to access the fence to be able to climb over it.

Bottom line: Any type of fence, with any type of security measures, can be made more secure with a hedge or vines growing around it.

Security Gate

A security gate can really be any gate with a good strong latch or lock. Some gates are more secure than others: a low gate with no finials and just a horizontal rail for a top will not stop would-be thieves from hopping over it. But a taller gate, and a gate with finials or spears, offers the same kind of protection that the fence proper does. Plus, a good lock that can’t be accessed by reaching over the gate or through the pickets will keep the gate secure. This applies to all gates, both yard gates as well as driveway gates.

Bottom line: A security gate that is made with the same security features of the fence, as well as a good strong lock, will deter outsiders as well as any other part of the fence.

Vinyl

Vinyl fences may not appear to be as imposing as aluminum gates, as they generally have no finials or spear topping them (though some styles do, such as picketed vinyl fences), but there are benefits to some vinyl fences such as the type that block all view of the yard. A thief that is not able to see into a backyard is less likely to make a crime of opportunity.

Bottom line: While not as strong or imposing as an aluminum fence, vinyl fences that block line of sight into a yard can be good deterrents to trespassers.

Additional considerations

If you are especially concerned about security in your fencing, there are always much stronger actions that you can take through third-party security retailers, including anti-climb devices like barbed wire, razor spikes or electric pulse fencing. These precautions keep your yard safe, though they do decrease the aesthetic look of the fence and the yard.

For more information about how you can protect your yard from trespassers, thieves, and vandals, contact us for a full rundown on our fence security measures.

Contact Us

The Benefits of Purchasing a New Fence During Winter

Winter is coming, and while that may sound ominous, it may also just be the perfect time to get out of your house and do a little yard improvement. Now, obviously, if you’ve got piles of snow, then this may not be the best time to be installing a fence, but if you’re in one of the areas where the weather has turned cold, the plants have become dormant, and the yard is flecked with a few fallen leaves over browning grass, then now is exactly the time you want to look into purchasing a new fence.

Why buy a new fence during the winter? There are several reasons, but we’ve broken it down into three main ones: first, installation is faster, second, it’s easier on the yard, and third, now is the perfect time to prepare for summer. 

Faster Installation

Why is fence installation faster in the winter? There are a lot of reasons, but they mainly come down to availability and seasonality of the business. In the summer everyone is busy building and maintaining their yards, improving this and fixing that, but in the winter most people have put away their tools for the season. This means that you’re much more likely to get the help that you need, when you need it. Fencing a yard can be a one-person job if you must, but it’s far easier with multiple people, and the more you can get, the quicker you’ll have the job done. If you’ve got teens or grown kids, recruit them into the process–they’ll have fewer activities in the winter to keep them away. If you’ve got neighbors, odds are good that they’ll have more time on their hands during the winter weekends, too.

The same is true if you’re hiring professionals to do the job. It’s far easier to get a work crew on site in the winter than in the summer because demand is so much lower. Because of that, not only will they be able to work on shorter notice, but they’ll be able to devote more people to the project (so it’ll go faster) and there’s a good chance that the price will be lower, too, because of the simple laws of supply and demand.

On a completely different point, but still referring to faster installation, having steady cold temperatures can make for an easier digging process and cement pouring. The ground is generally drier, and it’s much less common to have a rainstorm mess up your job. Snow is a problem in some areas, but that doesn’t soak the ground as much as a good rain does. 

Easy on the Yard

Purchasing a fence in the winter is also a good idea for the installation process. Your plants–the hedges or bushes or roses that line the perimeter of your yard–are mostly dormant and have been trimmed back. Therefore, when you get in to work on the fence, you won’t be smashing this plant or stepping on that one. The gardens are either bare or cut down to their winter nubs.

Compare this to putting in a fence during the summer: you’re fighting every large hydrangea and lilac bush to try to get the fence into the right place, make sure it’s level–just getting measurements is a hassle. And when it comes time to dig post holes, you are either fighting against those same bushes, or you’re trampling on flowers in the garden. 

