chain link fence wholesale factory

'Photo: amazon.com Building fences is tough. Between handling heavy posts and awkward panels wholesale steel welded wire mesh panels for construction , just shuffling the materials around your yard can be exhausting. And when it comes to digging the post holes, the amount of hard work involved often surprises first-time fence builders . But theres a solution to all the hole-digging troubles: a post hole digger. The best post hole diggers can make excavating appropriately sized holes at the proper depth a faster and less arduous task. Whether you choose a powered or manual option, these tools will enable you to dig straight down into the soil without digging out large, round craters that require refilling once you install the fence post. Theyll save you both time and stress on your back. Photo: amazon.com The best post hole diggers are light enough for easy maneuverability yet still pack enough punch to handle tougher soils. Our research shows that shoppers look for a variety of units depending on the task at hand, from installing a new fence to planting trees. We took care to suggest options that cover this range of uses, from lightweight electric units suitable for most jobs all the way up to a high-power gas unit thats capable of ripping through hard and compacted soils without issue. We even included a manual option for times when a loud motor or too much power is inappropriate. Our recommendations only include products known for their quality construction, ease of use, and comfort during operation. All units suggested here feature comfortable grips to help reduce strain on users during prolonged use. In addition, our top picks with gas and electric motors all provide enough torque to handle most soil types comfortably. They shouldnt pose many difficulties in rocky or troublesome areas as long as the user takes the proper precautions. Below are some of the best post hole diggers on the market. Be sure to compare the important factors like weight, power, and style before deciding which model would make the best post hole digger for your projects. You can also read on for a bit more background on what goes into choosing the best post hole digger. When hunting for a great post hole digger that can handle most projects around the home, be sure to consider the Southland SEA438 auger. This gas-powered post hole digger features a 43cc engine similar to the type found on chainsaws. The engine produces up to 316 RPMs of running speed. It has a 0.32-gallon fuel tank, enough to tackle several posts between fill-ups. The Southland SEA438 comes with an 8-inch auger that can bore holes up to 2 feet deep without an extension (which can be purchased separately ). It also has wide ergonomic handles with a grip-mounted throttle for easy boring and control. Weighing just 35 pounds, its lightweight for a gas-powered post hole digger. Product Specs Pros Cons Get the Southland post hole digger at The Home Depot or Amazon . Theres no need to break the bank to break ground. The XtremePowerUS electric post hole digger can handle many excavating projects at a reasonable price. This post hole digger will run on an extension cord plugged into a standard house outlet, providing hole-digging anywhere the cord reaches. The XtremePowerUS has a 1,200-watt 10.9-amp motor that produces 1.6 horsepower and 90 feet per pound of torque. It weighs under 30 pounds and features a grip-mounted lockout switch and trigger, making it comfortable and easy to use. It also comes with a 4-inch auger that measures 32 inches long but can extend with XtremePowerUSs extension kit . Product Specs Pros Cons Get the XtremePowerUS post hole digger with 4-inch bit at Amazon or The Home Depot . Landworks Earth Auger combines the portability of a gas-powered post hole digger with the convenience and easy use of an electric model. This battery-powered post hole digger has a 2-horsepower motor that runs at speeds up to 320 RPMs, providing enough power for some pretty compact soil. It comes with wide handles and a grip-mounted trigger for added control over this lightweight 32.6-pound machine. It comes with Landworks 48V 2Ah battery and charger, powering the brushless motor for up to 30 holes. The powerhead even features a built-in LED for lighting the work area or checking in the hole. It comes with a 6-inch auger that measures 30 inches long, just shuffling the materials around your yard can be exhausting. And when it comes to digging the post holes poultry wire mesh service , Lowes , or Tractor Supply Co. Digging holes manually isnt a lot of fun, but sometimes its the most convenient or even the only option. For these scenarios, check out the Ames post hole digger. This traditional manual post hole digger has a 6.25-inch spread at the point and weighs just 6 pounds, helping to dig holes for 44 fence posts without a large machine. The Ames post hole digger has two hardwood handles with cushioned grips for avoiding blisters and fatigue. The handles are 44 inches long, providing an overall length of 58.75 inches. They also have measurement hashes for determining the depth of the hole without taking out a tape measure. Product Specs Pros Cons Get the Ames post hole digger at Amazon , The Home Depot , or Acme Tools . The Sportsman Earth Series post hole digger is an excellent choice for those in need of a heavy-duty tool for digging post holes. The auger bit is powered by an impressive 43cc gas engine and is designed to withstand even the toughest soil conditions. Oversize padded handles on either side of the unit make it easy to use and comfortable to hold, reducing strain on the hands and arms during prolonged use. Buyers might appreciate the transparent fuel tank, allowing them a simple glance to monitor fuel levels during operation. Additionally, the tool features a 6-inch-diameter blade, making it suitable for digging deep, wide holes quickly and efficiently. With its combination of strength, comfort, and efficiency, the Sportsman Earth Series post hole digger is a great option for shoppers in need of a reliable tool for their digging needs. Product Specs Pros Cons Get the Sportsman post hole digger at The Home Depot or JB Tools . For a project that requires a heavy-duty post hole digger, consider the DC House 52cc 2.4 hp gas-powered post hole digger. The powerful 2-stroke engine powers the auger into tough, compacted soilgood for installing posts faster than many other gas-powered diggers. It also has two wide handles with a grip-mounted throttle for easy control and a 1.2-liter gas tank for extended use. This kit comes with both a 6- and 10-inch auger, providing the capability to handle smaller projects like metal posts and mailboxes as well as heavier-duty 46 posts and footings. It also comes with an extension to dig holes to depths up to 55 inches. Beware that this burly machine does weigh 51.65 pounds, the amount of hard work involved often surprises first-time fence builders . But theres a solution to all the hole-digging troubles: a post hole digger. The best post hole diggers can make excavating appropriately sized holes at the proper depth a faster and less arduous task. Whether you choose a powered or manual option china slip steel grating , compacted soil can be difficult for light-duty electric post hole diggers, but not so with the XtremePowerUS electric post hole digger. The high-wattage 10.9-amp motor creates up to 90 feet per pound of torque, enough to wiggle stubborn rocks loose. The XtremePowerUS has two thick, nonslip grips to keep this powerful post hole digger under control. It also features a grip-mounted trigger and a safety lockout switch. The kit comes with a 6-inch auger that measures 31.5 inches long, but it can easily connect to an extension kit for digging deeper. It also weighs under 30 pounds, making it reasonably easy to handle. Product Specs Pros Cons Get the XtremePowerUS post hole digger with 6-inch bit at Amazon . Before shopping for the best post hole digger, there are a few factors to think about. First, make sure the digger has the power to get the job done. It also has to be light enough to handle when working alone. This section will highlight those areas as well as point out some other factors to keep in mind when shopping for the best post hole digger. There are plenty of tools to help dig holes, from standard shovels to heavy-duty excavators, plus multiple types of post hole diggers to choose from. Below is a breakdown of the most common types of post hole diggers, with an explanation of how they work and what it takes to operate them. Manual post hole diggers are the most common and traditional option for digging holes for fence posts , mailboxes, and lots of other projects. They look similar to giant salad tongs, with a pair of long handles and two hinged scoops on the end. Manual post hole diggers work by thrusting the scoops into the soil, working the handles back and forth a few times to loosen dirt and rocks and then scooping them out of the hole. Some post hole diggers come with measurements on the handles to track progress quickly. This option is the most portable choice, and the easiest to operatein theory. But the effort required to dig deeper and deeper can wear out the users hands, arms, and back. When it comes to boring deep holes in a hurry, a gas-operated post hole digger is the way to go. These machines have gasoline-powered engines mounted on top, these tools will enable you to dig straight down into the soil without digging out large custom removable fence , chainsaws, and lawn mowers. The engine turns a large auger, allowing it to bore deeply into the ground. On the way down, the auger excavates some soil and rocks from the hole, but it also loosens the rest, to enable clearing the hole relatively easily with subsequent passes. There are occasions where a gas-powered post hole digger will bury itself in the ground, catching on a tough root or rock. In those cases, removing the digger can be a bit more challenging, so its something to keep in mind. Electric post hole diggers work similarly to gas-powered models, but with an electric motor to power the auger. The electric motor is quieter and creates none of the exhaust fumes of a gas option. Theyre often lighter, more convenient, and require much less maintenance, but that can come at the cost of power. Not only are electric post hole diggers more convenient than gas-powered ones, but there are also battery-powered electric models available. These options blend the portability of a gas digger with the weight and convenience of an electric tool. When tackling post holes to fence in a smaller yard, a battery-powered post hole digger is certainly worth considering. Some soils and surfaces are easier to dig into than others. When using a powered post hole digger, be sure that it is capable of handling the task at hand; much of that depends on the engine or motor (also known as a powerhead) that powers the auger. Gasoline powerheads come in engine sizes expressed in cubic centimeters (or cc for short). Look for a model 40cc or larger. Electric powerheads usually come with information about wattages and amps. Models with 1,200 watts or more work best; also be sure the motor has at least a 10-amp motor to prevent it from overheating. For powerhead style, look for a model with at least 1 horsepower. If the soil is tough, compacted, or full of stones, consider a higher horsepower