For a Spring Fence, Start Planning Now

You may think that the best time to think about putting up a fence or maintaining the fence you have are the months between March and November. I would argue that now, December through February is the optimum time to plan a fence as well as to look and access the damage your fence incurs during the harshest time of the year.

Making plans is harder when there are more distractions. The colder months have always been useful for planning and taking stock, so consider walking around the area you want to fence. Look for possible issues, such as property lines and tree roots. These will be trouble later, but they can be easy to spot on bare winter ground.

Depending on your region, it's probably too cold to do any real fence work, but what about getting down your trusty tape measure and filling in a sketch with the details you need. Then you can begin looking for the kinds of fencing options for your job, and figure out if pre-made panels or building from scratch makes more sense.

You will want to consider the materials available for fencing in your part of the country. Remember that not all types of wood are suitable in all climates, due to issues with water or insects. Your local library, the internet, as well as various books and magazines all offer good advice as you conduct your research.

You'll want to begin thinking about your budget as well. What types of materials can you afford? Wood can vary in species and quality a great deal. And be sure to think about sealing a sub-grade wood, in order to prolong its serviceability.

Protecting your fence should also be a prime consideration, and fence post caps present an excellent and beautiful way of doing just that. In addition to being decorative, post caps protect the ends of posts from water and insect damage. Glue is recommended for installation, so it's best to do this on a warmer, pretty day.

If you live in a particularly cold climate, you need to be aware that rain and snow are horrible enemies of the wood fence. As rain penetrates wood and freezes, it expands and can cause nasty cracks to form. These can later become insect hideaways, and before a few seasons have gone by, your beautiful fence is ready to fall over. Now is a great time to walk out and inspect your existing fence line for signs of water and insect damage.

In addition to the ever-popular wood fence, vinyl and metal fencing options each have distinct advantages worth investigating. Privacy and picket fences can be made of vinyl and yet resemble wood very well. Wrought iron and aluminum fencing makes an attractive yard perimeter as well. There are lots of choices, but I hope you'll agree, there's no time like the present to think about and plan your fence project.

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December 26 2008 | Home Improvement | 1 Comment »