If you are looking to enjoy your backyard but also escape from the brilliant sun, you may be looking for a pergola. Pergolas are outdoor structures that add protective functionality but also a level of class to a property. They may also serve as a space to hang greenery or for it to grow naturally along the sides. 

What Is a Pergola?

A pergola is an outdoor structure with parallel columns supporting a roof-like grid of beams and cross rafters. It may be attached to a house or deck or even stand on its own, and it provides a break from the direct sunlight, especially in the warmer months when enjoying the outdoor air is most appealing.

Often confused with arbors, gazebos, or carports, there are subtle differences. Unlike arbors, pergolas are not typically curved at the top. If they are covered, the top is usually flat, and they are generally much larger than arbors. Gazebos are always rounded and covered, which can’t be said strictly for pergolas, and the term “carport” speaks to functionality. If a pergola is on the back deck with no access to the road or to the driveway, the terms cannot be interchangeable, but an elaborately designed carport may be called a pergola.

Other structures that may be confused with a pergola are trellises, lattices, and covered patios. The first two refer to structures that incorporate climbing plants. Trellises usually cover walkways instead of gathering spaces, and lattice work consists of a crisscrossing wood design element that is incorporated into any of these above-mentioned structures. If the roof over a patio is completely solid instead of lattice work, it is considered a covered patio instead of a pergola.

What Are the Benefits of Having a Pergola?

In addition to being a beautiful inclusion on a property, pergolas offer many other benefits. They are relatively non-intrusive, and they improve the conditions of living in a number of ways.

Improves Privacy

Time spent in your yard, no matter the occasion, is a time that is personal to you and your family. Whether you are gathered around a barbeque or having an evening of drinks, a pergola protects from curious eyes. It can also further improve your privacy when within your home if the structure blocks back windows.

Protects from the Sun

Spending time outside has a charm all its own, but finding the right blend between open air and protection from the sun is the best of both worlds. Because pergolas have a latticed roof, they provide shade from direct sunlight without the stuffiness that a solid roof brings. In case of inclement weather, the market is full of pergola covers to fit your liking.  

Extends the Living Space

Adding a pergola is a cost-effective way to increase the gathering space available on your property. It is certainly far less expensive than knocking out walls and building on. Add a table and chairs underneath, and a second sitting room is opened up.

Adds Value to the Home

The added beauty and comfort a pergola provides improves the value of a home. Pergolas, even without characteristic vine or ivy growth, lend a charm that cannot be matched. Their practicality not only improves the comfort of current residents, but promises the same for future buyers, making them a tempting element in any home going on the market.

Is It Cheaper to Build or Buy a Pergola?

It is possible to build a pergola yourself—there are a plethora of kits available—and opting for the DIY route is likely to be cheaper because you don’t pay for labor, in money at least. Doing the work on your own may save you dollars but not time. Depending on the design, it may take hours to build your pergola.

If you prioritize durability and quality, it is best to contract out the work to a professional team. Especially if you live in an area of strong weather—winds, rain, hail—the best course to take is to hire a construction company to build your pergola. Especially with freestanding structures, the weather can wreak havoc on your pergola. A professional build will take definitive steps against weather damage.

Installing the Right Pergola for You

At All Over Fence, we know that adding a fence is not the only way to improve a home. Consider a pergola if you love spending time outside while still enjoying the comfort of shade. To have your choice of pergolas right for your property, give us a call today.

With Independence Day just around the corner, it’s time to hunt down the red, white, and blue napkins; clean the house for the in-laws; and find a spot on the parade route that offers any shade. In addition to these other considerations, we advise you to actively protect your fence. On a holiday when everyone is revving up their grills and shooting rockets into the air, it is important to protect your fence from fireworks and other patriotic party tricks.

The Trouble with Fireworks

Fireworks have been around for thousands of years. Finding their origins in ancient China and the advent of gunpowder, fireworks as we know them have marked celebrations across the globe. The combination of brilliant lights and impressive sounds never fail to bring a healthy chorus of oohs and ahs. The trouble is that their dangers are consistent too.

Thousands of people are hurt each year on Independence Day due to fireworks. In 2018, emergency rooms reported an estimated 9,100 people injured by fireworks, over a third of which were children under 15. That same year approximately 19,500 firework-related fires in the US lead to five deaths and 46 civilian injuries, with both structural and vehicular fires resulting in $105 million in property damage. 

Protect Your Fence From Fireworks

The dangers of fireworks are evident, but we don’t want them to dampen holiday fun. If you follow some precautions this Fourth of July, you can enjoy the time with family and friends and simultaneously protect your fence from fireworks. As a side note, grills are also a source of summer house fires. Observe the same precautions with grills as you do with fireworks, keeping them well away from fences and decks.

Prep the Space

Fireworks should only be set off from flat, clear spaces, away from your house, fence, vehicle, or other structures. Make sure that flammable materials like wood chips and dead grass are completely removed from the launch site. Never set off fireworks from your fence. Common fencing materials, like wood and vinyl, are flammable, and others, like concrete and iron, can still sustain damage under extreme heat.

Keep your trees and other foliage trimmed and be mindful of how closely they grow to your firework space. Even if the fireworks themselves do not come in contact with your fence, if homeowners are not vigilant, they can land in other flammables like dead leaves, bark or wood chips, gutter debris, and dead brush. If these catch fire, it can quickly spread to your fence and property. Especially in the deserts of Utah, the danger of lighting dry brush on fire is high, so you want to be sure that nothing of that nature is near your fence.