All of this can be avoided by putting in a fence during the winter. Trees are tied back, bushes can be wrapped and trimmed. You don’t need to worry about where you’re rolling that wheelbarrow, because there aren’t growing flowers in the flower bed. 

This is also true of building fences on slopes and wooded areas, even in non-landscaped areas. First, you don’t have to contend with the mud of spring rain, but second, with leaves down and your yard much more visible, you can make better judgments about where and how to install your fence. Line of sight is better, and you get a broader picture of the scope of your project. You’ll be able to see the whole thing at once, be sure that it meets your expectations, and confirm that this is the fence that you want–all of which would be harder if not impossible when all your greenery is out and in full bloom.

Get Ready for the Summer

Perhaps the best reason to purchase a fence in the winter is so that you will be ready for spring and summer. You don’t want to spend the best months of the year with the yard torn up. You don’t want to waste summer vacation weekends on installing a fence when you could, instead, be focused on playing in the backyard pool with the kids, playing fetch with the dog, or just relaxing on the back patio with a cool drink and a book. 

Winter is when the world goes to sleep, but if you’re able to stay awake during it and make proper use of those winter months, then you’ll be far better positioned to seize the moment every day the rest of the year. Just because the sky is gloomy in December doesn’t mean that you need to stay inside (though that fireplace may be calling). Think of how ‘Summer You’ will appreciate the efforts of ‘Winter You’ if you have spent the dark months of winter preparing to have the best summer ever. 

Get a Quote

How Aluminum Fences Hold Up in Different Climates

Aluminum fencing has become a popular choice in residential and commercial properties over the last decade based on the rising awareness of its crucial advantages. Durability, low maintenance, and ability to withstand damage like rust, rot, and peeling are just some of its attributes that find considerable favor among homeowners and business owners. If the idea of spending hours cleaning, painting, and repainting your property fence doesn’t appeal to you, then aluminum fence would be the ideal choice for you too, fitting perfectly with your no-fuss upkeep requirement. 

In terms of security and aesthetics too, there’s no doubt that it is one of the best fencing options. But how do aluminum fences hold up in different climates? It scores extremely well yet again on this metric as aluminum is a versatile and sturdy material that can withstand extreme temperatures. Let’s dig deeper into the suitability of this metal fence in regions that experience harsh weather.

Is Aluminum Fence a Good Fit for Extreme Climates?

A fence made of a suitable material provides security for a long time. However, for increased longevity, it must be able to weather any type of climatic condition, be it snow, heavy winds, rain, hail, salt water, freezing rain, humidity, or heat. 

In that sense, choosing the right material is critical if you want to enjoy long lasting security and a boundary that elevates the beauty of your property. Some fences, like those made of wood, for instance, look beautiful but can easily rot and fade when they’re exposed to water or humidity. In addition, they require heavy maintenance to keep them looking the way they were when they first arrived at your doorstep. Therefore, it’s important to take into account these considerations when choosing the fencing material in order to benefit from its durability and long lasting value.

Aluminum is a fitting choice if you live in a region that experiences severe climatic conditions. Its numerous advantages include durability, long lasting value, low maintenance, affordability, and most importantly resistance to damage from harsh weather. We list here some of its fine attributes:

Resilient and Long Lasting

Aluminum fence and gates are resilient, which affords them the ability to resist severe weather. They possess a natural ability to withstand a variety of elements that could negatively impact the fence. These include moisture (a common culprit when it comes to fences and furniture), chlorine-treated water, dust, dirt, and rubble. Therefore, aluminum can resist a whole spectrum of damage caused by severe climatic conditions like rusting, rotting, corroding, molding, chipping, peeling, and sagging. For added protection, aluminum panels are finished with a special powder coating or finish that increases their resistance against damage by varied elements. 

In addition, an aluminum fence is extremely strong. It’s surprising for many to learn this, but an aluminum boundary is nearly as strong as a steel or a wrought iron fence but without their susceptibility to deterioration due to rusting or chipping or their need for regular maintenance. 

In terms of pricing too, aluminum is the clear winner as it’s more affordable than a wrought iron fence (which is the most expensive metal fence). Next let’s examine how aluminum fences hold up in different climates – hot, cold, and wet. 

