Looking into getting a new fence? Read this.

If you’re looking to get a new fence for your home, then not only have you made a great decision but you’ve come to the right place. Getting a fence can have excellent aesthetic, economic and personal benefits for you and your family. Here’s how to make sure you get the fence that you want at the price that you need from a fellow fencing business owner in Ohio. Contact Western Fence Co. for questions, quotes and more.

Make an informed decision when preparing to fence your yard so that your choice will fit the needs of your yard, family and lifestyle.

Homeowners have various fence options to choose from and many things to consider before building a fence. Make sure the fence you pick meets the needs of your home: Is your goal is to keep kids and pets contained, increase privacy or simply boost property value by giving the yard a nice look?

You must also take maintenance and cost into account, investigate neighborhood restrictions and make sure you hire the right fencing contractor to install it.

Whether picking between a white picket fence or a wooden privacy fence, carefully consider the type of fence you choose before making an investment, says Keith Pickens, owner of highly rated The Fence Guy in Baltimore, Ohio.

A new fence costs between $2,600 and $8,000 on average, depending on the size and type you buy, so you want to make a good decision the first time. Other factors, like your yard’s slope, also affect the cost of fence installation.

Highly rated fencing companies recommend the following tips to pick the best fence for your home and family:

1. Pick the best fence for your yard

Homeowners install fences for privacy, visual appeal, or for the safety of pets and children. If done well, fences are one of the key landscaping features that increase property values.

Ask yourself why you need a fence and let that answer guide your decision making, Pickens says. Prioritize your needs over your wants, not the other way around, he suggests.

“You might want a privacy fence, but need a picket fence,” he says, adding that he generally cautions against privacy fences, which may affect resale value. “When you go to sell your home, potential buyers are going to be like: ‘What are they hiding in there?’”

If you do need privacy, wooden fences tend to work best, although vinyl fencing is sometimes another viable option, says Jennifer Pechanec, a manager with Chesapeake Custom Builders in Chesapeake, Virginia.

However, with certain vinyl fences, panels may be too far apart to provide enough privacy, she says.

Customers who don’t need privacy can turn to an aluminum fence, which gives a yard a classy, open look. In some areas, homeowners associations require aluminum fencing.

As for containment, if you mainly need a fence to protect a pet or a child, no particular type of fence necessarily works best over the other, says Michael Sterrett, owner of Affordable Fence in Bloomington, Indiana.

Just make sure to build the fence with containment in mind. For example, if you want to build a fence to keep a pet confined in your yard, understand what your animal is capable of in terms of digging and jumping, Pickens says.

“The last thing you want is to build a new fence, let your dog out for the first time, and have him jump over it,” he says.

2. Consider fence maintenance

Ask yourself how much time you want to spend maintaining your fence.

Wooden fencing requires the most maintenance because of the fence painting and staining required every couple years, but it can boost your property value by making your yard aesthetically pleasing, Pickens says.

Aluminum or vinyl fencing requires little ongoing upkeep, which makes those fence options appealing to many homeowners, Sterrett says. Wood fences offer the benefit of being more easily repaired than metal, Pickens says.

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Did you know that we do staircases too?

Staircases don’t just have to serve a purpose. They can become a beautiful decorative statement in your home. There are unlimited possibilities that can exceed design and aesthetic goals for your home. Check out these iconic spiral staircases and be sure to contact Western Fence Company so we can get started on making your stairs today.

The Santa Fe chapel is known for a very cool looking set of spiral stairs built in 1877 by a mysterious stranger. With no central support the stairs are said by the sisters of Loretto Chapel to be miraculous in construction. While there are those who beg to differ about the miraculousness of the stairs, no can deny that the stairs look, well, really cool!

article-imageThe miraculous staircase at Loretto Chapel (photograph by Michael Martin)

In the past I have admitted a somewhat obsessive love of libraries, and looking at the Loretto stairs, made me realize I have a bit of a thing for spiral staircases as well. Like secret passageways and hidden doors there is something intriguing, adventurous even, about a spiral staircase. The narrow twists, and slight dizzy feeling as you ascend, it always seems as if something fantastical awaits you at the top, or alternatively, something dark and ominous at the bottom. Either way, a spiral staircase calls to you saying “find out… if you dare.”

