Ok, so you've decided to go vinyl for your fence. Now comes the fun part of picking which brand you want to put in. You're probably thinking that it doesn't matter, but like anything else you get what you pay for.
You should probably do a little research before you go ahead and spend the oodles of money it costs to put up a fence. Keep in mind, don't go for a fence just because it's cheap. If you want to save money and do it yourself, there's really no issue with that, but don't settle on just going to one of the box stores because you think it's the only place that will allow you to walk out with a do it yourself kit. There are so many choices out there, and quite a few retailers will do a cash and carry type sale.
So what should you look for? Excellent question! First off, find out what kind of material is in your fence. Sure, they're all some variation on plastic, but not all are created equal. A lot of manufacturers will use recycled PVC to cut their costs. If you are into green, this may be the way to go, but the quality of the vinyl suffers for it. Unfortunately when the plastic is introduced into the mix, it messes with the overall formula of the fence. It doesn't cool the same way the second time around. The result is a brittle fence. You can't see the difference, but there is a good chance that it will at some point make its presence known. It will shatter more readily, especially in the cold which already makes most vinyl more brittle. They will try to woo you with beefier rails, don't be fooled. Ask what goes into it. There are manufacturers that have the bigger rails that are not using recycled material, but you'll probably notice a difference in the price.
Next, find out where it comes from. Some of the fence is imported. This may not necessarily be a bad thing, but chances are your installer/retailer isn't going to know what's actually in it. With the lead scares earlier this year, I would be a little wary.
You should also find out if there is any kind of UV inhibitor. Most vinyl fences will have them, just double check to be sure. If they say that it's coextruded, you are good to go. That means the outer layer has the inhibitor in it. The inside doesn't really need it as, well, it shouldn't ever actually see sunlight. Unless of course you bought the recycled stuff and it shattered allowing light into the inside of it... but at that point you have bigger problems.
When pricing out the fence, find out what you're paying for. If you are told, for sake of argument, a section is $100.00, and another guy tells you 105.00 for a very similar fence, find out if they are 6' or 8' sections. The 8' in this case would be the better deal.
Lastly, check out the warranty. Some have lifetime warranties, which sounds wonderful. However, make sure that it is not a prorated warranty. Basically what happens there is that every year the value of your fence goes down and the less money you will get back from the manufacturer. If there is a shorter duration, say 20 years, but it's not prorated, this may actually be the better warranty as if something happens in that first 20 years that is a covered issue, the item will be replaced by the manufacturer. Two quick notes about warranties, first the manufacturer will generally NOT cover the cost of labor to replace the item, so keep that in mind when choosing an installer. The second, most manufacturers, if not all will not cover storm damage.
There are quite a few manufacturers out there. They range from Cadillac grade to Yugo grade. Try and find yourself a nice Toyota. Do research on the web and know what you want before you even contact a retailer/installer. Don't let them talk you out of what you want as many of them have their preferences to which wholesaler they use. If they won't get you what you want look around to find one that will. If you've educated yourself before you even walk in, you'll walk out with what you want.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
To Fence or not to Fence Part 1 Choosing a Fence
Purchasing a fence for your home is just one of those things that most people don't really think about until it's time to do it. We see fences everyday, but they are just sort of there. Not a whole lot of thought goes into it.
So let's say you've bought a house, or you own a house and you want to fence in your backyard. Your first decision is the type of fence that you want to go with. There are quite a few choices out there. We'll take a look at the pros and cons of the more common ones.
First up, post and rail. There are a few variations on this style, but ultimately they all perform the same function. It doesn't really keep anything in or out, an animal is either going over or under it and a person can usually figure out how to get on the other side without the burden of using a gate. It usually just defines the borders of your property, which if you have a large property may be all that you really need.
Then we have chain link, the granddaddy of modern fence. It's quite simple. It's generally more of a function over form type of thing, most people I know don't say "oh what a beautiful chain link fence you have." There are a few different ways to go with this. You can go with an all galvanized system, or an all vinyl coated system or a combination of the two. The last version is probably the most economical as vinyl coated wire has less metal in it thusly making it cheaper than the galvanized wire, but galvanized pipe is cheaper than color coated. If you need to enclose your pool, ask for the 1-1/4" mesh. It is a little pricier, but unfortunately a necessary evil, unless you really like your installer and want pay him more money to come back and switch out the wire.
