Aluminum Fence compared with Steel and Iron

Maintenance Free

[caption id="attachment_740" align="alignright" width="300"] Specrail Brand Aluminum Fence[/caption]

Unlike other types of fences, a properly constructed and coated aluminum fence is virtually maintenance free!

Aluminum does not rust like iron, which is classified as a ferric metal which will oxidize and rust. Aluminum is non-ferric and will not rust.

Many people do not realize that aluminum is a chemical element, which it is estimated will take over 10,000 years to disintegrate. It is also the third most abundant element, next to oxygen and silicon.

Aside from keeping shrubs and trees trimmed back from the fence and cleaning it with soap and water, or just a powerful garden hose sprayer, the only concern is the potential of bending the aluminum with heavy lawn or garden equipment, in which case replacing the damaged fence parts is not a large project.

Security

Aluminum, steel and iron fences are typically more secure than wood or chain link because wood fences can easily be scaled and chain link fences can easily be cut, while aluminum, steel and iron fencing with spear-topped pickets make for a harder fence to breach.

While less impenetrable than steel or iron panels, the aluminum fence easy to install, attractive, resistant to corrosion, and effective at preventing unwanted guests or pests from entering an area, and in keeping children and pets within a designated area.

Practicality

Aluminum fence panels are very lightweight, especially in comparison to steel, iron or wood.

Since aluminum fence panels are often used to fence in an in-ground pool, the panels almost always meet pool regulations. In many places, this means that the panels will be eight feet tall (2.43 meters) or higher. The panels can be affixed to posts composed of aluminum or other materials such as wood, steel or iron.

Design

Aluminum fence panels come in an array of designs that often mimic the common designs of other fencing material such as iron and steel, and typical designs feature two or three horizontal beams interlaced with several vertical posts.

Most aluminum fence panels are of a simple design, though a wide variety of elaborate designs are also available. The color of the panels is typically black, though other colors are usually available, with white being the second most common color for aluminum fence panels.

Installation

Aluminum fence panels, due to their light weight, are much easier to move, ship and handle than their wood, steel or iron counterparts. They are also typically rackable.

Fencing a sloped yard can be a challenging fence project, but a rackable fence panel is a panel that can adjust to follow the slope of the landscape. Whereas standard fence panels have a profile that is rectangular, with rails that run perpendicular to the pickets and posts, a rackable panel is designed with flexible connections that will angle up to 30 degrees (residential grade).

Privacy

While Vinyl PVC Fencing is geared more toward privacy than aluminum, privacy screens and slats are manufactured for aluminum fence and aluminum privacy fence is also manufactured. At about the same price as vinyl pvc (but more secure) or steel (lower-maintenance) fence, aluminum fence is for many, the path of least resistance.

Please browse the Academy Fence selection of Aluminum Fence and feel free to contact a specialist at Academy Fence with at least twenty years experience in aluminum fence installation and supplies with any questions, and as always your comments are welcome.

Academy's Best Friends: Yard Dogs' Honorarium

[caption id="attachment_726" align="alignright" width="300"] Okay we're a little remiss on portraits, but here's Sereno, wagging his tail.[/caption]

Out here on Day Street in Orange, NJ we've always kept a yard dog or two around, and believe me, they are loved. So we wanted to offer a little honorarium and introduction to our readers who may have known them over the years as well as to those that missed out.

Weather permitting, they'd have the run of the fenced in yard by night and be in and out of the shop by day.

The list of Academy’s best friends - the few, the strong - must include:

Bell - There at the beginning, our snappy, snippy little, ultra-fierce queen bitch was fiercely loyal to her principles, but mostly to Louis R. Those who met her still speak of the thickness of the chain she bore during the day in the metal shop… and how even that left them feeling insecure when her rules were tested.

Tuffy - Good old friendly, fun, alert and protective Tuffy was a dark wolfish shepherd, and everyone’s buddy. He started at his life at the family household where he bonded with the Cavallo family on South Valley Road in ‘The Valley’ of Orange, NJ.  He was afraid only of Uncle Dominick which was attributed by Dominick to the fact that at one point he had taken him to the veterinarian. But he sure ran for cover whenever he saw Uncle Dominick coming. When Tuffy was full grown he inherited his true domain, the Tuff Fence (the name under which Academy Fence Company originated) facility on Day Street in Orange NJ. He acclimated quickly and served in harmony with Bell.  Mutual Respect? Who knows, because Bell didn’t take to many.

Ruffy - An accepted johnny-come-lately bruiser with an enormous head with a thick body and wide stance, Ruffy was cool headed and well behaved, but looked like you wouldn't want to rile him up. He had a low-pitched bark and might be considered a baritone, if they had dog choirs. He was a subdued character and was rarely riled.

Tuffy Two - At least half sheppard, and probably up to half great dane, Tuffy Two was also lovingly raised at the family household. Tuffy Two was grudgingly (by some family members) released from full time home, part-of-the-household family dog to operate a post at the Academy Fence Headquarters on Day Street in Orange, NJ. To exactly which family member or members Tuffy Two was attached was a much disputed controversy.
With his flawless attitude, all dogs - and even some riley wolfs - would benefit from knowing Tuffy Two. Quintessential. Classic. Tuffy Two defined the reason dogs are our best friends.

Loop Cap - Loop Cap was a small, loveable shepherd and everybody knew she was Dino's buddy.

[caption id="attachment_727" align="alignright" width="300"] Sereno Modeling a Chain Link Dog Run[/caption]

Sereno -  Sereno's name came from the Italian word for serene, meaning clear, serene, calm, cloudless, sheltered. He was acquired when one of us asked a man walking a dog if he had another one like him (ie: from the same litter). As it turned out, the man said he was walking him for the pound, and we could probably follow him back and take him. We did. He was predominantly shepherd, but his squarish head revealed some rottweiler genes.  Super cool dog.

Let us know if you have any cool memories of the Academy Dogs over the years.