So without further ado, the Atlas Obscura presents to you the most intriguing, fantastical, dizzying spiral staircases from around the world. First the Vatican Museums!

article-imageThe spiral staircase at the Vatican Museums (photograph by Dimitry B.)

The Vatican Museums spiral staircase is one of the most photographed in the world, and certainty one of the most beautiful. Designed by Giuseppe Momo in 1932, the broad steps are somewhere between a ramp and a staircase.

article-imageThe Vatican stairs (photograph by Sebastian Bergmann)

As you may be able to see more clearly here, the stairs are actually two separate helixes, one leading up and the other leading down, that twist together in a double helix formation. Little did the Vatican Museum know in 1932 that this formation would come to represent life itself, with the discovery of the double helical DNA strand.

article-imageLooking up at the Vatican stairs (photograph by Hailé F)

Many more spiral staircases on the way… just try not to get dizzy.

Another set of very famous spiral stairs are the “Tulip Stairs” in the Queen’s House, in Greenwich, England. These, like the Lorretto Chapel stairs, have no central support, but here they are supported by being cantilevered from the walls, with each step resting on the one below it.

article-imageTulip Stairs at the Queen’s House (via Visit Greenwich)

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Things to do in SLC for St. Paddy’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is a fun holiday that is widely celebrated in the United States. As they say, you don’t have to be Irish to enjoy the holiday and this of course holds true this year. There are many things to do around Salt Lake City today to celebrate the day. Check out these fun events for a great day.

Guinness stocks are beginning to be depleted and bright red beards flood the shelves of every Dollar General across the Wasatch Front, which could only mean one thing: St. Patrick’s Day is upon us! Yep, that magical day wherein we celebrate the life and times of the Romano-British Christian bishop mastermind who developed a special green beer dye responsible for some wicked hangovers and, yes, green bowel movements, is here. To celebrate it, we’ve complied this list of fun-filled activities—from parades to Jell-O wrestling—guaranteed to put a smile on the face of every Irishman, Irish for-the-day and just plain drunks.

1. Go green, or go home

You know the drill. Good places to find verdant vestiture include The Dollar Tree, Goodwill, Deseret Industries, or the local Pib’s Exchange (1147 E. Ashton Ave., 801-484-7996). Hands off that “Shit Me, I’m Kiss Faced” T-shirt!

VIA FUNMUNCH.COM

  • via funmunch.com

2. Check out some sweet jams at the Best of Utah Music Winner Showcase
Sky, 149 Pierpoint Ave., 216-375-4684, Friday, March 11, 8 pm
OK, OK, this one isn’t exactly Irish-themed, but trust us when we tell you a lot of beer went into the creation of last week’s Best of Utah Music issue. To celebrate the fact that our livers remain intact (for the most part), we’re celebrating some of the best musical talent the state has to offer with a slew of live performances by the likes of DJ Sneekylong, The Aces, The National Parks, Thunderfist and Folk Hogan (who we are sure has at least one redheaded member).

3. Eat anything and everything even slightly Irish
Corned beef and cabbage, green eggs and ham, green M&Ms…eat it all. Want some cooking advice from our food critic? Check out Ted Scheffler’s current column, where, along with a recipe, he also lists some good Irish spots to check out. Places like Murphy’s Bar & Grill (160 S. Main, 801-359-7271), The Leprechaun Inn (4700 900 E. Ste. 6, 801-268-3294), Flanagan’s (438 Main, Park City, 435-649-8600) or MacCool’s Public House (1400 Foothill Drive Ste. 166, 801-582-3111). Many of these bars/grills will have live music, too, including Dublin singer-songwriter Pat Waters at the Inn on March 11 at 7 pm Hungry for some Irish soda bread? Stop by Mrs. Backer’s Pastry Shop (434 E. South Temple, 801-532-2022) for your doughy fix—no pesky Ziploc needed.

