Creating A Stronger Fence

Posted on: 22 July 2017

If you're like many modern homeowners, you've found yourself gravitating toward low-maintenance landscape solutions in recent years. For instance, perhaps you've replaced large expanses of fussy lawns with native groundcovers that only require an occasional watering in order to thrive, or maybe you've replaced your high maintenance ornamental shrubs with those that have superior pest and disease resistance and need little in the way of extra fertilizer. You may have completely forgotten to include your hardscaping -- fencing, decking, walkways, and other non-vegetative aspects of your exterior living space -- in your low-maintenance strategy. However, it's not too late -- following are just three simple ways that you can work easy-care objects into your outdoor hardscaping fixtures. 

Aluminum Fencing 

Because aluminum is not a ferric metal such as iron, it doesn't go through the oxidation process and create rust, and unlike wood, it doesn't rust. This feature makes it particularly useful for those who want the classic appearance of wrought iron fencing without the costly and time consuming maintenance necessary to keep it rust-free -- particularly those living in regions that experience high degrees of atmospheric moisture. Aluminum fencing also easier to install, less expensive, and last an extremely long time. They can easily be painted or stained to match your outdoor color scheme, and it's lightweight properties mean that it's more adaptable to uneven terrain, making it ideal for use on slopes. Contact a fencing company, like Mills Fence, for more help.

Composite Decking

If you want the traditional appeal of a wooden deck but don't want to have to baby it along on a constant basis in order to keep it strong and looking good, you should consider having a deck built with composite decking. Composite decking doesn't rot, warp, or splinter, and it doesn't need to be stained, scrubbed, or bleached. It doesn't turn gray and grungy, and as an added bonus, it's manufactured from recycled plastics. 

Gravel Driveways

These aren't your grandparents' gravel driveways that were always developing potholes and where weeds always seemed to be sprouting. Modern gravel driveways can be rendered exempt from these maladies by a simply process referred to as chip sealing that leaves you with the visual appeal of a well-maintained gravel driveway without any of the routine maintenance. You can even use a snow plow on it to remove snow without having to worry about displacing the gravel. You won't have to add new gravel every year, fill in potholes, or perpetually pull weeds.