If you’re thinking about a new patio, fencing project, or any other landscape construction project, there’s a lot of information to absorb and a lot of decisions that need to be made.  No doubt, it can all be a bit overwhelming as you begin the planning process.

One question that I get asked quite regularly during prospect phone calls and sales meetings is when the best time of year is to undertake a landscape construction project.

Are there advantages to doing it during certain times of year?  Are there times of year to avoid?  Does it matter at all?

Let’s start with the third part of those questions;  Yes, it does matter.  But how it matters really depends on your priorities, what’s important to you during the construction process, and when you want the project completed.

First, let’s take a quick look at the calendar.  Generally speaking, we’re working outside completing landscape construction projects beginning usually around the first of March, and typically ending about mid-December.  Those dates can be tweaked a bit depending on how the year’s weather is behaving, but those are pretty accurate average dates. 
 
No matter what, we won’t be out doing masonry or fence work during January or the first half of February.  Even the mildest of winters can turn nasty in a heartbeat, and the last thing anybody wants is a half-completed construction project sitting idly while a foot of snow melts, or the ground heaves, or it turns into a muddy mess.  Better off to wait until the winter threat has at least subsided.

So take away  the winter, and you’re left with nine, maybe ten months at the most to get your project completed.  Still a pretty broad range.

Rest assured, if we’re out doing a project it’s only because we’re confident enough in the weather, and are taking any seasonal precautions that need to be made.  So at this point the “when” of the project is entirely up to you.

But there are some things to consider:
 

• When do you want the project completed by?  If you want that new patio installed for your child’s graduation party, don’t call us on Memorial Day.  If there’s an end-goal in play, allow enough time for all the i’s to be dotted and t’s to be crossed, and the project to be completed in a thorough, detailed manner.
   
• Are there seasonal discounts?  We don’t offer seasonal discounts, but I have heard of some companies offering discounted prices to fill schedules during slower times of year.  It’s certainly worth asking anybody you’re soliciting bids from.
   
• Are there times of year when we’ll have to wait longer for availability?  Absolutely.  Once the really nice spring weather hits, a backlog queue of up to four months isn’t uncommon, although we certainly try to keep that time to a minimum.  Mid-to-late summer availability can often be pretty quick.  There’s  usually a bump in business around Labor Day, so fall availability can often be delayed but not as significantly as the spring.
   
• Can customers pick their construction dates?  To some extent, yes.  If you call us early enough and leave plenty of lead time, it certainly allows you some flexibility.  Keep in mind we are busy doing other projects while your project is in the queue, and there is always some  uncertainty in project length due to weather, unforeseen site conditions, etc.  Scheduling for “mid-August” is realistic.  Scheduling for “Aug 12th” is not.
   
• Do clients need to be home  during the construction process?  No, but it is advisable.  I’ve  had clients in the past want to schedule their projects for weeks when they’re away at the Shore or on vacation.  First, as mentioned above, picking the exact day we begin isn’t  always an option.  Secondly, there  are often day-to-day decisions that need to be made or approved during the construction process.  Sure, it’s  tempting to want to be “out of Dodge” while the yard is torn up and the driveway is full of equipment.  But as I always say, the most successful projects are the ones where there is open and frequent communication.  If  you’re available by phone, or are simply an hour’s drive away at the Shore we can probably make it work.  But if you’re going off the grid to some exotic locale, it’s probably best to wait until you return.
   
• Can I schedule a project for next spring?  Absolutely.  From a scheduling perspective, I always like to have one or two projects in the can ready to go once the winter weather breaks.  And a March start  date means you’ll be ready to enjoy and use the final product by the nice April weather.
   
• Entire process – sales cycle to final sweep.  How long will it take?  Wow, that’s a tough question, with a lot of factors to consider.  A lot depends on your level of responsiveness.  Are there multiple revisions and design changes? Are you first calling us in April or August?  Are we talking about a 600 square foot patio, or a simple front entry path?  There’s just too many factors to answer that question effectively, but hopefully the above points will help give you a sense of turn-around.

So, in summary, the best advice I can offer is to call us early, well in advance of the desired completion dates.  It will allow you to make sure you’re fully on board with any design layouts or material selections, allow you a bit of flexibility in scheduling projects, and allow us the necessary time to complete your project meticulously to the highest standards.

