Installing Porch Railings to Redesign Your Backyard

Now that it is summer, it is the perfect time to take a look at ways to reimagine your backyard. Not only is a backyard redesign an investment that can add value to your home; it’s also an investment in your happiness. The backyard offers the perfect backdrop to get together with friends and family to share old memories and make new ones. So what are some of the best ways to facilitate this environment? Here are a few ideas to consider:

• Update your deck or patio: The patio is a place to sit down after a long day and admire the sights and sounds of summer. It’s also a place to eat outside and play cards with some friends. There are many ways to update your deck and patio. You can install new deck or porch railings to add security and aesthetic appeal to your home. You can purchase deck stain to offset the damage done during the winter and protect against ultraviolent rays. Also, consider adding some potted plants for added decoration.
• Start a garden: If you’re feeling stressed out, why not try starting a garden? Gardening allows you to get some sun, which is a natural mood stabilizer, and also helps you to connect with nature as you take a step away from your mobile phone and email to get your hands dirty. In addition, if you plan on growing a vegetable garden, you’ll have fresh fruits and veggies for the summer. And don’t sweat it if you don’t have the soil for gardening. Container garden works well too. 
• Perform simple landscaping projects: You don’t need to be a master landscaper; there are simple projects out there that can really spruce up your home. These could include anything from installing pavers for a walkway to planting new shrubs or trimming old ones. You’d be surprised how much better your backyard will look after a few hours of landscaping. 

Four Things to Consider Before You Put in that Pool

Now that Memorial Days has passed us, we are now in the beginning of summer. And it didn’t take long for summer weather to come in full stride. The following days after Memorial Day saw temperatures in the low nineties for most of the Mid-Atlantic, which is well above the average high for the month of May. If you have experienced this weather and are looking for ways to cool off, a pool for your home might sound like a great idea. However, before you break ground or pick out a new swimsuit, there are some things you must consider. Here are four of the more pertinent ones:

• What is your budget? There are many different kinds of pools out there and a wide variety of prices that coincide with every budget. The four main types of pools are gunite, fiberglass, vinyl and above-ground. While a gunite pool can cost as much as $40,000 in the end, you should be able to get an above-ground for under a $1,000. However, a gunite pool or fiberglass pool is a far better investment than an above-ground pool if you’re concerned about home value.
• Don’t forget about the accessories: When considering budget, don’t forget about the accessories and costs that are inherent in owning a pool. These include the chemicals needed to clean your pool, any filter replacement parts or repairs, slides or diving board, cleaning tools, safety equipment and toys.
• Your insurance and energy bills might go up too: Remember that a pool can be a hazard if not managed correctly. Because of this, you should expect to see your home insurance premiums go up, depending on your individual insurer. In addition, you might see your energy costs rise due to the filter, heater and any other energy use in a pool’s upkeep.
• What about safety? In addition to safety accessories like flotation devices, you might want to consider purchasing swimming lessons for your children. And purchasing a fence is essential to keeping your unsupervised younger children away from the pool when you’re not there to watch them. It also prevents other children or animals from entering your pool, which could prove to be costly if you don’t have a fence and they fall in.

However, given these concerns, owning a pool is a great investment for many families as they provide years of memories and instant heat-relief. If you’re thinking about purchasing a pool, consider these and other things to make sure purchasing a pool is a viable option. 

Securing Your Home with a Fence and Other Measures

One of the biggest reasons people shop at Fence Center is to provide a viable and affordable way to secure their homes.  Although burglaries are down from the 1970s when 110 homes out of 1,000 were burglarized in some fashion, home burglaries are still a threat that you must consider to your family’s holdings. In 2012, the average amount of goods stolen per burglary equated to $1,675. In such a tight economy, this could be a devastating amount of money. However, there are ways to secure your home to deter burglars from entering it. Here are several musts. ·        

 Install a fence: We might be biased with this one because we sell them, but a fence is a great first step in securing your home. A fence not only acts as a physical barrier that forces a burglar to climb over it in order to access your home; they also limit visibility. A vinyl fence prevents the burglar from seeing what‘s on the other side. By not knowing, the burglar is less likely to take a chance. ·          

Get a guard dog: Did you know that 63% of all burglaries take place between the hours of 8 AM-6 PM – the hours most people are at work. Buying or adopting a dependable guard dog will let the burglar know that there is a presence at your home, even if you aren’t there. No burglar wants to bring attention to themselves due to a barking dog. Plus, a dog is a welcome, loyal addition to any family. ·          

Be mindful of your doors: Close to a third of all home burglars go through the front door. To combat this, make sure to invest in steel reinforcement or a very good deadbolt as a regular lock won’t be enough.  And remember to check your doors before you leave to make sure you remembered to lock them.