optioncloser to 2. It might be challenging to get that type of power from an electric post hole digger, so beware that tougher terrain may require a gas-powered model. Another point to understand when choosing a powered post hole digger is the auger. The auger is the spindle that bores into the ground; it looks like a drill bit. Augers come in a few sizes, so its essential to choose the proper size for the project and machine. Choosing the proper auger size depends on the project. Any projects requiring concrete , like posts for taller fences and deck footings, require a large auger. An 8-inch auger will allow for placing a 44 post in the ground with enough room for concrete to anchor it. A 12-inch auger, best attached to a heavy machine, will create a hole large enough for a 66 or 46 post and plenty of concrete. Smaller augers, like 4- or 6-inch options, are appropriate for light-duty work (like mailboxes) as well as metal fence posts for chain-link fences. Keep in mind that the larger the auger, the more friction it will create while boring into the ground. Only a powerful engine can turn a 12-inch auger in densely compacted soil, where a 4-inch auger might seem to zip into sandy terrain with even light-duty models. Pro tip: If digging a hole is proving difficult, consider starting with a smaller auger first, then swap in larger augers as the job progresses. Save time by digging all holes with the smaller auger and then coming back through with the larger auger. One of the most important factors to consider when digging a hole is how deep it must be. Tall privacy fences create a lot of leverage in windy conditions, and they can easily uproot a shallow post. Also, installing a fence post above the frost line could cause the ground to heave it up and out of the hole in cold weather. Most manual post hole diggers have long handles that enable digging down to depths of around 4 feet, which is code in many areas for deck and fence posts. A depth of 4 feet will also bring you below the frost line in all but the most frigid climates. Powered DIY post hole diggers rarely come with 4-foot augers, but there are extensions that will increase the depth capacity. Start slow, though. Burying an auger 4 feet deep into the ground will make it very difficult to remove, so clear the hole out every 6 inches or so. While power, auger size, and depth are important, none of them matter more than weight to safely or easily operate the post hole digger. The user needs a machine he or she can handle and remove from the hole even when its loaded with soil and rocks. Whether using a manual option or a post hole digger with a powerhead, give some thought to the handles. Theyll be the users main points of contact with the tool for hours on end, so they need to be comfortable and offer the leverage needed to bore or scoop and remove the tool as easily as possible. Long-handled manual diggers allow for exerting more leverage in the hole for scooping dirt and rocks, making it less likely to lose the soil back into the hole as the tool comes out. They also can dig deeper. Generally speaking, wider handles are better for powered units. Wider handles enable greater control over the twisting nature of a post hole digger, and a partner can help should the digger get firmly stuck in a hole. While it might not seem like a lot of work to dig a post hole or two with a shovel, the size of the hole needed can end up seeming enormous. Owning a post hole digger means the opportunity to make holes almost anywhere in the yard without a large-scale excavation project or mess. For the average person, digging post holes is the least enjoyable part of a fence project. They can be backbreaking to dig, and the process can seem to go on forever. Using a post hole digger can substantially cut the amount of time spent digging holes. Post hole diggers have other uses as well. Many ice fishers use post hole diggers fitted with 4- or 6-inch augers to drill into the ices surface. A post hole digger can also dig holes for planting flowers, shrubs, and bushes; just choose an appropriately sized auger for each. If you dont have a lot of experience with post hole diggers, you might still have some questions about them, what they can do, or how they work. This section is for you. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions about post hole diggers. Post hole diggers can dig quite deep, as you can add extension pieces to continue digging. However, too many extensions can cause the machine to be difficult to lift or place in the hole. Generally speaking, auger lengths over 5 feet can become difficult to manage. The main advantage of a manual post hole digger over a powered one is the cost. Manual diggers are far less expensive. Theyre also highly portable and dont require a battery, gasoline, or an extension cord. The difference between the two is in how they dig holes. You thrust a traditional post hole digger into the ground and remove the soil between the scoops. An auger screws into the ground and transports dirt along the blade up to the surface. Bob Vila has been Americas Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including This Old House and Bob Vilas Home Again, he popularized and became synonymous with do-it-yourself home improvement. Over the course of his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair, and live better each daya tradition that continues today with expert yet accessible home advice. The Bob Vila team distills need-to-know information into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101s, and more. These home and garden experts then thoroughly research, vet, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.\n', 'Everybody who grew up in Nashville, Tennessee in the 70s, 80s or 90s has a Johnny Cash story. Heres mine. In 2001, I was a 21-year-old college dropout and bartender working at a Mexican restaurant on West End, not far from the citys center. Back then, Nashville was a sleepy, kind of forlorn place, far from the trendy, fashionable locale it has become. It was the kind of place where this stupid little Mexican restaurant, the type youd usually see in a suburban strip mall, was one of the citys most popular eateries. Advertisement Early one summer evening, Johnny Cash walked in, alongside his daughter Rosanne. The air went out of the place. To say Cash was Tennessee royalty would be a drastic understatement. He was held aloft alongside Dolly, Elvis, Chet Atkins and the rest. I did not engage Johnny Cash in any extended conversation. Truth be told, I was terrified. The man had an aura about him, even just sitting there. I took his order, I brought him his food, and I brought out the check. He tipped generously on a small bill. Eighteen months later, he died. The Nashville of the 80s and 90s was one where interactions like these were pretty normal. I grew up just down the block from Crystal Gayle, and would sometimes see her and her sister the late, great, Loretta Lynn out for a walk. In high school, Id burn the midnight oil on my modem playing Doom deathmatches with Waylon Jennings kid. I remember my one visit to his house pretty well \xa0there was a General Lee, the iconic hero car from the Dukes of Hazzard, right there in the driveway. All these years later, Nashville has changed quite a bit. But the citys adoration of Cash remains. In earlier years, he was celebrated as an outlaw, an anti-establishment figure, a musician who succeeded in Music City not by embracing its polished, denim-and-diamonds image but by shirking it. Today, Cashs presence in Nashville feels much more corporate \xa0his likeness and name are plastered all over billboards in town and his face appears on murals that have become the backdrop for a million Instagram influencers. He is omnipresent. Now, Cashs likeness \xa0his signature, even \xa0are featured on a soccer jersey. Major League Soccers Nashville SC, the citys latest popular newcomers, have turned to Cashs legacy as inspiration for their latest away kit, an all-black, understated get-up theyre dubbing the Man in Black kit. The moniker is a nod to Cashs stage name, given to him for obvious enough reasons. But it could just as easily be a nod to Adidas and MLS design process, one thats produced a tidal wave of bland, unimaginative kits in recent years often plain black or white looks that have left many fans wanting. This year, Nashville seems to have harnessed that blandness for the better. If youre willing to do a little light trespassing, you can see whats left of Johnny Cashs once-magnificent home on the banks of Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Situated some 15 miles northeast of downtown Nashville, the whole compound used to be remote, but it too has felt the creep of Nashvilles ever-accelerating gentrification. The drive there used to be done on country roads; now its done on fresh pavement, through an endless sea of cookie-cutter subdivisions and strip malls. Once you arrive, just hop the fence and you can see what remains. The breathtaking, mid-century mansion that sat there for decades burned down in 2007. You can still see the homes foundation, and even the old fireplace, the one Cash sat in front of while filming the music video for Hurt, the Nine Inch Nails cover that introduced him to an entirely new generation of fans. The garage and swimming pool still exist, though it doesnt look like anybody will be using the waterslide any time soon. Walk far enough down the driveway and youll see a name carved into the once-wet pavement: John Carter Cash. Advertisement Carter Cash is Johnnys only son. Like his father, hes an accomplished singer and songwriter, though his career never reached the dizzying heights of his dads. He spent some 15 years playing guitar in Johnny and June Carter Cashs stage show; as a producer, he has lent his talents to a slew of big-name acts and he worked alongside Rick Rubin to produce his fathers final two albums. These days, John Carter Cash still works on the Cash compound in Hendersonville, in a quaint log cabin at the edge of the property. Johnny Cash was an avid outdoorsman and in the late 70s, he lopped off 40 acres of land, threw up a chain link fence and filled the area with a collection of exotic animals bison, wild boars, antelopes and the like. He built a beautiful, rustic log cabin in the middle of all of this, a place where he could be left alone to write songs, reflect and just generally enjoy his solitude. Today, his son welcomes us to the cabin to chat about his familys partnership with Nashville SC. The cabin has become a music studio, its rooms filled with recording equipment, guitars and keyboards. The mantle over the fireplace bears some famous names: Elvis Costello, Bono and others scrawled their marks into the wood when they visited. John Carter Cash is among the people who manage his fathers legacy and it was him who signed off on the collaboration with NSC. Ive been watching Nashville grow for a while (as a city), he says. Ive always been excited about professional sports in Nashville. I grew up with my children playing soccer and so I got the word, I heard about the team coming to town. Not long after that we first heard from (Nashville SC) about possibly doing a tie-in with my fathers image and his signature, and the possibility of the jersey and what not. Advertisement Lets get one thing out of the way, though. Johnny Cash was not a huge fan of soccer, or any