Heavy Snow

For regions that get heavy snow, a metal fence, especially that of aluminum, is an excellent choice. Not only can it withstand the extremely low temperatures, but it can also stand its ground, literally, amidst snow drifts. For better protection against heavy snow fall, consider installing a picket fence so the snow can pass through and not exert much pressure against the boundary marker. 

It also helps that aluminum fences can be welded, resulting in more robust joints. Furthermore, they are not vulnerable to damage from contact with water when the snow melts and neither will they expand or contract along with temperature changes from high to low and vice versa.

In fact, even without any anti-corrosive finishes or paint, or even maintenance, aluminum fences fare quite well, as they are not prone to corrosion or rust when they come in contact with water. 

However, there’s a possibility of galvanic corrosion when they are in proximity to a salted road. 

For this purpose, it’s highly recommended to opt for an aluminum fence that has been treated with an anti-corrosive paint or protective finish, so you can rest assured that the harshest snow or salted water for de-icing won’t harm or damage your sturdy home boundary!

Hot Weather

Aluminum fences are strong and can no doubt stand firm against strong winds and cold climatic conditions. However when it comes to hot weather, an aluminum fence can get too hot on an extremely hot summer afternoon, unlike vinyl fencing that heats up only up to a certain threshold. That said, all you need to do is avoid touching it on excruciatingly hot days!

Hurricanes and Windstorms

We’ve seen how aluminum fences hold up in different climates like extreme heat or cold. But what about hurricanes and windstorms? Truth be told, few fences can handle extremely bad weather such as this but in any case, your safest best would still be an aluminum fence. With its strength and durability, it’s guaranteed to offer the best probability of surviving a storm or hurricane. 

We hope our guide has helped you gain a good idea of “how aluminum fences hold up in different climates”. Strength, low maintenance, and durability aside, aluminum fences are an increasingly common sight across the length and breadth of the country, in both residential and commercial properties, as they’re versatile not only in terms of braving different climates but also with regards to presenting the aesthetic effect of your choice. 

Be it the classic white picket fence that graces many American homes or the black painted fence that looks as elegant as the traditional wrought iron fence, aluminum fences can deck the boundary of your home just the way you want. Or if you prefer going beyond classic colors like black or white, Aluminum Fences Direct also sells the bronze color option as well.

In addition, thanks to its malleability, aluminum can be shaped into ornamental accessories or designs that easily align with your home style or architecture. 

The cherry on top is its easy maintenance – with no effort, property owners can keep it looking as shiny and as good as new. While the residential grade is strong enough for most residential properties, homeowners who’re looking for the strongest grade of aluminum fence can opt for the commercial or industrial options. 

Are you ready to mark your property boundary with a metal that is as strong as it is elegant? Learn more about the pricing of our aluminum fences.

The History of Fences – An Overview

Since mankind began to populate the planet, people have felt an instinctive need to protect themselves and their homes from others. The easiest way to do this for thousands of years has been with fencing, and the fence is something that’s been around almost as long as elemental components of life that include fire and the wheel. As such, the history of fences is something that’s not only interesting to look at for several different reasons, but it’s also an informative way to put modern fencing into its proper context. 

Aluminum Fences Direct is one of the leading current innovators when it comes to fencing in both residential and commercial settings, and one of the reasons we’ve earned that place in the market is because we both know and care about the history of fences. History teaches us what we need to know about almost any topic. Not only does history teach us what went well, but we’ve all heard the saying, “Those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it.” Therefore, we’d like to provide you with some insight and perspective regarding the history of fences so that you can obtain a better understanding of what we do, how we do it and why we approach our products and service as we do.

Prehistoric Fencing

As mentioned above, the history of fences dates back to the early origins of humanity. As people evolved and began to live in groups, they began to grow crops collectively and raise animals in the same manner in an effort to keep everyone fed and, thanks to the coats of many of the animals they raised, warm during the colder months. During these times, fences protected those crops and those animals both from predators and from nomads that roamed the countryside, looking for their own food and warmth. 