How a Chain Link Fence Can Protect Your Child or Pet as well as Add Value to your Home

If you’re looking to add a cost-effective safety measure to your home, you might want to consider purchasing a chain link fence. Although bamboo and aluminum fences may be more durable and limit visibility of your backyard, chain link fences can still set up property demarcations and protect your children and pets from venturing out and intruders from coming in. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of a chain link fence:

Your young children or pets won’t get out: Young children or pets are curious creatures. They want to explore what else is out there, but they don’t possess the maturity or knowledge to do so. In order to protect them, a chain link fence can act as a barrier to prevent their curiosity from causing them harm. However, do keep in mind that if your children are a little older, they can climb the fence. So make sure to still watch your children and explain to them why climbing the fence is wrong.

Intruders won’t get in: A fence acts as a deterrent for potential intruders because it shows that you do care about your security and can have other means in place to safeguard against threats. In addition, larger dogs and animals won’t be able to enter your yard too, which helps protect your own pets and children playing in the backyard.

Your home’s value will go up: If you’re encouraged by the recent increases in home prices, a chain link fence could be a worthwhile investment if you’re thinking about selling. A prospective homebuyer will want a fenced yard for the reasons mentioned above. If the fence is already there, that is one less thing they need to buy and could provide further encouragement to purchase your home at your asking price.

Fence Center has the chain link fence that will meet your needs. Learn more about our chain link fences here or call 1-888-336-2358, we'd love to hear from you!

How to be a Good Neighbor When Constructing a Fence for your Home

Now that it’s May and flowers are in full bloom, you might be tempted to take care of some projects that you put by the wayside all winter. One of those projects that will certainly add value to your home as well as protect your pets and children is constructing a fence. Before you even start thinking about the type of fence, however, there are a few things that you should keep in mind to maintain good relations with your neighbor and town.  We’ve all heard the phrase from Frost, “Good fences make good neighbors.” Well proper manners and consideration make happy neighbors as well. Here are some things to consider:

Talk to your neighbor: Yes, it might be your property, but it’s always a good idea to talk with your neighbors before constructing a fence. If you have an eyesore of a fence constructed, don’t expect to be invited to many block parties. It’s just good manners as you would want them to talk to you about it too.

Review your local building code: Every town is different when it comes to height restrictions and easements, so it’s a good idea to know of these before you construct the fence. If you construct a fence that is too high and your neighbor reports you, you might have to take it down. 

Make sure your property lines are correct: One of the biggest reasons people purchase and build fences is to set up property demarcations. However, in order to set up property demarcations, you need the right property lines. Otherwise, your neighbor might think you’re trying to invade his property, or at the very least, ask you to move your fence back.

What Type of Fence Should You Choose if You Have Children?

There’s no question that if you have young children, you should have a fence around your property. The fence will prevent your children from leaving the yard or your line of sight and stop unwanted visitors or strangers from entering your yard. However, the next question you might have after you decide that you want to construct a fence in your yard is which type of fence would be best for your needs? While any fence can be a great addition to your home, each offers different advantages.

Chain Link Fence: A chain link fence is one of the most affordable options you can choose. It’s also very easy to install and will keep your children protected.  However, if you do purchase a chain link fence, you must be aware that chain link fences are very easy to climb. Therefore, you’ll need to explain to your children why they shouldn’t or keep a close eye on them when they’re outside.

Wood Fence: A wood fence is another option that might work. They certainly provide more privacy than other fences because they completely block the view of your yard. They’re generally safe, but you’ll need to be mindful of splinters that could result from contact with the fence. They will also require more maintenance than other fences you’ll find at Fence Center.

Vinyl Fence: Vinyl fences have gotten more popular in recent years because of their durability. Wood fences are more likely to break than vinyl fences, and vinyl fences can withstand heavy activity, such as serving as a soccer goal for backyard play.

The type of fence you purchase will depend on the ages of your children, your budget and the specific characteristics of your backyard. Whatever the case, you can find the perfect fence for your home and family at Fence Center. In addition to chain link and vinyl fences, we offer many different aluminum and bamboo fences as well. Contact a representative today to learn more. 

Are You on the Fence about Purchasing a Fence for Your Home?

If you’re looking for a rather inexpensive way to add value to your home, you should take a look out the window. Chances are at least one of your neighbors has some sort of a fence – whether it is a simple chain link fence or durable vinyl one. A fence provides many benefits to the homeowner, and here are several of the more major ones if you still need persuasion.

Protection: This is the most important deciding factor; if you have children or pets, you need to have a fence around your yard to make sure they stay within the property. They also discourage unwanted visitors or stray dogs from entering your yard.

Boundary Demarcation: Hopefully, you won’t have this problem, but a fence can establish boundaries just in case, for example, if you have an overzealous landscaping neighbor who grows a tree that extends onto your property.

Privacy: If your neighbors have watched Rear Window a few too many times or are just a little bit too nosey for your liking, a privacy fence can allow you to maintain your privacy.

Decoration: Besides the practical uses of a fence, like the ones described above and others, fences can also be constructed for aesthetic reasons. A beautiful white vinyl or aluminum fence can complete your overall landscape design.

Not convinced yet? Contact a representative today to learn more about why purchasing a fence for your home is such a smart move. They provide value, privacy and decoration.