Understanding your fencing needs

    My family and I moved to a new home in Zebulon NC in 2002. To us this was a dream home. 7 acres of land, a nice ranch style house, a beautiful barn, and even a swimming pool! This seemed like a dream come true, and to an extend, it still is.

My wife Michele is strongly involved in animal rescue. She works with many animal rescue groups and organizations. For any one who been or is involved with animal rescue, it would be no surprise we ended up with 7 dogs, 2 cats, 3 parrots, 2 horses, one donkey, and a Guinea pig! We have 3 Great Danes, a German Shepard, a Black Lab, a Yellow Lab, Chuaua, an African Gray Parrot, 2 Amazon Parrots (not sure of the true name), 2 Tennessee Walking horses, and a regular old Donkey. Although we had the land to support all the animals, we had to also provide a safe environment for them.

As with most people who upgrade their home, we were on a limited budget. One of the first things we did was secure our back yard for our dogs. We had to build a fence which would secure a Chuaua and a Great Dane, and do it on a limited budget.  Our solution was to build a 6′ wooden privacy fence on the front of our home, and secure the rest of the yard with welded wire. It worked like a charm, and still works to this day! We were able to accomplish a fence that met our needs and build it within our budget. Alot of people think fence contractors would have the high dollar fences in their own yards, but the truth is, we have a budget for our fencing needs too.  Although I had the knowledge and the tools for the job, the price of the material alone was more than expected.

The next step in our fencing needs was to expand the pasture area for the horses. They had around 2 acres of pasture, but had no shelter and limited shade. The task of putting the horses in their stalls became a daily chore. We decided to give them an additional 2 acres of pasture with plenty of trees for shade and a large lean to for shelter. Again, we were on a limited budget. We constructed the extra pasture out of T-posts and hot wire. To be completely honest, this was even stretching the budget! The fence works great! Our horses have over 4 acres of pasture, shade, and shelter. And again, we figured out a way to do it within our budget! We even were able to put up an automatic gate on our driveway just in case the horses got out of the pasture, they couldn’t get to the highway!

I almost forgot! The swimming pool! The pool is a big hit with the kids! We have 3 girls who love the sun and water. The only problem- The pool area was not secure! State law tells us what we need in fencing for a swimming pool. We were able to put up a nice vinyl fence around our pool that looks good, meets the code and local law, and lets us rest easier knowing our pool is secure.

To make a long story short, I know the need for fencing and how it protects what is important to you. I understand how it feels to be on a limited budget and need a fence. We are here to help in anyway we can!

Carolina Custom Fences LLC

Welcome "Raleigh Fence Contractors LLC"!

We would like to welcome “Raleigh Fence Contractors LLC” to the triangle area! Owner Keith Bloemandaal has recently relocated to the Raleigh/Durham area from Florida, where he was in the fencing and construction industry for over 18 years. 

Keith brings an arsenal of knowledge to the table which will better the fencing industry as a whole in the Raleigh /Durham area. Keith has spent countless hours researching local area codes and practices in the area, and has published his findings in his blog which he updates frequently. The time and effort it takes to find this information and publish it deserves recognition and serves as a fencing resource for homeowners and businesses alike!

Raleigh Fence Contractors LLC installs wood, vinyl, chain link, and aluminum fencing, to name the basics. Keith provides free estimates and onsite consultations. The standards which Raleigh Fence Contractors LLC installs their fences exceeds the local industry standards. Give Keith a call and he will explain how and why!

Carolina Custom Fences LLC welcomes Raleigh Fence Contractors LLC to the triangle area. Hats off to Keith! We all appreciate the effort you are putting forth to better the fencing industry in the area! Keep up the good work!

Know What Your Getting- Pickets Can Vary Greatly!

