Types of Wood Used for Fencing

May 14th, 2024 | London Building Contractors

According to the research paper “Characteristics and Availability of Commercially Important Woods” developed by ‘Michael C. Wiemann’ to achieve a satisfactory service life of a wooden fence, the following types of woods can be used:

Cedar Wood

Cedar wood is softer rather than lighter in weight and has lesser strength and limited shock resistance. It gets slightly compressed when it is set for drying. You can work on it smoothly, it holds colour well, and is exceptionally resistant to heartwood decay. Due to its high durability, it is used for making poles, posts, cabin logs, railroad crusts, lumber, shingles, decorative fencing, and boats.

Fir Wood

Fir Wood is also known locally as red-fir wood, Douglas-spruce, and yellow-fir wood. Fir Wood is used mostly for building and construction purposes in the form of lumber, piles, plywood, and engineered wood composites. These woods are costly but when used in fence the durability of the wood is taken into the count. This type of wood is reliable for holding screw and they are highly split-proof.

Red Oak Wood

Red oak wood is dense and it shrinks during drying. The red oaks are primarily cut into lumber, railroad crossties, fence posts, veneer, etc. Generally, timber fence posts by red oak wood require preservative treatment for satisfactory service.

Teak Wood

Teak wood is versatile, strong, durable, weather and warp-resistant, also does not decay easily. Teakwood being strong and having a long life is also very costly. It therefore is used only for erecting posts and maybe for making rails. Apart from fencing, it can be used for cabinet making, interior and exterior joinery, flooring and fine furniture, carving, panelling, turnery, veneers, and poles. Poles made from teak wood are used for scaffolding, fence posts and telecommunications lines.

If you are planning to make a wooden fence, you should look at the advantages and disadvantages of a wooden fence beforehand.

Advantages of Wood Fencing

Timber fencing is stylish

One of the significant advantages you can get from a wood fencing is that it adds aesthetic value to a premise. It can enhance the look of your home, and set it apart from the neighbouring homes. Well, this can be achieved by using painting, carving or staining. You can paint your fence in regular water-resistant paint to enhance their appearance and to extend their service life.

A sustainable friendly option

Timber fencing is an eco-friendly option. Wood is a natural substance that can be taken from a tree at any time. Old wooden fence pieces can also be disposed of without damaging the surroundings. Therefore, wood fencing is always one of the safest methods to consider.

Affordable

Most fencing options like stone or brick wall fencing, steel fencing, metal fencing are expensive, but the option to buy and install a wooden fence is mostly affordable, provided wood is available in plenty from your localities.

Easy to install

Wooden fences can be customized according to the owner’s needs and shape while keeping everything on a budget.

Disadvantages of Wood Fencing

Shorter lifespan

Wooden fences may have a shorter lifespan than some other fencing materials like aluminium, steel, bricks, etc.

Requires a lot of maintenance

The wooden fences can last a long time only if maintained regularly and properly. If the wood fences are not maintained or if the area where the fence is fixed experiences a lot of rain and snow, then the wooden fence’s life will be naturally reduced.

Highly flammable

The main disadvantage of using wood in fence is that it is flammable as it catches fire quickly.

Susceptible to rot and insect attack

It also gets attacked by termites and insects easily and you have to maintain it regularly to keep them protected and in good shape.

Conclusion:

Although these kinds of fences require some attention, you can preserve your fence throughout the year by taking preventive measures and fixing any damage as soon as it occurs.

If you are interested in having bespoke wooden fence installed on your property, why don’t you get in touch with our team on either 020 8935 5159 or 07791139936, or fill in our online contact form to request a free survey and/or quote?

