Aluminum Fencing has gotten very popular around the tighter lots in the Lower Rattlesnake and up on the Northside in Missoula, MT. People want something clean that does not block the mountain views, but our local clay soil and wild winter freeze-thaw cycles mean you cannot just guess your way through an Aluminum Fencing install. Missoula Fencing Company gets asked a ton of questions by homeowners trying to figure out if Aluminum Fencing is right for their yard in Missoula. Let us go through the honest answers regarding Aluminum Fencing.
Will an aluminum fence actually hold up to Missoula winters?
An aluminum fence will hold up to Missoula winters, but only if it is installed right. Aluminum will not rust like iron, which is a massive plus when our spring slush turns everything into a muddy mess in Missoula, MT. The powder-coated finish handles heavy UV rays during those brutal July heatwaves without fading into a chalky mess. The trick is making sure the Aluminum Fencing posts go deep enough past the frost line so the shifting ground in Missoula does not heave your Aluminum Fencing crooked by March.
How does aluminum handle our steep slopes and uneven ground?
Most quality aluminum panels are built with a racking feature for Aluminum Fencing. That means the Aluminum Fencing can adjust up and down to follow the slope of your yard without leaving giant gaps underneath for your dog to squeeze through. If you live on a hillside in the South Hills of Missoula, this is a lifesaver. You get an aluminum fence that looks straight and follows the natural contour of the land instead of stepping down like a giant staircase.
Do I need to worry about maintenance?
You do not need to worry about almost any maintenance for Aluminum Fencing. Forget scraping, staining, or painting every few years like you would with wood. If a dusty windstorm blows through or muddy spring slush splashes against the bottom rails of your Aluminum Fencing, you just spray it down with a garden hose. The powder coating on Aluminum Fencing is baked on tough, so it takes a real beating before showing wear in Missoula.
Can it keep my dogs contained?
Keeping your dogs contained with Aluminum Fencing depends entirely on the style and your dog. If you have a small terrier who likes to slip through narrow gaps, a standard three-rail panel with tight spacing works great. If you have an escape artist who can clear four feet of air from a standstill, you will want to bump that Aluminum Fencing height up to five or six feet. Missoula Fencing Company also recommends puppy pickets for smaller breeds, which feature closer spacing on the bottom half of the aluminum fence.
How does the cost compare to wood or vinyl?
Aluminum Fencing usually costs more upfront than pressure-treated wood or standard chain link, and it is pretty comparable to good vinyl. But the real way to look at Aluminum Fencing is this: wood requires constant maintenance and replacement boards after ten years, while Aluminum Fencing just sits there looking great decade after decade in Missoula, MT. You pay a bit more at the start for Aluminum Fencing to save yourself weekends of staining down the road.
What about HOA rules in neighborhoods like Grant Creek?
HOAs in neighborhoods like Grant Creek love Aluminum Fencing because it looks sharp, uniform, and does not rot or sag. That said, most of them have strict rules about color, usually black or dark bronze, and maximum height, typically capping front yards at four feet and backyards at six. Always check your covenants before buying Aluminum Fencing materials so you do not end up having to rip a brand new Aluminum Fencing installation back out in Missoula.