Here we look at maintaining a fence. With the onset of winter, checking the condition of fences is essential. Any inherent weaknesses in a fence are made worse by winter weather. Strong winds, floodwaters, heavy rain and snow piled against the base of a fence can be the final straw. All too often, it is at this point that homeowners discover that their fence is no more. It then becomes a rush to try and get a new fence. Decisions are made in a hurry, and you may have to wait some time for a fencing contractor to install it, as they will be deluged with similar requests from many other people. In the meantime, the security of your home and garden is compromised, and more damage may ensue from the presence of the damaged fence. With additional costs caused by poor security, damaged plants and potentially damaged garden buildings, the price can quickly start mounting. Avoiding this situation involves just a few minutes of your time. Take a close look at your fence and investigate its overall condition. Are there any loose planks, or fence sections? Are the supporting posts strong and secure? Look carefully at the base of a fence. This is often where weaknesses can appear, yet be hidden from normal view. Give the supporting posts a push and see if they move. If so, then you have a potential problem emerging. Remember too that a fence has two sides. One side might look OK, but the other may have problems. If it is a party fence, arrange with your neighbour to inspect it from their garden. This will enable you to see if there are any weaknesses appearing, or if the wood is deteriorating. Weatherproofing a fence will help protect the wood from much of the vagaries of wind and weather but this can only be done when it is dry and there is no rain or snow forecast. Contact a fencing contractor if you see any problems emerging. They can advise on the best techniques to repair the fence, replacing posts or fence sections quickly and efficiently. Fixing a fence needs more than just one pair of hands – a fencing contractor has the staff and skills to complete the job rapidly, a factor that is extremely important in wintertime. If you notice a problem with your fence or are looking to have new fencing installed please get in touch via our website www.eastlondonlandscapes.com or email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com.
Choosing A New Fence
Here we discuss choosing a new fence. Fences are extremely vulnerable in winter. Storms, high winds, frost and snow can cause major problems. Taking action in advance can pay dividends for canny homeowners as it ensures the safety and security of your property. A further advantage is that a smart, well cared for fence will create a good impression for visitors and add value to your home, making it easier to sell. Fences mark boundaries between houses. They provide security, deterring potential intruders. If you have young children, strong fences ensure they can play safely and securely within your garden without any risk of wandering away. This is the perfect time to check out the condition of your fence. Are all the panels secure? Are they showing signs of wear and tear? Are there any broken pieces? If trellis pieces have been attached to the fence, are they fixed securely? Bear in mind that the weight of climbing plants can often cause trellis to pull away from its supports so you may need to do some pruning. Look carefully at the posts that support the fence panels. Are these securely fixed in? Do they rock when you push them? This can be a sign that wood may have begun to rot. Talk to your neighbours and check the condition of the fencing on their side of the property – after all, it may look OK on one side, but problems may be emerging on the other. Gates need to fit properly and have fastenings that actually work. Make sure that gates have no loose planks or broken pieces. Calling in a fencing contractor will make it easier to deal with any fencing problems. A contractor has the expertise and skills to erect a new fence, or replace sections quickly. Many people try to do it for themselves and often end up having to call in a specialist. By far the biggest problem that most people forget is that it is a task, which requires more than one pair of hands! Trying to hold a fence in place, while fixing it to a support is not easy. Fencing contractors have the people who can do the job efficiently. Before making a decision on fencing, chat to a contractor and find out what can be provided. A contractor can advise on materials, costs and even recommend colours that will blend into your existing fence if necessary. Suggestions can also be made for additional security fencing measures or for decorative fencing styles. If you would like to discuss your fencing requirements please get in touch via our website www.eastlondonlandscapes.com or email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com. We provide fencing and landscaping services in East London .