sport, for that matter. Carter Cash remembers having to throw a football with his father for a Boy Scouts assignment. After his dad fumbled the ball on his first catch, he turned to his son and said, plainly, Just give me the paper, Ill sign it. Cash lived during a time where soccer barely ever crossed the radar of the average American. His primary exposure to the sport came in Landsberg, West Germany in the early 50s. Cash was serving in the U.S. military during the Cold War as a morse code operator. I remember him saying, You know, I got out and kicked that soccer ball one time with the guys back in the Air Force, says Carter Cash, who asked his father whether he was any good at the game. Oh I didnt play, he replied. I just kicked the ball one time and walked off the field. The seeds for the Man in Black kit were planted two years ago, before Nashville SC had even played a competitive MLS match. Prior to their inaugural regular season game, Nashvilles supporters unfurled the clubs first-ever tifo, based on whats probably the most iconic image of Cash around \xa0him snarling onstage at San Quentin Prison in 1969, middle finger extended directly toward the camera. Not long afterwards, the club began communicating with the Cash estate about a potential collaboration. The kit is simple, befitting its name. The top is a black Adidas template (Major League Soccer and Adidas design process for all of its jerseys leaves little room for imagination). Clubs are typically allowed to customize two areas of a jersey stuff like the jock tag, or neck tape, or the overall design on the front of the shirt. Nashville picked its two areas: the rear of the shirt bears Cashs signature, while a tag on the hem bears an image of Cash at Folsom Prison. Its simple, but it works when paired with black shorts and black socks. The club worked with its sponsors on a couple of muted colors (the team is calling them iron metallic and dark graphite) for the ad logos on the kit, which keeps things as close to all-black as possible. Hany Mukthtar, the clubs prolific forward and the 2022 MLS MVP, says he likes it. He wears black boots, which lets him adhere to the most basic of fashion advice: I like it when my boots match my shirt, says Mukhtar, currently in the room for a photo op. Hes holding an acoustic guitar. He knows a few chords, he says, but he declines a request to play them. Advertisement Mukhtar is in a way indicative of Cashs reach. Born in Berlin to a German mother and a Sudanese father, even he was exposed to Cashs music at an early age. My mother was a big fan, he says. Johnny Cash is a legend in Nashville. Commonly perceived as an outlaw of sorts, Cash was anything but anti-commercial during his lifetime. He regularly licensed out his name and likeness. For years his family ran a museum in downtown Hendersonville, with June Carter Cash operating an antique store next door. Its the sort of attitude that landed Cash in the greatest Taco Bell commercial ever made or made Ive Been Everywhere the perfect ad jingle for a chain of hotels. Cash was a pitchman for big gas , for the auto industry and for finance . Hell, he was the pitchman for the model railroading industry . He did have his limits, though. His family refused to let Ring of Fire be used in an ad for Preparation H, the hemorrhoid medication. Major League Soccer felt more attractive. (My dad) was not afraid to go and (license) his name and his business throughout his life, says Carter Cash. Weve stayed true to many of his creeds that he had, as far as where well allow the use of his name and likeness. If anything seems morally incorrect based on what his morals were, we dont go that way. We dont put his name and his face on every single thing were very careful about where his likeness goes, as far as any of that. Cash is not an obvious fit for an MLS jersey. But hes not the first music icon to have inspired an MLS kit, either \xa0the Seattle Sounders debuted a jersey last year inspired by Jimi Hendrix . MLS, by and large, endorses progressive causes, and its consumers and fans generally seem to skew to the left. The country music of the 50s and 60s, when Cash rose to prominence, was not perceived as being the anthem of Americas radical youth. Much of that music was steeped in talk of God, patriotism, guns and rural life. Advertisement Cash, though, was not the average country singer. Though some of the touchstones of his music feel familiar his faith was a central tenant throughout his career \xa0the tone of his music often feels far removed from what his peers were discussing at the time. Cash is remembered for his iconic performances at a pair of prisons (San Quentin and Folsom),\xa0but he played dozens of them. His music often spoke of the downtrodden, the forgotten. When Cash was invited to the White House in 1972, then-president Richard Nixon asked the performer to sing a couple of cover songs: Merle Haggards Okie from Muskogee and Guy Drakes Welfare Cadillac. The former of those songs is an attack on anti-war protesters, while the latter speaks of the underprivileged trying to cheat the system. Instead, Cash launched into a pair of his own tunes. My dad sang The Ballad of Ira Hayes, to make people look at responsibility towards those who have been forgotten, says Carter Cash. And he sang What is Truth to make people look at themselves and also to appreciate the youth for who they were. My Dad, just the fact that he stood up for what he believes in was admirable. Anyone who says your father wouldve supported this thing or that \xa0well, not necessarily. He supported people as people. He was slow to judge and quick to forget. Cash capped off his White House performance with, what else, Man in Black, his explanation of why he only ever seemed to wear one color on stage. In it, Cash said he does so to remind people of the less fortunate, to remind the general public that things arent quite so rosy. Id love to wear a rainbow every day, he sang, And tell the world that everythings okay. But Ill try to carry off a little darkness on my back Til things are brighter, Im the man in black. And heres where Cash becomes a more obvious fit for Nashville SC, an MLS team in a city thats never really been the soccer capital of the United States. His complexity, the fact that his views were so often hard to pin down, is a design feature here, not a flaw. The club has latched onto a figure who connects with the entire city. He connects with old Nashville , the conservative, Bible-thumping segment of Music City who know every word to One Piece at a Time or A Boy Named Sue, with new Nashville the alt-country wannabes and hipsters who came to the city to crib a bit of its authenticity for their own gain and everybody in between. Go to a Nashville SC game and youll see segments of all of those groups in the stands. Its kind of brilliant. My father wouldve been eager to make (those newcomers) part of the existing fold, says Carter Cash. Nashville is one of these places, and my dad was part of this, where people dont come here to change it as much as people come here to be a part of something. And that spirit is still here. Dad was excited about new and different things. As the city grows, I think my father wouldve open-mindedly grown with it. (Photos: Nashville SC)\n', 'Photo: pexels.com Whether youre looking to contain pets or children, create privacy from passersby, or provide protection around a pool or garden, chain link fencing is one of the most affordable options for enclosing your yard. Far from the plain uncoated spiky metal of years ago, modern chain link fencing can be attractive or nearly invisible, and there are multiple options to customize and add privacy features. Chain link is designed to be durable so it stands up to wind, weather, and impact. Compared to other options for enclosing a yard, chain link fence cost is relatively low, and depending on the space, may even be installed by the homeowner. There are many variables in the pricing structure of chain link, including height and gauge, linear footage, posts, gates, and additional trims and features. While it is an affordable option, there are a lot of decisions for the homeowner to make that will affect the overall cost. Photo: pexels.com In order to calculate the cost of chain link, youll need to measure and make some choices. The math is pretty straightforwardthe decisions may not be! A chain link fence is made up of several elements. There are two types of fence posts: corner posts are deeply planted in each corner to provide shape and stability. Between the corner posts are line posts, which are thinner than corner posts and add support to the fence at 8- to 10-foot intervals. These posts are connected by a solid top rail sleeve that threads through the top of the side rails and secures at each corner post. The mesh, made of the recognizable diamond-pattern wire twists, is attached to the top rail with wire ties. Finally, the mesh is tensioned using a length of tension wire that connects to a tension bar threaded through the mesh next to the corner post. The size and height of your fence will affect the cost of each of these materials, so measuring carefully and choosing the height you need will help you build an accurate budget. Photo: pixabay.com Chain link fencing seems like a simple choicemany consumers assume theres just one style, but thats not actually true. Variations in height, gauge, finish, and other factors create different levels of security and very distinct appearances. This leaves a lot of room for creativity and cost savings; each decision can be made while balancing appearance, purpose, and budget until all three meet the buyers needs. While the total linear footage of the area to be enclosed has the greatest effect on total cost, the height and overall size can also affect the cost. Chain link fencing is available in heights from 3 feet to 12 feet, though very tall fences are less common. Taller fencing is more expensive, and custom sizing, where two pieces of chain link are spliced together for a specific height, is even more costly. The size and shape of the fence can also affect the pricing: The price of a large fence can sometimes be reduced based on the bulk pricing of supplies, but custom-shaped fences around a small area can have an unexpectedly high cost because they require more posts and labor. The gauge measurement represents the thickness of the wire that creates the mesh of a chain link fence, and it can be confusing, as the numbers are inverse to the gaugelower numbers equal thicker wire. Gauge measurements run from 6 gauge, which is the thickest chain link fence available and is usually used for commercial applications, to 11.5 gauge, which is a lighter, thinner wire more suited to residential installations. Thicker gauges are sturdier and stronger, and therefore cost more, while higher gauges offer a lighter, less visible fence and are less expensive. Much of the appeal of a chain link fence comes from the simple but still decorative diamond-shaped pattern formed by twisted wire. Measured on the inside of the diamond in both diagonal directions, the most common diamond sizes are 1 inch, 2 inch, and 3.5 inch by 5 inch. Smaller diamonds result in stronger fences that are more expensive regardless of the gauge because they require more wire to twist to make the fence. Larger diamonds are less secure, but also less expensive; reducing the