With the spring season upon us, our thoughts turn to the outdoors and the many activities we look forward to doing over the spring and summer. For many of us, these thoughts also lead to ideas on how to improve the outdoor living spaces of our homes. Fences and decks provide easy ways to improve the look and value of your home, while giving you great spaces to enjoy the outdoors.
Fencing gives your yard safety, privacy and a visual barrier to the outside world. However, there are some considerations that need to be given prior to purchasing material and having a fence built.
Ensure that you know where your property ends, and your neighbor’s or City property begins. The City of Calgary can help you find this information via their 3-1-1 service or online at The City’s website, www.calgary.ca.
Have you talked to your neighbor’s yet? Even though the fence will be sitting on your property, it can change the way their yard looks, the views from their property and other issues, such as trees that may need to be removed to construct a straight fence. Talk to them first and have an open dialogue so as to involve them in your plans and have them on board with your project.
Always check with your local government to make sure you have the proper permits to construct your fence. Failure to confirm what local governments require could lead you to having to stop your project or even possibly removing the fence.
Fences require post holes; in certain cases, these may need to be dug deep into the ground. Call before you dig to ensure you have no power lines in your project area. Services like Alberta One-Call can take care of this for you.
Lastly, make sure you start your fencing project with a plan in place. There are many different fence designs to choose from, and different materials to build them out of. Knowing the pros and cons of different materials and designs, and how much product you will require will save you the frustration of having to interrupt your project to purchase more materials or re-design your fence.
While fencing creates that sanctuary in your yard, a deck gives you the ability to enjoy it. As with fencing, make sure you have the proper permits and safety precautions in place prior to building your new deck. Decking materials continue to evolve, standard wooden decks are still quite popular, but the emergence of new composite decking materials allow you to have a deck that will require very minimal maintenance and last a long time in our harsher, four-season climate.
Whether you are looking for a barbequer’s dream deck or a space to enjoy entertaining friends and family on a warm summer evening, the right deck design is within your reach.
To get started on your fence and deck, visit the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Timbertown Building Centres. With 30 years experience, Timbertown is your locally owned building supply experts. Come in and visit one of our three Calgary locations today to see how we can start making your outdoor project a reality. For more information, visit www.timbertown.ca.
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