Choosing a Contractor During the Pandemic

Choosing a Contractor During the Pandemic

by Paraf1 Comment Closed

Choosing a Contractor During the Pandemic

Since the beginning of 2020, the construction industry has felt a pinch from all areas. Lack of laborers, price increases, and supply line issues have continued into 2022, and the fencing industry is no stranger to these tribulations. Paramount Fencing has heard increasing concerns from Central Florida consumers in the past 16 months, so we set out with a question: With the global economy seemingly opening back up, why are contractors spiking prices?

First, the lack of trained laborers in the current market is definitely causing issues. As with any crisis, many handy “men in a truck” pop up. This is commonly seen around natural disasters, and we have seen an increase in handymen throughout the pandemic. A truly licensed handyman is not to blame, but the unlicensed and uninsured handymen flooding the market now are causing issues for many homeowners across the country. Many of these individuals will continue to charge market-rate pricing for subpar work. Individuals without a legal company also may not have access to higher-quality building materials, resulting in homeowners paying a large premium on Home Depot grade material. The lack of liability insurance that comes along with hiring an unlicensed handyman is also dangerous for the homeowner. Many times, these home improvement projects are completed without proper permits being pulled, resulting in headaches and legal issues for a homeowner in the long run.

Material shortages are also causing issues. According to Insider, 90% of contractors have cited having issues securing necessary building materials to complete their contracts during 2021. The slow has caused a massive backlog of projects for many contractors, putting them into a financial pinch, which then funnels down to the consumer. The spike in building material prices has forced contractors to raise their prices, which trickles down as well. Comparing lumber prices to the beginning of the pandemic, prices were up an average of 377% according to Yahoo Business during the peak of summer 2021. Pressure-treated lumber is currently the most difficult building material to secure, with prices lower than they were 6 months ago, but slowly creeping back up. Trends show the summer months to have the highest prices.

Currently, both The US and Canada are facing a shortage of truckers, with truck drivers actively protesting in Canada. Unfortunately, a large amount of pressure-treated lumber available in the American market is supplied by Canada. 83% of softwood is supplied by Canada, with a total of 25% of total lumber being supplied by our Northern neighbor. November of 2021 also saw the duty on Canadian lumber increase to 17.9%, twice what it once was.
All of these issues seem to be the cause for a perfect storm, a storm that is currently wreaking havoc on all homeowners. But how can a consumer protect themselves?

First, custom or stick-built contractors are unable to complete a fence the week after a contract is signed. Companies who have such a quick turnaround are cutting a corner somewhere, regardless of if it’s on the administrative or installation side. Understand, in the state of Florida, if a post goes in the ground a permit will need to be pulled. If a property has a pool, a permit must be pulled, and that fence must be installed to be pool code compliant. Permit turn-around time varies by municipality, but from the time of application to approval, the average is about 10 days. Protect yourself and be sure that the company or handyman you hire has an approved permit prior to installation. NEVER START INSTALLATION WITHOUT A PERMIT.

A popular aluminum manufacturer, AlumiGuard, is reporting lead times of up to 23 weeks on production orders. If you are quoted with a shorter delivery date, ask who the manufacturer is. Never allow material to be installed without knowing the manufacturer’s name and if there is a warranty on the product. A reputable company using quality materials will have no problem providing this information.

Homeowners purchasing wood fences are urged to check lumber prices before committing to a contract. Many handymen and new companies are popping up charging top-dollar for sub-par pre-fabricated panels. Always ask the installation method being used to avoid being overcharged on your new installation. Understand the wood fence building methods before installing a fence that will only last you a few years.

Paramount Fencing understands that contractors have been hard to come by all throughout COVID thanks to the severe labor shortages and material delays, but we don’t want to see Central Florida consumers get burned by a company.
For a free estimate or even just updated information on the fencing industry, give us a call. 407-341-2720

Protect Your Florida Fence Against Post Rot With Postsaver Post Sleeves

Protect Your Florida Fence Against Post Rot With Postsaver Post Sleeves

by Paraf1 Comment Closed

Postsavers: Prevent Ground Rot

Postsaver post sleeves come with a 20-year warranty.

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and the Florida Forest Service, rot in hardwoods is extremely common and found in all hardwood types in Florida. Rot is caused by fungi, bacteria, or a combination of the two often found naturally occurring in Florida’s soil. This post rot is them amplified when paired with setting a post in concrete.

These microorganisms can move throughout whatever host they have chosen and can cause damage anywhere if given the chance to infect.

A tree infected with rot poses a liability for homeowners; if a limb were to rot off and cause any type of damage or harm, the homeowner would be liable for those damaged. Rotting limbs also pose a threat to a residential structure, can damage roofs and knock down fences. Rot is best protected against at the ground level using a Postsaver so that the microorganisms never have the chance to infect the host, to begin with.

Postsavers come in 4" x 4", 6" x 6", and 4" x 6" sizes to fit your posts needs.

Normal top soil conditions include microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria that eat away at wood, specifically rotting wood. These pests exist normally within the top 5 inches of soil, but not often deeper due to lack of sunlight/oxygen. When applied correctly, Postsavers protect wooden posts from these microorganisms, thus preventing rot and extending your posts height up to 20 years. Postsavers can be used in many construction applications, most notably fencing and decking posts. Postsavers may also be used for wooden telephone posts and even for trees to prevent rot.

