WOOD FACTS

NORTHERN WHITE CEDAR

Northern White Cedar is very light in weight, of low shrinkage, soft and comparatively free of warpage. The heartwood is resistant to decay making it especially desirable for service in contact with the ground. Cedar's untreated life expectancy is 15-20 years, as compared to raw spruce's life expectancy of 3-7 years.

CHECKING

As round or square timers dry out and season, they most always develop what appears to be a split or crack, but more accurately is known as a "check". Since there is both sapwood and heartwood in both larger dimensional wood products and round peeled wood products, the natural seasoning process develops checking that does not harm the durability or stability of the product. This natural process is almost always likely to occur.

PRESSURE TREATED

Wood pressure treated with wood preservative, A.C.Q., will last years and years longer than untreated woods that are not as rot resistant as cedar. Our advice is to use an all cedar product or a pressure treated product.

PVC (VINYL) FACT

WHY IS IT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN WOOD?

Simply, it's not! Although your investment is more initially, this is where your expense ends. The cost difference is quickly eliminated once the substantial cost of continuous maintenance of a wood or metal fence is considered. PVC fencing is the economical way to go, confidently saving you time and money with a fence backed by a lifetime warranty. Your PVC fence cost over twenty years is constant because there is no maintenance and repair bills. Wood fences are less expensive in the first few years, but increase and become more costly than your maintenance free vinyl fence.

WHAT IS THE WARRANTY AND WHAT DOES IT COVER?

The warranty covers all manufactured products (not installation or labor) for a lifetime on a non-prorated basis. The warranty covers the color of the product as well as any peeling or cracking of the material.

WHAT IS THE PRODUCT MADE OF?

The base ingredient is rigid PVC (polyvinyl chloride) modified to provide superior impact strength and ultraviolet (UV) resistance. The formulation is similar to that of vinyl siding, which has a 20-year history of providing long-term durability and structural integrity.

WILL IT TURN YELLOW?

No. The product constants 10 parts titanium dioxide which prevent ultraviolet degradation.

WILL IT BREAK IN COLD/HOT WEATHER?

As with most plastics, vinyl will become less flexible in colder weather conditions. However, unless subjected to unusual impact, it will not break. It is normal for materials to contract and expand during temperature changes. This product has been engineered to accommodate normal temperature swings and changing climate conditions.

WILL IT BURN?

PVC has a high flash point of 900 degrees F and does not readily ignite. It is therefore categorized as being self-extinguishing.

WILL MY HORSE CHEW ON IT? WILL A WEED EATER SCRATCH OR HURT IT?

PVC products have smooth surfaces with no nails, sharp edges or chance for splinters. You, your children, pets and animals are all safer. Vinyl has a tough surface, retains virtually no moisture and has no taste; therefore horse will not crib or chew it. In addition, our experience shows that PVC fencing holds up to routine property maintenance including the use of most types of weed eaters.

TIPS ON CHOOSING YOUR CONTACTOR

QUESTIONS TO ASK A FENCE CONTRACTOR

Installing a fence can be a substantial investment. Similar to purchasing any large purchase, we strongly recommend that you do your research. Here are some helpful hints or questions that you should be asking contractors:

• How long has the company been doing business?
• Does the company hold liability and workers' compensation insurance?
• Can the contractor supply a sample contract and product brochures?
• What type of guarantee and warranty come with the fence installation?
• Are there customer testimonials and references available?
  

COMMUNICATION

Be precise, so the contractor understands exactly what you want done. Effective communication enables the contractor to quote on performing the same work with the same materials.

COMPETITIVE BIDS

If possible, find two or three contractors to quote on your project. This allows you to choose the one that offers you the best value. This is not necessarily the contractor with lowest price. A company's reputation, workmanship and warranty should always be considered along with the price. Be wary if one price is significantly lower than the others. Try to determine why the cost difference is so great, remember, you generally get what you pay for.

INSURANCE

Most states require contractors to have workers' compensation, liability, and property damage insurance. Workers' compensation, for example, protects you if a worker injures himself on your property. Some contractors try to lower their costs by not carrying insurance. This may place you at a legal risk, so be sure to ask your contractor for written documentation of such coverage.

REFERENCES

Ask for references from your contractor, along with recent installation sites. Inspect them to get a sense of the contractor's workmanship; quality may be the main reason one contractor's price is higher (or lower) than the rest.

CONTRACT

Get the contract in writing! It should include a full description of the job, a payment schedule and estimated time of completion.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Most contractors require a deposit before starting a job, but payment schedules vary, some contractors ask for 50% down and 50% on completion, while others request 1/3 down and the balance on completion.