insideKENT Magazine Issue 23 - February 2014 | Page 159
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Jacksons Fencing
N E W S ,
T O P I C A L
T R E A T S
A N D
M O R E . . .
Jacksons
Venetian panels
are semi-solid,
so offer less
wind resistance
and have an
attractive
modern look
Not much of this fence is left
standing after the gales
Why has my fence blown down?
Regular readers of my monthly pages will no
doubt have realised that I often mention the
weather, so I’m sorry to be harking on about it
again, but it has been exceptional. Even before
the Christmas break there were disruptions
caused by floods and gales, and throughout
January the country has continued to be battered
and soaked. My heart goes out to those of you
who suffered flooding and damage to your
properties, especially those who after mopping
up and trying to get back to some semblance of
normality were hit by another onslaught of evil
weather, causing even more damage.
Some of you may well have woken up to find
that your fencing had blown down, which isn’t
all that surprising when you consider some of
the gales were estimated as being upwards of
80 mph. It was a scene of garden devastation in
the area of Kent where I live. We helped a few
neighbours out by moving panels that had not
stood up to the battering of the wind, and in
some instances fencing that ended up as just
fragments of brittle wood.
Well if this has happened to you, you may
well ask why has my fence blown down and
someone else’s in the next garden remains
intact?
Here are a few points to bear in mind when
thinking of a replacement fence:
Rotten posts – A common reason for a fence
falling is due to rotten posts. Untreated timber
will rot very quickly when it is in contact with the
ground and will therefore no longer be able to
stabilise the line of fencing. All Jacksons fencing
posts undergo the unique Jakcure timber
treatment process, which offers a 25-year
guarantee against rotting and wood boring pests.
Jakcure pressure treatment drives preservative
deep into the carefully selected timber (not all
species of tree represent a timber conducive to
effective treatment), which results in solid and
strong posts that last for many years.
Proper foundations – No matter how good your
posts are, they won’t stay up unless you have
them dug in to the correct depth, and with plenty
of concrete to secure them in the holes. Always
ensure that the post holes have straight sides.
For a 1.8m fence (6ft) fence each post requires
60kg of concrete to provide a secure base. Posts
should be set in the ground at a minimum of 600
mm (2ft) – and deeper for higher fences.
Win a Jacksons
garden gate set!
Fit for purpose design – Look for solidity in the
fence panel – does it look strong and feel heavy?
If it feels flimsy and lightweight, then that’s what
it is! In areas that suffer excessive winds, like
coastal situations, it may be best to consider a
semi-solid panel that offers less wind resistance,
allowing air to pass through it, rather than hit it
full on.
Fixings that last – These are as important as all
the other points mentioned here. There is no
point in buying a well-built panel and following
the rules on post strength and correct installation
if you skimp on cheap fixings, go for non-rusting,
heavily galvanized fixings to hold everything firmly
in place.
Avoid the cowboys! – A final point to remember,
a fence is only as good as its installation. Please
check your installer is reputable and if they are,
they will be able to supply references of good
work they’ve carried out previously, or ask friends
to recommend decent installers.
These points are all covered in more detail if you
go to your local page, as is our special offer to
help out people who need to replace their fence.
Jacksons are offering free delivery on all garden
fencing and gates throughout February – full
details at:
www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/ashfordlocal
[email protected]
159
Enter the free prize draw and be in with a
chance to win one of our garden gate sets.
We have 15 different styles and various sizes
– the gate sets come complete with posts
and everything you need to hang the gate.
They make having a new gate beautifully
simple and straightforward, and they are all
guaranteed for 25 years too!
Simply log on to your local page and follow
the easy instructions on how to enter.
The draw closes 28.2.14.
To enter go to:
www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/ashfordlocal