Next is the good old fashion picket fence. I have to admit, these just look so darned cute. Generally 4' high is the average height for this type of fence. This height is pretty good at keeping a small dog wrangled. If you want to keep a child in or people out you should ask about a reduced spacing. Generally if you are trying to meet a pool code, you probably want a reduced picket spacing variation. This smaller space prohibits little feet from getting in between the pickets making it harder to climb. If you are actually enclosing a pool, most town codes require at the very least, a reduced spacing. Do yourself a favor, if you are thinking about putting a fence around your pool, call your townhall and find out what they require in a fence. You don't want to find out after you spend $5000.00 on a fence that it has to be taken out.
After this we move onto privacy and semi privacy. Full privacy is typically less expensive than semi privacy. I know you're thinking, wait, why is it more when there is usually less material on semi privacy? Here's the deal, most manufacturers pop out full privacy like Mc Donalds makes hamburgers. It's the most common fence and generally the production of it is the most streamlined making it more economical to manufacture and thusly more economical for you to purchase. Both types are usually fine for that annoying little pool code. Stockade also falls into this category. It's cheap and provides a whole lot of privacy.
Ok... the million dollar question wood or vinyl? Three of the types of fences I've listed above are available in both. Obviously chain link is not one of them. Some people are just dead set against vinyl. That is a personal preference, but keep in mind vinyl is just easier to maintain. Wood rots. It is a natural product and as such has a much more limited life span than vinyl does. I would highly suggest using some kind of sealer on it. Also keep in mind, when wood dries if it dries quickly, in the sun for example it will most likely warp. If you have a privacy fence there is a good chance that when it dries the pickets will contract and form gaps. There is nothing your installer or the manufacturer can do. You can call, but I know you will not get anywhere with it, except really frustrate the heck out of your installer. Vinyl on the other hand is pretty much maintenance free. I will admit it doesn't have the same classic appeal as wood, but you really don't have to do much in the way of maintaining it except clean it every once in a while. And since most vinyl styles are modeled after wood styles you can still get a similar look.
I hope this helps answer some basic questions. My next post will be on how to choose your vinyl fence.
So let's say you've bought a house, or you own a house and you want to fence in your backyard. Your first decision is the type of fence that you want to go with. There are quite a few choices out there. We'll take a look at the pros and cons of the more common ones.
First up, post and rail. There are a few variations on this style, but ultimately they all perform the same function. It doesn't really keep anything in or out, an animal is either going over or under it and a person can usually figure out how to get on the other side without the burden of using a gate. It usually just defines the borders of your property, which if you have a large property may be all that you really need.
Then we have chain link, the granddaddy of modern fence. It's quite simple. It's generally more of a function over form type of thing, most people I know don't say "oh what a beautiful chain link fence you have." There are a few different ways to go with this. You can go with an all galvanized system, or an all vinyl coated system or a combination of the two. The last version is probably the most economical as vinyl coated wire has less metal in it thusly making it cheaper than the galvanized wire, but galvanized pipe is cheaper than color coated. If you need to enclose your pool, ask for the 1-1/4" mesh. It is a little pricier, but unfortunately a necessary evil, unless you really like your installer and want pay him more money to come back and switch out the wire.
Next is the good old fashion picket fence. I have to admit, these just look so darned cute. Generally 4' high is the average height for this type of fence. This height is pretty good at keeping a small dog wrangled. If you want to keep a child in or people out you should ask about a reduced spacing. Generally if you are trying to meet a pool code, you probably want a reduced picket spacing variation. This smaller space prohibits little feet from getting in between the pickets making it harder to climb. If you are actually enclosing a pool, most town codes require at the very least, a reduced spacing. Do yourself a favor, if you are thinking about putting a fence around your pool, call your townhall and find out what they require in a fence. You don't want to find out after you spend $5000.00 on a fence that it has to be taken out.
After this we move onto privacy and semi privacy. Full privacy is typically less expensive than semi privacy. I know you're thinking, wait, why is it more when there is usually less material on semi privacy? Here's the deal, most manufacturers pop out full privacy like Mc Donalds makes hamburgers. It's the most common fence and generally the production of it is the most streamlined making it more economical to manufacture and thusly more economical for you to purchase. Both types are usually fine for that annoying little pool code. Stockade also falls into this category. It's cheap and provides a whole lot of privacy.