There were few tools available during this time, so the majority of fences that were built then were done so with large boulders stacked on top of each other, often held together by mud and other materials that dried and formed the spackle that we now take basically for granted today. For an extreme example, take a look at the Great Wall of China. It was an enormous “fence” that was built around 221 BC in order to keep the nomads of that time out of the territory that it protected. 

Historic Fence Designs

As mankind began to evolve and societies formed along with economies, fences continued to be an integral part of those communities. First, ancient Greeks and Romans built fences in order to delineate the lands that they had conquered, and the reason was that they wanted to announce that the land within those fences was now theirs. 

Later, as people continued to integrate with each other, emperors, particularly in Rome, encouraged landowners to build fences around their lands in order to honor their gods and to reduce conflicts that often arose based out of land disputes. When farm animals roamed, for instance, a fence would prevent them from moving onto another person’s land, thereby eliminating adversarial claims of ownership. Fences in this period of history, sometimes called palisades when used in the military world, began to be made of wood in some cases as well as with stacked stones held together by dried earth.  

Fences in the Middle Ages

As time marched on, fences remained in place as a part of life, almost regardless of location or the particulars associated with how these fences were built. One of the most interesting things about the history of fences is that you can look at almost any society in any place on the planet and find that fences were present in one form or another. The reasons behind them were all basically uniform: to protect crops, animals and property and to signify ownership of whatever was inside of them.

For example, in the Middle Ages, the Anglo Saxons began to innovate with regards to fences to an extent. People of this time still used stone, earth and wood in order to build the most secure and strongest fences designed to keep out intruders, but they also began to make use of plant life for their fences. It was at this point in history when hedges began to serve as fences, and they were grown on property lines in what proved to be an effective strategy for doing all the same things that fences had always done. 

Colonial Times

A few hundred years ago, settlers began to move and build their lives in North America, and fences came with them. At this point in their societal development, land grants and claims were far from clear in terms of their details and property disputes arose often. In addition, the vast majority of settlers came to North America with very little money, so they didn’t have a lot to invest in high-end fencing.  

Instead, which was consistent with how they built their homesteads on an overall basis, the settlers made use of the land around them. During that time, there was a lot of timber to work with, and quite a bit of it was not large enough to be built into homes or other larger structures. Therefore, the settlers began to construct what many came to know as “worm” fences, which were basically fences that were built in a zig-zag fashion using large branches of trees or trunks of smaller trees. The reason for this design was that it was cheap and easy. Worm fences did not require posts in order to have them stand up and they were easy to move and disassemble if that became necessary.

The History of Fences – Modern Times

For hundreds of years at this point, fences basically didn’t change in purpose or with respect to where or how they were built. They were made of wood and/or stone, and they were used to protect property interests and/or communities. That all began to change during the latter part of the 19th Century when metal became available to people for the first time. Metal – typically in the form of iron, hence the wrought iron gates – were now suddenly affordable enough to be used by some common landowners. To that point, these were relatively rare and they were used only by aristocrats and other members of high society. 

However, this was also the time when people began to add another component to their fencing, which was barbed wire. The Industrial Revolution brought the catalyst for this newfound affordable availability of metal products, and barbed wire at the time – lack of pleasing aesthetics aside – was seen as a positive step in terms of security. 

Continued Innovation

As more and more materials began to be used for fences, more and more options began to spring about for people who wanted to protect their homes and businesses. During the past few generations, people continued to use wooden fences for their homes in large numbers, but metal also grew in popularity because of its look and its durability. However, iron fences eventually began to lose some favor in many parts of the world because they tended to rust over the years, eventually requiring expensive replacement.

True innovators began to use materials such as aluminum or even vinyl for their fences. These materials provided a longer lifespan than wood, and in some cases they even offered the same level of aesthetics as the classic wrought iron fence. In addition, stainless steel fencing, often in the form of linked chains, or as we know it now, the chain link fence, enjoyed a degree of modernization and newfound prevalence. In actuality, chain link fences date back to the 19th Century, but they did not take their current form until much later. The point of using all these new materials was practicality. 

