Some of the primary reasons homeowners seek out fencing are to enhance privacy, security, and safety, as well as the property’s market value. It’s the go-to solution for those looking to turn their backyard into a private oasis, separate their pool from the rest of the yard, confidently secure their pets when enjoying their outdoor space, or gearing up to sell their beloved home.
Recently, one Californian homeowner wanted an aesthetically pleasing makeover of the dark-gray-colored fence that separated the back and front yards on either side of their home. The updated fence was part of a larger restoration of their front yard and lawn, where they desired a more modern style that provided greater privacy.
And so, the homeowners sought out the help of professionals to transform their yard into a new space to enjoy. Summit Fence, a fencing contractor based in Sacramento, California, agreed to transform the homeowner’s battered wooden fence into a custom-built divider, creating a one-of-a-kind custom gate personally designed and laid out by the company.
Customized Craftmanship
To create a private yet upgraded fence around the yard, Summit Fence designed a custom fence that would keep the yard enclosed but still provide a curb appeal upgrade for the home. The “board-on-board” fence style provides more privacy, as the boards overlap, creating no gaps, according to Summit Fence. They also noted that the change was much more elegant, neat, and sleek looking, especially alongside the custom gate. Additionally, they said the board-on-board mirrored perfectly on both sides of the home due to its centered framing, giving the appearance of one piece of art.
The before-and-after photos clearly show the significant transformation between the former and newer fencing, as the previous structure had numerous openings between the wooden slats. Meanwhile, the freshly installed enclosure left no spaces and was more easily aligned with the large slope on the side of the home.
The gate was also a welcome addition, with a rounded top and a unique black roses design draped around it.
“The space was fairly easy to install a fence,” Summit Fence revealed about the project. “There was one hill with a slope, and we contoured the fence down the slope instead of stepping each section down the slope.”
Project Hurdles
However, like many projects, this one encountered some obstacles along the way. One prominent challenge was to decipher how to elevate the space within the allotted and confined area, especially in one part that required a latch-side gate post to pass through stamped concrete. The company explained that they opted to use specified tools, such as a core drill, which gave them a perfect circle through the concrete below, instead of their typically used jackhammer, which would have given a jagged, rough appearance.
Another head-scratcher was finding the exact decorative pieces for the gate based on the customer’s requests. This led to them purchasing each piece separately and welding them individually. The materials for the entire project included a 1-1/2 metal frame to ensure the gate was as lightweight as possible and a 1/8 x 2″ flat bar welded into the back edge of the frame to comprise the fence boards. The experts explained that this allowed them to attach the boards from the back, giving it a clean look without any nails showing.
Not a DIY
Two weeks after signing the contract, the fence restoration was complete, and Summit Fence received high praise from the client for its beautiful creation. But let it be known that this isn’t one that the average DIY enthusiast can easily recreate. In fact, the company advised against attempting a similar project without professional guidance.
They pointed out that the arched metal frame gate is particularly tricky to replicate and would be “impossible” to bend and weld if that’s not your career specialty.
“Then they would have to design the gate from scratch and find all the correct decorative pieces that would fit correctly,” the company added, stressing that it would make the project even more difficult for an average homeowner.
For those interested in this design and would like to handle some part of the construction themselves, Summit Fence suggests sticking with the board-on-board fence but warns that it would be more economical and faster to complete if they hired a professional. They echoed that the fence and gate should be left to a trained contractor due to the needed conciseness of the gate’s shape and alerted that if it’s hung incorrectly, the gate wouldn’t open and close properly.
Transforming Fences
Summit Fence primarily focuses its work in the Sacramento area and surrounding communities, designing and installing high-quality wood, vinyl, iron, and chain-link fences for homeowners, homebuilders, and contractors. Much of their finished products are showcased on their website, Facebook, and Instagram pages, not limited to balconies, trellises, arbors, and other offerings.
