Bamboo Fence in Zebulon

    We installed a bamboo fence in Zebulon last week. The home owner was looking for something different and classy. He needed the fence to be able to give his dog (Dachshund) a safe place to play, and a fence to fit in with the plan for his yard. We looked at vinyl and wood, but these options were not what the home owner was looking for. The home owner started looking at fence designs online and found pictures of bamboo fencing. He called me to share what he learned. The bamboo he found was from www.CaliBamboo.com.  After a call to Cali Bamboo, the material was on the way and delivered in about a week! The fence would be 6′ tall bamboo with a picture frame.

    We began setting posts for the fence on Thursday. Digging conditions were great- red clay with very little rock. We used 4×4 posts for the line and 6×6 posts for the gates, all set in concrete. The fence was around 185′ total with one single gate and one double gate. The set took us a few hours to complete. We let the posts set overnight giving the concrete time to set.

    We arrived at the job the following Friday morning. With the bamboo, we used a 2 rail system composed of 2×4 runners. The top runner was set 6′ tall at the high point going level to the next post. The bottom rail was set just off ground level and followed the grade of the land. The bamboo was then attatched by screws to the runners. Being a picture frame fence, the fence had to be “stair stepped”.

    We finished the fence on Saturday. We installed the top and bottom face plates to the outside of the fence, and a top plate of 2×6 lumber. The gate hardware was attatched. We were extremely happy to see how strong the bamboo was! With only a top and bottom rail, the bamboo was very stiff and had very little give when pushed on. You can see the finished fence at www.carolinacustomfence.com/bamboofencezebulon.

     A few notes if you wish to install a bamboo fence yourself. When attatching the bamboo, be sure to drill pilot holes for the screws. If you don’t, you will crack the bamboo. Drill the screw in to secure the bamboo, but not too tight- again, you will crack the bamboo. Use a fine tooth saw to cut the bamboo to avoid splintering. We used a 60 tooth finish blade on a circular saw and a 24 tooth metal blade on a sawzall.

     Please post any questions or comments for bamboo fencing and I will be sure to answer them. Feel free to call me directly as well at 919-796-0464. You can also see other fence styles and designs at www.carolinacustomfence.com.

Thanks for reading!

Scott

Carolina Custom Fences is Proud to Offer Kiln Dried Lumber

     One of the biggest problems in fence construction is warping or bowed lumber. No matter how high the craftsmanship, a bowed peice of lumber can be an eye sore and ruin the whole appearance of a fence. Bowing and warping are mainly caused by the drying process of pressure treated lumber. Basically, there is no drying process. The lumber is pressure treated, straped into pallets, and sent off to lumber stores for sale. The wet lumber reaches the store and starts to air dry. While drying, the lumber bows and warps. If left in the sun to dry, the warping is even worse!

    Kiln dried lumber is dried before shipping it to the lumber store. The lumber is less likley to warp or bow due to the drying process. The lumber will stay straight in the sun and make a much more eye pleasing fence. Kiln dried lumber is usually prime lumber, not #2 lumber. #2 lumber usually has slight defects, such as knots and bark on one side of the lumber. The other side of the lumber is usually in pretty good shape. #2 lumber is the industry standard in fencing. Prime lumber is bark free and should have very few knots. The lumber looks the same on both sides.

     Of course the old saying is true- “you get what you pay for”.  #2 lumber is less expensive and makes a functional fence. Prime lumber is slightly higher than #2 lumber, and kiln dried lumber is slightly higher than prime lumber. It all depends on your needs and your budget.

      Carolina Custom Fences is proud to announce we offer all of the above lumber. Our goal is to provide you with the fence you want and need within your budget. Give us a call to find out the different options there are. This is free and has no obligations.

Carolina Custom Fences LLC

919-796-0464

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

Staining Pressure treated wood fencing

Although I was going to include this blog later in the series, I have gotten many inquires about staining pressure treated wood. It seems the main questions are how long to wait to stain a new fence, what product to use, and how to apply it.

