Let's Talk Fence

Sealing the Deal

Chris Brenner — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:22:44 +0000

This is a project for a local food bank in which, at the end of the job, an over site was found. On the day we were scheduled to finish, it was brought to the general contractor’s attention that this enclosure securing the building had no exit in the event of a fire. So they asked my opinion on how to maintain security and allow for free exit. As you can see I offered them a exit gate hardware assembly with a hydraulic gate closer and expanded metal. The exit gate hardware allows for key access from the outside and free exit from the inside. The hydraulic closer guarantees that once the gate is opened it will close and the expanded metal was installed on the fencing and gate so that a simple arm through the fence wouldn’t open the gate. Works like a champ.

Securing Large Openings

Chris Brenner — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:07:43 +0000

This is a high priority customer that puts an extreme emphasis on security. This project removed two old slide gates that were automated with hydraulic gate operators and replaced them with one big gate in order to make room for a turnstyle. One of the old gates had a problem every winter of freezing to the mulch that was in the landscaping, causing a problem with security. All of the landscaping was removed and replaced with concrete, the fencing relocated, one operator was removed and put in storage. The other was relocated including the existing photo beam and is the one in the picture. The opening on this new gate is 34′ and the height was increased to 8’8″. The additional height was to keep the gate close enough to the ground that it would be secure even though the 8′ fence was up on a curb. This project had several contractors involved and required lots of design meetings and communication, but we were able to work together and swap these gates out without ever leaving the opening without a working unit. That is just as impressive as this very large gate.

Not the Last Resort

Chris Brenner — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 22:51:39 +0000

This is another project featuring the Westbury aluminum railing product that we offer at Farm N Garden. This product line has to be fastest growing offering that we feature. This particular project is part of a club house renovation for a popular local resort. We were brought into the project by the building contractor, for which we have done lots of work. The style is one of many styles offered by Westbury and, along with the color, fits the project perfectly. Both the style and the color here are standard and are readily available from Westbury.

Simple Perfection

Chris Brenner — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 23:23:45 +0000

This is a fence project that started off plain and finished up terrific. When a customer approaches me about a pool project I always feel as though I owe it to them to make it perfect. When someone is buying a pool they are fulfilling a dream and the fence ends up being part of that. Here, the simple style led me to select some great accents, like the color, the arch gates and an easy flowing layout that radiuses around the landscape. The color is chocolate brown, which is our newest option and the arch gates definitely set off the visual lines.

White Vinyl Picket

Chris Brenner — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 02:34:44 +0000

This is a 4′ high Polyvinyl Sterling Picket Fence provided by Digger Specialties. With all of Digger Specialties Polyvinyl Fencing products you get a few things that you won’t find anywhere else. First, we have a hidden picket attachment. This allows the fence sections to rack to the grade and more closely resemble wood fencing, having the pickets on the outside of the rails. Plus, the clean looking finish of the fasteners hiding between the picket and the rail. Another great feature of Digger’s products is the ability to order the sections by the foot. This keeps all of the section sizes close enough to one another in length that visually your eye cannot pick up any differences, without having to handle (cut) and waste the materials. Sort of an underrated benefit of Digger Specialties is the product packaging and delivery. These fences come to Farm N Garden fully crated and shipped on a company truck. It may not sound like a feature but when everyone involved in handling these products cares, it will make a noticeable difference in the final project.
The finer points on this project are the gates and the post caps. These gates have an attractive arch top to them, including the double gates continuous convex construction. The post caps here are different on the end, gate and corner posts where we used the Trim Cap design. All of the line posts received the Flat Cap. What few will notice is the posts that have the Trim Caps are set up higher than the posts that have the Flat Caps. A touch I added to keep the Flat Caps flush with the pickets and making the Trim Caps stick up and stand out. I really like the minor touches that set this picket fence apart and what’s better is the customer’s comment card says “simply awesome”.

Commercial Railing with Hand Railing

Chris Brenner — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 12:27:40 +0000

This is a 42″ Westbury C-10 Tuscany Aluminum Railing with Continuous Aluminum Hand Railing and Power Posts, supplied by Digger Specialties. The client here is a local general contractor that we have done a lot of work for over the years. This particular installation is at a fire station next door to the township hall. The location here is notable because all of the applicable codes were sure to be enforced to the fullest extent. We had to submit test results on the posts and sections for strength. Also, the hand railing had to be installed to tight tolerances concerning the height and the distances that the 180 degree elbows extend past the first and last stair. It’s easy to see why the popularity of Westbury Railing continues to grow, offering many styles to accommodate the look for any scenario and strength to satisfy the most stringent codes.

Pool & Security Fencing

Chris Brenner — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:59:04 +0000

This is great example of combining security and the classic ornamental fencing look. This client has had a history of having the nearby neighbors “borrow” their pool after the apartment complex locks the gate at night. So while replacing their dated 4′ high steel fencing, that was far too easy to get over, security was the top priority. That is the primary reason we selected a 6′ high fence that has a spear topped picket and a large distance between the bottom and the middle rail, making this fencing style hard to climb. After a great deal of hunting I discovered this mechanical combination latch that requires a 4 digit pin number for both entry and exit. We also added the security keeper which keeps the gate from being pried away from the latch post and from being lifted far enough for the latch bolt to come put of the strike plate. And to go the extra step, we installed a hydraulic closer to guarantee the gate gets closed whether it’s opened an inch or to a maximum of 120 degrees.

Vinyl Lattice Top Privacy

Chris Brenner — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 02:41:26 +0000

This is phase 2 of a backyard enclosure using Polyvinyl Majestic style privacy fence. A couple of things that really stand out about this product are the interlocking vertical pickets and the layered vinyl lattice assembly. Having these privacy slats locking together provides the ultimate in rigid vinyl fencing panel construction. Also, the lattice being built of individual vinyl slats glued together make a stronger panel than the typical, flimsy, molded lattice found on most vinyl products. Not only is it substantially stronger but it also has a texture created by the raised slats, like wood lattice does.

The Wow Factor

Chris Brenner — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 17:43:34 +0000

This is one of the most impressive fence jobs we have done in my 16 years with Farm N Garden, so it is hard to find a place to start. We were fortunate enough to begin this project in an absolutely beautifully landscaped yard. I found while taking the photographs it was a little difficult to focus solely on the fence.
The rings and arch gates are an elegant touch to skirt this amazing yard but we also were given the opportunity to utilize our ability to work with some rolling slopes. We are able to handle situations like this by using double punched sections to keep the posts and pickets plumb. I think the final component that sets this stunning arrangement is the fence color. This is Speckled Walnut and is a standard color provided by Digger Specialties at no additional charge. I hope these photos do the entire project justice.

Classic railing look with a life time of elegance

Chris Brenner — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:49:44 +0000

The existing railing here was painted white painted cedar, so with a quick change to black aluminum it has become a timeless classic. The fine textured black powder coating is a very nice touch with the brick and the stream lined aluminum is total contrast to the chunky wood railing that was existing. Easy on the eye and flexible enough for almost any application, Westbury Aluminum Railing satisfies again.