External links:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/37430

https://co2timber.co.uk/pdf/timber-fencing.pdf

https://gharpedia.com/blog/wood-fencing-for-house-boundary/

https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/blog/all-about-wooden-garden-fence-maintenance/?agent=pmax&custref=PerformanceMax&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjbyYBhCdARIsAArC6LKu-U8VkETUAz5LPO9vreTusN1Z-JhBDs3M7cGrA4m2AtCJ7BFK1yYaAivmEALw_wcB

https://www.contemporarygarden.co.uk/blogs/news/pros-and-cons-of-timber-fencing

https://www.felixwood.com/wood-fencing/elegant-charmant-hardwood-fences/

How to Assess the Potential of a Renovation Project

May 9th, 2024 | London Building Contractors

Get in here, best friends. Do you remember I told you we would talk about the renovation process and walk through every corner? Yes, I’m happy to share with you what we found out.

A lady thinking if should do some renovations on her house — A woman thinking about renovating.

“Renovating not only restores the house but restores the story of the home and neighborhood.”.~Unknown

Before you begin to assess the design potential and structural condition of a property, there are a few basic questions to ask yourself:

Is it in a good location? This could mean that it is in an area known for its good schools or transport links, away from any main roads or next to land that is likely to be bought up by a developer.

The old saying goes that you should look for the worst house on the best street, and it is great advice for anyone looking for a renovation bargain. No matter how amazing you make the property, it can only be as good as the area it is in, so check local amenities, schools, and provision of green space. A Google Street View stroll down the street will give you a feel for the place and highlight anything untoward.

Is there scope for off-road parking where there isn’t any?

If the house is not big enough for your needs, consider how you could change it to rectify that.

Have neighboring properties recently been extended?

Will your planned changes be in keeping with the rest of the street? Have they made improvements to their homes that would work on yours? Finally, are the homes well maintained, showing that everyone takes pride in their properties?

Work Out the Cost of your House Renovation

When planning to renovate your home, it is imperative to consider the cost of renovations.

Projects differ. Some can be more costly than others. So it would be best if you considered various factors to estimate the costs. Below are tips to assess your home remodeling costs

Determine Your Needs and Goals
Analyse the Remodel Cost
Check Your Budget
Prioritise Your Renovation Needs
Ask for Bids from London construction

Check For Renovation Restrictions Before You Start

It must have been made obvious to you at the point of sale if your home is listed, but if you are unsure, you must check, as it is a criminal offense to carry out unauthorized work without a proper check. Many buildings built around 1840 or earlier are likely to be listed – and over half a million in the UK are. You can check if your home is listed at British Listed Buildings .

Apply for Planning Consent

Revamping an older or newer property, it is significant to recognize which features of your planned work require legal approval.

There are 2 main types of applications – applications for full planning permission and applications for outline planning permission.

What is an application for full planning permission?

An application for full planning permission results in a decision on the detailed proposals of how a site can be developed. If planning permission is granted, and subject to compliance with any planning conditions that are imposed, no further engagement with the local planning authority is required to proceed with the development granted permission, although other consents may be required.

What is an outline planning application?

An application for outline planning permission allows for a decision on the general principles of how a site can be developed. Outline planning permission is granted subject to conditions requiring the subsequent approval of one or more ‘reserved matters.

Conduct a BAT Survey

If you are renovating, converting, or modifying an old building, you may need to conduct a bat survey. A bat survey will be required to check for the presence of bats within the building and should be undertaken if there is a ‘reasonable likelihood’ that bats are present. And yes It is a criminal offense to harm bats or disturb them when roosting.

This survey is expensive but the fines imposed for not taking precautions and disturbing bats are higher

THE BEST CONTRACTORS FOR YOUR RENOVATION

Just immediately after you have decided on the property, an valuation of the fundamental condition of the house is imperative not only in order to work out how much work is going to be required or whether it is even a worthwhile project, but also to give an idea of whether the asking price is a fair one.

Therefore, if you are considering buying an old house, London Building Contractors is an experienced renovator and is always here to serve you with the needed quotation and evaluation for your renovation projects and help you spot many structural defects. We will assist you in knowing what order you renovate in, and the sequence of house renovation works and will give you the best possible results.

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