For fences on architecturally significant properties in Los Angeles, Burkhardt Custom is a licensed, bonded, and insured fence contractor that specializes in custom fabrications and solutions for architects, designers, and homeowners.
Burkhardt Custom specializes in the following types of fences:
This is the quintessential classic fence style that uses vertical boards which are cut at an angle on their top corners.
It can also come in a square top.
The main factor is not the design of the picket, but the grade of the wood.
Dog ear fences (or square top) use a rough grade of redwood that includes knots.
It is the most economical option when cost is a concern.
The posts and frame use pressure-treated wood.
Cap and trim fences use the same rough grade of wood as dog ear fences.
However, additional pieces of pressure treated wood are added to the top and bottom to visually frame the fence.
Hence the name "Cap and Trim."
This is another economical option that provides a cleaner, finished look in the end.
Board over board style is another cost effective yet innovative way to prevent the most common occurance with rough grade wood over time: shrinkage.
As the wood shrinks over time, the gap betwen each vertical picket gets wider and wider.
Board over board solves this problem by first placing a row of vertical boards with about two to three inches betwen each piece.
Then, a second row of boards is placed over each gap.
Hence the name "board over board."
It creates a layered, textured look that provides true full privacy over time and compensates for any potential shrinkage over the course of the fence's lifespan.
Tongue and groove, sometimes also called ridge and valley, is a style of milled wood that creates interlocking edges.
This style also helps create true full privacy and prevents gaps from forming between each wood piece over time.
Up to this point, we've been discussing styles of fences that are most commonly used with rough grades of redwood or cedar.
If a smoother, cleaner look is desired then stepping up to a clear grade of wood is recommended.
Clear grade redwood and cedar is definied by its lack of knots.
Also worth mentioning is a mid-tier grade known as STK, which stands for select tight knots.
As the name implies, some knots are present compared to the clear grade.
However, both are significantly smoother overall when compared to the rough grade where knots are commonplace and can fall out over time which leaves holes of various sizes in the wood.
Hardwood refers to a different classification of wood versus redwood and cedar.
Most commonly used for decks, these types of wood offer the following benefits for fences:
Here are some of the most commonly used hardwoods for fences:
Each has its own unique color and characteristic.
Hardwoods are also avaliable in the following styles:
Furthermore, many can be used in combination with a system that uses a countersink drill to create a hole that can be used conceal the screws with wood plugs, leaving a smooth and clean finish without any hardware showing.
As the name implies, this is a modern style of fence that places the wood pickets horizontally versus vertically.
The only modification needed is that posts must be placed between 4-6' apart versus 8' apart with vertical style fences.
This is to prevent the wood from warping or bowing.
Sometime a vertical support is still needed between the posts, depending on the wood and the environment.
This is especially true when working with redwood or cedar versus hardwood.
Chain link is another economical fence option.
Made with galvanized steel, chain link provides a strong fence solution for large properties, hillside terrains, commercial and industrial properties, as well as municipal locations such as parks and sports facilities.
Chain link fence can also come vinyl coated in different colors, such as black or green.
This is a good option for homes or gardens that need a fence solution but do not want the industrial "feel" of galvanized metal.
The standard mesh size is two inches, referring to the size of the "diamond" characteristic typically associated with chain link.
Custom sizes can also be made, reducing the size of the "diamond" to make it harder to climb.
When it comes to privacy, there are two main options with chain link.
The first is privacy slats made of plastic are slid between each weave of the chain link mesh, covering the opening of each column of "diamonds."
Another option is a privacy screen fastened to the fence using zip ties or rope.
Privacy screens can come in various degrees of opaqueness, with 100% being a full privacy vinyl sheet.
Most common is usually around 95-99%, which is more of a netting that allows light and wind to pass through.
For rural or wildlife interface properties, chain link is a great choice to prevent coyotes and other predators from entering the property in order to keep pets and animals safe.
It can be modified to extend below the ground level, as well as augmented with barbed or razor wire, in addition to offering a system that can extend over 30 feet into the air.
Since true wrought iron was phased out by the 70's and replaced with steel, the name more commonly refers to the style of fence versus the material it is made of.
Wrought iron fences are used in many common applications, from residential to commercial and industrial, when strength and security are of primary concern.
Typically styled with vertical pickets, wrought iron fences allow for high visibility while asserting a boundary.
Their look can be softened by adding ornamental design elements such as finneals, scrolls, and balusters for a regal or decorative vibe.
Architectural steel fences are ideal for high end, luxury properties that desire modern or contemporary designs.
These all-steel fabrications can be custom made to bring the architectural vision from plans to permanence.
The only limits are the imagination.
Burkhardt Custom is proud to be the exclusive seller and installer of Colorbond fences in Southern California.
Imported from Australia by DuraBond Fencing, this fence system is designed and made to withstand the intense heat of wildfires in order to protect homes and properties during a wildfire emergency.
Made of galvanized steel and covered with a special UV coating, this fence system is now available to homeowners and property managers in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ).
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