mesh size from 2 inches to 1 inch can more than double the price of the mesh . Its important to check local permit requirements before selecting a diamond size: Some security fence permits demand specific diamond sizes for safety, such as those for fencing that will enclose swimming pools or livestock. Most commonly, the posts for chain link fencing are also made of metal, though some wood, vinyl, and concrete posts can also be used. The posts themselves must be set at least 2 feet below the ground, and ideally set in concrete for stability. Metal posts can range from $7.25 to $30 each, depending on the height, thickness, type, and gauge of the metal. Adding color increases the cost. Wood posts have a more natural appearance, but they are not as sturdy or long-lasting and range in cost from $10 to $50. The average total cost for posts over the course of an entire project is $3 per linear foot, including the cost of the posts themselves and the concrete needed to set them securely. Walkway gates may seem like an unnecessary extravagance, but they can be useful when moving materials in and out of the yard, admitting guests, or doing landscaping tasks, such as mowing the lawn. In addition, a well-chosen gate adds great curb appeal to the home. A simple swing gate can cost between $100 and $450 (which includes labor), depending on the height and level of decorative elements, and will also require hardware to latch or lock the gate. A double swing gate permits a larger opening in the fence and can run from $183 to $295. Enclosing an entire front yard can add a great sense of security, but full-yard enclosures need to allow vehicle access to the driveway. This can sometimes be achieved with a double swing gate, but a single or double rolling gate will be more effective and efficient, and also sturdier. Rolling gates have a wide price range depending on the width and height, but also on the mechanism used to open and close them: Wider gates require more wheels, and a heavy gate may demand a motorized opener. Based on these elements, a driveway gate can range in cost from $800 to $7,600. Privacy slats are strips of colored material that can be woven through the openings in chain link fencing to provide privacy and add color or style to the fence. Available in plastic or wood, they can be installed at the same time as the fence or added later as a DIY project to save on labor costs. Slats cost about $4 to $50 per box, and if installed by a contractor will likely cost an additional $2 to $4 per linear foot to install. Other privacy options include climbing vine and fabric screens that can be attached to the fence. Handy homeowners who prefer the lower cost of chain link fence but dont care for the look can even build wood panels to attach to block chain fence from view. When choosing galvanized or bare metal chain link fencing, a powder coating provides protection from rust and corrosion, increasing the lifespan of the fence and reducing maintenance time and cost. In addition, powder coating adds an attractive textured matte finish that can enhance the curb appeal of the fence. Expect to pay an additional $6 to $8 per linear foot for powder coating. Powder coating is not a DIY job, but homeowners who want to protect their fences and add color can paint the fence themselves. Its not a quick, easy, or inexpensive job, however; oil-based primer goes on first, followed by several coats of exterior-grade paint on both sides of the fence. Supplies will run about $55 on average. Having someone else do the work for you will average out to around $7 per linear foot. Photo: depositphotos.com So far, the calculation of chain link privacy fence cost has been mostly based on choices made by the homeowner. However, there are additional costs that are outside of the homeowners control. The existing state of the yard will govern many of these costs and, while there is some leeway to reduce them by doing the work yourself, others will require professional assistance or be mandated by local regulations. Old fencing must be fully removed before a new fence can be installed. This will cost, on average, between $3 and $5 per linear foot. This job can be done by a cautious homeowner to save on labor costs, but its important to remember that chain link can be heavy and unwieldy. One cost benefit? Its often possible to find a salvage company that will haul away the materials for free recyclingand maybe even pay you by weight for the scrap! The salvage value may more than cover the cost of removal. National averages for the installation of posts and mesh run between $7 and $15 per linear foot. The range is wide, which means that getting several estimates is key. If you choose to install the fence yourself, the labor costs will be free, unless you need to rent a posthole digger or other specialty tools. Some homeowners choose to hire professionals to set the posts and then install the fence themselves, saving on labor costs. For a chain link fence to work properly as an enclosure, it must be set in the ground consistently. That means the land must be level and clear of shrubs, trees, and roots. Depending on whats in the way, this can sharply increase the cost of the project. Landscaping and tree removal costs can be negotiated but can add as much as $5,500 to the cost of the fence, while working around existing structures, such as sheds or trees, can add between $2 and $5 per linear foot. Grading a sloped yard to level will add between $5 and $10 per square foot. Chain link fencing is essentially metal strapped to other metal, so in addition to the mesh, top rail, and posts, youll need materials to attach them together . Every two lengths of top rail that need to be joined will require one top rail sleeve. For each post, purchase one loop cap to secure the top rail and one post cap. Each corner post requires a tension bar, a rail end, a brace band, and a carriage bolt to secure the rails to the post and stretch the mesh. Gates will also require a tension bar. A length of tension wire equal to the linear footage is necessary to stretch the bottom of the mesh. Finally, purchase one fence tie per linear foot to attach the mesh to the top rail, and select hardware to close and lock the gate. The cost of this hardware doesnt vary much by style, but will increase with the total linear footage of the fence. Some municipalities require permits for fences to ensure that they meet the ordinances and codes of the areas. Permits will dictate a number of factors in the chain link fences installation, including how close the fence is to the property line, how tall the fence is (this can be different in the front and back yard), and how deep the posts must be set. This is not an occasion to try to squeak by without getting a permit: The cost of removing a fence installed three inches too close to the property line will be enormous, and then youll have to decide whether or not to reinstall. Photo: depositphotos.com Chain link fencing is efficient and economical, but there are a number of options when it comes to purpose and appearance. The type of mesh is usually chosen based on your planned application, style of your home, and location, as some climates really require a protective coating on the metal. Consider these choices when planning your project. Galvanized chain link fencing has been treated to resist rust and corrosion. Its durable, strong, and somewhat utilitarian in appearance, and its the standard for commercial applications. This style costs between $5 and $15 per linear foot, depending on height. This style of chain link fence has a PVC mesh coating over the metal to protect the fencing from salt water corrosion, and its often used in coastal areas that flood frequently to extend the life of the fence and allow water to flow freely through without damage. Cyclone fencing costs between $8 and $40 per linear foot depending on gauge and height. Vinyl-covered chain link fencing, usually available in black and green (and occasionally in other colors), can add an elegant appearance to the fencing and protect the metal from corrosion. The vinyl adds significantly to the cost, ringing up at between $13 and $40 per linear foot, but it reduces the time and cost of maintenance. Theres no law that says you have to stick to metal posts for your chain link fence. Other materials such as wood posts (which can look beautifully rustic with black chain link) or other metals such as wrought iron, steel, or aluminum can combine with chain link for unique and artistic installations. These will come at a cost, however: Pricing will vary based on the materials and what you choose to do with them, but they can add as much as $100 per linear foot. Regardless of whether youre considering fencing for a commercial enclosure, protection of HVAC equipment, or to enclose your yard, chain link is a practical choice with numerous options for customization at a comparably economical cost. There are, however, a number of specific benefits to this style of fence that may not be as obvious. For some home buyers, security is everything, and a well-maintained, attractive chain link fence provides what they need and exponentially increases the value of the home. Others, especially buyers with young children or pets, may be more interested in efficiently keeping residents inside the fence: Chain link is considered the best type of fence for containing pets, and it provides a layer of security for children playing outdoors. In a home with a pool, a fence enclosing the pool provides extra security against accidents for which the homeowner would be liable. The relief of knowing that fence installation wont be one of their first tasks as a homeowner can increase the value for these buyers in any area. A chain link fence isnt easy for humans to climb. It presents a visual challenge that is often enough to discourage intruders from even attempting to gain access, and if tall enough will prevent them from gaining access if they do try, protecting your home and belongings. Treated or coated to resist rust and corrosion, most chain link fences require nothing more than an occasional spray wash. Even when rust does appear, a quick hit with a wire brush and some sealant will take care of the problem. All the connections and joints are visible, so if damage does occur, its simple to reconnect the mesh to the posts or railsor even replace a piece of mesh seamlessly without removing the rest. The biggest maintenance task will likely be removing vines that try to climb the links. There are many stylistic and functional choices available when selecting chain link fencing. The precise combination of mesh and post materials, gauge, diamond size, and privacy elements, along with the style of gates and post caps, means that your fence will be uniquely customized to your specifications. Chain link installation is not complicated. If homeowners have the know-how and the yard is reasonably level, it can be a DIY project. When hiring professionals, its a quick job: Once the landscaping is clear, most crews will need a day to set the posts and another day or two to hang the fence. For those on a tight budget and tight timeline, chain link is an ideal option. Even basic galvanized chain link can stand up well to the elements. Because of the open weave of the mesh, a chain link fence will not catch the wind as a solid fence will, so it is suitable for high wind conditions. Water