Fencing & Metal

Metal fencing is not only sturdy and durable, but it also makes your home look pleasing and enhances the beauty of your property. There is much variation in fences from patterns to design. For gates, you have ornamented tops that can give you exactly what you would expect from your yard. Although metal fencing is not privacy-friendly, it can give you the security to some extent by keeping your pets and children safe or provide a beautiful looking yard to establish your property.

What kinds of materials can you choose for metal fencing?

1. Tubular Steel
Pros: Steel is robust enough supporting 8-foot-long panels—and a lesser number of posts.
Cons: Galvanized and then painted – but steel can rust and scratch.

2. Tubular Aluminum
Pros: Aluminum is four times lighter than steel and will not rust at all.
Cons: Noticeable fasteners and may pierce the pickets.

3. Solid Steel
Pros: Solid steel fencing is available in different designs and curves and stronger than tubular steel.
Cons: They are high maintenance.

Aluminum vs. Steel Fencing
Usually, metal fencing is 4 or 5 feet wide, which are ready-made panels made of aluminum or steel. Both metals are suited for metal fences with certain advantages. Aluminum is lighter and rustproof, which can be easily painted, giving you a finishing look of your desire. Whereas steel is cheaper, and it can bear more stress than aluminum. It comes down to your preferences for what material to choose.

What is the cost of metal fencing?
The metal fences can go up to 12 feet in height for security purposes, but usually, the size ranges from 3 to 5 feet high, including decoration and ornaments. The pattern can be anything you can imagine, like spades, arches, spikes, and other kinds of design. The short fences can be quite delicate, and though it’s possible for a homeowner to do the installations themselves, this work is best suited for professionals as it can be a time-demanding task for you. They usually come in the price bracket of $15 to $30 per foot, depending on the height and sophistication of the pattern. If they are not properly installed, they can easily be taken down with a bit of force. On the other hand, fences, which are structurally more robust yet attractive, can hold high pressure and weight. The cost jumps to $20 to $75 per foot depending on the height, thickness, and complexity of the pattern. These fences are stronger, heavier, and still can have all the fancy designs of your imagination. Again, you can do it on your own if you have the right tools to dig post holes and lay cement and some expertise, but to ensure that you get the quality done right, it is a wiser decision to hire a fence contractor.

What about metal gates?
Fences alone cannot be installed to give the desired look; you need to have a gate attached to the fences to complete the flow. The gate can be single or double to a more complex gate with a sophisticated pattern or design. Make sure to keep the budget in mind, because a simple four-foot-wide gate with a pattern can range between $100 to $600 depending on the gate's height and thickness. However, a more sophisticated gate can cost $250 to $1000.

What are some common mistakes when installing metal fencing?
Fences can give you elegance, security, and privacy, but it might be an ugly addition that you have to bear or something pleasant which enhances your house's beauty. There are some common errors you can make when planning, installing, and later on repairing it. If you can avoid these mistakes, it can save you time and money.

1. Ignorance of Local Codes
The rules and regulations for the installation of fences can vary from one state to another, and those differences can be explained in detail or not at all. If you do happen to live in a posh area of your country, certain rules on fences regarding what is acceptable or what is not in that area could include height, color, and even material.
On the other hand, in general areas, it is mostly used to ensure your safety. For more remote areas, the regulations tend to be lenient. You need to be vigilant about these rules and regulations because if you are not following the rules, you could be making a huge offense. Most homeowners think they can sneak out with making their fences a bit taller than specified or other rules defined for fences.
You are not always caught when sneaking out, but if you ever get seen by the officials, you might not like it or want to deal with it because it will cost you heavy fines. The best course of action is to play safe. Find out about what rules local authorities have put out for installing a new fence. If you follow the rules, you do not worry about fines, law, or replacing your fence in the long run.

2. Ignoring Your Home's Design
Another simple yet common mistake you can make is not paying enough attention to your house. Fences do not have to always complement your home, as being too matching can make it look unpleasant, and at the same time, you do not want to make a choice that seems like a war with your home's design esthetics.
For example, a chain-link fence can do a pretty good job in preventing your pets and kids go outside the yard, but it might not be enhancing your home's overall beauty. You can think of more similar examples, but the thing is, you need to spare some time and look at your house as to what will complement it, but at the same time, it promises to deliver your safety and privacy.
As soon as you start to pay attention, start to ask yourself questions about your potential fencing, like what color to choose? Should it be round or sloped? Should I use ornaments or keep it simple? And many more questions. This knowledge will help you avoid the mistake and save you a couple of dollars on replacing and repainting.

3. Unstable Installation
The proper procedure to ensure that your fence is reliable includes digging a hole and filling it with concrete. Then insert the fence post and pour more concrete over it and hold the post until the cement dries up to a certain extent. This common mistake does not include the mentioned procedure. Instead, what you or inexperienced worker does is drive the post into the ground, which might seem stable enough for the time being. Still, in the long run, it is not reliable at all, and the stability of fences depends heavily on posts.
You will be satisfied that your contractor took time and put effort into doing things the right way when the strong winds blow, or your kids climb the fence. The common mistake in the installation is improper anchoring, leading to consistent repair work in the future. Your contractor might try to run away from it by telling you that you do not need a specific anchoring type, but do not blindly believe him. Go online and do some research on why you do not need it. If the answers differ, try contacting another contractor.

4. Blocking the View
The main reason why most people install fences is to give a sense of privacy because you wouldn't want someone to peek into your yard while you are sunbathing or doing something else you want to keep private. While you want to create a privacy fence, do not make the mistake of blocking your view during installation. It might be inevitable in a certain scenario, but there are many options available that can promise privacy and a great view.
The fences with wood planks that overlap to a certain degree are a good option to consider because when you look at them directly, it ensures privacy. You cannot see the other side, but you can see the other side if you look from another angle. Some people find the use of trees as an excellent way to maintain privacy. Although it might block your view to some extent, some people prefer to look at trees rather than a row of fencing.
The common mistake that you might make is that in trying to protect your privacy, you might end up blocking the view of your neighbors too, which is the main reason why regulations exist in the first place. The best practice is to stand in your neighbor's yard and check that your fence blocks the view into your yard. If so, GREAT! If not, then you might want to tweak your fence a bit.

What kinds of repair mistakes occur with metal fencing?
You would probably make mistakes during the planning and installation of a fence. Similarly, you will make errors when repairing the fences. Most of the time, the repair is related to the quality of work and attention to detail.
Like a global smartphone, the company promises to solve any issue you face for one year under certain terms and conditions. Similarly, a professional contractor will provide you some sort of warranty for the work he has done. If you fail to obtain a warranty, that could result in you having to pay higher repair bills. The second mistake you would make is hiring a different contractor for the installation of the fence and the other contractor for repairing.
This is probably the biggest mistake you will make. Just as the maker knows the ins and outs of the product he created, similarly, the contractor who installed your fence knows better how to repair that fence. Even though the person can vary, the company that installed that fence is the same, so they know how to provide quick and reliable repairs. If for some reason you cannot get in touch with the same company, then ask the potential repair workers if they have dealt with a similar type of fence.

What is the lifespan of metal fencing?
If you can preserve the finish, then the hollow steel can have a lifespan of 20 years or above. A tubular aluminum fence is a lifetime investment.