4. Drink everything Irish, too
Irish whiskey, Guinness, green beer. Ever drank Bailey’s from a shoe? Now’s your chance. Some local Irish watering holes include O’Shucks (multiple locations), The Republican (917 S. State, 801-595-1916), Piper Down (1492 S. State, 801-468-1492) and Fiddler’s Elbow (1063 E. 2100 South, 801-463-9393). Most of these places serve Irish pub grub as well, and even have live music so you can jig like there’s nobody watching.

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Before you build a fence, check this out.

So you’ve decided to build a fence. That’s a great decision. There are so many benefits to doing so. If you’re reading this, you’ve made an even greater decision by making sure that you hire the best company in the SLC area to make your fence dreams a reality. Here is some practical advice that will help you with the planning stages of building a fence.

Before you install a fence, ask yourself what your reason is for installing it. If it’s strictly utilitarian — keeping the dog in the yard — you can probably get by with a basic chain-link fence. If you’re looking to block noise or add privacy, you will want something tall and solid. Chances are your wishes are complex: You want to protect pets, but you also want to add a decorative element to your home’s exterior. Whatever its purpose, a fence can function in many ways, but the first step is deciding what you’re looking for to choose one that works for you.

Choose Your Materials


A white picket fence is quintessential, but before you buy wood posts and whitewash, think about the commitment you’re making. Wood fences may require occasional staining or sealing and can warp and rot over time. Consider a low-maintenance material, such as vinyl, that offers the look of wood without the elbow grease. Other material options include aluminum, steel, wrought iron, and bamboo.
Mix it up

If cost is an issue, mix different types of fences. Wood picket fencing could be placed at the front of the home, for example, connecting to chain link fencing in the back. No only will this combination fence potentially save installation costs, but it also will reduce the amount of fence that might require repainting.

Do your research

Inquire with homeowners or neighborhood associations and municipal building code officials regarding covenants that dictate fencing look, height, and material. City and neighborhood rules may specify the better-looking side of a fence (the side that doesn’t show posts and rails) be placed toward the public face of the property. Ask how far a fence has to be set back from sidewalks and property lines, and find out if your fence project will require a building permit.

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The Feng Shui take on fences

Fence manufacturer, Active Yards, always has some great insight into fences and design. There is one article in particular that we felt very inclined to share as it delves into how to use the ancient philosophy of Feng Shui to create a harmonious living environment as it applies specifically to fences. This article has some great tips that can help you determine which fence would be best for you according to these ancient rules. If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to call the experts at Western Fence Company.

poolFeng Shui Your Backyard
Try something new this year that will create and promote a peaceful environment for you and your family.

If you’re looking to create a more positive living environment for you and your family you might want to try Feng Shui. Feng Shui is a Chinese belief that “a system of laws govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy.” Here are a couple of tips on how to Feng Shui your backyard.

1.) The first thing you must do is protect your yard from negative environmental impacts. This can be done through natural barriers that can double for both privacy and protection for your backyard area. These natural barriers can reduce noise, winds, and air pollution.

2.) Your backyard should have a feeling of security and comfort. Large rocks, stone walls, and fences can be both used as attractive and functional barriers for your yard. Take a look at activeyards.com to find vinyl and aluminum fences that might help you meet these needs.

3.) A part of Feng Shui is the belief of the energy flow Qi. In order to achieve this you need to create open spaces. This will allow the free flow of life force to move across your yard.

4.) Make sure to have an open area around the front of the house to allow the Qi energy flow to bring positive changes. One way of doing this is by making sure you aren’t planting large trees close to the front door. The front of your home should be simple, open and welcoming to your guests.

5.) Water elements are an important part of Feng Shui because they attract Chi energy. Chi energy is believed to bring money and prosperity to the home and water also doubles as a sign of wealth. You can create water elements in your backyard through ponds, fountains, waterfalls, and swimming pools. If you choose to install a pool make sure you protect it by purchasing a fence to put around it.

6.) To achieve complete Feng Shui you must have three elements in your backyard: water, rocks, and plants.

 

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Why we have fences


We are the kind of company that constantly have our customers and deeper purpose in mind. Fences are an important part of our homes and therefore our identities. In this spirit, we gathered a few quotes about what we do that we would like to share with you. Enjoy!