Why This Matters

As you’ve seen above, fencing dates back to what amounts to the beginning of time for the human race. The reasons for building fences have never really changed much. However, the design, engineering and look of fences has changed rapidly over the past 100 years or so as manufacturing has become more modernized and more materials have become realistically affordable for those who wanted them.

Aluminum Fences Direct is another link in that chain – pun somewhat intended. We are continuing to innovate by way of our wide array of product offerings that help to provide business and homeowners with the ability to add beautiful, secure and durable fencing to their properties so that they can do what the people of ancient times did – put a structure in place to protect their property from outsiders and to keep the people and property that they want to protect inside with them. 

If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you add fencing to your property that will have you sleeping better at night, please feel free to contact us at any time.

How to Install an Aluminum Fence on a Slope

So you’ve decided to install an aluminum fence on your property. Congratulations! This is going to be one of the most rewarding things you can do to improve the value of your property. Improving landscape (including fencing) has the biggest return on investment of any improvement you could make on your home.

But building a fence isn’t just about resale value: you want to live here, right? Your aluminum fence is something that you’re going to be looking at day in and day out for years–given the lifespan of an aluminum fence, it’s going to outlive most of the trees, bushes, paint jobs, and even the asphalt on your driveway. So you’ve got to be happy with the fence; it’s got to look good, and it’s got to either keep things in or keep things out. In other words, it’s got to do its job as a fence.

But you’ve got a curveball. Your yard has a slope to it, and the thought of installing a fence–a relatively simple, straight-forward job–has now become complicated (or so it seems). How do you install an aluminum fence–a straight aluminum fence!–on a slope?

Make a Plan

The first thing you need to do, before you even buy your fencing, is make a plan for where you’re going to install it. This is nothing special, normally, because you simply measure the distance with a tape measure and write down the dimensions of your yard. It’s a little bit trickier than that with a fence on a slope, but it’s nothing you can’t handle.

Remember algebra class in middle school when you were taught about slopes? Don’t worry; we’re not going to make you do any difficult equations. But the gist of finding a slope is to figure out the “rise over the run”. In other words, how much does your fence rise vertically over how far it runs horizontally? 

This might seem an impossible task when you’re looking at your entire slope–how do you judge the rise from the bottom of your property to the top? Don’t worry. We can do it in increments, and we only need three simple tools: a stiff board that is the length of your fence (so, if you’re buying a 6’ long fence panel, you need a 6’ long board), a level, and a tape measure. 

Lay your board where the fence panel will be. At the lower end of the board (the bottom of the slope) place your level on top of the board. Then lift the board from that end until the level measures even. You should now have a board perfectly level above the slope. Then, with the tape measure, find the distance between the ground and the board. (This may require a helper–one person to hold the board level and the other person to measure.)

So the length of your board (typically 6 feet) will be the “run” and the distance between the ground and the board will be the “rise”. So let’s say that the rise is one foot. The slope then is rise over run: 1’ over 6’, or 1/6. 

Good news! An aluminum fence can go down that slope! Typically, our standard 6’ panels can go up as much as a 19” rise.

Racking or Raking

Following a slope like this is called racking (or, alternately, raking) It allows your fence to have a slope to it where all of the pickets and posts remain vertical, but the rails slope. 

Now our algebra lovers will remind us that by sloping the fence, you’re not quite going the full 6’ anymore. The Pythagorean theorem comes back to haunt us. But never mind. If you know the distance your fence needs to travel, and you know the slope (the rise over run), then call us and we’ll do all the calculations to make sure that you have enough fencing to cover the distance.

And odds are your entire yard isn’t on a slope–just parts of it. And some of the slopes are minor, and would look odd to have your fence going up and down like a wave. So let’s talk about the second way of handling a sloping yard: stepping.

Stepping

Stepping refers to the way an aluminum fence looks when the rail across the top is horizontal, and each panel “steps” down to follow the slope of the yard. This can be done because the yard is too steep to fence with racking (remember, it can only go 19” rise) or it can be done for aesthetics. (It also can be done because some styles of fence don’t allow racking, including the Cathedral and Elegant Arch.)

In this case, you simply measure the posts as you would normally, and install the fence as you would normally, keeping the rail level, but you lower each panel, stepping them down with the slope of the fence.

