Fencing Tips Only An Experienced Contractor Would Share
You will never quite feel safe nor truly ‘at home’ if your residential property is not securely fenced. To improve both your security and boost your home’s curb appeal, you are probably now considering installing a new fence.
You likely have an idea of what shape and form that fence will take. Your choices will depend on your budget, tastes, and level of security and durability you are after, among other considerations.
While making the right choices on the type of fence is central to the success of your project, the fencing contractor you choose can also play a pivotal role. There are many fencing contractors in Toronto, so it is easy to make the wrong choice.
Choosing the right contractor ensures the project is delivered on time and within your budget. That’s not all it can do for you:
Tap into your fencing contractor’s experience for guidance on the most functional fencing solutions
When you look at it, your fencing contractor is your best possible guide for choosing a fencing solution that meets your needs and budget.
If you choose the right contractor, it is likely they will have years of local experience. That experience gives them indispensable knowledge you can utilize by simply asking the right questions.
At Jay Fencing, we have been serving Southern Ontario for over 30 years. When it comes to choosing fencing solutions, we can confidently separate the good from the bad.
We know, for example, how Toronto’s brutal and wet winters can ravage wooden fences and, importantly, how best you can protect yours so you can get the longest service from it.
Below we share fencing tips an inexperienced fencing contractor would never speak authoritatively on.
Maximizing your fence’s security
Whether or not you live in a high crime area, you will sleep better knowing you have a fence so secure that any intruder would not have it all their way if they choose to cross your property line.
But a strong fence that isn’t easy to breach can easily be interpreted as one that’s expensive to install. Is it, though?
Use an anti-climb fence topper to discourage intrusions
Fence toppers are an inexpensive way to prevent burglars from climbing over your fence. Generally, the harder you make it to climb over your fence the less likely vandals and thieves are to try to break in.
You have probably seen razor wire fence toppers on chain link fences. But a good fencing contractor can fashion a fence topper for almost any type of fence. For example, for your wood stockade privacy fence, we would suggest fitting angled steel spikes.
Of course, there are questions to answer on fence height regulations. Adding a fence topper after the fact can mean your fence may end up taller than local regulations allow.
Because we have built many types of fences with toppers over the years, we would know to suggest making one part of the fence’s design. This way you know your fence will be secure and still meet code.
Ensure adequate lighting around your fence
For intruders and burglars, darkness is often the best cover. In our experience, even the best fences can be breached if the intruder has adequate enough cover.
If you have limited street lighting, consider installing security lights along your fence’s perimeter. But make sure the lighting is inaccessible from outside. Some criminals will try to disable the lights so they can climb the fence unnoticed.
Fencing tips for privacy
Unsurprisingly, privacy is a top concern for homeowners in Toronto. And it should be. Your residential property is one of the few places where you can still live relatively inconspicuously. Step outside your gate and your right to privacy isn’t guaranteed.
The challenge is to make sure you get a fence that keeps nosy neighbors out of your business but still not make your property look like a maximum-security prison. You can very easily end up with a fence that barely looks like nothing you had in mind.
Privacy fences don’t have to be dull and boring
Vinyl and stockade fences are some of our favorite options where fences that deliver on looks, security, and privacy are concerned. That said, we know that each has its place and will suit a specific type of property.
In our time we have seen privacy fence failures that we are motivated to ensure you avoid. Most important, we will make sure your fence allows you to enjoy your outdoor living spaces with relative seclusion without hiding or distracting from your property’s best features.
Effective fencing solutions that will not break the bank
You may want to work with an experienced fencing contractor for the reason that they can point you towards more budget-friendly solutions.
Even so, we have been in this business long enough to know that a fence can be cheap to build and yet be expensive to maintain in the long run.
While wood is a cheaper fencing material that also has great appeal for its warmth and sustainability as a natural material, it is more expensive to maintain and won’t last as long as vinyl.
Are you are struggling to decide between two or more fencing materials? We will happily share our experience with each as well as their general pros and cons so you can make the right choice for your fencing project.
Unusual fencing materials that may not quickly come to mind
When you have been in an industry as long as we have, you can be tempted to think you have seen it all. But every day we are surprised at the ingenuity and creativity of property owners and fellow fencing contractors.
We have, of course, not seen it all. But we have seen a lot, including materials that may not be the most conventional but which can be the best fit for your fencing project. We are talking of:
- corrugated sheet fences, that are great for both security and privacy and can produce a pleasing aesthetic look,
- Repurposed old wooden pallets for a cheap and yet functional fence,
- Simple ‘living’ privacy fences that only entail training vines and hedges on your chain link fence.
Fence easy by choosing an experienced fencing contractor
Many of the problems and anxieties homeowners encounter when deciding on a type of fence and installing it successfully can be fixed by choosing an experienced local fencing contractor.
Working with the right contractor ensures you avoid common pitfalls, choose materials that can best handle local conditions, and that your project finishes on time, meets zoning laws and building codes, and gives you a fence that will serve you for years to come.
If you are in Toronto or any part of the Greater Toronto Area, Jay Fencing is the fencing contractor many homeowners and small businesses trust. We are just a call away and will be delighted to work with you on your project.
Jay’s Fencing is a leading fencing contractor in Ontario. We have worked on many fencing jobs in the city and surrounding towns. Contact us today to discuss how we can help with your project.