Safety First

Keep a bucket of water handy for dunking spent fireworks. Having the hose ready in case of emergency is also a good idea. Make sure your smoke alarms are functioning properly before the holiday fun starts, just to be safe. Especially if you want to protect your fence from fireworks and fires caused by them, familiarize yourself with the fire hazard danger level in your area before lighting any fireworks off. This is particularly important in Utah’s desert climate.

Handle With Care

Make sure you are mindful when lighting off fireworks. Set them on the ground to ignite, and only light off one at a time. Make sure to stay a safe distance from fireworks after you light them, and never point them at structures or people. If a firework doesn’t light because it is defective, don’t attempt to relight it.

Keep the Kiddos Safe

A staggering number of firework-related injuries are sustained by children. While littles may be eager to join in the fun, put their safety first and never let them handle fireworks unsupervised. Make a judgment call early about which kinds of fireworks are age-appropriate for the kids at your Independence Day party.

Watch Your Pets

A less obvious danger to fences and family during fireworks displays is a household’s pets. Every year, property damage is sustained by pets—especially dogs—being startled by fireworks. The combination of bright lights and loud sounds that are so enthralling to people can sometimes prove too much for pets, and they have been known to chew or break through fences while everyone’s eyes are focused on the sky. Hold your pets close during firework displays, both to calm them and to keep your fence and other property safe.

Enjoying the Summer Holiday

It is very possible to enjoy fireworks, both lighting and watching them, while keeping yourself, your family, and your property safe. Keep alert this Fourth of July to guard your home and protect your fence from fireworks. In the event that repairs need to be made on July 5, All Over Fence is here to help.

The fringe of summer is an exciting time. The sun is not quite blazing yet, and the promise of fresh beans, ripe zucchini, and snappy peas awaits. Before these treats can be harvested, however, they must be protected from the various animals that are as eager to snack on them as you. Garden fencing can be the only sure way to keep your garden safe from herbivorous threats.  

Decorative Garden Fencing

Before we get into the nitty gritty about the protective element, let’s look at some of the garden fencing styles that are available. Some of these can be fixed up to fend off animals, but not all.

For a taste of Asian influence, consider a bamboo trellis. Bamboo will bring a soft, natural feeling to your garden. Mesh wire fences can serve the same function and are sometimes a bit more sturdy. If you’re not worried about animal interlopers, you might drape rope between decorative planks of wood for an almost nautical feel.

Cedar is a warm wood that gives a homey feel to any garden. Thicker vertical planks can protect your leafy greens from hangry deer and rabbits, and slim horizontal planks make an excellent trellis. In fact, just about any kind of wood looks lovely as a trellis. For a contemporary twist, alternate the slats of your wooden fence, sections of vertical boards interspersed with sections of horizontal.

A combination of wood and wire leans more toward the anti-animal angle. The wood lends elegance, and the wire brings protection. For a greater sense of graceful sophistication, consider some decorative metal garden fencing. To this or any of the other garden fencing ideas listed, add some hanging lights to create a magical fairy garden or a trendy gathering place.

If nothing will do but the classic white picket fence, you can be satisfied in one of two ways. Wooden boards painted white is the traditional way, but now it is common to craft such from vinyl. Vinyl is impervious to wood-boring insects and consequently tends to last longer, though it is not as environmentally friendly. 

How Do I Keep Animals Out of My Garden Fence?

If your chief concern is keeping animals off of your spinach, use quality materials while building your fence. If you cut corners on the quality of your wood or mesh, woodland or neighborhood animals will have an easier time breaking through. Also keep in mind that if an animal can’t see what it is missing, the threat to your leafy greens is lessened. If your garden is visible to deer and other herbivores, they will try harder to get to it.

Designing a fence against animals is a nuanced challenge, and the first step is to know which animals you are guarding against. For example, fences to keep out deer must be high (because deer can jump) and close to the ground (because deer can wiggle under fences). They are unlikely, on the other hand, to chew through your garden fence panels. Raccoons, though relentless, don’t like getting their paws caught, so you can drape clinging material like bird netting on the ground outside your fence to deter them.

Garden fencing to fend off dogs doesn’t usually need to be taller than three feet, but it should extend into the ground to discourage digging. This is also the case to deter rabbits. The most effective way to do this is to bury your fencing into the ground six inches to create a subterranean barrier. If your fence is mesh or chain link, curve the bottom of the fence to form an apron. If you’re concerned about cats, wire mesh is less appealing to climb than wood.

A Permanent Perimeter vs. Temporary Add-Ons

If your goal is to protect your garden from animals, you may not need a new fence. Covering the threatened munchables with chicken wire may be sufficient. Sometimes a plastic mesh will do just as well, but if your trouble is rabbits, they’ll chew right through more flimsy covering. If you do settle on building a fence, make sure to check your local ordinances before starting. Your city may have strictures about potentially view-blocking height.

Electric Fencing

Electric fencing can be more visually subtle but more expensive, though it is often more effective than all other kinds of fencing. Once an animal experiences a shock from an electric fence, they are not likely to try again. Make sure that your electric fence is free from debris or shrubbery as grounding contact from plant life will reduce its charge, sometimes completely.

Fencing in Salt Lake County 

We are as eager as you to safeguard your garden’s treasure. If you have further questions about garden fencing or if you’d like a professional team to build the perfect fence for you, give us a call at All Over Fence today.