As this will leave an open space beneath the lower end of the fence, many people see fit to put paving stones, bricks, or cinder blocks beneath these stepped fences. After all, if you have a fence to keep the dog inside the yard (or the neighbor’s dog outside) then you don’t want a gaping hole in your fence line.

These can be done very scenically with stones and pavers, which will not only block the gaps but also hide the cement post hole of each post.

So you see there’s not much trouble at all to the idea of installing a fence on a slope, either through racking or stepping. All that is required is making a plan of your yard, determining the slope, and deciding whether your home would be best suited with a racked or stepped fence. And if you have any questions about the process, our experts can walk you through it (and do the hard math for you.)

Get A Rough Estimate Here

Why Vinyl is The Right Fence Material For Hot Summers

We know that vinyl is a great choice for your home, ranch, or farm. It looks good, it’s easy to take care of, it’s something that you can install on your own and then forget about. But did you know that vinyl is also the best fencing material for the brutal summer heat? It’s true.

It may be counterintuitive. Don’t you remember all those vinyl LPs melting into slag when you left them in the sun? Well, it’s a different kind of vinyl (and vinyl has probably evolved substantially since you were listening to records). 

So how is it that vinyl is the best fencing for the summer sun?

Vinyl Fencing Doesn’t Fade or Discolor in Summer Sun

For starters, vinyl fencing, whether it’s black or white, is not going to fade in the summer sun. White fencing is not going to turn yellow, or brown, or some other weird color, because vinyl simply doesn’t change colors in the heat. It can withstand any temperature (in North America, at least) and never lose its factory white look.

The same can’t be said about other styles of fencing–especially wood. Wood definitely takes a beating from the summer heat. Plain, untreated wood will discolor, but even painted wood will change into something unrecognizable. The pigments in paint are not made to withstand the temperatures that the sun can dish out through the middle of August–plus they’ll start to peel. It’s true. Painted wood will very soon start to lose its good look because that paint is going to flake away and chip, and soon you’ll be left with a fence that looks very much different from the fence you started with.

This goes the same with any painted fence. Iron? It’s very susceptible to heat, as the metal expands and contracts and the paint fades, chips, and flakes away. And with no paint on the iron, a little summer rainstorm comes by and–poof!–rust.  

Vinyl Fencing Comes in a Variety of Styles

And really, what do you need a different kind of fence for? Our vinyl can do everything that a wooden fence can do. Just look at the styles of fence we have: Vinyl Ranch Fencing, which is the iconic look and feel of a ranch that is both beautiful and practical; the Vinyl Ranch Rail – Crossbuck, which looks right at home lining the road up to the ranch house–or turning your suburban home into a ranch house; the Vinyl Privacy Fencing is far better than iron, aluminum or chain link at keeping your neighbors out of your business, and the Vinyl Privacy Fencing Lattice does all of that with a little flair of style; the Vinyl Picket Fence can do everything a wooden picket fence can do–except it won’t chip or buckle or rot–and the Vinyl Scalloped Picket Fence is a fence that looks like it stepped out of movie from a more refined time.

Whatever you’re looking for in fencing, you’ll find it in vinyl, not wood.

Vinyl Fencing Won’t Buckle or Warp in the Heat

Vinyl is made from plastics, and it’s resilient. It’s made to stay its shape, and that means it’s going to stay its shape. Wood fences buckle under the summer sun, or warp in the heat. And that means you’re out in the summer sun replacing boards and rehammering nails because everything has come loose. That’s not what you want; that’s not what anybody wants.

Vinyl Fencing is Low Maintenance

Aside from not buckling and warping, vinyl doesn’t rust like metal, doesn’t chip and flake like wood, doesn’t rot, doesn’t bend, doesn’t sag. To prevent all of those things on an iron or wooden fence you’ve got to repaint them at least once a year, and that can get old quick. There’s a reason that wooden fencing is going out of style–it’s so labor intensive. 

