Tuesday, July 26, 2011

CONCRETE QUESTIONS / RELIANT FENCE, INC.

The question often comes up about concrete on fence post footers.  Does a company concrete their posts, what type of concrete is used and how much concrete is on each post?  These are all questions that a consumer has the right to know. 

In Florida, many companies do not concrete wooden fence posts.  The rationale is that the concrete will eat away the wood.  We at Reliant Fence have not found that to be true.  However, wooden fences are the only type of fencing that we sometimes do not concrete.  Normally, on these types of fences, we give the customer the final say.  On all other types of fencing, we thoroughly concrete all posts.

How much concrete should you use.  A good rule of thumb for an aluminum fence is half of an 80 pound bag of concrete.  When installing a pvc privacy fence (plastic) the ideal amount is concrete is going to be around 70 to 80 pounds (one full bag).  These are just guide lines, you might find that a little less or a little more works fine for you.  Reliant Fence takes the stance that it is better to use a little more in order to make sure that the post footers are secure for a long time.

Some companies mix their own concrete.  They might use sand, rock and portland cement.  Others use a type of crushed rock material that is then mixed with portland cement.  Another option is the pre-bagged concrete that is available at a Lowe's or Home Depot stores.  What is important here is to make sure the concrete has a rating of at least 3000 psi.  Pre packaged bags from Sakrete or Quikrete all meet this standard and that is why we use them.

Another big question in the central Florida market is, should the concrete be mixed or can it be dry poured?  The fact is that both scenarios work well.  An advantage to dry pour is that there is more time to tweek a fence line in.  You must thoroughly wet the concrete once the fence line is set.

When a fence is installed by Reliant Fence, you can be sure that the footers (one of the most important structural parts  of a fence) are set securely in plenty of concrete.  Our labor warranties are for 2 years and most footer problems would be evident by that time.

Give us a call for your next fence project!  866-851-3465

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Metal types

Aluminum or steel?  This is the big question many people ask when considering what kind of metal fence to purchase. 

There are pros and cons to each type.  Aluminum, for instance, won't rust, making it a good choice for humid climates like Florida.  This fact is one of the major reasons aluminum fencing has become so popular in recent years.  There are many different manufacturers of aluminum fence products.  Our manufacturer of choice at Reliant Fence is Elite Fence products.  Elite is an American owned company founded in 1986, producing high quality aluminum fencing and gates for 25 years.  Many times, the costs of aluminum fencing is lower than a steel product, another pro for aluminum, and most aluminum products come with a limited lifetime warranty (they typically have a warranty on the powder coated finish and workmanship for as long as the original purchaser owns the fence). 

The big plus for steel is that it is a more rigid metal, meaning it is typically stronger.  It will and does rust though.  So, this option may come with a little maintenance.  However, there is a very good steel fence manufacturer based in Tulsa, Ameristar fence products.

Reliant fence typically installs aluminum more than steel.  The pricing is right for aluminum and the local environment fits the bill for aluminum as well. 

If you are in the market for a new aluminum or steel fence, give us a call, Reliant Fence, Inc.(866-851-3465) or visit our web-site:  www.reliantfence.com

Will write again soon!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Reliant Fence, Inc.

When you are considering purchasing a fence for your home of business, make sure to use an experienced and reputable company.  Ask the company for several recent references and don't be afraid to check with the BBB or other web-site's like Angie's list for reference information.

Remember, cheaper doesn't always mean better.  Often times you get what you pay for.  Make sure you are comparing apples to apples on the material quality and also on the installation.  A well built fence will be an asset to your home or business and a poor installation will be isore.

Please consider contacting us at Reliant Fence, Inc. for you next fence project.  Our estimates are free of charge and our final product / installations can't be beat.  Check us out on the web at www.reliantfence.com or call 407-579-7486.