It’s That Time Again… But We’re Still Here!

Monday, October 22nd, 2012 Blog by Mike's Fence

We may have seen our first snow, our first frosty morning, but rest assured Mike’s Fence Center is still very much open for business and looking to do some work for you.  Our guys love nothing more than to keep warm and active by building fence all winter long, and the best part for you is shorter wait times coupled with the best pricing of the year!  Give us a call and we can get started with that fencing project you’ve been putting off all summer, or that automated gate that you are dreaming of so you don’t have to get out in the nasty weather.

Make Life Easier With an Automated Gate

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012 Blog, featured by bryan

Every one generally knows why, and when they need a fence.  It’s usually pretty simple.  A fence is a pretty logical choice when you need to keep your critters in, other critters out, or create some privacy or security.  In fact in many cases, it’s the only choice.

But some things aren’t quite so obvious.  Let’s talk about automated gates for instance.  Many people don’t realize what a difference having an automated gate can make.  Opening a gate every time you enter and leave your home or property can be a pretty big inconvenience.  In fact it surprises even us sometimes the lengths people in Central Oregon will take to avoid this inconvenience.  Installing a cattle guard for instance is a pretty common way to set up an alternative to opening a gate.  We’ve also seen people build lots of extra fence in intricate patterns around their driveway, outbuildings, etc. in some pretty elaborate feats of engineering to avoid having a gate or multiple gates to open.  We find that some of our fencing customers haven’t even really considered the option of an automated gate.

When you compare the costs and effort of some of the alternatives, and factor in the inconvenience of a manual gate, an automated gate can be a pretty reasonable solution.  And it’s surprising how affordable they can be to install.  Like many things in life, the longer they are around, the more they improve, and the more the price adjusts.  Many times the cost of an automated gate can be comparable to, or even less than the cost of some of the alternatives.

An automated gate can make life a lot easier, and may be a lot more affordable than you think.  And with all the options in automated gates and mechanisms available today, there is one to fit almost any application.

If you have a situation on your property that requires you to open a gate on a regular basis, give us a call and let’s see if installing an automated gate makes sense.  Our Mike’s Fence Center crews are experienced in installing a wide variety of automated gates, in a variety of situations.  And, we’re always happy to help you figure out what will be the best option for you.

Until next time, we hope you are all enjoying this beautiful Central Oregon Summer!

www.mikesfence.com

Some tips about vinyl…

Monday, April 16th, 2012 Blog by Mike's Fence

Many times our Central Oregon customers ask questions regarding the care and mantencance of vinyl fencing.  For the most part, once your vinyl fence is installed, caring for it and maintaining it doesn’t take a lot of time or effort.

Vinyl fencing is pretty easy to maintain.  It usually needs a bit of cleaning here and there and that’s about it.  Your vinyl fence may pick up some dirt after a rain storm, or some slight staining and debris after you mow or weed eat your lawn next to it.  In most cases a quick spray with your garden hose will take care of it.  For stains that are a little bit more stubborn, a simple solution of soap and water combined with some good old fashioned elbow grease and a sponge should do the trick.  Now here’s a little tip, not all soaps and cleansers are vinyl safe but if you use a soap that is environmentally safe, it will likely be vinyl safe as well.  There are also some cleaning solutions out there that are made specifically for cleaning vinyl, or vinyl fences.  Mainly, you want to avoid using any cleaning agents that are too harsh, and certainly nothing abrasive.

Now, while cleaning is pretty simple there are a few things you want to avoid when it comes to vinyl fencing.  Some seem pretty self explanatory but trust us, after all the years we’ve been putting up fences in Central Oregon we’ve seen it all.  So here goes with a few never dos…  Never drill or cut any holes in your vinyl fence as this could void any warranty you may have.  Never paint your vinyl fence for the same reason.  Keep your barbecue grill a safe distance away, and avoid hanging items that are too heavy from your fence such as large hanging flower baskets or planters.  And I know this one seems obvious but if you use a burner to torch the weeds around your place, steer well clear of your vinyl fence.  With all the farming and ranching around Bend, Redmond, Madras, and Prineville using flames to control weeds and burn the previous years dead growth is pretty common.  Open flames and vinyl fences don’t mix well!

Hope you found something helpful in this.  And just give us a call if you ever have any questions!  Remember we serve all of Central Oregon including Bend, Redmond, Madras, Sunriver, Lapine, Prineville and everywhere in between!