SierraWithRings

Thermal Unit Protection with Aluminum Fences

by Aluminum Fence
Remote compressors for commercial air conditioning or refrigeration units are pricey, making them prime targets for theft. An aluminum fence can help protect your business’s assets. Many businesses thrive on the use of cooling units. Aluminum fences can help protect those investments.

Businesses with Vital Cooling Needs

Most companies today operate better with adequate air conditioning. Several types thrive on them though. The first is restaurants. Ice cream shops might lose their entire inventory without cooling units for their freezers, ice cream machines, and whole shop, but they are not alone. Every restaurant has some kind of cooling unit to keep frozen food frozen and refrigerated food cool. Without these operating constantly, the food becomes very susceptible to contamination and must be either cooked immediately or thrown away. Without adequate cooling units, restaurants are put out of business. Much of the hospitality business thrives on access to air conditioning as well. While they do not have the same kind of legal standards for their rooms as restaurants do for their kitchens, most people simply will not stay at a hotel that does not have air conditioning or heat. A third important group is retail stores. While most people do not shop in stores because of their temperature, many people will refuse to shop in one because it is too hot. If you want to stay in business, you need to keep your air conditioner units operating.

How can aluminum fences help you keep your cooling units running?

Criminal Activity One of the dangers of having outdoor cooling compressors is that they are vulnerable to criminals who can either vandalize, steal, or sabotage them. Vandalism is a risk for any unit near places where young people may gather. The vandalism you may suffer could go beyond spray paint. It might involve structural damage to the unit itself, and perhaps costing you thousands of dollars to repair. One of the more recent trends for the many areas the suffer from heavy drug use and trafficking has been people stealing parts from compressor units and selling them. It is no secret that these parts are not cheap to buy, and unfortunately, people who want to make quick cash have discovered how to get in and remove them, without even turning the unit off. Finally, you may have angry ex-employees or people working for your competition that could get in and sabotage your cooling units, just to hurt your business. Whatever their reasons, you are at risk if your cooling units are exposed and accessible to the public. What can you do about this problem? Fence those units in with an aluminum fence. Where to Install Fences If you have a small unit, probably nestled up against your building, it is a simple task to install a small fence around them. If you put 4-5 feet of space around the units and a gate that allows access inside the fence, your HVAC technicians should have adequate access to work on them. If you have any question about how much space to allow, contact your local HVAC technician and get their professional opinion. If you have an external unit that sits away from your building, you would be wise to box it in with a small fence. Again 4-5 feet around the unit should provide enough wiggle room for those who need to be there to get in and work. Again, the key is to have a locked gate that restricts access to your unit. This can be done quickly and without spending a lot of money. What about commercial buildings with A/C units located on their roofs. These can also be fenced in, just like external units or nestled units if they are near a wall. Many businesses use them, even when roof access is limited. If people get desperate enough for money, they will find ways onto your roof. There is one complication with installing fences on existing buildings. All of these fences require posts that are dug into the ground and have concrete poured around them. This prevents the fences from being lifted right up out of the ground or perhaps pulled out with a vehicle and towing chain. It is still possible with the concrete, but the process will be noticeable and take a while. For roof fences, there is no soil to dig into and set your posts. Roof fence posts must be bolted down. However, you do not want to drill into your roof because that will cause potential leaks. If you are putting a fence on an existing roof, you need to build a small deck under or around your units and drill and bolt the fence posts into that deck pad. You can attach that deck pad to whatever part of the building allows you roof access, or else you may need to be creative to avoid drilling holes into your roof to keep that deck in place. The end result will be a fence that cannot be lifted up without taking the whole deck with it. It is not as secure as soil-and-concrete-rooted posts, but it is better than roof bolts. If you are constructing a new building and know you will have compressor units on the roof, it would be an excellent idea to include fencing in the initial construction so you can plant it in concrete on the roof itself. Make sure your essential A/C units are protected for your business by fencing them in with aluminum fences.
aluminum fences

Aluminum vs. Wooden Fencing

by Aluminum Fence
One of the first things you’ll need to decide when you’re purchasing a fence is what material best fits your needs. Here, we discuss two of the most common options: wood and aluminum fences. When you’re deciding which type of fencing will work best for your property, two of the most common choices you will encounter are aluminum and wood. Each one has its pros and cons, and which one will work best for you will depend heavily on where you will be installing the fence and what purposes you want the fence to serve. Read on for more information on aluminum and wooden fencing so you can make the best choice for your property.

All About Appearance

One of the first things people consider when thinking about a new fence is how it will look. After all, you want the fence to accentuate your property and add to its market value, not detract from it. Curb appeal is important, especially when you’re investing money in what will hopefully be a long-lasting feature. When considering how wooden fencing will look, it is important to remember that even when you’re using all one type of wood, because it is a natural product, it will vary from picket to picket and panel to panel in appearance, even if only slightly. This can be fixed to a certain extent with paint, but in many cases the irregularities can be seen through paint. Some people like this more “rustic” appearance, but it can bother those who prefer uniformity. On the flip side, aluminum will have a uniform look from picket to picket and panel to panel. If uniformity is important to you, aluminum fencing may be the way to go for you. This is also beneficial if you ever need to replace a panel — you can always count on the uniform size and shape to be simple to replace. These fences are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and designs to fit the aesthetic you want to achieve.

Maintenance Matters

Another factor to keep in mind when you’re deciding on which fencing material is best for you is the maintenance you can expect from each one. Aluminum is one of the most low-maintenance fencing options available. Cleaning the fence is simple, as it generally only needs a spray with the hose to be looking sparkling clean. It rarely needs repainting, and when it does, you can usually do touch-ups on scratched parts instead of having to repaint the entire fence. Wooden fences are quite a bit more maintenance intensive. For a wooden fence, the maintenance starts pretty much right off the bat; most wooden fences are installed unfinished, and must be sealed, stained, or painted within a month of installation to help prevent long-term damage. The wooden fence will also likely need to be refinished every couple of years. You also need to be aware from the outset that it’s not a matter of if your wooden fence will warp, it’s a matter of when. Because wood is susceptible to the elements, even when it is protected with a sealant, boards will eventually warp or rot and need to be replaced. It is important to regularly check on the integrity of your wooden fence to ensure your property’s security.

Usage Options

The last thing to consider when comparing fencing options is what purpose you want the fence to serve. If privacy is your main goal, wood may be a good option, as panels can be made to be solid, blocking out any prying eyes in the neighborhood. However, for most other uses, aluminum is generally considered to be superior. While both aluminum and wood can help provide a measure of security to your property, aluminum is longer-lasting, meaning you don’t have to worry about weakened boards providing an easy entry point after they warp, rot, or wear after years in the sun and rain. Aluminum fencing is also ideal for keeping children and pets away from pools or in a yard. Unlike wooden fences, aluminum fencing also gives you the option for motorized gates, which can add to your property’s security and curb appeal. The durability of aluminum fencing makes it the best choice for most security concerns, with the fact that it is available in a wide range of designs, heights, and colors being an aesthetic bonus. There are a lot of factors to consider when you’re deciding what type of fence to install on your property. From appearance to security, you need to make sure that the fence you choose can meet all of your needs. Aluminum fencing is a durable, versatile, and attractive product that makes it ideal for most fencing projects. Whether you’re going to install the fence yourself or hire professionals, consider how an aluminum fence can improve your commercial or residential property.