Bamboo Fencing Hut

Bamboo Fencing

Posted on March 31, 2012 by cheeth

Have you ever noticed that it is only when you have a decision to make that you find out that there are so many choices – options you did not even know exist. Now, take for instance bamboo fencing. Shouldn’t it be a simple thing to just hire someone to install them and you are good to go? Well, as I found out, it is not that simple – on the part of the decision-maker that is. Since there are numerous different styles of this particular fencing, selecting the most appropriate one to be placed at your back yard will be determined by your taste as well as the type of décor you envision.

Bamboo Fencing

You will find that nearly all fencing of this type that is available commercially come in panels and rolls. The one that is most often purchased and used is created with long poles having about 1-inch diameter or the thinner ones, diameter of 1/2 inch. Galvanized heavy duty wire holds the canes or poles together. For split bamboo fencing, another fencing in Derby style, the bamboo cane’s outer half is used to create it and wire is used to hold it together. It is important to note though, that the fencing that use split or woven bamboo to make them are not as durable as the ones made of cane and poles that are stronger.

You would think that the above information was enough to start the ball rolling. However, the builder will want some more information such as the exact style you want. It is therefore up to you to do your research and at least know the basics because the end decision is with you. It was quite interesting to find out that for many years, bamboo fencing has been basic components of Asian style gardens and courtyards. There is a great amount of styles that are more specific – some quite simple and others extremely complex. Several of these popular types of fencing are coming from the architectural tradition of Japan. All use shuro nawa, a dark colored twine to hold bamboo poles that are small together. Some Japanese bamboo fencing are:

Kenninji – There is no gap found between poles or panels with this fence style. Moon-shaped rails support the panels of the bamboo.

Twig fence – This offers a tropical and casual look. It is not so traditional and is simply bunches of bamboo twigs connected to vertical and horizontal posts that support them.

Royanji – This fence that is shorter that the regular is more appropriate for gardens. It is made of a network of bamboo shoots that are not too wide and joined to rails at the bottom and top; there are posts on both side of the fence that support the rails.

There are other types of bamboo fencing (in case you thought the list of options is completed) such as flexible fencing, bamboo borders and modular fencing. Now that you have an idea that there are several things to think about before choosing your fencing, you can now go ahead and make that informed decision.

Bamboo Poles

Posted on March 31, 2012 by cheeth

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Who would have thought that bamboo poles are of such great significance or that there are so many types of them which can be used for various purposes such as:

Making fishing poles
Creating a sunshade in the garden
Creating a tepee; ideal for holding up vegetable plants that climb – pole beans for example
Using four poles to design an exquisite wedding arbor
Making a strong leg for a table
Adding an interesting feel and look to the house by using them to outline ceilings as well as other architectural niceties
Making a (somewhat) sun-proof patio or deck by tightly packing them together. Look out for the rain though – it is not rain proof.

Bamboo is considered to be one of the many miracles that have been produced by nature; the structure and strength that it possesses allows it to be usable in many and various different ways and in many different countries. In China, it is said that these poles (or stick, stake, cane) is used in the agriculture/horticulture industry and significantly aid in young trees and plants’ early development. The poles can be used to build structures, furniture and fencing. Bamboo poles are distinct from lumber in that they are generally larger at the base than the top. They are naturally vulnerable to the development of some amount of cracks after a while and this is determined by humidity and temperature. One great feature of these poles though is that, unlike some humans, their beauty or integrity is not affected by cracks.

Bamboo Poles

So now you know that there are many uses of these poles, but did you know that they come in various different designs? The styles, purposes and designs of bamboo poles are equally interesting and endless. Some of these will be briefly shared here:

Polished Bamboo Poles – These are kiln-heated to allow the natural oils of the bamboo to come out, giving it the polished look. These are ideal for exterior as well as interior projects that require a product that is considered of high quality.
Chunky Monkey – These are also kiln-heated to bring out the natural oils. They have a rich hue of amber-brown and are attractive in any décor of the home. These will do well in traditional building projects.
Elephant Leg: These are said to bring you the sub-tropics right where you are. Amber-brown in color, their distinctive and highly-seasoned appearance has been developed by hand-torch.
Hearts – Slim poles are heated then bent and made to stay in place. These are great decorative addition any chuppah or wedding arch.
Imported Poles – These poles have a traditional look and are generally seen in several different outdoor and indoor applications. They are ideal for any project, exterior or interior additions. The imported bamboo poles have a tendency to crack more often when compared to the domestic ones. For the imported poles also, cracks do not take away anything from the poles, in terms of strength or integrity.