Getting Your Garden Ready For Winter
The bright autumn colours and arrival of the first frosts emphasise the need to get gardens ready for winter. Temperatures can drop fast, while wind and rain can quickly cause problems. Checking the condition of fences has to be a priority. High winds often blow down fences and this not only affects your garden, but your security as well. Trying to replace those fences in a hurry can be difficult. Taking action in advance reduces the risk of problems. Look closely at all sections of the fence and ensure that it is firmly fixed, that there are no rotten posts and that the overall condition is good. Trellis sections attached to fences should be attached firmly as the weight of climbing plants can make them top heavy. Any damaged sections should be replaced before winter weather can take its toll. Equally important is the need to check the condition of garden buildings to make sure that there are no problems. Damaged glass in greenhouses should be replaced. Make sure that there are no damaged or worn areas on decking and patios. These can become slippery with algae in wintertime. Thoroughly clean all surfaces and undertake replacements as necessary. Sweep up leaves that fall onto paths quickly. Although pretty, they can become a hazard as they rot down. Check the condition of tall trees and shrubs to make sure there are no loose or dying branches. High winds can quickly bring these branches down. If they fall across telephone or electric wires you can find yourself without those essential services for a while. Removing the potential hazards in advance does make life a lot easier. Lawns need extra care as winter approaches. Grass will continue growing until quite late in the year so mowing will continue to be necessary. Remove any grass that is growing into borders and flowerbeds, or overlying paths and driveways. Bare patches of lawn should be replaced with new turf. Aerate the lawn carefully to make sure that winter rain and snow does not result in surface water forming on top of the lawn. In some circumstances, this can lead to flooding and the development of boggy patches. If your lawn is in an overall bad condition, it is worth considering replacing it now as it will give the new turf time to establish itself before the really bad weather arrives. If you would like to discuss any of the above tasks to get your garden ready please get in touch via our website www.eastlondonlandscapes.com or send us an email to office@eastlondonlandscapes.com.
Landscaping in Winter – Why it makes sense to carry out the work now.
Saving money makes sense – which is why it is now worth thinking about undertaking hard landscaping projects such as new paths and driveways. Prices for gravel and other hard landscaping materials are lower in winter – but rise again as soon as demand increases in the spring. Just like buying heating oil in September can result in significant savings on your heating bills because the cost of oil is lower, so buying hard landscaping in wintertime can result in similar savings. The price of many landscaping materials goes down during the winter simply because there is less demand. This means that contractors can pass on these savings to the customer. It may even make projects more cost effective and give you more choice in terms of designs and styles. An added advantage is the fact that the lower demand means that installing a new path or creating a new hard landscaping project can be completed more rapidly. As contractors are less busy, they can undertake work at short notice, and get it finished quickly. Then there is the question of the disruption caused by installing hard landscaping. This is inevitable. Construction work is noisy and plants within the area being landscaped may be damaged during the work. Although contractors will do everything they can to minimise potential damage, plants may be stepped on or branches broken by accident. During the winter, most plants are dormant so there is less risk of any damage being caused. Thinking and planning ahead is worth the time and effort. While other people are busy replacing or undertaking landscape projects at higher costs in the spring and summer, you can use the money that has been saved to do other things in the garden or around the home. Above all, with the lovely new look given to the garden of your dreams safely in place; you can sit back in the sunshine, relax and enjoy it. If you are planning a landscaping project please get in touch for a free quote or some advice www.eastlondonlandscapes.com. We provide landscaping and fencing services in East London .
Garden Fencing – DIY versus a Professional.
Installing a fence sounds easy – after all, what could be simpler than digging in a few fence panels. But is it? All too frequently, DIY attempts to install a fence result in a quick call to the professionals! It is not hard to see why this happens. Garden fencing requires a lot of skill and care to be installed correctly and safely. For most DIY’ers the risks of getting it wrong are very high. Buying a cheap fence from a DIY store can result in damage, problems with neighbours, and lack of security. If badly fitted, it is likely to fall down as soon as bad weather occurs. There are so many advantages to using a fencing contractor. They will help you choose the best fence for the purpose. A fencing contractor can advise on style, security and the most appropriate height. This is very important. If you install a fence that is too high, then neighbours will complain about losing their light and can order that it is taken down – a costly mistake. Fencing contractors know the law and what can be done. Measuring the boundaries needs to be done with care. Get it wrong and you could find yourself buying too much or too little. Uneven or sloping sites will require extra care since it may require the use of stepped panels. Fences have to be secure, which means correct installation is important. Fence posts need to be encased in metal or concrete to prevent rotting, and the individual panels should fit tightly. Accidents are all too common if care is not taken when installing fences. Mallets and hammers can hit the wrong thing (or worse still a person). No one wants to be rushed off to hospital. Fence panels are bulky and cumbersome. More than one person is needed to hold and secure them in place. There is little doubt that fencing contractors can do the job much faster than you can do yourself. They will advise on the most appropriate fencing to use, install it safely and securely. Skilled workmen mean that the potential for accidents is decreased significantly – they have been trained to do the job. They will have all the tools that needed, the extra hands to make sure that it is completed safely from start to finish. Using a contractor also means that the fence and the work are guaranteed, enabling you to rest easy knowing that your property is secure. If you need any advice on fencing please contact us via www.eastlondonlandscapes.com. We are always happy to help.