can pass smoothly through the mesh without damaging the fence, making chain link ideal for locations where flooding is frequent. A properly installed chain link fence can hold up for more than 25 years, even in locations where the weather tests it on a regular basis. Photo: depositphotos.com Of all of the fencing options available to homeowners, chain link fencing is the most appropriate for the DIY-inclined. There is little need for ultra-accurate measurement or special skills: Once a homeowner has appropriately researched the process and the options and acquired the materials, its a matter of digging and setting the posts, installing and tensioning the top rails, then stretching and tying on the mesh and any privacy elements. Things to bear in mind, however, include the specialty tools that make the job manageablethose digging in rocky or dense clay soil will benefit from a gas-powered posthole auger, which incurs a rental cost, and wire cutters, pipe cutters, and fence stretchers will add to the DIY cost if the homeowner doesnt already own them. Mixing the concrete to set the poles can be difficult for those who dont have experience with assessing the consistency of concrete. Finally, the weight and unwieldy nature of rolls of wire fencing can be more than some homeowners can handle. A professional crew can have a chain link fence up in just a few days with minimal fuss: These teams already own the tools and have the expertise to work around unanticipated obstacles such as uneven ground, obstinate tree roots, and tangled fencing. They arent likely to struggle with setting fence posts at the exact level, slicing themselves on exposed wire, or fighting with a tension strap that wont hold. The discount that contractors get on materials, plus the savings on delivery, tool rental, and time, may make hiring a professional financially worthwhile. Dont be afraid to call in a professional if you plan to DIY and find yourself in over your head. Many contractors will be happy to fit your job in and take over where you left off. You can search for fence installation near me to find a professional to work with. Photo: pexels.com Compared to other types of fences , chain link is considered the most economical. That said, there are several things you can do to reduce the overall costs. Installation of chain link fencing is a fairly clear process, but as always, when hiring a contractor to work on your property you need to make sure you know what youre asking for and what conditions are in place. Dont be afraid to ask for documentation or to see samples. Because chain link fencing cost varies so much based on height and materials, its important to get several estimates. Some contractors may only work with a limited set of materials, and if youre looking for something different, you shouldnt settle for the materials any one professional has on offer. Some questions you should have answers to include: After all these considerations, you may be overwhelmed. Here are a few questions that homeowners often have when considering their fencing and their answers, which should make the decision a little easier. On average, yes. Of course, it depends on the options you select: A tall, heavy-gauge chain link fence will be more expensive than a shorter, simple wood fence. But when comparing size and quality, chain link fence is $5 to $15 less per linear square foot than wood. A chain link fence installed by the homeowner is the least expensive option for a complete enclosure. A chain link fence is largely maintenance-free. You may want to wash it with hose spray from time to time and can add soap if its particularly dirty, but chain link will mostly maintain itself. Keep an eye out for damage or sagging, as an easy and inexpensive repair can be done if the issue is handled promptly. If you have chosen to paint the fence, maintenance will include repainting every few years or when the paint begins to show wear. This depends on the purpose of the fence. Heights are usually limited by local ordinance. If the fence is enclosing a swimming pool, state and local government will likely have a requirement. Basic security and pet enclosure will require a 4-foot fence, while large pets or additional privacy might make a 6-foot fence more appropriate (dogs are surprisingly adept at climbing fences, so consider the full-grown size of any young dogs in your household when choosing a height).\n', "Alex Lucio altered the original plans for Assure Infusions to include a second, smaller building on the site in Bartow. While the larger facility will make 1,000-millimeter and 1,500-milliliter IV bags, the smaller one will produce bags with capacities ranging from 50 milliliters to 250 milliliters, broadening the range of products the company can offer. There are all kinds of different IV bags, Lucio says. The hospital pharmacy will get the small bags, and if they need to send a drug upstairs to a patient, they'll inject the small bag. The patient already has a central IV line in, and it usually has a big bag. They'll spike the small bag into the big bag. He adds, What's interesting about IV fluids is that maybe 80% of the time, it's not really the fluids the patient needs. The central line is put in because it's the drug delivery system, so they don't have to keep jabbing the patient over and over again. Back in August,\xa0serial entrepreneur Alex Lucio didnt have much to show, yet, for Assure Infusions , his grand new medical-supply manufacturing venture in Bartow, a city of about 20,000 people in Polk County. A sign reading Future Home of Assure Infusions stood in front of an empty field\xa0back then.\xa0A few months later, a chain-link fence has gone up and steel girders are stacked along shipping containers full of windows, doors and other building materials. In the middle of the field sits a RV Lucio uses as an office. We hope to have the building up by March, Lucio says. That will give us a green light for the machinery. I cant have machinery arriving until theres a building. Everythings on order, so it can move fast once we get four walls up. When its fully up and running, which Lucio hopes will be\xa0in September 2023, the $20 million, 60,000-square-foot Assure Infusions facility will manufacture much-needed intravenous fluid bags, a product of critical importance to hospitals worldwide. The company will specialize in four IV fluids: sterile water, sodium chloride, dextrose and Ringers lactate solution, which is similar to saline and can be used to treat a range of disorders, including dehydration and low blood pressure. When you think about manufacturing pharmaceuticals, what you end up having is a monster pharmacy, Lucio says. The only difference between us and a pharmacy is that pharmacies make a dose for an individual, and were doing it 5,000 gallons at a time, adding ingredients with huge drums. Other than that, its the same. Lucio is no stranger to mass manufacture of medical devices and supplies, and hes drawing on experience at the previous company he founded, Winter Haven-based 3B Medical, which makes oxygen and ventilation devices, as well as products that fight infections. Hes also drawing on funds from investors who supported 3B Medical a $100 million enterprise when Lucio sold it in 2020 to React Health. With Assure Infusions, however, Lucio is learning every entrepreneurial venture, even in a familiar industry, is different. I thought the easiest part would be to put the building up, he says, and the hard part would be on the manufacturing side. But the level of complexity to put up a building everything from water drainage to trying to get utilities brought to the site this is my first time trying to put up a facility, but I didnt expect the delays on the construction side. The projects main obstacle, Lucio says, is the lack of a concrete slab. Once the foundation is poured, progress should come fast and furious. A delay resulted from local officials concerns about drainage and runoff pretty simple stuff, but Lucio, being new to development and construction, had to play catch up. One of the things you dont think about is what happens to water on a 60,000-square-foot roof, he says. Oh yeah, runoff. And where does that runoff go? That became a slowdown, because we had to do a study on the land and where the water would drain. So now were going to extend out a retention pond. He adds, Theyre asking for very little, but if I had put up a commercial building before, I would have expected this. Lucio doesnt seem too fazed by the lull in progress. This whole project, its all prefab buildings, he says. Once the concrete pours, its like an erector set. You can literally put up a building in six to eight weeks. Hes also keeping his eye on the long-term goal: a company that will bring more than 100 jobs to Bartow and disrupt an industry dominated by two major players: Baxter International Inc. and B. Braun Medical Inc. Were unique in the sense that other IV manufacturers in the United States, they make product, they ship it out for sterilization and then they get it back. That's a three- to four-week cycle. Were sterilizing on site. He adds, We'll be the only manufacturer that can go from production to out the door the same day. When it comes to inventory management, hospitals want a daily shipping schedule, and we can maintain that. In a shortage environment, thats a huge advantage.\n", 'The foreign firm supplying solar power modules for a Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) project in Augusta has been linked by the Joe Biden administration to forced labor in the Xinjiang region of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), the Maine Wire can report. The solar project is part of Gov. Janet Mills Lead By Example initiative, which included a 2019 executive order directing state agencies to install renewable energy generation and energy storage on state property. Canadian Solar, a publicly traded company based in Guelph, Ontario, has supplied 8,000 solar modules for the MDOT project currently under construction in Maines capital city, near Interstate 95, at Exits 109 and 112. Canadian Solar is one of the largest solar module manufacturers on the planet, but it has also has faced criticism in the Canadian media and from shareholders for not doing enough to ensure its supply chain is not connected to forced labor in Xinjiang. One of the companys longtime suppliers has also been blacklisted by the Biden administration for suspected ties to forced labor. Although Canadian Solar is legally based in Ontario, company documents show just 3 percent of its workforce is in the Americas, while 95 percent of its employees are in Asia, with 79 percent in the PRC specifically. According to the Globe and Mail , Canadas largest newspaper, Canadian Solar has built a large manufacturing operation in the Xinjiang region over the past two decades. The United States, United Nations, and several non-governmental organizations have said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is systematically victimizing Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in Xinjiang, brutalizing the population at an industrial scale and compelling them to endure forced abortions, forced sterilizations, and forced labor. That forced labor operation includes facilities that produce polysilicon and silicon wafer, a key ingredient of photovoltaic solar panels. In 2021, President Joe Biden