Building a Fence With My Father

Posted on March 31, 2012 by cheeth

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Believe it or not I remember building a fence with my bare hands. It is actually one of my earliest memories of my father. I was extremely young in the memory; I could not have been more than five or six. I remember being too short to see properly out of the windows in the barn where we cut the long fragrant pieces of pine wood into the right size pieces for the job. I remember really wanting to help, but not being able to do so much because I was still such a small boy and that it was a bit frustrating! I also remember the sound of the buzz saw as it sliced through the wood, and the spray of sawdust in the air, and the rich pine aroma that seemed to burst into my nostrils after every swift stroke my father made through the two by fours.

Building a fence with my father was such a wonderful and memorable bonding experience. After all of the pieces of wood had been cut into the proper size pieces, we gathered them up and brought them outside a bit at a time. The fence we were building was going to divide my mother’s flower garden from my father’s vegetable garden. (My father explained to me when I was older that we were building a fence because my mother was extremely fussy about her garden and my father was sick of hearing her complain about his vegetables crowding her flowers). The fence was about four feet high, and about ten feet long. So it was not a very hard project, we were simply building a fence right in the middle of the garden.

Building a Fence

I remember that we started by taking the largest pieces of wood that my father had and pounding them into the ground. He let me play with the ones that he had not got to yet, and I pretended I was the supervisor and waved it around and suggested different things for him to do. My father was a very patient man. I remember that he had some difficulty getting one of the posts to go into the ground as far as he wanted it to. At one point, he looked at me and asked me to run into the house and get him some lemonade. I still remember how he looked, so strong and in control. I ran as fast as I could to the house and got him the biggest glass that I could handle without spilling and then walked it back triumphantly. I knew I was ‘helping’ somehow.

When I got back, he had already got the last post just where he wanted it. He smiled at me and I handed him his tall frosty cold drink. Then he sat down on the grass and grabbed me up and sat me down on his lap and held me close, and said ‘Thanks, my boy!’ I will never forget that memory of building a fence with my father as long as I live. I felt so appreciated and loved. Today I really believe that my father is the best dad in the world, and this memory shows me that he always has been.

Garden Fence

Posted on March 31, 2012 by cheeth

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You may have at some point heard the wise saying that you have good neighbors when you make good fences. Well, some persons have come to learn that the consequences of bad or no fences can make enemies in no time flat! So there must be some truth in this saying. Your garden needs protection from animal threat like rabbits, chickens, dogs; naturally occurring sunshine and wind; and of course, human threat like neighbors. This is the number one reason why a garden fenceis essential. Now, apart from keeping the neighbors out so you can remain friends, the method of protecting the garden will be determined by the reason for protecting it. Some of the different reasons and protection tips are listed below:

Garden Fence

To keep animals at bay

Deer and groundhogs, for example, will eat you out of your house, money and garden produce if you leave them careless enough. Dogs will use your garden bed as running ground as well as doggy out-house. Cats will not hesitate to dig anywhere for a comfortable sleeping spot. To keep the deer out, the garden fence height must be six feet. The only way to keep small dogs and cats out is to fasten the fence to the ground. The groundhog deterrence fence should be about four feet in height with one foot under the ground. Wire fencing can be used to keep out several animal pests. An electric fence (two-wire) is recommended for additional protection.

A shelter from the natural elements

The types of fences that can be used in this case are chain-link fence that has fabric slats or bamboo screening, as they require little maintenance and are useful wind barriers; wood fencing simply because it is attractive. Ensure that it is placed two feet below the ground surface to prevent it being blown over by wind. Synthetic or canvas shades can be used if the garden is located in a sunny or hot region. A trellis is recommended for permanent protection.

Individuals will have different needs and tastes and there are numerous different styles and types of garden fence for them to choose from which also provides privacy while remaining attractive. For peace to reign, you may want the neighbor to have a say in your choice of fence. Below are some of the more popular types:

Picket Fencing – This is generally the fence of choice for both a back and front garden that does not require privacy. Although mainly for decoration, this garden fence offers some amount of security.

Close Board Fencing – This type of fencing has a heavy duty structure and is strong and hard wearing enough to stand up against wind. In addition to its sturdiness, it offers security as well as privacy for the garden area.

Post Fencing – The post garden fence is generally utilized for marking out boundaries in a garden that is in the front of the yard or within a particular field. This type of fencing is quite simple and does not provide any outstanding look for the garden.