 

Fence Posts: Postsavers can be used on residential and commercial fence installations, as well as agricultural. Postsavers can be used on farm fencing, field fencing, horse fencing, yard fencing, garden fencing, and any other wooden fence installation.

 

Gate Posts: Postsavers used on gate posts protect the largest posts from rot. Gate posts are a fundamental piece of any fencing project and provide strength and stability. A gate with a damaged or weak gate post is subject to damage itself or will not function properly.

 

Wooden Decking: Postsavers applied to wooden deck posts protect against rot and help deck posts remain strong and standing. Rotting posts can make decks non-secure and unsafe. Post replacements on decks are strenuous and expensive, as decks need to be unassembled to access and replace rotting posts.

 

Trees: Postsavers can be applied to saplings or young trees to protect trunk rot. Many young trees are susceptible to truck damage caused by the naturally occurring bacteria and fungi in the soil. Postsavers protect trees from these microorganisms, minimizing the amount of trunk breakage. Postsavers protect in any weather conditions.

 

Utility Poles: Polesavers are also available to protect wooden utility poles from rot. In many areas, including Florida, wooden utility poles are still made use of. Many of these utility poles can be seen downed after hurricanes or even Florida’s afternoon storms, causing damages to property and power outages. Utility poles equipped with Polesavers are protected from rot and are less likely to topple during inclement weather.

Postsavers are a versatile product, able to be used in many different markets:

Forestry: Fencing off large sections of land can help prevent deer and other wildlife from damaging saplings and young trees. Using Postsavers on the fence posts will increase the lifespan of the fence installed. The remote locations of these forests can make re-fencing expensive and difficult.

 

Citrus Growers: Citrus trees are a huge industry in the state of Florida. Already, citrus plants have many obstacles to overcome before maturing to fruit-bearing age including freezes and citrus greening. When used, Postsavers can eliminate another danger and help citrus fruit growers ensure that their saplings are protected from trunk rot.

 

Landscaping: Many landscapers will also dabble in fence installation. Postsavers are an easy way for landscapers to ensure that their fence and plant installations hold up against the harsh Florida rains and do not become susceptible to rot.

 

Farmers: Fence failures can result in lost livestock. Rotting posts can easily be pushed over by livestock. Using Postsavers on farm fence installations can help save money on fence repairs.

 

Fence Companies: Rotting fence posts mean negative reviews and loss of customers at no fault of the contractor. Postsavers prevent against premature rot on fencing posts, resulting in stronger, longer-lasting installations.

Why Postsavers?

Would you like to not worry about rotting fence posts?  Postsavers come with a 20 year guarantee, ensuring that your fence posts will no experience premature post rot. In the event of post damage during the 20 year coverage window, Postsavers will cover the repair or replacement cost.

 

Do you like to save money?  Calling a fence contractor out to repair or replace a broken post can cost as much as $600.00 once the service fee/mobilization fee and materials are accounted for. Requesting the use of Postsavers on wooden fence posts protects posts against premature rot. Post damage is one of the most common failure points on wood fences. Posts needing replacement can cause entire fence sections, and sometimes full stretches, to be taken down and re-installed. Homeowners should expect to pay up to $25.00 a linear foot for these re-installations, as well as a trip ticket fee if the work requested does not meet the minimum footage standard.

 

Do you want your fence protected against inclement weather?   Florida’s storm and hurricane seasons often see many fence fatalities. Wood fences protected against rot with Postsavers are less likely to fall or experience damage due to high winds.

 

Are Postsavers expensive? No! Postsavers start at less than $10.00 per pole, making them a cost-effective alternative to future post replacements.

Interested in Trying Postsavers?

Head on over to The Shop. Paramount Fencing provides Postsavers for post sizes 4" x 4", 6" x 6", and 4" x 6"

How To Pick A Fence Company After A Hurricane

How To Pick A Fence Company After A Hurricane

by Paraf1 Comment Closed

How To Pick A Fence Company After A Hurricane

If you find yourself requiring a fence after a hurricane, make sure you don’t fall victim to the scams.  The market will be flooded with fly by night companies and individuals looking to make a quick buck.  Do your homework. Below is a checklist which will assist you in making a well-informed decision.

  1. Never call a fence company that placed a door hanger on your door unless they have a website associated with the company, a  Facebook, or a Google plus.
  2. Call at least three fence companies and request an in-person estimate. Phone quotes will only set you up for failure.
  3. When selecting the final bid, do your homework and check that company out. Below are few resources:
  4. See if the company has any complaint listed with the BBB.
  5. Join AngiesList.com and read the companies reviews. Try to avoid payment by click websites which claim to be a home advisor who sells your lead to as many fence companies as possible.
  6. Verify that the company is registered and licensed to do business in the State of Florida. Visit Sunbiz.org and do a corporate Search.
  7. Never give a fence company a material deposit in the form of cash or check.  Always, use a credit card.
  8. Do your research on the building method and materials being used.  There is a great resource guide at Paramount Fencing’s Buyer’s Guide