Surprising Benefits to Using Ottawa Fencing Companies

Meta description: Ottawa fencing companies can offer you many benefits as shown in this guide.

It’s always very tempting to just treat a fencing task as a DIY project. But Ottawa fencing companies can provide you with advantages that a DIY project can’t. They can guide you throughout the process and they can also recommend solutions and fence designs that may better suit your needs. Of course, they can also spare you the hard work and their results are often better than anything you may be able to do on your own.

All these are obvious. But here are some benefits you may not realize yet:

•        They carry insurance. They carry general liability insurance which protects your property from any damage caused by their employees. They also have workers’ compensation insurance so you’re not held liable when an employee gets hurt while working on your property.

•        They can help you with the permits. If they’re an experienced company, they should know the process intimately and they can give you precise advice on what to do and what to expect. Your local homeowners’ association may require special types of fences only, or they may have rules specifying the maximum height of the fence. The fencing company can help you understand what these rules mean.

•        They help locate buried lines. They can contact the local utility company so that they can locate and mark the locations of the power, water, and underground gas lines. They’ll also refer you to a title company or surveyor so you’ll have records verifying the boundaries of your properties.

•        Disposal of an old fence may be part of their job. Check to see that the clean-up is part of the written contract, and see if this entails additional fees. This includes getting rid of the old fence, as well as disposing of old nails and other dangerous items.

•        The fencing company can deal with the neighbors. It can get very awkward if you get into an argument over the extent of your property. The fencing company can inform your neighbors of the real boundaries of your property. Also, they can take care of the grudging task of informing your neighbors about your planned fence.

•        DIY fencing requires lots of specialized equipment. You won’t have to purchase or rent any of these expensive tools, such as a hydraulic post-hole digger. They may even have their own generator to power the equipment they used.

•        They can also deal with any unknown things under the ground. For example, they may hit an unmarked power line while digging and that can be a serious or even fatal problem.

With these benefits, it really doesn’t make much sense to build your fence on your own. Do yourself a favour and choose among the Ottawa fencing companies instead. 

The Many Differences between a PVC fence and a Vinyl Fence

Meta description: Are PVC fences and vinyl fences the same? Not exactly. Read this guide to know where the differences lie.

For most people in the fence construction industry, a PVC fence and a vinyl fence refer to the same item. After all, PVC is polyvinyl chloride which some just shorten to “vinyl”. But there seems to be a recent trend to using the term vinyl fence for the fences that are specifically meant to be an alternative to a wooden fence. On the other hand, PVC fences are those which are constructed from sawed PVC pipes.

Cost of Purchase

This is perhaps the biggest difference, because PVC fences are so much cheaper than other fencing solutions. In fact, this type of fence probably started out as a makeshift DIY solution for those who didn’t have much of a budget for a proper fence. PVC pipes are extremely cheap, while the vinyl fences are much more expensive because they’re meant to be used for fencing.

So let’s put it this way. A PVC fence (which is made out of PVC pipes) is generally more affordable than many types of wooden fence. A vinyl fence, however, is more expensive than not just the PVC pipe but also the wooden fence.

Ease of Installation

When you’re installing a vinyl fence, all you really need to do is to follow the instructions of the manufacturer. This should be easier since it is actually designed to function as a fence.

Meanwhile, building a PVC fence requires more effort. You will have to buy PVC pipes in the exact same measurement, or you can saw a long PVC pipe to get several pipes with the same length. You will have to carefully plan the length of each pipe, especially when you want some variety in the lengths.

Design

While these two types of fences may both be made from polyvinyl chloride, they don’t look in any way alike. Keep in mind that the vinyl fence is intentionally made to look like a proper fence. So the parts are all moulded to whatever shape you fancy and they may come in a colour you like. A fence like these can look very attractive indeed. They can look like a classic picket fence or it can be a privacy fence instead.

With the PVC fence, there’s no escaping the fact that you made this out of a series of PVC pipes. It looks very basic and it’s not quite as attractive.

Lifespan

As they’re made from the same material, they both have the same advantages against termites, fungi, and the elements. The polyvinyl chloride on both types of fences can withstand them all. Both fences require very little maintenance, and soap and some water from a hose may be enough to clean them both.

But there’s really no guarantee how long a makeshift fence made from PVC pipes will last. And if a particular PVC pipe breaks, then you’ll have to replace it yourself.

With the vinyl fences, however, there’s usually a warranty. So if anything breaks during the warranty period, the manufacturer can repair or replace the fence.

Conclusion

So which one should you get? If you’re on a tight budget, then you’ll have to go with a PVC fence. But if you need a real alternative that can compare favourably with wood fences, then get the vinyl fence. 

Ottawa Fence Companies: How to Pick the Right One

Meta description: Here are some indications that show you which Ottawa fence companies to avoid.

Not all Ottawa fence companies are good. In fact, a few can be downright suspicious. So you may want to think about working with another fence company when you encounter any of the following red flags:

1.       They don’t have a website. In this day and age, that’s a real concern because just about every legitimate business has it’s own website.

2.       They don’t have an actual office. Without an office, it’s very difficult to verify the legitimacy of a contractor.

3.       They ask that you make out your payments to an individual. That may mean that they’re unlicensed, which is really risky for you. You’ll have to settle with substandard work, and you’ll also be accountable if any worker suffers an injury while working on your property.

4.       You’re asked to pay in cash. This is a common tactic of questionable fencing companies, as cash is just about impossible to track. Protect yourself by paying with your credit card or a check.

5.       They tell you to pay upfront in full. You’re supposed to make the final payment only when you’re totally satisfied with the result. Even those who ask for an upfront deposit usually only ask for 10%.

6.       They don’t have documentation of their company’s insurance coverage. That’s a sign they don’t have insurance at all.

7.       There’s a pending legal action against the contractor. Their case may cause them stop working on your fence before it is completed. That would be a major inconvenience for you, as you’ll be forced to either get another fence company or finish the job yourself.

8.       They don’t have references. Either they’re new or they don’t have anyone among their previous who’s willing to recommend them.

9.       There’s no firm written contract. This is no time for a handshake deal. The contract must contain an itemized list of fees and costs. It should specify when the job will start and end, what the responsibilities of the fence companies are, when payments are due, and to whom the payments should be rendered.

10.   They use subcontractors for the entire job. That gives the contractor (and you) less control over the quality of the fencing and the timeliness of the work.

11.   They’re not a member of any professional association or affiliation. You’ll want a company that is affiliated with the right groups because that’s a sign that their references and background check out.

12.   They don’t offer any warranties on their actual installation work. Good companies have warranties for at least 2 years. Some even offer up to 5 years.

13.   They don’t have the pertinent info and documentation you need when you ask for it. These things should be ready at all times.

So there you have it. We have at least 13 signs of a company you may want to avoid. Save yourself the trouble and go with Ottawa fence companies who pass through these checks with flying colours