For additional questions or to begin the process for your upcoming project, give us a call.  We look forward to speaking with you!

For those of you familiar with my website and my blogs, you may recognize the fence pictured to the left.  It was a fence we built a few years back at the request of a local couple who was looking for a unique fence to complement their artfully renovated home.

They first approached me looking for some contemporary fence design ideas.  After a bit of collaboration I showed them some pictures of a deck railing I built a few years earlier when we still lived in California.  We tweaked the design a bit, and they gave me the green light on a custom design that to this day remains one of my favorite projects.

Earlier this summer they contacted me again asking me to come over and take a look at some changes they were considering on the property. I was happy to swing by.

The house itself doesn't appear overly unique from the street.  It's a 1950's rancher, that admittedly sits on a nice piece of property atop a small rocky ridge.  It's well built no doubt, but aside from some really fun garden décor the house doesn't stick out amidst the neighborhood.

But their artistic taste has led to some great changes.  A large portion of the interior of the home was ripped out when they first moved in to give it a real urban loft feel as you enter -- not what you'd expect from a 1950s rancher.

And the outside is accented with numerous items that definitely give the yard a unique flavor and personalizes the space.

Last spring they worked with an architect to design a custom shed that is like no other shed I've ever seen.  The architect did a great job of working with the clean lines and modern feel of the design, while fitting a useful structure onto an admittedly tight space.

My clients were looking to extend the original fence back behind the newly constructed shed, as well as looking to continue the same fence design as a screen to conceal their air conditioning units and conceal their newly constructed compost bins.

Easy enough.  And plenty of fun.

It's always great to work with clients who are fun, creative, and think outside the box.  My personal garden design taste always seems to lean toward the whimsical -- after all isn't the whole point of a garden to have fun and enjoy outdoor space?  All while putting your own personal stamp on nature's beauty?

And this yard pulls that off like no other.

A few of the more unique design items include an old carousel horse perched atop a rock ledge, and standing against an old stump.  Their mailbox?  Well look at the two photos below and see if you can figure out where the structure that houses the mailbox came from.

An old spigot collection embedded in concrete?  Check.  Old drums used as vegetable and herb planters?  Check. Carved stumps and totem polls.  Check.  With some great custom stonework to match the natural stone ledge that the house is built upon.  It's a great site in its raw form, but the garden design highlights everything I believe garden design is all about.  Fun and creativity.

Admittedly not everybody has the artistic vision to come up with ideas like this.  In this case the clients are both artistic professionals.  But if you're looking to come up with something fun, something that will get people talking, and something that will be built first and foremost with quality and workmanship in mind, give us a call.

I'd love to talk up some fun ideas and see where can take your yard.

I want to use this space this week to make a brief announcement regarding our fencing services – specifically about fence postcaps.

As many of you know, we offer custom wood fence construction services in a wide variety of designs and styles.  Some of these are basic designs, some are custom one-of-a-kind creations.  But in all cases these are solid, well-constructed fences that are built to last.  Not your basic pre-fab big box-store panels.

Every design is different, and in some cases these designs include post caps as ornamental pieces atop each fence post.  Many of our fences don’t have the need for postcaps based on the design, but for the ones that do, we’ve typically offered wood sleeve caps that simply slide over the top of the post, and are fastened using a pair of simple finish nails.

I've been offering this service since I first started in the business some 13 years ago.  With nary a problem at all.  Until about two years ago.

I received a call from a very satisfied client who wanted to tell me how thrilled he was with his fence – except for one thing.  Some of the postcaps had buckled and the trim was falling off.

I stopped over to take a look, and sure enough, the trim piece had completely curled out, ripped away from the nail fastener, and was in the process of falling apart.  This was the case on several of the
caps.

I quickly replaced the caps at no charge.  “Hmmm. Bad batch of lumber” I thought to myself.  It happens sometimes.  Wood is a natural product after all.

I thought nothing more of it until a few months later when I got a similar call from another client.  “Love the fence, not liking the caps” was the point of the call.  Wow.  Well, the fences were constructed in roughly the same time period, so I just assumed the caps must have been from the same bad batch.  Again, I replaced the caps at no extra charge.

Until a third call. Same thing.  No longer a coincidence at this point.