directed the U.S. Commerce Department to blacklist one of Canadian Solars largest suppliers, Xinjiang GCL New Energy Material Technology, a subsidiary of GCL New Energy, which is itself a subsidiary of GCL-Poly Energy. In an official White House statement , the Biden administration accused GCL of participating in the practice of, accepting, or utilizing forced labor in Xinjiang and contributing to human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other minority groups in Xinjiang. GCLs Xinjiang operation employed people, many of them Uyghur Muslims, who were transferred to industrial facilities by PRC government programs against their will. Prior to the White House directive targeting GCL, the polysilicon supplier and Canadian Solar had publicly advertised their mutually beneficial relationship as far back as 2008 . The companies signed a $117 million deal in 2016, and GCL said in 2019 it had signed another major long-term deal to supply Canadian Solar. In a reports released in 2019 and 2020 , Canadian Solar again said GCL was its largest supplier of silicon wafer. Those reports appear to have been scrubbed from Canadian Solars website, but are available in archive form. Canadian Solar also operates its own solar power facility in Tumxuk, Xinjiang, but the company has told Canadian media the employees at that facility are ethnic Han Chinese. The company has also said it plans to sell the facility. As a result of the Biden administrations directive, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized some of Canadian Solars modules in August 2021, along with products from several other Xinjiang-linked solar manufacturers, thought the company maintains it was collateral damage in the enforcement action. Both Canadian Solar and GCL have insisted their businesses have no ties to forced labor. And the PRC has repeatedly denied the existence of forced labor camps in Xinjiang. GCLs English-language company website posted a statement in 2021 from the China Photovoltaic Industry Association and the Silicon Branch of China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association denying the existence of forced labor or internment camps in Xinjiang altogether. As is known to all, the issue of forced labor is a lie invented out of thin air by institutions and personnel of the United States, the statement said. Canadian Solar published sustainability reports in 2021 and 2022 that bore no mention of GCL, but the reports also omitted updated lists of suppliers like the ones that appeared in the 2018 and 2019 reports. Although its two most recent reports do not identify the companies from which it purchases polysilicon and silicon wafer, Canadian Solar claimed in a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it sources polysilicon and silicon wafer exclusively from Henan Province and Inner Mongolia for any modules sold into the U.S. In public statements, SEC filings, and ESG reports, Canadian Solar has said it maintains a zero-tolerance policy for forced labor at its manufacturing facilities and in its supply chain. But the company has also resisted calls to allow an independent third-party audit of its supply chain that might verify its claims. In the last three years, the U.S. government and human rights groups have increasingly sounded the alarm on potential human rights violations occurring in the Xinjiang region, including forced labor practices impacting multiple industries, but especially the solar industry. Jenny Chase , head of solar analysis at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, has said , Nearly every silicon-based solar moduleat least 95 percent of the marketis likely to have some Xinjiang silicon in it. In a 2021 report, consulting firm Horizon Advocacy warned the entirety of the PRCs rising solar manufacturing industry was inextricably connected to forced labor and human rights violations. The Horizon report was covered extensively in western media, including the New York Times , but it appears not to have reached some American green energy advocates and firms. As long as we in the U.S. continue to build our solar industry on Chinese sources, we are building on a foundation of forced labor, said Emily de la Bruyere, one of the reports authors. Global consumers of Chinese polysilicon-based photovoltaic and semiconductor goods implicitly support the sustained abuse of ethnic and religious minorities in China, said de la Bruyere. Xinjiang is widely regarded by western authorities as the location where the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has controlled the country since 1949, operates forced labor camps and reeducation camps for religious and ethnic minorities. The United Nations has detailed systemic human rights abuses in Xinjiang, actions it says may constitute crimes against humanity. The U.S. National Security Council has accused Xinjiang of employing modern-day slavery. Amnesty International estimates that hundreds of thousands, potentially more than 1 million, religious and ethnic minorities in the region have been held in internment camps . An analysis of satellite imagery by Rand Corporation has shown the rapid development of what it says are military-style detention facilities in Xinjiang, concrete buildings surrounded with walls of barbwire and illuminated at night by watchtowers. Amnesty says CCP authorities have, under the guise of fighting terrorism, brutalized, tortured, raped, and murdered countless Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other Muslim ethnic minorities. President Donald Trump and President Biden have both drawn attention to the CCPs widespread human rights violations, with Trumps State Department going as far as to call the Chinese treatment of the Uyghurs genocide . On Dec. 23, 2021, President Biden signed into law bipartisan legislation aimed at keeping products out of U.S. markets if their production involved forced labor. But many large western corporations have been reluctant to end profitable business activities linked to the rights violations. That includes the solar industry, which is heavily dependent on polysilicon and cheap electricity, both of which are abundant in Xinjiang. The PRC is the worlds largest producer of polysilicon, and Xinjiang is the top polysilicon-producing region of the country. Four of the worlds largest polysilicon producers, including GCL, have operations in Xinjiang, and all have ties to forced labor, according to the Horizon Advocacy report. In January 2021, Canadas largest newspaper, The Globe and Mail , obtained government intelligence documents that showed three Canadian companies, among them Canadian Solar, had invested hundreds of millions of dollars over the past two decades building out facilities in the Xinjiang region. In response to the Globe and Mail report, Isabel Zhang, associate director for investor relations and strategic analysis at Canadian Solar, told the newspaper the company does not support forced labour or engage in forced labour. To underscore this point, the companys ESG reports include charts that track discrimination, child labor, and forced labor complaints. Several representatives of Canadian Solar did not respond to The Maine Wires emails seeking comment for this story. Canadian Solar has, in the past two years, embraced the ESG culture with uncommon vigor, touting the diversity of its workforce, its embrace of women and minorities, and its environmental sustainability. But it has consistently resisted calls for third-party auditors to examine its supply chains. Canadian Solar has said in SEC filings it has a strict zero-tolerance policy for forced labor at its manufacturing facilities and in its supply chain, but a shareholder advocacy group has accused the company of failing to aggressively ensure that its subsidiaries and suppliers are not benefitting from forced labor. Following widespread media coverage of Canadian Solars alleged ties to Xinjiang forced labor, the Shareholder Association for Research and Advocacy (SHARE), a non-profit that advocates for responsible corporate behavior, contacted Canadian Solar management in November 2021 and asked the company to allow a third-party human rights audit of its supply chain, similar to the the audits Biden called for in an Executive Order earlier that year. Canadian Solar rejected the request, SHARE said. In April of 2022, the group sent letters to dozens of the companys largest shareholders, claiming Canadian Solar officials had improperly omitted SHAREs request from official shareholder briefings. Canadian Solar subsequently backtracked and said it would allow the third-party audit SHARE had requested, but its not clear whether that audit ever took place. In Canadian Solars most recent ESG report , published in July 2022, Chairman and CEO Shawn Qu and Chief Sustainability Officer Hanbing Zhang said the company had established an Anti-Modern Slavery Task Force. Our Board passed a resolution in May 2022 mandating a third-party assessment, at reasonable cost, on the extent to which Canadian Solars policies and procedures effectively protect against forced labor in its operations, supply chains, and business relationships, said Qu and Zhang. In a June 9, 2022 letter to shareholders, activist Canadian Solar shareholders affiliated with SHARE said the company had still not appointed a third-party supply chain auditor. The company did not respond to The Maine Wires inquiries asking whether it has appointed a third-party auditor or whether that audit has taken place. (If the company provides the audit, Maine Wire will update this story to include it.) Such an audit would help U.S. companies and policy makers determine whether the company is in compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) . It would also provide potential customers or partners in the U.S. an added assurance that their business activities are not implicitly supporting human rights abuses. Canadian Solar representatives have told the Globe and Mail that scrutiny of the companys supply chains to see whether theyre contributing to human rights violations actually harms minorities in western China by making large firms less likely to hire Uyghur Muslims. Since 2020, the company has not reported ongoing business with GCL in its public statements or SEC filings. But corporate structures in PRC are often opaque, with layers upon layers of subsidiaries and holding companies, and even technically separate companies often have deep relationships or ties to the same government or corporate structures. All of this prevents a serious challenge to western companies who must conduct due diligence on potential Asian partners and suppliers. Another factor that complicates getting trustworthy information, like an audit, out of Xinjiang or anywhere in PRC is the vast surveillance state the CCP operates, and the CCPs equally vast capacity for misleading and intimidating westerners. According to The Globe and Mail, several audit groups have publicly said they will no longer inspect supply chains in the PRC because the CCP uses surveillance tools and state agents to interfere with visits by outsiders. Without the third-party audit, its impossible for western journalists, rights advocates, businesses, or policymakers to determine whether and to what extent Canadian Solar, and any company with a major presence in Xinjiang, is connected to or benefiting from forced labor in China. As politicians in Maine and elsewhere increasingly embrace solar energy as part of an ideologically motivated divestment from fossil fuels, the question of forced labor in solar supply chains will loom large. Currently, companies like Cenergy Power, the Carlsbad, Calif.