What Does the Change of the Season Mean For Your Fence?
Autumn brings plenty of exciting things: pumpkin scents, warm drinks and cozy sweaters, to name a few. However, you can’t forget about your outdoor spaces!
It’s that time of year again. The leaves are changing color and falling, the temperatures are cooling off, and for some reason, there is holiday music playing at every store already! The interior of your home might start changing with autumnal decorations or the scents of a pumpkin-flavored candle in the evenings. It might even be time in your area to start making fires in the fireplace for cozy evenings!
What about your outdoor spaces? Have you made any preparations for your deck, yard and fence? Whether you have residential or commercial fencing in aluminum or any other material, there are some preparations you might want to consider as the seasons change.
The shifting of the earth
As the seasons change, so does the weather. That means the air in your area could be more dry or moist. The changing of the air and the temperature could mean a change in your soil or gravel where your fence has been erected. This is something to consider and keep an eye on if it is your first autumn or winter at this property or with this fence.
Do a quick check of the soil surrounding your posts well before the first freeze. After the first freeze and thaw, check if there are any large pockets of air or visible signs of soil moving. Fill in any gaps to ensure the structure is secure.
Worrying about winter?
Wooden fences and flimsy chain-link fences can crack and rot when winter weather hits. This is because of the snow, ice and even the salt from the salt trucks. A less sturdy fence can even be bent, damaged or pushed right over by an unsuspecting snow plow if your fence is near the street. However, if you are the proud owner of residential or commercial fencing in aluminum, you really don’t have too much to worry about when it comes to the upcoming winter season.
If you are still in the preparation stage of your fence and are in an area that tends to be rather snowy, it might be beneficial to leave a little extra room between any roads and your aluminum fence. This is to allow for space for the snow trucks to push the snow into small banks without it tumbling through the pickets and into your yard. If your property includes a commercial parking lot, this area for snow to be piled will be needed on the inside, too.
If you already have your fence and are more worried about snow and ice buildup on the pickets and post themselves, relax! Aluminum is a mighty metal that can withstand even the most extreme winters. If there are areas of the fence that you want to keep free of snow and ice as much as possible, a quick sweep of the snow with a broom can help, or you could even use a snowblower.
As the leaves change and it becomes time to get out your heavier coats, you don’t have to worry too much about your aluminum fence. Just check the soil around the posts to keep your fence in a steady, secure and strong position and let the aluminum metal do the rest.