First it starts to peel, then exposed wood starts to weather. Then the wood starts to splinter and buckle. So you go out with a scraper and a sander, maybe rope your kids or spouse into the back breaking process. You sand and sand till your arm is sore and you can barely lift it. Then you have to paint it–and painting it one time is no good, you’ve got to give it a second coat. And you have to go through this process year after year after year as long as you own the house (until you finally break down and buy vinyl.)

Vinyl Fencing is Even Good in the Winter

One beauty of vinyl is that it doesn’t expand in the summer sun, but it doesn’t shrink in the winter cold either. Vinyl keeps its shape, no matter the weather, no matter the season. 

So when you’re looking to make that good purchase on fencing–something that will last, that you won’t have to constantly maintain–look no further than vinyl.

For some, fences represent the American dream. To others, a fence is a great way to outline your property or to add some curb appeal. But it’s undeniable that a fence around your yard is a safety feature if you have small children, pets or animals. With the right fence, you can keep your kids safe in the yard without worrying about them wandering off into the street or into your neighbor’s space. 

Unlike a fence that’s primarily used for how it looks or to signify a property line, the best yard fence for kids serves two primary functions. On the one hand, it keeps your kids from trespassing beyond the safe area of your yard. On the other, it prevents the outside world from intruding in on the safety and sanctity of your yard. And when it comes to the fence that you use to protect your children, everything matters — from the material used to the design and even its dimensions.

Consideration One: Fence Materials

While a nice, solid wooden fence is likely what most people have in mind when they picture a typical home, the best yard fence for kids is actually not a wood fence at all. Wood can splinter, chip and break, and, if it spends any significant amount of time water-logged, it rots. Wooden fences are also made with nails and other objects that can come undone as the wood around them deteriorates, creating safety hazards for curious kids that won’t know to leave the dangerous stuff alone.

A metal fence can be a great alternative to wood, as it won’t degrade over time, and different metals can give a dramatically different feel. Aluminum fences are smooth, strong and won’t rust, and they can be painted a dark black to give an inconspicuous look, making them one of the best yard fences for kids. Wrought iron is a heavier, more complicated fence, but it’s traditional and stately look is unmistakable. However, iron and other similar metals require preventative measures to keep them from rusting, making them an improper choice for kids.

Vinyl fences are another popular option, and they’re both stronger and more flexible than wood. But they cost significantly more, even though they’re build to last and are basically maintenance free like aluminum. Many styles have a sort of faux-wood grain or texture on the surface, which can leave them feeling cheap, but it’s one of the few ways to get a wood style without the problems of real wood. Composite fences are also available that mix wood fibers with plastic, giving the look of wood and the strength and durability of plastic, though quality varies wildly from “Wow, that looks real!” to “eh,” so be sure to inspect samples if you’re considering a composite fence.

Consideration Two: The Railing

When it comes to kids, it’s best to go with a fence that doesn’t have any spikes, protrusions or anything that can snag clothes or parts of the body like hands, arms, legs and feet. While the spikes or decorative tips of more traditional fences may sound like a great idea to discourage trespassers or by making it more difficult to jump the fence, kids are kids, and they’ll be all over that fence the day it’s installed. To help avoid unnecessary injuries, we say skip the decorative barbs and go with a flat rail for the best yard fence for kids.

Consideration Three: The Gate

With any fence, you’ll inevitably have some sort of access gate in front, off to the side or at the rear of your property. Because they’re often hidden from view, a gate isn’t something that’s typically front of mind when it comes to the best yard fence for kids, but it’s an important consideration nonetheless. Obviously, the worst type of gate here is an opening in the fence itself, which provides no barrier between your yard and the outside world. If your yard sits up against a busy street or is adjacent to a dark, wooded area, this could be a problem.

Ideally, the best yard fence for kids has a gate with a strong auto-latching and auto-closing mechanism that keeps the gate closed and locked at all times. With a higher-than-you’d-think latching mechanism, preferably at the top of a five-foot or taller gate, you’ll prevent small children from being able to operate the gate, which keeps them safe and in the yard.