-based contractor that is building and will operate the Augusta facility, says Canadian Solars claim that it has a zero-tolerance policy for forced labor must be taken at face value. Blossoming in the middle of MDOT land near I-95, circumscribed by highway interchanges, are two fields of solar panels. On Wednesday, Canadian workers could be heard speaking French to one another as they trounced through sticky mud, working mostly on the metal fence surrounding the site. When theyre completed this summer, the facilities will stand as high-visibility monuments to the progressive campaign for green energy a fulfillment of Gov. Mills 2019 Lead by Example initiative. Government officials have said the facilities will provide $3.3 million in combined benefits to Maine taxpayers over the next 20 years. But perhaps more importantly for Maine elected officials, environmental activists, and mainstream journalists in the state is the reduction in carbon emission that will come from the project: 2,000 metric tons annually, says MDOT. A spokesman for MDOT declined to comment on Canadian Solars involvement in the project or its alleged connections to forced labor in Xinjiang. Although Canadian Solar has supplied the modules, the solar project is being developed by and will be operated by Cenergy Power, the developer that won MDOTs competitive bidding process. Bill Heck, a principle at Cenergy Power, said in a phone interview that his company was aware of allegations that Canadian Solar and its suppliers had been connected in the media to forced labor operations in China, but his company partnered with them anyways because of assurances they received from the company and an anti-forced labor policy it filed with the SEC. We took their affirmation and, Im sorry but, an SEC filing is a disclosure document that can get them in big trouble if they violate that, said Heck. Asked whether he believe forced labor was occurring in western China, he said that wasnt part of his job. I hear about it, but thats not my job, to try to get into the weeds on that stuff, he said. He said accusations that Canadian Solar was connected to forced labor in western China had not been proven yet and that he had to take the companys denials at face value. There are competing priorities here, he said. Everyone is trying to reduce carbon emissions. He said the tradeoff between Chinese forced labor and reducing carbon emissions was an ethical moral question and that Cenergy was just trying to follow the rules. Just try to put yourself in our shoes where were trying to run a business where were not getting slammed on multimillion dollar late charges, he said. We have to move forward with our business and, basically, as long as theyre in legal compliance and they certify to us that, Hey, our modules are clean and youre not going to get stopped, and theyre taking more risk on that front like, we just gotta get these projects built, he said. Asked whether Maine officials offered any directives on procuring solar modules, Heck wouldnt say. Look, I dont want to get anyone in trouble, they just want us to be in full compliance, which we always have to, he said. Heck said Canadian Solar told Cenergy the modules were manufactured in Thailand. He said he had documents that showed the modules in Augusta did not come from China, and he said he would provide them to the Maine Wire after the phone interview. But he did not. In a subsequent text message asking for the documents he said he had, Heck said he had been advised not to discuss issues further, though he did not specify who provided the advice. All I can say is that Canadian confirms that their modules do not violate any human rights protocols, he wrote. Heck did not respond to a follow up text asking whether he would provide the documents he said he had that showed the modules in Augusta did not originate in Xinjiang. Canadian Solar does have a large manufacturing facility in Chon Buri, Thailand. But last month, the Biden administration alleged the company was one of many Chinese solar exporters attempting to obscure the origins of U.S.-bound solar modules by funneling shipments through other southeast Asian countries, including Thailand. An MDOT spokesman did not respond to an email asking whether any state employees had contacted Cenergy Power representatives after the Maine Wire reached out for comment. The MDOT project in Augusta has previously caused controversy in Maine, not because profits from the project are flowing out of Maine to foreign businesses with potential links to forced labor in communist PRC, but because city officials in Augusta say state officials didnt properly inform them of the plan to use the 15 acres of undeveloped land to install the 8,000 solar modules. Augusta officials have also bristled at the unsightly appearance of a chainlink fence surrounding the installation. The project has been praised by liberal groups in Maine as aligning with Mills plan to build out green energy on state properties. As part of that plan, Mills issued an executive order directing state agencies, like MDOT, to install renewable energy generation and energy storage on state property. In that executive order, under a section titled, responsible procurement, Mills ordered state agencies to reduce their impact on the environment and enhance public health by procuring environmentally preferable products and services whenever such products and services are readily available. Nothing in the executive order directs state agencies to perform due diligence on potential contractors and sub-contractors to ensure they are engaged in ethical business practices that respect international human rights. Agencies shall consider Maine-sourced products and services when total costs are competitive, the order states. The Cenergy Power project is just one of many solar facilities that have been built on or planned for state property under Mills, including a widely touted solar array at the Blaine House. The addition of solar panels to the Blaine House property in 2019 was done by ReVision Energy, a Maine-based company. A representative of ReVision said both companies manufacture their solar panels in Georgia, USA, though that could not be independently confirmed. Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook), the top elected Republican in the state, said state officials must do a better job of conducting due diligence on potential contractors. I share Gov. Mills desire to modernize and diversify Maines energy grid, but these initiatives should not come at the cost of supporting and enabling the Chinese Communist Partys human rights violations in Xinjiang, said Stewart. If the Mills administration continues to promote solar energy, it must perform due diligence to ensure that the companies Maine partners with are not benefitting from, directly or indirectly, the subjugation and exploitation of the Uhygur people, or any peoples, he said. Gov. Mills did not respond to questions emailed to her about this story.\n', "Farmington, MN - ( NewMediaWire ) - March 13, 2023 - A to Z Quality Fencing & Structures installs high-quality fences for clients. They have an online design tool and provide instant quotes. A property's fence is often the first thing that catches the eye of visitors. A well-constructed fence offers numerous benefits and is an investment that requires a dependable contractor who understands the owner's vision and requirements and has the capabilities to bring them to life. A to Z Quality Fencing & Structures provides quality fencing services to homeowners and businesses. They use high-quality products from reputable manufacturers and have a broad portfolio of designs to help clients in decision-making. The company has a mobile service of vehicles fitted with equipment to serve locations within an hour's drive from each of their showrooms in Farmington and the Twin Cities area. The Farmington fence contractor provides different options, including vinyl, aluminum ornamental, cedar wood, horse, chain-link, and steel or wrought iron. Their fence styles include private, semi-private, picket, post and rail, pool, and pet fences. The services are customized to meet clients' unique needs and budgets. A standout feature of the company is its online fence design tool and instant quote service. A to Z Quality Fencing & Structures has developed an innovative tool on its website that enables clients to customize their desired fence. The platform offers various options, materials, designs, and more. Plus, it provides an instant quote based on the selected features. To take full advantage of this user-friendly online design tool, clients simply need to enter their site address and 'find their home.' The platform allows them to sketch the fence, using their fingers on touch screens, from corner to corner. Clients can then add any necessary gates and estimate the linear footage required. Finally, they can choose their preferred materials and review the design before submitting. The design is reviewed by one of the company staff, who then sends out a quote for the entire project. If clients wish to proceed, the staff will schedule an in-person inspection of the property to confirm that the selected design, style, and materials suit the clients' landscape and space. They communicate any necessary changes beforehand and confirm the final design before beginning the work. A to Z Quality Fencing & Structures has a straightforward fence installation process, which includes a free consultation and estimate. Their team of licensed and experienced contractors is committed to providing high-quality services that meet their clients' needs. Being a family-owned and locally-operated business, they understand the unique needs of their clients and are well-positioned to offer customized advice to residents in Farmington and the Two Cities area. Their services are timely and require no client supervision. The team ensures that clients are satisfied with their work by giving them a project walk-through before considering a job complete. They maintain constant communication with their clients and provide a direct link to whoever is in charge of their project. A to Z Quality Fencing & Structures values client feedback and uses it to provide a seamless experience, hoping to foster a long-term partnership with their clients. A quote from the company website stated this about their services, \\\n", 'Photo: istockphoto.com From the zigzag post-and-rail of the Colonial era to the elaborate molded vinyl styles of today, fences are homeowners preferred means of ensuring privacy and deterring unwanted visitors. Whether the goal is to keep your pets safely in your yard or keep neighborhood children out of your pool, there are fencing materials for most every type and shape of property. Before loading your truck with fencing supplies at the lumberyard, take a few minutes to call your local zoning office to find out what, if any, steps you need to take before erecting a border around your yard. If youre putting the fence on a property line, you might need to do a lot survey . If you belong to a homeowners association or live in a development that is subject to