“A good neighbor is a fellow who smiles at you over the back fence, but doesn’t climb over it.” –Arthur Baer

“Don’t ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up.” –Robert Frost

“Good fences make good neighbors.” -Robert Frost

“The grass is not, in fact, always greener on the other side of the fence. Fences have nothing to do with it. The grass is greenest where it is watered. When crossing over fences, carry water with you and tend the grass wherever you may be.” – Robert Fulghum

“Love your neighbor as yourself; but don’t take down the fence.” – Carl Sandburg

“The fence that makes good neighbors needs a gate to make good friends” – Anonymous

Why do you think it’s important to fence in your property? Have any other great q

 

 

 

 

Front Yard Plans

The front yard is clearly, the first thing that someone notices about your home. There is a reason that white picket fences are so much more than just additional security, but what many people refer to when talking about the American dream and familial happiness. Check out these really cool front yard designs that include more than just picket fences.

Here is the traditional white picket fence with a little bit of a twist. There are beautiful flowers that crawl up the fence, allowing for a homier feel. Make it your own with some tasteful gardening!

If you’re looking for more privacy, this is a great example of a twist on an old classic. You can make a privacy fence with any material that you desire.

If you live outside of the city with a lot of serene nature as your back drop, then it might be a really good idea for you to fence in your entire property. This is just one example of a design that still blends beautifully with the natural landscape.

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Backyard Design Ideas

Adding a fence to your backyard is just one of the many ways that you can increase property value, security and also turn your home into a beautiful place to hold events, entertain guests or a sanctuary for you and your family. Here are some really cool design ideas from Pinterest and a few other design sites for inspiration. Remember Western Fence does custom work. Let us help you make your design dreams a reality!

 

A beautiful sitting area is a great idea for reading or gatherings.

 

This fence is the perfect ambiance for an inspired garden design that is sure to wow your guests and surround you with the tranquility you deserve, while offering privacy from neighbors.

Having a quality fence is especially important if you have a pool in your backyard. As you can see in this photo, having a fence does not have to be obtrusive. It can be an understated and exciting addition to your back yard.

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New Year, New You


We say it every year. “Last year was rough, next year is going to be better.” But it really could happen if you set yourself up for success instead of failure. How your surroundings influence you is too powerful to ignore. If you are wondering why you may not be reaching your goals, check out your home and how it makes you feel. Is it a sanctuary? Is it something you are proud to invite guests into? Has it been decorated the same way for the past 30 years? Check this out.

In the spirit of new beginnings, HGTV has consulted the experts and come up with some resolutions that will make your home a more beautiful, efficient, clean and green place in the coming year.

Here are our five picks for the best home improvement resolutions for the new year and how to achieve them:

1. Streamline the stuff

One of the best and least expensive ways to feel better about your home is to clear it of clutter.

Each year most of us acquire a mountain of stuff. Without some regular purging, cabinets and drawers get jam-packed and it becomes hard to find the things you use and enjoy the most. (All that clutter also makes your house look dated and dirty, designers say.)

This year resolve to go room-by-room periodically clearing anything that you don’t use, wear or love and donate it to charity. After that, think twice about what you bring in, says Antoinette Nue, an Atlanta consultant who specializes in helping people simplify and go green.

“Fill your home with the things that raise your energy level and make you feel good, and get rid of the things that drain your energy or are broken,” she says.

Stash useful (but not beautiful) items such as DVDs, remotes and those kicked-off shoes in simple woven baskets. Group similar items together on sleek trays, says Stuart McCormick, a designer with Liz Levin Interiors in Washington D.C.

Clear your counters of everything you don’t use on a daily basis. And get ready to breathe a little easier in your own home. 

2. Make it safe and sound

Your home may be beautiful, but is it safe? There are a few things that every homeowner should do to ensure that they’re not living with a potential health hazard or fire risk.

First, check your house for radon. This colorless, odorless gas causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year from the radioactive particles it traps in your lungs as you breathe, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. One in every fifteen homes has elevated levels. And with test kits costing as little as $20 at your local hardware store, there’s no reason not to get right on that.