Ok... the million dollar question wood or vinyl? Three of the types of fences I've listed above are available in both. Obviously chain link is not one of them. Some people are just dead set against vinyl. That is a personal preference, but keep in mind vinyl is just easier to maintain. Wood rots. It is a natural product and as such has a much more limited life span than vinyl does. I would highly suggest using some kind of sealer on it. Also keep in mind, when wood dries if it dries quickly, in the sun for example it will most likely warp. If you have a privacy fence there is a good chance that when it dries the pickets will contract and form gaps. There is nothing your installer or the manufacturer can do. You can call, but I know you will not get anywhere with it, except really frustrate the heck out of your installer. Vinyl on the other hand is pretty much maintenance free. I will admit it doesn't have the same classic appeal as wood, but you really don't have to do much in the way of maintaining it except clean it every once in a while. And since most vinyl styles are modeled after wood styles you can still get a similar look.
I hope this helps answer some basic questions. My next post will be on how to choose your vinyl fence.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Holiday Shopping Money Saving Tips
Ok, so here we are in November. Yet another year is coming to a close, but before another year is ushered out to the old folks home in favor of a newer younger one in diapers we must first make it through, gasp, Christmas. Yes, it is that time of year yet again. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably still paying off last years credit cards. In this economic climate, Christmas is even more the scary monster under the bed than usual. But before you make that terrible leap from the light switch to the bed, there are things that you can do to help make Christmas more, well, Christmas-like.
First up, the chaos that is Black Friday. Every year the big stores will do something to outdo the competition in an attempt to make as much money as humanly possible, and I think to see just how many people are willing to get up at 3 am to stand in subzero temperatures in a crowd that rivals times square on New Year’s Eve to save some money on that season’s hottest gifts. As horrible as it sounds, in some cases it’s worth it. The week of Thanksgiving first, check out the circulars that usually show up in that Sunday’s paper or the paper during the week. After that, hit the internet. Go to all the sites to see if you’ve missed anything and to check out the stores that don’t print out their circulars to see if they’re advertising special savings. Next make a game plan. It’s darn near impossible to get to all of the stores you want to get to at the time they open. (Of course if you have figured out time travel, you don't really have to get up early do you?) Pick the one must have and be at that store as early as possible… you may even consider camping out there at Midnight to make sure you’re first in line. I personally am not that hardcore. After that part is done, have a list handy of all the other things you need. Hit up those circulars and do price comparisons and put which stores you are planning on buying the item from next to each item. Keep in mind, if it’s a popular item go after those first.
Next thing, for those of you who do not feature standing in ridiculous crowds for hours and hours only to be beaten and bruised in an attempts to obtain the holy grail of gifts, check out Cyber Monday. It’s the internet’s answer to Black Friday, and to me, definitely the preferable option. What better way to shop than to sit in your office in front of your very own computer in your jammies with a cup of hot cocoa. No crowds, no children screaming “mommy, I want that” in a pitch that would make a dog run in fear, and lastly no violence. It falls on the Monday after Black Friday. Hopefully by then you’ve recovered. If you want to get an idea of what kind of deals are yours to be had, go to the Cyber Monday official site. You can peruse a world of stores from the comfort and safety of your home.
If there are people on your list that you probably won’t see until after holidays, and there isn’t something specific that you had in mind for them, wait until after Christmas. A lot of stores will start liquidating their overstocked shelves. After all, it’s the thought, not the price tag that counts. And if you can get them, say a cashmere sweater for a third of the price, then well hey, nothing says “I like you” quite like cashmere. This is also handy for you if you are one of those people that tend to get gift cards.
For you Secret Santa sufferers and others that are forced to participate in the office grab bag, despite your best efforts at convincing everyone you’re a Satan Worshipper and your immortal soul will be tortured that much more for participating in Christmas gift giving, try stores like TJ Maxx and Home Goods. They usually have pretty decent stuff at a fraction of the cost of other stores. You do have to be a little patient though. It’s sort of like going to someone’s really overstocked garage sale. There’s a little bit of order amongst the chaos, but for the most part you’re going to have to spend a little bit of time finding what you’re looking for.
