As a landscaping contractor, expanding your services portfolio will undoubtedly broaden your customer base. Today, property owners want contractors that can offer a wide array of services. Therefore, if your landscaping services do not go further than the edge of the lawn, you can consider timber-fencing services to your portfolio. There is no need to work hard on a landscaping project only for the beauty of your work to be watered down by an old and ragged looking fence. However, before you add fencing services to your portfolio, it is essential to understand that only top-quality fencing timber will produce an excellent fence. How then do you identify high-quality fencing timber if you know very little about timber fencing? Read on to find out.
Pressure-Treated -- Quality fences should withstand environmental elements such as rotting and insect infestation. It is only possible with pressure-treated timber panel and posts. The pressure treatment helps to prevent rot once the posts or boards are underground. The best part about pressure-treated timber is that the wood can last for up to forty years in the ground before showing any signs of rotting regardless of changing weather conditions. As you shop, look for timber that has a CCA (Copper, Chromium and Arsenic Salts) marking. The timber is impregnated with these salts under high pressure to protect it against insect and fungal attack.
Fit and Finish -- The fit and finish on fencing timber will also tell you if the wood is top-quality or not. Ideally, quality fence panels and posts have impeccable finishing and are made of thick wood. You should, therefore, avoid vendors that sell thin fence panels which are roughly cut and show splinters. While timber will have knots -- even high-quality wood -- it is essential to inspect the number of knots visible on the surface. If there is an excess amount of knots, then that is not the right timber for quality fencing. The fewer knots there are, the better the wood quality.
Kiln-Dried -- The level of moisture in timber determines its suitability for fencing purposes. The purpose of kiln drying timber is to make it dry to ensure it is reliable and durable for fencing purposes. If you use regular wood, it will absorb and desorb water during the fence's life thereby causing uneven shrinking. Such uneven shrinkage will consequently lead to cracking and eventual damage to the fence. Kiln drying dries the wood and helps to avoid the above issues.