Wood Fence Panels

Posted on March 31, 2012 by cheeth

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Just looking at it, you may say that concrete fence panels provide better safety because it looks sturdy as if it can last for many years. However, if there is ever such a time when the phrase ‘looks are deceiving’ is relevant, it is now. One thing they are for certain is unattractive and unfriendly to the environment. On the other hand, wood fence panels or premade fence panels, are guaranteed to last much longer than you would imagine. The ones that are pressure-treated provide a minimum of fifteen years guarantee of safety. This is the reason why they are available with anti-rot warranty. In addition, the wood posts are easier on the eye and will naturally blend in with gardens.

There are several fence panel styles available and the pickets can either be spaced or solid. The wood fence panels may be employed for creating a boundary for a property or as a privacy fence. When all is said and done, you will want to have posts that are stable and attractive. These types of fence panels can provide your garden with a feel and look of class, particularly if a decorative finish is added. It is certainly a comforting thought to know that there is no need to sacrifice security for decoration.

Wood Fence Panels

Individuals today who are keeping abreast of changing technology are making choices among the several different wood fence panels which are on the market. They may be different in details but the three main pre assembled styles of fence panel that are available to make a selection from are: Solid – This offers total privacy when employed as fencing for containment like for swimming pools as well as between lines of property. These also may be used to take unattractive areas or main roadway out of sight; Spaced picket – This is great for allowing the area to have a distinctive look while effectively keeping out pets as well as curious and sometimes naughty children; Shadowbox – Alternating panels are used across the front and back of the fence so that both sides can have the same look. The neighbors will have a pleasant viewing of your fence also. They are normally taller than the others (about six feet normally) and appear to be a total containment fence but more air circulation is allowed. These wooden fence panels make it easy for an individual to personally install a fence without incurring high labor costs.

The wooden fence panels that are most popularly used today are:

Redwood – Great look and easy installment; naturally protects against insects as well as water; they last very long and no special treatment is necessary for this excellent feature.

Pressure-treated – The panels are treated with particular chemicals using pressure; this improves the resistance, longevity and durability of the panels; these cost less than the other two fences.

Cedar – Most durable of the wood fences; provide great finish and texture; low maintenance requirement; natural oils result in water-resistant and safe from attack from insects.

Metal Fence

Posted on March 31, 2012 by cheeth

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We recently went shopping for a metal fence to go around the pool in our backyard. Our pool is truly magnificent! It has a big slide and a diving board at the deep end of the pool, and the shallow end of the pool has graduated steps that make it easy for little kids and new swimmers to get in and out of the pool easily. We installed a special bottom to our pool that has iridescent and shiny tiling, so it truly looks majestic. We also have a Jacuzzi next to the pool that we like to use often. The Jacuzzi is a dark green color and we find it really relaxing. There have been many days that after a long day at work we truly need to soak in the Jacuzzi to melt our troubles away.

The reason that we needed to build a metal fence was because we wanted to make sure that the neighborhood kids could not get in there without us knowing. As friendly neighbors, we often allow all of the children in the neighborhood to swim in our pool, especially on hot days. However, we do go on vacation for a month each summer, and we simply did not want anyone to be able to get into the pool when we were not home for safety concerns. With a fence and a padlock, we could be sure that no one was using our pool when we were away on vacation, unless we provided them with a key to use.

Metal Fence

We decided that we wanted to have a chain link metal fence. They are a quite affordable option, and the one we selected had the metal wrapped with a dark green vinyl substance which was actually very attractive. Next we needed to find the right professional fence installer to install our chain link metal fence. We wanted to pick some one local, so we asked around to our friends, family, and neighbors to see if anyone had someone in mind that they could recommend to us. We found a gentleman who came highly recommended, and then we hired him immediately. He said that he could complete the job in four days time, so we were very excited to see him get started.

The man arrived on a Friday, and began the process of building our new metal fence. On Friday, he walked around and measured everything he needed to and finalized his plans. He showed us a sketch of how the fence would look once he had completed the job. We were pleased with what we saw, so we gave him the go ahead to get started the very next day. Then on Saturday he pounded tall round metal posts into the ground, and dropped off the rest of his supplies. On Sunday he put up the actual fencing. The process ended up taking 3 days instead of 4, we were so pleased that we gave him a big tip, and invited him to come over to our pool party the next weekend.

