Summer is finally here and you and the kids want to begin enjoying your backyard but you have concerns about privacy and security. That?s where a quality fence can help you get the most of your home and the summertime weather.

The style you choose will depend upon your budget, of course, as well whether you are more concerned with privacy, keeping the kids in the backyard within eyesight, or security, keeping trespassers and other unwanted guests off your property.

Your fencing choices range from the familiar chain link and wood to vinyl and composite to steel and aluminum. Each has their merits.

Chain link fences have been around in the United States since the early 20th century. They offer affordability and low maintenance and easily can be customized to fit around any backyard. These fences also provide security, although perhaps not the privacy you want.
Inexpensive and lightweight, wood fences are another popular choice. Besides the iconic white picket fence and lattice fence, you also can install a vertical board fence of varying heights to provide the greatest degree of safety, security and privacy. Wooden fences also can be contoured and shaped around your property to provide individuality and character.

Vinyl fencing, originally popularized by horse owners in the early 80s, provides the same safety and security as wood fencing but with a couple of other advantages. Vinyl is more flexible than wood, preventing serious injury in a collision. It also doesn?t retain moisture, thus it attract moss, mildew or insects. The initial cost is higher but the durability and reduced maintenance make vinyl a good long-term choice for fencing.

Composite fences are made from wood-plastic composites containing wood fiber or wood flour and thermoplastics such as PVC, PP and PE. Composites first were used for outdoor decks in the early 90s. These fences never need painting or staining but are susceptible to stains and mold, so do require some maintenance. Composites also are dense, making lightweight but still able to withstand the elements over the years. Composites do contain some wood and so will expand and contract with changing temperatures, which could cause warping.) Another potential drawback is they are more expensive than vinyl fences.
Aluminum fences are lightweight, durable and aesthetically pleasing. They withstand corrosion, making them ideal for waterside or seaside homes. Aluminum also is less expensive than steel (as well as being 100 percent recyclable). One drawback is they easily are bent, making them less attractive if safety and security are considerations.

Finally, steel fences are strong, long-lasting and, depending upon the style, can provide both privacy and security. They resist wind and other damage and most are galvanized and treated to prevent rust. Tubular steel fences also overcome one of this material?s drawbacks, which is weight. Steel is more expensive than aluminum, though.

Your choice of fence for your property obviously will depend upon the property itself, your needs for privacy and security versus aesthetics and your budget. So investigate all the options out there.

An aluminum fence is going to give you the illusion of a wrought-iron fence without having to worry about rusting. Along with a more affordable price, it?s one reason why so many people use aluminum fencing when wanting the iron look surrounding their residential or commercial property. But aluminum fencing isn?t going to be available all in one style or even size. You have to consider the materials on the fence as well as dealing with the problem of ground slopes.

Considering Height and Material

You have some options in the height of the fence. This can be decided by the height of the panels you choose as well as the posts. Panels can come flat-topped for a more conservative look or with spikes for ornamental tastes. Those who want to recreate the look of antique wrought-iron fencing usually choose the spiked panels.

All of these can come in varying heights for whatever purpose you have in mind. Some people don?t plan to keep children or pets contained in their yard, so a shorter aluminum fence can be used strictly for stylization purposes. These always look eye-catching around residential property.

Consider which type of posts you may need based on where you?re placing your fence. Line posts will be used if you?ll only be using a straight stretch of fence. Corner posts will be used if you?re placing fencing at angles around your property. All posts are pre-drilled for each intended purpose.

Dealing with Slopes

Lowe?s reminds that extreme slopes on your property pose issues in using aluminum fencing. So it?s a good idea to assess the nature of the sloping before making any decisions. The good news is that some slight sloping isn?t necessarily a problem. If you have a fence that?s six-feet high and the slope is less than a foot, panels can be slanted (otherwise known as raked) in order to keep the fence straight. It?s a unique engineering feat that?s proven to work.

You can stair-step the panels if the slope happens to be more than a foot. End posts have to be used in this scenario to keep the fence stable. However, it?s another example of how clever engineering can help you enjoy aluminum fencing when slopes become a concern on your property.

If you live in the Northern Virginia area and need aluminum fencing for your home or business, visit us here at Beitzell Fence. We offer aluminum fences at competitive prices and provide any other type of fencing you need.

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If you own a swimming pool, you already know how important it is to have the right fence for it. When choosing a fence, you may be tempted to go with a traditional wooden privacy fence, but the fact is that you actually have quite a few other options. Here are some pool fence ideas you may want to consider for your own home.

Rather than having a fence with vertical slats, create one that has boards running horizontally instead. This will provide you with the same type of privacy, yet gives a more rustic feel to your pool area. This type of fence is perfect for hanging plant baskets or placing window boxes full of flowers on.

A rock or stone fence can be a perfect accompaniment to a natural stone deck, and is also rather simple to construct. Make a wire ?basket? from fencing material, and then fill this basket with any type of stone or gravel you choose. Use wooden fence posts to anchor your wire basket and give it stability. This type of fence works especially well whenever it needs to double as a retaining wall.