So I quickly began looking at the supply of caps, wondering what was going on, and looking for a better option.  I tried a few different suppliers, a few different brands.  The results were all the same.

But why now?  Why not 10 years ago?  Those original caps I installed some 10-plus years ago are, in many cases, still perfectly functional today.

It basically boils down to the lumber supply.  As lumber demand heats up, the supply diminishes.  And in a haste to keep the supply available, many manufacturers are using inferior or new-growth wood.  The wood often isn’t aged properly, or its not fully grown and ready to be used.

And the result is often wood that curls or splits or doesn’t hold up.

And I for one am tired of dealing with it.

That’s why effective immediately I will no longer be installing wood postcaps as part of my fences.
 
Fortunately however, I have found a suitable replacement at little to no added cost.  I’ve been able to source solid copper pyramid caps at little to no extra cost than the original wood caps I offered.  These are attractive, will develop a natural patina over time, and should hold up for as long as the fence.  

And if they don’t?  Well as always, I’m here to stand by our work.

Because ultimately, it’s the client satisfaction that will make or break the business.  And your satisfaction is quite important to me, personally.

So that’s why we won’t be installing the wood caps any more.

But I’m quite sure the copper caps will be a quite suitable replacement, if not an upgrade.

If you’d like to see a sample copper cap, give us a call, and I can show you one in action.

As the spring season dawns upon us, it’s time for many homeowners to start thinking about landscaping improvement projects.  One of the first things on many homeowners’ agendas is to take care of their fencing.

Whether its repairs to an existing fence, or a brand new fence to help corral that new puppy your daughter wants, fences always seem to be a popular project, especially early in the season.  People like to address security, containment, defining their property, and privacy first before starting to focus on their outdoor living spaces.

And like any home improvement project, there are a lot of options to choose from.  One of those styles is the traditional split rail fence.

Split rail fences are among the least expensive styles of fencing, due to the limited amount of materials needed to complete the fence and the ease of installation. Historically, the split rail fence originated when farm owners would use old trees and branches from their land as the rails, in order to keep livestock in, or outside animals away from their crops.

Today split rail fences are used by homeowners who prefer a rustic look and want to define their property lines without sacrificing wide-open vistas.

The split rail fence is a quite simple design.  The posts include two or three “nesting” slots cut through the width of the post, with the rough-cut rails inserted into the slots spanning the distance between the posts.  Traditionally, posts can be set directly into the earth with no concrete reinforcement if desired, however we typically prefer to set the posts in a concrete footing for added stability.

The type of lumber used for split rail fences varies by region, but here on the east coast the most popular options are usually either pressure-treated southern yellow pine, or non-treated locust.  The locust tends to run a bit more expensive, however the cost difference is minor, and either option is considerably cheaper than some of the other styles out there.

The advantages of split rail fencing are many.  First, as mentioned it’s among the least expensive of custom-built wood fencing styles, pricing out at about 60 percent of the cost of a picket fence, and nearly half the cost of a stockade-style fence.

Secondly, for property owners who want to define or contain their spaces without upsetting the open feel of their yards, or for homeowners who don’t want to seclude themselves from their neighbors, the open design allows visibility without boxing you in.

Thirdly, for do-it-yourselfers it’s among the most straight-forward of fencing styles to install. You don’t need to be a skilled carpenter, it requires very little by way of specialty tools, and there is little, if any, hardware needed to complete the installation.

In addition to helping keep the cost down, the scarcity of materials needed also means the installation process is relatively non-intrusive.  That means you’ll get to keep those beautiful shrubs along the fenceline without hacking them up to complete the installation.

Gates can be custom-built to match the style of the fence, although we strongly recommend setting any gate posts in concrete to help eliminate sag and/or binding of the gate.

And for just a dollar or two more a linear foot, a wire mesh can be mounted to the face of the fence to help keep pets or young children inside the contained space.

What the split rail fence does not accomplish is adding privacy to your yard, so if you’re looking for a fence to conceal your private hot-tub sessions, well I’ll be happy to talk about some other options with you.

If you’re interested in how split rail fencing can work for you, or if you’re interested in any other fencing styles please give us a call, and I’ll be glad to discuss and set up a free consultation.