The length of time to wait to stain or seal a new fence depends on the material used to construct the fence. Most fences in the Raleigh area are built with pressure treated southern yellow pine. But the thickness of the picket and how dry it is plays a factor in the proper time to stain. The most common picket used in this area is a 5/8″ thick picket. This picket always seems to be very dry when purchased. Due to this picket being fairly thin, the sun tends to warp and split this picket type. This picket can be stained as soon as it is put up. As a matter of fact, the sooner the better! A 3/4″ picket tends to stand up to the sun better. It can warp and split, but is less likely to due so then the 5/8″ board. It is not completely dry when purchased, and needs to weather for 3-4 weeks before being stained. Then there is deck board, or 5/4″ board, which is a full 1″ thick. This board is very hearty and is wet when purchased. This type of picket needs to weather for 4-6 months before staining!

We do not recommend a specific product to use when staining a fence, but it does need to have a few things in it. Of course, it needs to be an outdoor stain. It also needs to have a water sealer and  UV protection in it. The water sealer keeps the water from getting in the wood and splitting it. The UV protection helps protect from the harmful rays from the sun that warp and split wood as well. A color, tint, or clear application will do fine as long as it has these items in it.

Application can be done by a brush, roller, or sprayer. We recommend a pump sprayer that can be bout at the home improvement store for about $30.00. Be careful not to spray bushes or flowers as it can damage or kill them.

Thanks for reading! Please feel free to comment with any topics you would like to see a blog on!

Wooden Fences- Post Spacing

Setting the fence posts is an important step in fence construction. After all, it is the foundation of the fence. Just like a house, if you have a weak foundation, the structure on top will be weak as well. The same holds true for fences. Once a post is set in the ground, it takes alot of work to pull it out. Take the time to lay out the placement of the posts carefully. Here are some tips on spacing posts.

The first thing you want to do is locate underground utilities. This takes a call to the NC One Call Center. They will come out and mark the underground utilities free of charge. Once the utilities have been located, You will need a few things. Get some grade stakes and mason sting from your local home improvement store. It will also be helpful to get a can of marking spray paint (the kind that sprays upside down). You will also need a level, a hammer or mallet, post hole diggers or an auger, cement, a wheel barrow, and a shovel.

The first step is to find the property lines. It is best to find the iron pipe in the ground set by a survey company. If the fence is going to be close to the property line, tie one end of the mason’s string to the property marker. stretch the string to the other property marker. Pull the string tight and make sure it is not hung up on shrubs or grass. This will show you your property line. You will want to construct your fence so nothing below ground or above ground is off your property. Next, Drive a grade stake in the ground with a hammer or mallet at the locations of your corner and end posts. Run the mason’s string from grade stake to grade stake, making one continuous line.  Once you are done, the mason’s line will show you the layout of your fence.  Now its time to determine post spacing.

Post spacing is the distance between fence posts, commonly measured from center to center. It is our recommendation not to place fence posts more than 8′ apart on center. To make the fence have a uniform appearance, heres a trick. Measure one run of the fence, from corner post to corner post. Try to find a number between 7 and 8 (yes, it will be decimals!) that goes into the measurement equally. That will be your post spacing. Here is an example. Lets say the back run of your fence is 115′ long. You want to find a number that is between 7 and 8 that goes into 115 as equally as possible. In this case 7.65 goes into 115 15.03 times. Pretty even! If you set your posts 7.65′ apart on center, you will have even post spacing throughout the run. If you took this same measurement and set your posts 8′ apart, the last section of fencing would be about 2 1/2′ long. This could look awkward! Starting at the corner post, make a mark with spray paint on the ground every 7.65′. All of the sections will then be even. Repeat this for all the fence runs. Don’t worry if the measurements are different. Some may be 7.8′ and others may be 7.3′ apart. Once the fence is finished, you will never see the difference!

The next step is to dig holes and set the posts! Please check back soon to read this blog as well!