Lastly, and this actually applies for every day shopping. If you see something in a store or circular that you want to get, don’t assume that price is the lowest. Get the model number of the item and Google it. It should bring up a few sites, peruse through those. Once you’re done there, hit up Amazon.com. They usually have a good selection of vendors, just watch your shipping costs. You can also try Nextag.com, they will do a lot of the comparison shopping for you. Now, once you’ve found your lowest price, you have two options. The first option is to buy it then and there and wait as the nice delivery type people bring it to your door. Keep in mind a lot of sites will charge you shipping. The other option is to find a store that has a low price guarantee that extends to the internet. By this I mean a store that will match the price you found on the web for the same exact item. This is beneficial in that, 1 you don’t have to pay shipping and 2 you get your item right then and there.
So to all of my fellow Holiday shoppers, I wish you a very Happy and Healthy holiday and good luck in finding everything you’re looking for. And just remember, the Holidays are supposed to be a happy time, try not to let it get to you too much.
First up, the chaos that is Black Friday. Every year the big stores will do something to outdo the competition in an attempt to make as much money as humanly possible, and I think to see just how many people are willing to get up at 3 am to stand in subzero temperatures in a crowd that rivals times square on New Year’s Eve to save some money on that season’s hottest gifts. As horrible as it sounds, in some cases it’s worth it. The week of Thanksgiving first, check out the circulars that usually show up in that Sunday’s paper or the paper during the week. After that, hit the internet. Go to all the sites to see if you’ve missed anything and to check out the stores that don’t print out their circulars to see if they’re advertising special savings. Next make a game plan. It’s darn near impossible to get to all of the stores you want to get to at the time they open. (Of course if you have figured out time travel, you don't really have to get up early do you?) Pick the one must have and be at that store as early as possible… you may even consider camping out there at Midnight to make sure you’re first in line. I personally am not that hardcore. After that part is done, have a list handy of all the other things you need. Hit up those circulars and do price comparisons and put which stores you are planning on buying the item from next to each item. Keep in mind, if it’s a popular item go after those first.
Next thing, for those of you who do not feature standing in ridiculous crowds for hours and hours only to be beaten and bruised in an attempts to obtain the holy grail of gifts, check out Cyber Monday. It’s the internet’s answer to Black Friday, and to me, definitely the preferable option. What better way to shop than to sit in your office in front of your very own computer in your jammies with a cup of hot cocoa. No crowds, no children screaming “mommy, I want that” in a pitch that would make a dog run in fear, and lastly no violence. It falls on the Monday after Black Friday. Hopefully by then you’ve recovered. If you want to get an idea of what kind of deals are yours to be had, go to the Cyber Monday official site. You can peruse a world of stores from the comfort and safety of your home.
If there are people on your list that you probably won’t see until after holidays, and there isn’t something specific that you had in mind for them, wait until after Christmas. A lot of stores will start liquidating their overstocked shelves. After all, it’s the thought, not the price tag that counts. And if you can get them, say a cashmere sweater for a third of the price, then well hey, nothing says “I like you” quite like cashmere. This is also handy for you if you are one of those people that tend to get gift cards.
For you Secret Santa sufferers and others that are forced to participate in the office grab bag, despite your best efforts at convincing everyone you’re a Satan Worshipper and your immortal soul will be tortured that much more for participating in Christmas gift giving, try stores like TJ Maxx and Home Goods. They usually have pretty decent stuff at a fraction of the cost of other stores. You do have to be a little patient though. It’s sort of like going to someone’s really overstocked garage sale. There’s a little bit of order amongst the chaos, but for the most part you’re going to have to spend a little bit of time finding what you’re looking for.
Lastly, and this actually applies for every day shopping. If you see something in a store or circular that you want to get, don’t assume that price is the lowest. Get the model number of the item and Google it. It should bring up a few sites, peruse through those. Once you’re done there, hit up Amazon.com. They usually have a good selection of vendors, just watch your shipping costs. You can also try Nextag.com, they will do a lot of the comparison shopping for you. Now, once you’ve found your lowest price, you have two options. The first option is to buy it then and there and wait as the nice delivery type people bring it to your door. Keep in mind a lot of sites will charge you shipping. The other option is to find a store that has a low price guarantee that extends to the internet. By this I mean a store that will match the price you found on the web for the same exact item. This is beneficial in that, 1 you don’t have to pay shipping and 2 you get your item right then and there.
So to all of my fellow Holiday shoppers, I wish you a very Happy and Healthy holiday and good luck in finding everything you’re looking for. And just remember, the Holidays are supposed to be a happy time, try not to let it get to you too much.
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