If your pool has an oriental garden surrounding it, an excellent choice for fencing would be bamboo panels. These can be attached to wooden posts with ordinary rope, and will provide a nice focal point for a fountain and ornamental grasses. The best part about using this type of fencing material is the fact that bamboo takes very little time to grow back after it is harvested.

In some cases, a fence could be made by placing several fence posts together side by side. This might be a good choice if you are recycling more than one old fence, as you can easily mix and match materials to create your own unique look. Best of all, this type of fence will allow you a bit of privacy, while also allowing you to see beyond your pool area as well.

Of course, these are only a few ideas for pool fencing, as the choices you have are nearly unlimited. Here at Beitzell Fence, we are adept at installing many different types of fencing, and can help you come up with a look that suits your needs and budget perfectly.

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If you currently have a pool, or you are considering having one installed, then you should take some time to seriously consider having a pool fence installed on your property. Pool fences are essential in providing an extra layer of safety for any pool owner, especially for those who have children around frequently or even have children of their own. To help further illustrate this point, here are the top three reasons why you should have a pool fence installed on your property.

Safety

While this may sound like an obvious point, it cannot be stressed enough how important it is for safety reasons to have a fence around any pool. However, it becomes further impertinent to have a pool fence if you have young children or anyone who does not know how to swim living in your home. Pool fences add a layer of security that can be the difference between life and death for those who do not know how to swim. In fact, it is estimated that an average 300 children die each year due to accidental drowning in pools that do not have pool fences. Prevent this from happening to your family by having a pool fence installed.

Privacy

Another reason to have a fence installed around your pool is that they can add a level of privacy when you are enjoying your pool. If your backyard is not very private from view by your neighbors, installing a pool fence can help to prevent them from seeing into your pool area. This can be beneficial for those who feel self-conscious in a bathing suit, or for those who simply do not like the idea of their neighbors being able to watch them while they swim.

It?s the Law

Due to the safety hazards involved with having a pool that is not protected by a pool fence, many counties and even states are now making it law that if you have a pool, it must be protected by a pool fence. Depending on the jurisdiction you live in, you may be required to install a fence around your pool that meets certain criteria. For this reason, it would be beneficial to you to look up whether there are any pool fence regulations in your area. However, even if it is not law, it would be highly beneficial to you to still have a pool fence installed around your pool.

As you can see, it would truly be to your best advantage for the safety and security of your family to have a pool fence installed around your pool. If you are considering having a pool fence installed and would like to find out about the options that are available, contact us. Our friendly staff can help inform you about the pool fencing options that we have available. Our excellent service and prices have been unsurpassed for over 28 years, which will allow you to rest assured knowing that you are getting a safe, high-quality fence when you choose to buy your pool fence through us.

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Have you ever considered placing double gates on a fence surrounding your property? A gate is an important part of a fence that should always have serious consideration on its use. Even more so, it?s important where you place that gate so you can use it for entering a particular place, as a gateway for your car, or in a strategic spot to keep an eye on.

When it comes to security and aesthetic quality, a double gate may be exactly what you want as a way to send a statement.

Here?s some suggestions on where you might want to place your double gates and design them in a way so they blend into your fence.

Placing a Double Gate as Entry to a Garden or Yard

Using a double gate to enter a garden or yard space can create real charm. Particularly when you have a full door size double gate, opening it up to a well-landscaped backyard space can bring stunning appeal if you have regular visitors. Where you place that gate, though, should be seriously considered.

You might want to place your gate in an area where you can monitor regularly if you worry about security. While locks are easily applicable, a wooden double gate might be a concern if they?re along a street corner behind your house where people pass by regularly. In that regard, placing a double gate on fencing near the front part of your house might be better based on the quality of your neighborhood.

Placing a Double Gate in Front of a Driveway

This stylish approach to the double gate can give your property a little more security by preventing people from pulling into your driveway. With the ability to install remote openers, your gates don?t have to be opened manually. They can also represent a particular style of who you are based on the materials you use or custom design choice. Everything from see-through iron double gates to non-see-through wooden double gates set an immediate message about how much security you want with your driveway and cars.

Double Gates at Foot of Front Pathway

As a throwback to the old picket fence days of yore, you might want to place a picket double gate at the front walkway of your home. Unless you?re extremely private, these don?t have to be any taller than a few feet high to provide some charm to the outside of your home. When you add some flowers and other plantings nearby, you add even more of an appealing aesthetic for guests arriving at your home. Don?t make these gates complicated to open either so your guests won?t have trouble getting to your front door.

Blending Your Double Gates in with a Surrounding Fence

If you have a double gate in a place that isn?t always monitored, you can have it blend in with the rest of your fence by doing a few things. First, painting the gates the same color as the surrounding fence helps create a seamless line that makes it more difficult to determine where the gates are. Plus, making the gates the same height as the other fencing gives the illusion of being a part of the fence rather than a gateway. Eliminating handles from the outside also helps it look less tempting.

Despite these suggestions, you can create a double gate in any fashion you want here at Beitzell Fence. We specialize in every type of fencing imaginable and can help design a double gate your family will love using for generations.

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