Thanks for reading! Please feel free to leave a comment with any questions, comments, or a blog you would like to see written. You can always contact me directly through our website: www.CarolinaCustomFence.com

Wooden Fences- Pressure treated retention ratings

When constructing a wooden fence, it is important to use a lumber that is rated properly for its use. When using southern yellow pine, the common wood in the Raleigh/Durham area, it is crucial that it is not only pressure treated, but also rated properly. This is referred to as the retention rating. The retention rating, simply put, is the amount of chemical the lumber retains after it is pressure treated. Lumber that is rated for ground contact has a retention rating of .40. Lumber that is rated for above ground use has a retention rating of .25, and marine lumber, lumber used at the coast and in boat areanas, has a retention rating of 2.0!

When purchasing fence posts, make sure they are rated for ground contact. Most 4×4 and 6×6 posts are rated for ground contact.  If the lumber is not rated for ground contact, the wood will decay when placed in the ground resulting in a fence with a short life. Although landscape timbers are less expensive than 4×4 posts, most landscape timbers are not rated for ground contact. You can read the back of the tag on the lumber and it will tell you the retention rating. The retention rating for in ground posts is very important for a long lasting fence. With that being said, there is no reason for overkill. Buying marine grade lumber with a 2.0 retention rating for a normal fence will not improve the life of the fence. It will only cost you more money and you will get the same results!

Pickets and runners also need to be pressure treated, but not at the same retention rating since they do not contact the ground. A retention rating of .25 is the common rating for this lumber. This rating protects the lumber from rain, washing the fence, and the normal elements, except for the sun. It is good practice to place pickets 1″ off the ground to allow for water drainage and to avoid constant ground contact. You can place pickets directly on the ground, but you may see swelling and splitting at the bottom of the picket over time due to constant ground contact. This also depends on the yard and area the fence is being installed on. If the fence is in an area of the yard where rain water drains, or the yard is naturally damp, the pickets will deteriorate more quickly if placed directly on the ground. This is a good subject to discuss with your fence contractor.

One element I have found to be a constant problem for wooden fencing is the sun. The extreme heat and exposure causes lumber to warp, bow, split, and grey. One way to protect form the sun is to stain the fence. You can use a clear stain or a colored stain. Either way, make sure the stain contains a UV protectant and a water sealer. Most stains can be applied with a pump sprayer and the job is fairly easy. Carolina Custom Fences does offer this service, but it is a job that can be easily accomplished by a home owner with a few hours to spare!

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

Scott

Wooden Fencing- Wood types

Once you have decided you want a wooden fence, you need to decide what type of wood you would like to use. The common wood in the Raleigh Durham area is pressure treated southern yellow pine. It is available at all lumber yards including home improvement stores. Southern yellow pine is used for privacy fences, picket fences, post and rail fences, 2 and 3 rail fences, and more. Although this is the common material used, there are other lumbers available. Cedar is a popular choice for post and rail fencing. The cedar is slightly more expensive in this application, but has some good features to mention. Cedar post and rail fencing has a more rugged look than southern yellow pine. The rails are all different as it is not milled through a saw. Cedar also has natural oils that resist the elements, similar to pressure treated lumber. It will gray over time if a uv protective sealant is not applied. Cedar can also be used in privacy fencing. It comes in regular pickets and a tounge and groove. Cedar privacy fencing is expensive! Another option in wood type is bamboo. It seems to be a growing tend and accents pools and tropical gardens well. Bamboo is considered “going green”, as it too has natural properties that resist the elements and is not treated with chemicals.

When it comes to southern yellow pine, it comes in different colors, so to say. It depends on the chemical used to treat it. Traditional pressure treated lumber is a brownish green color. Most decks are built out of this lumber. This types of lumber is treated with arsenic. Although tests have shown it does not leak enough of the chemical in the ground to be harmful to humans, it is not reommended for use near live stock drinking water, or a human drinking supply. Using this lumber on a property that has city water or even well water is considered safe. Another option is the bright pressure treated lumber. It has a much lighter appearance and almost looks as if it is not pressure treated. The lighter appearance is from what it is treated with. The bright pressure treated lumber is treated with copper. Both materials can easily be bought from local home improvement stores and lumber yards. The pressure treating qualities and life of the lumber are the same. We have installed both types and have found that the design of the fence plays a major role in the color of the wood used. If you would like your fence to blend in with the woods and have a more subtle effect, the traditional pressure treated lumber is a good choice. If you want your fence to stand out, the bright pressure treated lumber is a good choice.