While we’re on the subject of deadly gas, make sure you install a carbon monoxide detector on every bedroom floor in addition to fire detectors. If a chimney flue or furnace vent gets blocked or leaks, carbon monoxide could back up in your house and kill you. Like a radon test, this is a small investment – $40 or more – for such an important safeguard.

Watch out for dryer lint. We know you clean the little trap inside the door, but most people neglect to clean the vents and ducts behind the dryer. Lint may seem innocent, but it’s highly combustible, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, accounting for more than 15,000 building fires a year.

Make sure your house can breathe. Hickory Hills, Ill. home inspector Jack McGraw is always surprised at how many people’s bathrooms and attics aren’t vented to the outside (or the vents are covered over with shingles.) This makes you a prime candidate for mold.

And if you’re considering a remodel – and your home was last built or remodeled before 1978 – consider testing for lead paint and asbestos flooring. It will have to handled properly during removal, or particles can be released into the air for you to ingest.

3. Shrink your bills (and your carbon footprint in the process)

When people think of going green, they often think it takes solar panels or a hybrid car to make a difference.

Not so, says Bob Schildgen, who writes the “Hey Mr. Green” column for Sierra magazine. It just takes a little old-fashioned common sense.

The best place to start is by cutting your energy usage in your home:

    • Remember your mom’s advice and switch off the lights when you leave a room.
    • Turn off your air conditioner when you leave the house and dial your heater down to 55 degrees at night.
    • Install compact fluorescent bulbs and low-flow showerheads.
    • Try drying some of your clothes on the line and wait for the dishwasher or washing machine to be full before you run them.
    • Turn off your power strips and/or set your home computer to revert to sleep mode when not in use.
    • Water your yard less. Put in drought-tolerant landscaping if necessary.
    • Give composting a try. Your garden will thank you.
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How to Decorate Your Fence for the Holidays

There’s still time to decorate for the holidays! Don’t leave your fence naked, decorate and spread the holiday cheer. There are many different ways that are sure to tickle your fancy and impress any guests you’ll have this season. Here are six of our favorites from a fellow fence building company in Dallas.

    1. The Traditional – If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it-admittedly, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with sprucing your fence up with garlands of holly and a few Christmas wreaths. Just like blue jeans, some things never go out of style.
    2. A Very Hipster Xmas – Sometimes you want to give off a grungy vibe, a vibe that says buying super expensive strings of fancy lights that flash in 7 different patterns is way too mainstream. So you raid all the local yard sales you can find and come up with a Frankensteinian hodgepodge of lights, many of which are burnt out, and then wrap them around your fence.
    3. The Nativity Setup – For those who observe Christmas as the actual holiday that it is, your fence serves as the perfect backdrop for your New Testament-themed action figures; perch them on your fence to create a Nativity scene.
    4. Sleigh-jacking! – You’ll need to be a little bit crafty to pull this off. First, get yourself a model of Santa’s sleigh, plus all the reindeer. Then instead of sitting Santa inside the sleigh, position him so that he’s running after it. Take a bunch of rebar or other sturdy supporting materials and place the sleigh and the reindeer on your fence so that they’re already flying up in the air, and voila! Just add a run-of-the-mill garden gnome in the driver’s seat and you’ve got yourself a hilarious Christmas pantomime.
    5. The “I’d rather be somewhere else” – So it’s 10 degrees below freezing and maybe a white Christmas sounds nice to people from southern California, but sub-zero winters are just another reason to dread the holidays. Tell the world you prefer a sunny Christmas and top your fence with tiki torches, inflate a couple of plastic palm trees, and peg a plastic blue tarp in your front yard. You get extra points for putting an inflatable Santa Claus out there with sunglasses and an umbrella over his head.
    6. The Network TV Special – There’s nothing better than celebrating Christmas in front of the TV with your family and watching age-old classics like A Charlie Brown Christmas or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Deck out your fence with cutouts of Snoopy and Friends or go for a cast of characters from Cindylou Who to the Grinch himself.
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