I’m typically not one to bash other people’s taste or other contractors’ work.  Live and let live, to each their own, mind your own business. But when it comes to inferior products, or manufacturers that are over charging for an inferior product, sometimes I feel as though I owe it to my clients to point it out.  And vinyl fencing is one of the products out there that really gets under my skin.

Let’s get this out of the way first.  As an installer of custom-built wood fencing, it is fair to say that I might be a bit biased. I’m not going to argue with you. But business practices aside, I just don’t like the stuff.  If I thought vinyl fencing was a good product that clients could benefit from I would install it, thus eliminating the bias.  But I don’t feel that way, oh let me count the ways.

First, the appearance. Maybe it’s just because I have a trained eye and I pick up things that other people don’t, but I’ve heard a fair amount of feedback from a wide range of people who also seem to find it unsightly. There’s something just not right about the way they look.  Whether it’s the consistency of color from picket to picket, the shiny glare across the entire fence surface, or the awkward connections at the posts, it just doesn’t look natural.  That’s because it’s not.  You may call it vinyl, it’s basically just plastic.  Do you really want a plastic fence?  And don’t even get me started on the faux wood grain finishes.  If you want it to look like wood, then why not go with, oh I don’t know, how about wood!

And there’s the cost, something that is of the utmost importance to the majority of clients. On the front-end install costs, most vinyl fencing tends to run about one-and-a-half to two times as expensive as wood fencing of comparable styles.  Now the vinyl salesmen will sell this is as a front end cost trade-off to lower maintenance costs down the road.  To be honest, I’ve never known anyone to spend thousands of dollars on maintaining a wood fence.  So even if the vinyl fencing was truly maintenance-free as they claim, the cost savings still don’t add up to me.

And contrary to what the vinyl reps may tell you, vinyl fencing is not maintenance-free.  They are just as prone to algae and mildew build-up as the wood fences.  And because of the uniformity of color and typically white color, those green stains show up quite well.  And look quite unsightly.  I’d much rather have a naturally weathered wood fence than a green-hued plastic eyesore.

And if your vinyl fence breaks?  Single replacement pickets are not easy to find, as vinyl fencing is typically sold as complete fence panels.  And even if you are lucky enough to find single replacement pieces, the color may be slightly off, the size and/or pre-fabbed connection points may not line up and the cost is much higher than purchasing a single wood board or picket. The maintenance-saving argument just doesn’t fly with me.

Design options. Because most vinyl fencing is sold as pre-fabbed sections and kits, the designs are limited to what the manufacturers offer.  While some manufacturers do offer a full range of styles to choose from, your choice as a homeowner is limited to what the dealer is offering.  With wood, the sky is the limit when it comes to design options.  Not the case with vinyl.  And color options are usually limited to three or four colors at the most. Due to the nature of the material, vinyl isn’t easily paintable without regular upkeep of the paint job.  Another notch against the maintenance-free argument.

And lastly, and perhaps most importantly depending on your point of view, vinyl fencing is just not good for the environment.  Vinyl fencing is made from PVC, or polyvinyl chloride.  The key ingredients are chlorine, carbon, and oil/gas by-products. The harvesting of these materials can often have a huge negative impact on the environment.  They are fossil fuels after all.  PVC is not bio-degradable, not easily recycled, and can be harmful to our waterways and wildlife.  According to the site greenlivingtips.com, “No other plastic presents such a direct human health threat as PVC does throughout its lifecycle, from manufacture, to use to disposal, yet our demand is only increasing.” We don’t need to add to the problem simply because you had an expensive inferior fence installed, do we?

I will say this.  Just like any other products out there, some vinyl fencing is better than others.  If you are insistent upon going with vinyl for whatever reason, be sure to look into what you’re purchasing.  Make sure your supplier has an adequate supply of replacement parts and pieces available if you should ever need them down the road.  Make sure its UV-resistant (believe it or not, some of the products out there aren’t, leading to yellowing and splitting).  Make sure the vinyl is of a strong enough gauge that it will resist sagging or bending.  And make sure it’s workable enough that it can be customized for those end-of-the run smaller sections or inevitable trouble spots around roots and trees.

But honestly, why?  There are so many advantages to wood, that in my humble opinion it just doesn’t make any sense to even consider vinyl.