Everything Homeowners Need To Know About Buying Aluminum Fences

By Ida Dorsey


Wrought iron fencing has been used for centuries for establishing the boundaries of a property in a elegant-looking manner, and while strong, iron can be expensive and time-consuming to maintain. Many homeowners today are switching to aluminum fences, as this alternative to iron offers many of the same classic styles, comparable strength, and has the advantage of requiring basically no maintenance once installed.

Categorized according to its grade, aluminum fencing is available in commercial, industrial, and residential grades. Urban properties are most often fenced with residential grade materials, but many landowners in the country opt for a stronger grade to keep animals like cattle and horses off their property.

Furthermore, the thickness and strength of the fencing material is indicated by its gauge. One must also consider the manner in which the panels of the fence have been assembled, joints should be forged with welded seams rather than tack or spot welds or rivets which are usually weaker and will not as likely stand up for years to come.

The basic structure consists of two parallel, horizontal rails which support a series of vertical pickets which may be straight, curved, or scrolled. The ends of these pickets may be simple or fancy and detailed. There are also posts which have varying weights, with those placed at the ends, corners, or on either side of the gate being heaviest. Posts can be topped off with decorative end caps. The matching gate allows access to the property. Colors may be black, green, white, bronze and several others, and the finishes applied to the material are designed to protect it and eliminate the need for maintenance.

Besides creating a timeless classy look, this versatile fencing provides good security and is suitable for almost any property be it a gated community, place of business, a school, or someone's private residence. There are several heights to choose from to match one's security needs, many homeowners choose aluminum fencing to meet municipal requirements for enclosing an on-site swimming pool.

The market offers buyers a large number of manufacturers to choose from, so it's a good idea to do a little research into what each has to offer before settling on one. The product which most closely matches one's fencing needs is the smartest choice. It is then necessary to locate a distributor in one's area that sells it.

When purchasing the fencing, the buyer should be supplied with a lifetime warranty from the manufacturer. Although the metal has been treated in such a way that it is unlikely to peel, chip, or crack, it still pays to have this added reassurance that any problem will be covered at the manufacturer.

The installation of the new fence can be handled by either a crew managed by the distributor, a private fencing contractor, or the homeowner, as long as he or she is familiar with this type of work and has sufficient knowledge and skills to do it successfully. In general, it is not hard to install, but care must be taken to space the panels and posts with a high degree of precision.




About the Author:



Popular Posts