For people in the Raleigh/Durham area, we try to keep a sample of both with us when we come out to do an estimate or consultation. If you are not in this area or want to do the research on your own, its easy to do. Home Depot carries bright pressure treated lumber, Lowes carries traditional. One more thing- Never burn pressure treated lumber! The chemicals are not healthy to breath! Dispose of it in land fills where pressure treated lumber is accepted!

Thanks for reading! Please feel free to comment with any suggestions on articles you would like to see!

Scott

Wooden Fences- Overview

One of the most popular choices in fencing is wooden fencing. It comes in many styles, shapes, sizes, is durable, and is economical. A wooden fence can be designed and built to accomplish almost any fencing need, and the choices in the look of the finished product are almost endless!

This is the first blog in a series about wooden fences. The series will cover everything from picking the proper wood, the proper pressure treating rating, different ways to set posts, materials used to make runners, and what runners are, different picket options, thicknesses, finishes, and colors, proper gate construction, post finales, different fence looks such as arched, scalloped, picture frame, fence maintenance, and more.

Wooden fencing has always been a favorite of mine to install. This comes simply because of the different looks and styles of wooden fencing. Its always exciting to start off with some 4×4 posts, 2×4’s, and a bunch of pickets and have a masterpiece unfold right before your eyes! I am looking foward to writing this series and hope you enjoy the articles I post!

Thanks for looking! Hope you check back soon!

Scott

Fence Styles and Design

Fence style and design is an important part of planning your fence. Since your new fence will be a part of your home for a long time to come, picking a fence style you like and a design that meets your needs should be done before fence construction starts. I enjoy working with our clients in this area due to so many different options. Lets start with fence styles.

Fence styles relate to the material used and the look of the material used. Most fences are constructed of wood, vinyl, chain link, or aluminum. With each of these materials, there are almost endless possibilities of what the end product will look like. Take wood for example. Not only do you have different woods to choose from, you can also arch the top, scallop the top ( the arch goes down), dog ear, flat top, or a picture frame, just to name few. You can also choose different picket styles, widths, heights, thicknesses, and spacings. You can choose from flat top posts, french gothic posts, 4×4 or 6×6 posts, hidden posts, exposed posts, the combinations go on and on! Vinyl fencing comes in many styles as well. From privacy to garden fences, flat tops or lattice tops. Vinyl also comes in a variety of colors and textures! Chain link fencing now comes in colors also. The chain link is coated with vinyl to extend the life of the fence and to make it more attractive. Aluminum fencing, also know as ornamental fencing, also comes in a variety of styles, colors, and heights. Take your time and llok at the different fences styles and types and put together the fence you have dreamed of. I’ll post more in the future on the highlights of each fence style, but for now know you have many different options  to choose from. You can also visit our website to see pictures of the different fence styles and types at www.carolinacustomfence.com.

Fence design goes hand in hand with with fence style. Fence design refers to the function of the fence, and the fence placement on the property. For example, if you need a fence for a pool, you will want to design a fence that meets pool code. You will also need to decide if it defines the pool area only, or the entire yard or property. Another example, and a popular reason to get a fence, is animal containment. If you have a small dog, you will need to design a fence he or she can not get out of. An aluminum fence with standard spaced pickets may let the dog squeeze through. A vinyl fence with a steep graded yard may leave gaps in the bottom as it steps down and the dog can go underneath. Make sure you talk with your contractor to be sure the fence you want will fit your needs.

When it comes to fence styles and design, do your homework. Look at pictures online. Visit the manufacturers websites. Discuss your wants, needs, and concerns with your contractor. Ask them for suggestions. Once your fence is complete, you will be happy you took the extra effort!

To see pictures of Fence Designs, please visit www.carolinacustomfence.com/fencephotoalbum. This page is updated regularly.

We are always happy to work with our clients. We offer free onsite consultations in the Triangle area.

Please feel free to visit our manufactures web sites

www.onlinefence.com (Master Halco)  www.onguardfencesystems.com (Aluminum)

www.certainteed.com (Vinyl)