Consideration Four: Fence Style

Another priority when it comes to the best yard fence for kids is to have a fence that’s hard to climb. Kids will be kids, and you know that when the fence comes in they’ll be scheming ways to climb it. A smooth, flat fence is the best way to prevent the Spiderman shenanigans you can bet will take place the second the fence goes up. Without anything to grab hold of or step onto, children will quickly give up when they realize this fence isn’t climbable.

While there are many fence styles on the market, you’ll want to look for styles that are simple and don’t have much ornamentation. Something like a privacy fence that has no visible views into or out of the yard is one of the best yard fences for kids due to the fact that it’s basically a glorified outdoor wall. Privacy fences often come in 6-foot-high panels, and they’re great when you want to maximize security and keep the outside world at bay.

Lattice fences are a nice alternative to the vastness of a privacy fence, and they provide a partial, head-height view with a decorative checkered pattern at the top of each panel. Think of a privacy fence with limited views up top and you’ve got the right idea.

A spaced picket fence is arguably the quintessential American fence, but beyond its timeless looks it won’t do much to protect the safety of your children as they tend to run short and people can step over them with relative ease, and they also won’t do much to keep children above the age of five or six from climbing them.

A dog-eared fence is another option, which uses alternating front and back slats to give a half-open, half-closed feel that is opaque from far away yet more open close up or at an angle.

Squared, metal fences round out the style options, and these give a modern, decorative appeal in a very strong and rigid frame. But because each bar is placed a few inches apart and you can see through them, they may not provide the right level of privacy when considering the safety of small children. They are, however, incredibly strong, so if durability is the main concern, it’s a good option, and you can always stack some trees or shrubbery right in front of the fence to increase privacy.

Consideration Four: Fence Height

In general, you’ll want a fence that’s at least five or six feet tall. At that level, no small child would even think about trying to scale such a wall, and the increased height also gives you some additional privacy from nosey neighbors and makes it difficult for even adults to scale. Square aluminum fences, privacy fences, lattice fences and dog-eared fences meet this requirement, but picket fences and other decorative, smaller fences are just not tall enough to keep the little ones safely inside and the outside world at bay.

Consideration Five: What About the Pool?

If you have a pool, you might just have the most dangerous thing your kids could be exposed to right in your own backyard. Drowning is a leading cause of young children dying at home, and often it comes down to unsupervised time at the pool or unauthorized access such as when a child gains access to a pool without an adult knowing. In fact, many states have now passed pool fencing laws that dictate the type of fencing required around any pool, as well as how access to the pool should work.

As a homeowner and parent, it’s your responsibility to prevent your kids or any other kids in the area from having unauthorized access to your pool. According to international regulations, you’ll need a proper fence with slats that are no more four inches apart and the fence is no more than four inches from the ground (two in some municipalities and states). The fence itself must be 48 inches high or taller, and it can’t have any protrusions or indentations that would make it easy to climb. The gate must also open out and have an auto-locking, auto-closing mechanism that sits at the top of the fence, out of reach from the hands of small children.

Consideration Six: Don’t Forget Your Kids

While a fence is a great way to increase the privacy and security of your kids when they’re out playing in the yard, it’s not an excuse to abdicate your duties as a parent. When they’re outside, an adult or supervisor should be with them at all times. When they’re playing, it’s not the time to head into the home office to get some work done or to go start the family dinner if you can’t keep an eye on them from inside. That small window view probably won’t cut it, and what happens when they wander off or a call comes in and they lose your attention completely?

Sure, the best yard fence for kids can help keep them safer than without, but it’s not a substitute for real parenting. Even with a safe fence made from aluminum that won’t chip, crack, rust, splinter or rot, you’ve still got to keep an eye on your kids whenever they’re outside. If you have a pool, spa or any water in your yard, you should be extra vigilant, as a split-second of inattention can be disastrous.

From Your Friends at Aluminum Fences Direct

Here at Aluminum Fences Direct, we make beautiful aluminum fences that stand the test of time and look great doing it. Sturdy, secure and affordable, our fences can help make any yard a secure, safe place for your kids, your pets and your entire home. Reclaim your yard by replacing your old, unsafe fence with a beautiful, new aluminum fence from Aluminum Fences Direct and see how a new fence can transform the time you and your family share outdoors. Contact us today to get a quote.