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  • Gate access systems

    If you decide to have a gate installed for your driveway, one decision you’ll soon have to make is what access system you want.  Ease of entry and security are the two main, and sometimes opposing, factors to consider.  Here are some of your options.

    Easy
    Transmitter and pushbutton systems minimize the hassle you and your guests experience when entering your driveway.  The gate can open either when a car approaches or when the driver pushes a button. Obviously, when it comes to security, these options don’t offer much more than the simple presence of a gate.

    Secure
    Touch pads require a code be entered correctly for access and obviously provide a homeowner much more security but aren’t as easy for guests to deal with.  An intercom system combined with a keypad is a good compromise that lets you open the gate for guests from inside.  Swipe card access systems are mostly used by commercial clients but we can install these for residential clients as well.

    Connections
    There are a few notification/remote options available.  Homeowners and open gates with a button inside the home.  They can also be notified through a dedicated phone line or via a cell phone.

    If you’d like more information on driveway gates or these access options, contact us. We can demonstrate these options and help you figure out the right system for you.

  • Do you need a driveway gate?

    The reasons for installing an automated gate for your driveway may initially seem obvious. They provide added privacy and security for your home and can make your property more attractive. But there are a couple other benefits of gates that you may not have considered.

    Keeping things in
    Gates can be a great way of keeping children and pets from getting out of your yard. When someone is coming and going, it gives you the chance to make sure you know where the kids and animals are and restrain them if necessary.

    Keeping things out
    People aren’t the only things homeowners want to keep out of their yards. Many spend a lot of money on tall fences to keep deer out only to leave wide opening for them at the driveway. Tall gates that compliment a deer fence are available and effectively keep deer out.

    If you’re looking into an automated gate for your driveway, contact us. We’ll work with you to lay out your options based on your goals, and install the right gate for your home.

  • Ironing out your fencing options

    An arched metal gateIn our last post, we mentioned that you have a wealth of options when choosing a fencing material for your home and that some materials can be made to look like others.  This trend is especially prevalent in the area of wrought iron where less expensive metals are often substitutes.  Here are  a couple of them and how they improve on the original.

    Aluminum

    A good black aluminum fence can be a good stand-in for iron.  Aluminum is lighter but still durable.  You may not want it for heavy-duty security, but if you want matal fence that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance, aluminum is the way to go.  It’s probably the least maintenance-intensive of all your metal options.

    Steel

    In many ways, steel is the new iron.  It’s stronger than aluminum and not as heavy as iron.  It won’t corrode like iron will, so it too reduces the amount of maintenance you’ll have to perform.  Steel is so popular these days that it comes in a variety of color and styles.  It might be the best all-around option for ornamental fencing out there.

    Powder coating

    Powder coating is part of the secret to maintenance-free metal fencing.  The coating forms a transparent plastic barrier to the fencing material, which keeps the elements from reaching the material, but doesn’t detract from the look or peel away.  It virtually eliminates painting and can be applied to aluminum, steel, and even iron.

    If you’d like to learn more about these products, contact us and we’ll walk you through your options.  We’re well versed in constructing and installing aluminum and steel fences (and iron, too), so we can help you whichever way you choose to do.

  • Something there is that loves a fence

    Robert Frost may have scoffed at his neighbor’s assertion that “good fences make good neighbors” in his poem, “Mending Wall,” but it’s clear that most homeowners prefer their fences anyway.  We recently contributed to an article in The Washington Times that found that fences are still very popular for homes.

    However, the article also pointed out that the agreement seems to end there.  While most homeowners like fences, their style, material, and even reason for having a fence tend to vary.  Fortunately, there are many options to suit the variety of tastes.

    It seems like a new material for fence building is coming out every day.  Last week, we blogged about using bamboo for fencing.  In addition to the traditional wood and wrought iron, there’s now vinyl and other metals.  It all depends on the look and how much maintenance one prefers.

    There are also many reasons why homeowners want a fence in their yard.  Frost’s neighbor liked his to clearly define his property’s boundaries.  Others want the privacy and security that a fence can provide.  Some just like the look.  For many, it’s a combination.

    Another result of the different fencing options is that you don’t have to sacrifice one reason for another.  You have choices that can afford you security without making your home look like a penitentiary.  There’s vinyl that looks like wood, aluminum that looks like iron, and more. Contact us and we’ll help you figure out which options work best for you.

  • Fencing fit for a panda

    Bamboo fencingMany people are satisfied with the standard hardwood or metal picket fence around their yards or gardens.  Others like to think outside the box and look for fencing that will make their homes stand out.  For those folks, we’ve got a great material to consider – bamboo.

    We encountered this idea during the past year while preparing for a project at a senior living complex in College Park, MD.  The management company needed it’s 50-year-old garden fence replaced and stressed the need for a green solution, which had us looking at everything from eco-friendly wood stains to fencing made of recycled plastic.  When we encountered a California company marketing bamboo fencing, we knew we hit pay dirt.

    From an environmental standpoint, bamboo is an ideal material.  Like all wood, it’s a renewable resource, but unlike other woods commonly used for fences, which sometimes require 30 years to grow to a harvest-ready size, bamboo is quickly renewable and able for harvest after only three years.

    As you can see from the pictures, bamboo fencing provides a unique look that’s still attractive.  It’s also very durable as evidenced by it use for flooring, home walls, and baseball bats.

    Whether you’re looking for green alternatives, a different look, or both, bamboo may be right for you.  Contact us at Hercules Fence to learn how we can install a custom bamboo fence for your home.

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