Garden Fencing

Posted on March 31, 2012 by cheeth

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Garden fencing is essential for a vegetable garden. I learned that the hard way! Until I put up garden fencing, I had nothing but problems with my vegetable garden! I could not figure out why all of my tomatoes always would get to the point where they were almost perfectly ripe, and then mysteriously, the night before they were to be picked they would be taken by some kind of midnight marauder. It baffled me! For many a spring, summer, and fall, I tried everything I could think of the to catch the culprit in the act.

First I tried setting up a cage to trap the culprit. First I started with a really large one. I guess I was just trying to be extra thorough. I was really inspired when I started this stalking my midnight garden thief, but I unfortunately did not have any success with my gigantic bear sized trap. Sure enough, my tomatoes were still being stolen right from underneath my nose! How annoying. Next I tried putting up a scarecrow. I thought for sure that it would finally do the trick and that I had finally found something that would solve my problem. It did keep some of the crows away, but not enough to make a difference. At that point I realized that I really did need to build some garden fencing.

Garden Fencing

First I looked at a bunch of various garden fencing sheffield kits. They were relatively affordable, and I could choose between wood, vinyl, and metal fencing. However, I couldn’t find one that was the size I wanted! I wanted something tall enough to keep out whatever was destroying my crops! I have always been a ‘do it yourself’ kind of person, so I selected a garden fencing kit I really liked, and then gathered all of the same materials in a slightly taller height. I made sure to plan a gate where I could get into the garden. I didn’t want to fence myself out! I then went home and got to work.

It was not long at all before I had finished building my garden fence. Then I planted some more tomatoes and started the waiting process. I could not wait until they were ripe! That summer, I was so ready for my fresh home grown tomatoes! This would be the first year in three years that I got to eat them myself! One day I thought they looked perfect to start picking, but I decided to wait one more night. As I was sleeping, I heard a terrible crash in the backyard and I ran out there to see what it was. At first I thought it was a bear, but then the bear turned around and I saw it was my neighbor! Now I knew where my tomatoes had disappeared to each year, thanks to my garden fencing. Once my neighbor was caught, he did not steal my tomatoes anymore, and I was very happy.

Fence Panels

Posted on March 31, 2012 by cheeth

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The fence panels in my backyard are getting rather old. One thing I do love about my fence panels is that my neighbor’s dog always stares at me through the fence panels as I sit in my lounge chair on my deck it is always right there staring at me with the most adorable face you could ever see. I am telling you, I really need to replace these panels, but I am hesitant to do so because I really like being able to see my neighbor’s dog through the fencing. This dog is something else. Her name is Rowdy, which I think is a rather silly name for a dog to begin with, but it is a downright laughable name when you consider that this is the most calm and docile creature you could ever imagine. I love it when she peeks at me through the fence panels between our yards, it is so cute!

Fence Panels

My neighbor Jessica came over to my place one day and told me she intended to get a dog. Instead of going to a breeder or going to a shelter for a rescue dog, she decided that she was going to adopt a retired greyhound named Rowdy who used to be a racing dog! I was excited because I have heard that greyhounds have nice temperaments, and I also think they are beautiful dogs. I even wanted to rescue a racing greyhound too, but my husband has said absolutely not and no way so I guess that is out of the question.

As soon as my neighbor came home with her new dog, the dog ran right across the yard and put its face up to the fence panels and slid its nose through the fence panels a bit and started sniffing. My husband was grilling steaks and hamburgers in the backyard, so I think that might have had something to do with it. I am guessing Ms. Rowdy liked the aroma she smelled. I worried that she was going to burst right through the fence, but the fence is still sturdy enough that she wasn’t able to.

After this episode with the burgers and steaks, I immediately considered replacing my fence panels with new ones, because I know I have got several splinters in my hand from these old ones. The ones I have right now are made from wood, and they have definitely seen better days. I wouldn’t want Rowdy hurting herself! Vinyl fence panels are attractive, durable, and weatherproof, so they are truly a very attractive option that I have been considering for my fence. Most importantly, Rowdy can’t get a splinter with them! But I fear that there wouldn’t be enough space for her to get her nose between them. I guess I’ll just live with my wooden fence panels for now. Or perhaps I will replace them with different wooden fence panels. I am not sure if I will be able to replace the fence panels without tearing out and replacing the entire fence, I really hope so!

