Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Happy Holidays from all of us at Midwest Fence

 


Image result for christmas decorations on fence

From all of us at Midwest Fence, have a happy and safe holiday season!

Fence Man Dan

Midwest Fence 

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Book Your Midwest Fence Now & Lock the Price for 2024

 To  no one's surprise, our construction season is winding down on a very unusual year. However, we are still installing and will continue to install until the cold temps shut us down.  

Even though our construction calendar is full for 2023, we are booking jobs for 2024 right now.  With a small down payment, you can lock in 2023 pricing now and secure the work dates, but time is running out!  

Remember, we have interest free financing for up to 12 months and a discount program also available.  

If you have already received a proposal or if you need one, please take the opportunity while you have it, and place your order for a new fence project; or that fence repair job that has stared at you all summer. We can help. Call or click today!

Thanks for reading!
fencemandan@gmail.com
Free Estimate Click Here
Midwest Fence Web Site

Phone 651-451-2222

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Driving Steel Posts? Right for You?


There is a new approach with which some fence companies are experimenting.  It involves installing fences on small steel posts that are driven into the ground.  It effectively eliminates the standard concrete footing and is fast and cheap, but homeowners may be surprised to learn the consequences of this short-sighted method.

The image on the left shows a steel post inserted into the ground and then a PVC post sleeved over the top (other fence products may be installed similarly).  The image on the right shows the leaning fence after just a few years.  The benefits of this method are heavily weighted in favor of the contractor: it is faster, cheaper and has easy clean-up.  But homeowners will be left with an unsightly structure that will have this problem year after year.  




The long term consequences of driving steel posts are substantial: 
  • the posts can become loose, wobble and lean 
  • the steel posts are undersized to support a normal lateral load (like wind)
  • not suitable for rocky, sandy or loose soil 
  • not suitable for wet ground conditions
  • not recommended by any fence manufacturers 
  • not specified in fence manufacturers installation manuals
  • may not be covered under warranty

Concrete set posts, on the other hand, are a tried and true method of installing fences in MN.  Some advantages are:
  • Provides more strength and stability
  • Keeps the fence plumb and straight due to the heavy base in the ground
  • Prevents lateral movement and wobble
  • Greater wind load capacity
  • This is the industry standard and practiced throughout the country
  • Preferred method of fence manufacturers
  • Proven to withstand Minnesota weather
  • Suitable for all soil types
  • More predictable performance that homeowners and contractors can rely on 
Experimental methods are a good value if they satisfy short term and long term needs.  As shown above, the driven post method is a risky approach and can lead to problems for which homeowners are not prepared and can't afford. 

For more information and to sign up for a free estimate, go to Midwest Fence

Thanks for reading,
FenceManDan