In most cases a fence will mark an internal or external boundary of some kind; it may act merely as marker or be used for total or partial privacy. There are several consideration to take into account before you choose a fence for your home.
An important factor could be security: is the fence to keep out intruders or keep children and animails in or out? If your house is on an exposed site, you will have to consider wind resistance; choose a fence with medium or low wind resistance since a solied barrier could create sufficient turbulance to damage plants or be completely blown over. Consider the aspect of light transmission, a fence may cast shadows on your plants, especially if it is built on the south side of a small garden, even a low fence can cast considerable shadow, especially in winter. You must consider the appearance of the fence, especially in suburban areas. The fence may only need to be temporary until a hedge has grown or you could use a wire fence and let the hedge grow over it, or the sole purpose of fence may be to support climbing plants. The most important factor in your decision is to ensure the fence blends in with the overall garden design and with the building it adjoins.
Timber, the traditional fencing material, is often chosen for its mellow, rustic appearance. Other materials, including metal, concrete, and plastic, can be used for fences. Posts are subject to continuous damp conditions below and above ground. It is very important to choose a timber which is resistant to decay, and the ideal timber in this respect is oak. Rails and boards can be made from softwood as long as you treat them correctly with preservative. Most softwood are less likely to crack or twist than hardwoods used above the ground for this purpose; Douglas fir, spruce, pine and hemlock are suitable softwoods.
Types of fencing
These is a variety of fencing available for different purposes and situations. You can either build the fence on site from timber ordered from your local timber yard or buy a fencing kit for most types of timber fences. View Full Article »
When you decorate the outside of your house you are really doing two jobs: enhancing its appearance and greatly improving its resistance to the elements. If you do the job properly, with careful planning and sound preparation, the finish should last for about five years.
You first task is to decide on a colour scheme. Remember your house should be seen as part of an environment and, in most case, colours should blend with surrounding properties. However, colour conformity is not so important in a street where the houses are of differing architecture – and a row of uniform terraced cottages can be given individuality by dramatic colour contrasts. In general though, unless you have a true fair for colour and design, it is best to choose a more conventional scheme: white, grey or beige are traditional choices for walls; if you want to add a splash of colour, save it for the woodwork which is not too difficult to repaint should you tire of the effect.
Apart from using colour, you can also enhance the appearance of a house by adding timber or plastic cladding, installing new windows and window shutters etc. But be careful: certain forms of improvement which are attractive from the extra protection they offer can detract from the character of the house. Dramatic changes may require planning permission so check with your local planning department before buying materials for new features.
Ideally, exterior decorating should be started and completed between spring and autumn because frost, rain and snow are likely to have a detrimental effect on new paint. On showery days, when it is likely to rain, check wether there is any repair or preparatory work you can do, or any enclosed areas (like a porch) you can paint. Alternatively you could beat the elements by removing a garden gate or side entrance door and painting it indoors or in the garage.
Hot sun is uncomfortable to work in and soon makes you tired. It also causes paint to blister and the glare can make it impossible for you to see which areas have been painted. Always follow the sun; as soon as it has moved, leaving wall in the shade, conditions will be ideal and you should start work in this area. View Full Article »
A new front door may be a ‘once in a lifetime’ purchase so choose carefully from the wide range available. Your front door is usually the first part of your home visitors notice, so its appearance is particulary important. A solid, well protected door will also deter burglars and keep wind and rain at bay. So if your door is cracked, peeling, warped or badly fitting, it is worth investing in a new one not only appearance’s sake but also for security. The back of the house, too, merits attention. You can let more light into your kitchen by fitting glazed door, or you can open out your living room to the garden with a sliding patio door.
Doors are obtainable from joinery shops, timber merchants, specialist shops and, in some cases, direct from the manufacturer. There is a wide range of styles and materials available for front door. While all the doors serve practically the same purpose, there are heavy wooden or wrought iron
doors that have to be dragged shut, while there are light revolving doors that allow easy passage to people. Much of this difference is based on the materials that go into the construction of front doors. Wood is the oldest in door materials. Its strength and elegance once made it the undisputed choice for making doors. Wooden doors may be of hardwood or softwood. Hardwood is obviously stronger and generally preferred for front doors.
Panelled and boarded doors make a solid and impressive front entrance. Most panelled doors come in a variety of styles with from four to 21 panels; timber include redwood, cedar and pine. If you want a traditional panelled door but wish to let some light into the hall, choose a door with a fanlight or a glass panel.
In most cases doors are supplied without fittings, such as locks, handles, hinges, and letter boxes. But most shop supplying doors also sell hardware and there is a wide range available; in some cases, a set of hardware is offered as an optional extra. If you cannot get a ready-made door to fit your existing frame, you can have one made to your own specification in the design and material of your choice.
In most cases a fence will mark an internal or external boundary of some kind; it may act merely as marker or be used for total or partial privacy. There are several consideration to take into account before you choose a fence for your home.