Fence Designs

Posted on March 31, 2012 by cheeth

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We moved into a new house recently, and we really liked many things about the house including the fence designs. It is likely that we never would have replaced it until it fell apart from age, but that was before our neighbor backed into the fence! Our old fence was a bit like the picket fence designs, it was white and it had many slats that were connected by cross slats. It was the fence that was here at the house when we moved in actually, and it just seemed to fit the house so perfectly that we saw no reason to change it.

When you are moving, there is a ton of other stuff to think about like unpacking boxes, decorating the house, figuring out which furniture goes in which room, putting up blinds and window shades, hanging pictures – the list goes on and on! Moving truly is quite a process. The last thing that was on our minds was picking out new fence designs. Little did we know that less than a month after we moved in we would actually be looking at tons of fence designs trying to replace our flattened fence!

fence designs

We had a housewarming part about a week after we moved into the new place. We mainly invited a bunch of our friends and family, and a couple of neighbors from our old neighborhood that we really like. As a courtesy, we gave invitations to our neighbors as well. The neighborhood we live in now is a medium sized development. Just to be safe, we distributed invitations to everyone else in the development in hopes that no one would complain about noise or anything like that. The party was on a Friday night. We picked Friday in hopes that no one would be upset if we played the music a little louder than normal.

The guests began to arrive at around 6:00pm. We planned for the party to go until 10:00pm. Everything was just fine for most of the night. At around 9:30pm, people started leaving. Everyone was gone by 11:00 except for one woman. She had fallen asleep on our couch somehow. My husband gently woke her up and told her she needed to go because the party was over. The woman seemed quite embarrassed, and apologized for falling asleep on the couch and thanked us for our hospitality. She then got her jacket and walked out to her car.

She waved goodbye to us as she backed down the driveway, but she must have misjudged how much space she had or something, because I watched her drive right over our lovely white fence! We weren’t mad at her, because it really was an accident and she did promise to pay to fix the fence. Also the look on her face when she hit the fence was priceless! It was like something from one of those funny home movie shows. So now here we are, checking out all kinds of new fence designs. With all of the options, we are honestly having trouble finding the right fence designs for our needs. So right now we still do not have a fence!

We know we want a wooden fence. Some of the fence designs we have been considering include a split rail fence, standard runners and reverse runners. It is so hard to pick the best fence design all by ourselves! We will probably end up just installing another wooden picket fence just like the one we had before.

Wooden Fence

Posted on March 31, 2012 by cheeth

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The task is set out to choose from the different types of wooden fences. What are the best ones? How do I choose? Should I go for price or quality? Can I get good price with quality? These are some of the question that may be turning over in your head when the need comes up to install one of these on your property. It is easy to get overwhelmed with the several types of available fences of this material as well as the other aspects that require careful considerations. Luckily for you, the decision is narrowed down to only two areas to look at and these are form – how it should look and function – what are the real purposes of the fencing.

Like marriages, sometimes there will be compatibility between function and form and sometimes this is definitely not the case. As an example, fencing using chain-link and other products that are also metal frequently result in high-quality security fences. So, if security is what you require, you may have to sacrifice form for function. Your house style may be pleading for a wood fence to go with the décor but you may be convinced to use the metal instead because of high security concerns.

Wooden Fence

If form is the main focus, when the decision for ideal garden fencing bristol is made, there should be consideration of the fences’ potential with the style of the house and with the landscape design. For instance, wood fence designs with rugged and rough rails and posts like split-rail fences generally are matched with houses that are ranch-styled and US Southern landscape design theme. The picket fencing style appears to be naturally suitable for English-inspired cottage gardens landscape designs. When the attention is on function, regrettably, you cannot choose certain kind of wooden fences no matter how beautiful and irresistible they are. If dogs are to be kept safe from harm or harming people or other animals, for example, or to keep animals like deer from entering the property, the homeowner is required to have highly effective fencing like an electric dog fence or one of the various kinds of fencing designed to keep out deer.

To make up for its shortfall in the area of security, wooden fences are great options for fencing that require privacy – visual as well as sound barriers. When focusing on creating a sanctuary in your backyard, for instance, this type of attractive fencing is your best choice. Other homeowners will prefer to give up a little on the insistence of privacy and select fences that offer a feel of a little airiness and let in a little of the outside world. Partial privacy can be offered by lattice fencing as well as picket fences that are taller than the usual.

Nothing can compare to wood when it comes to beauty and warmth. With adequate maintenance, the fences made of wood can be used for years. The biggest foe of wooden fence is rotting. The fences should be thoroughly examined yearly and when damage is found, it should be corrected before there is damage spread.