Its not uncommon to meet with a potential new client and be the second or third fence company they have spoken with. Usually after speaking with two or three fence companies, people have a pretty good idea of what they want, and a ball park figure of how much it should cost. Somewhere during our conversation, I will ask what type of picket they want for their new fence, and to make sure all estimates are judged equally, what type of picket have the other companies quoted you on? The common response is “a 1×6x6 picket”. In the fencing industry, a 1×6x6 picket can mean a few different things. Unfortunately, potential clients are not properly informed of the different 1×6x6 picket choices. Lets start by explaining what a 1×6x6 picket is, and what the different numbers mean. A 1″x6″x6′ picket is a piece of lumber used to construct a fence with. The first number, “1″ refers to the pickets thickness. The second number “6″ refers to the pickets width. The third number “6″ refers to the pickets height. The first 2 numbers are in inches, the last number in feet. This sounds simple, but there’s more. The only number telling the truth is the third number, or the 6′ tall. The pickets are truly 6′ tall, but they are not 1″ thick and 6″ wide. The width of the picket varies between 5 1/2″ and 5 3/4″. This is no biggie, as it just relates to the width of the picket. Its the first number we have to pay attention too! Pickets come in three thickness- 5/8″, 3/4″, and 1″ (also referred to as 5/4″ board). They are all commonly referred to as 1×6x6 pickets. The 5/8″ picket is the industry standard, at leat at this time, and is the common picket on many quotes. Its trues measurement is 5/8″ thick. This picket has a rough feel known as a “rough saw”. If you run your hand down the picket, you will feel its rough texture and may get a splinter. This picket is economical, but tends to split and warp with exposure to the sun. This picket needs to be treated with a water sealer and a UV protectant as soon as it is put up. A 3/4″ picket is not only thicker, it is also smooth to the touch, also known as “appearance grade” lumber. It withstands the elements much better than the 5/8″ picket. It is less likely to split or warp as it is a thicker piece of wood. This picket type needs to have a water sealer and a UV protectant applied 3-4 weeks after installation. A 5/4″ picket is a true 1″ thick. It is also known as “deck board”, as this is what decks are build out of. This is a very hardy picket and withstands the elements the best out of the 3 pickets. It is manufactured for decks, and is meant for the elements and for heavy traffic. The picket is smooth to the touch and has rounded edges. The only downfall to this picket is its weight. It is extremely heavy! Gates must be properly constructed and set in a proper foundation to support the weight of the gate. This picket needs to be water sealed and have a UV protectant applied 5-6 months after installation. Ask your fence contractor which picket he or she plans on installing. When comparing quotes, make sure the same material is being used so you can compare apples to apples. You can also ask to see samples of the different pickets. Our company keeps samples of different pickets on every truck. The main point- be sure of what you are getting before it is installed! Surprises are good- just not in fencing! Be sure of what you are paying for! Thanks for reading! Please keep the comment coming with likes, dislikes, ideas for blogs, and questions! Scott

Setting Fence Posts Next to a House

I saw an interesting search phrase today- “Setting posts next to a house or structure”, and thought it would make an good topic to blog about. When setting posts next to a house, there will be a few obsticles. Basically underground utilities, the foundation, and water drainage pipes. The underground utilities are easy enough to get around. Call NC OneCall or your local underground utilities locator service. This is free of charge and can save you a huge headach, and possilbly your life! The foundation and drainage pipes are simple to overcome also. When the foundation for the house is poured, it is common for it to stick out about 6″-8″ from the house. This part of the foundation will be underground and you will never know it is there untill you dig. In newer homes, and some older homes, a 6″ black plastice drainage pipe is layed next to the foundation wall, again underground. The drainage pipe is usually surrounder by gravel. It is important not to block this pipe. If you block the pipe, water can not properly drain and you could end up with standing water in your crawlspace. Its not a good idea to cut through the pipe and fill it with concrete! A simple solution- Set your post 12″-16″ from the house. This should clear the foundation and the drainage pipe. Don’t worry- there will not be a huge gap between the house and post! Set your second post around 7′6″ from the house, or 7′-6′8″ from the post next to the house. When you connect your runners (the 2×4’s you connect the pickets too), have them run from the house to the second post. You will connect them to both the first post and the second post. The runners will extend from the first post to the house so you have ample room to connect your pickets. I’ll try to get a picture of this posted soon!

Thanks for reading! Please feel free to comment with any topics you would like to see blogged! Scott