covenants, you could be restricted to using specific materials and limited on fence height. Once you have a green light, the next step is choosing the right enclosure for your property. Ahead, learn about the most popular types of fencing materials, and the pros and cons of each. Photo: istockphoto.com Cedar, which is perhaps the most sought-after material for backyard privacy fencing, is known for its long-lasting good lookstight grain, fewer knots, and a desirable red hueand the fact that its unlikely to ever warp or shrink. While cedar naturally resists decay and insects, it is not as impervious to soil as treated wood is and will likely rot after several years. If you are considering building a cedar privacy fence, its a good idea to either secure the fence posts to a concrete base (thus keeping the wood away from soil), or secure cedar pickets to treated wood fence posts. The installation is fairly DIY-friendly, and you can customize the planks to create a variety of looks, including saddleback and lattice-topped. Maintenance Tip : Cedar naturally weathers to a silvery gray, and a fence of this material will require maintenance, including occasional plank replacement. For long-lasting color and protection, apply a penetrating wood sealant to outdoor fencing immediately after installation and annually thereafter. Best For : Wood lovers who want flexibility in terms of both style and fence finishesand those who have a healthy budget. Photo: istockphoto.com Vinyl fencing has been around for a few decades, but its still a relatively new kid on the block. Early vinyl fencing products had a tendency to yellow, sag, or become brittle after a couple of years, but todays fence manufacturers are putting out durable vinyl products in a variety of heights and styles . When it comes to quality, thickness counts; thicker gauge, virgin vinyl will look best for the longest amount of time (some vinyl fencing products even have a lifetime guarantee). Consider hiring a professional to install this type of fencing, because vinyl fence installation must be precise. If its a little out-of-level here or slightly out-of-plumb there, youll notice it. Maintenance Tip : Once its installed, vinyl fencing is virtually maintenance-free. Every now and again you may want to use a mild detergent to wash off accumulating dirt, which you can just rinse off with a garden hose . Stubborn mold and mildew stains usually yield after being treated with a bleach and water solution. Best For : Quick curb appeal and those with large yards who want a bold, clean look. RELATED: How Much Does a Vinyl Fence Cost to Build? Photo: homedepot.com Manufactured from wood fibers that are combined with plastic polymers, composite fencing provides a wood-like look but wont degrade from insects and rot. This combination of style and substance will cost a bit more than either vinyl or cedar, for both materials and installation. Like vinyl fencing, composite requires precise installation by professionals . Since the material varies in quality from manufacturer to manufacturer, its important to do your research carefully and buy composite fencing components from a reputable dealer. Maintenance Tip : After professional installation, composite fencing requires only an occasional rinse with water to keep it looking clean. Best For : Those who want the look of wood without the maintenance that wood requires. Photo: homedepot.com Youll pay top dollar for a redwood or teak fence, but nothing compares to the natural softness and luster of a wood fence crafted from these materials. Because theyre expensive, redwood and teak fences are usually used for small enclosures, like around spas or pools. As is the case with cedar, redwood and teak both naturally resist insects, decay, shrinking, and warping from the elements. Maintenance Tip : Both redwood and teak require the application of a penetrating sealer or oil once or twice a year to maintain their original color. A light sanding prior to application will remove surface weathering. Best For : Wood lovers who have a large budget and/or a smaller area to fence, and dont mind staining and sealing every few years. RELATED: Buyers Guide: The Best Fence Stains Photo: istockphoto.com Metal fencing options range from classic to contemporary, and you can find one to match virtually any home exterior. Wrought iron fences have survived centuries of style changes, and with good reason: They dont just have a classic look, theyre extremely durable. Consider hiring a specialized fencing contractor if youre looking to incorporate a wrought iron fence into your property, as these enclosures tend to be custom made to fit the property and might even include intricate styling. Newer metal fencing options such as cast iron, aluminum, and steel package the strength of wrought iron with a more DIY-friendly panel installation. Some homeowners opt for fencing that incorporates both wood and metal elements. Maintenance Tip : Wrought iron and some steel fences require treatment with a brush-on or spray-on rust-inhibiting paint when they start to show signs of corrosion. Best For : Homeowners who have a healthy budget and want a fence that will last forever with little maintenance. Photo: lowes.com Pressure-treated and chemically treated wood pickets or cedar-style planks are popular picks for outdoor structures as a whole: gazezbos, decks, pergolas, and more. When assembled as a backyard fence, they provide privacy at a reasonable cost . Though this economical type of fencing option is a good choice for fence posts (treated wood resists both insects and moisture), pickets made of treated wood have a tendency to warp or twist, sometimes as soon as one month after installation. If youre set on using treated wood planks for your new fence, youll have the best shot at a warp-free outcome if you handpick the planks one by one at your local lumberyard, rather than having them delivered in bulk. Look for the straightest planks and skip any that look green, or damp, which could mean they have been recently delivered from the manufacturer and are more likely to move as they dry. Maintenance Tip : Seal or paint treated wood for a better look, and replace warped planks as needed. Best For : Treated wood is an affordable way to customize the look of a fence or entry into the yard because the shape and size of the planks can be customized, and the color can be altered with paint or stain. RELATED: How Much Does a Privacy Fence Cost? Photo: istockphoto.com Fences that are made of concrete, stucco, brick, block, and stone give your home a stately, regal vibe, but at a cost: These materials are all very pricey and require professional installation. Because theyre so heavy, masonry fences also need a structural footing poured below the frost line (the depth to which the groundwater in soil is expected to freeze in winter). Its not unusual for homeowners to build a fence thats a combination of masonry and another type of fencing material, such as wrought iron or wood, for both design and budget reasons. Block and poured concrete require steel reinforcement; brick fences often feature a concrete or block inner fence with brick veneer only on the exterior. Maintenance Tip : Over time, mortar joints in stone and brick fences can loosen and will need to be repointed . Best For : Permanent property delineation and upscale curb appeal. Masonry is ideal for properties on busy roads where noise is an issue. Photo: istockphoto.com While their open links certainly dont do much for privacy, chain link fences offer adequate security for pets and kids at a competitively low cost. The materials are among the least expensive fencing options available, making chain link fencing a common fence for yards on large rural properties where the amount of fencing needed makes other choices cost-prohibitive. In addition to economical materials, chain link fencing can be a DIY installationone that involves setting posts, installing a top rail, and then stretching linked mesh between the rails and posts that saves homeowners more money. Maintenance Tip : Chain link can corrode, especially at the junctions where the mesh links meet, but its difficult to prevent. For a better look and a longer life, consider upgrading to vinyl-coated chain link. Best For : Large homesteads, commercial properties, and rural land that require extensive linear foot coverage, and where curb appeal is not a priority. RELATED: 11 Living Fences That Look Better Than Chain Link Photo: istockphoto.com This type of fence is strictly functional, usually set up to keep livestock in and natural predators out. Its standard design is simple and affordable enough for property owners looking to fence in a larger area: Five strands of barbed wire are strung taut between metal T-posts around the perimeter of the property, with heftier wood or steel posts installed at the corners to support the tension of the stretched wire. Before you install it, know that barbed wire fencing is limited to rural use and prohibited in most residential communities. Maintenance Tip : Barbed wire strands should be restretched from time to time. They tend to sag if livestock leans on them. Best For : Rural properties where containing animals is a priority, and curb appeal is not a factor. RELATED: The Most Affordable Ways to Fence in a Yard Photo: profence.org Low-maintenance, inexpensive, and effective at deterring wildlife from getting easy access to a property, woven wire is an affordable fencing option. Sometimes called field fence, woven wire fence is an ideal complement to an open fence, like three rail or split rail, for properties where egress needs to be restricted. Its also a good choice for pet owners who dont want animals to get out and pool owners who dont want people to get in. Maintenance Tip : Adding wire tighteners to the fence and checking them a couple times a year will keep the wires taut. Best For : An addition to another fence system, like split rail, to deter passage on to or from a property.\n', 'WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners conditionally approved a rezoning for a new Tractor Supply store, a contract to monetize landfill gas and more at a meeting on Monday, April 3. Board members conditionally approved a request to rezone 11.5 acres at 3400 Castle Hayne Road from residential (R-20) to a conditional business zoning district (B-2) for a Tractor Supply store. The one-story building would include a 21,930 square-foot retail building, a 3,744 square-foot garden center and a 12,170 square-foot fenced outdoor display area. According to the agenda documents, the R-20 zoning was set in 1974 before water and sewer services were available in the area. The request was submitted by David Long with Castle Hayne Development Group LLC on behalf of the property owner James Stone with Ashton & Avery, LLC. Commissioners approved the request given the developers include a utility easement and site access restrictions. Commissioners also approved a contract between NHC Recycling and Solid Waste and Archaea Energy for a landfill gas-to-energy facility to be made over the next two years. The department already maintains several landfill gas collection wells to manage the methane made by the decomposition of solid waste. Since this was enough to be monetizable, the county put out a request for proposals and got five responses, choosing Archaea Energy out of the bunch. Now, Archaea will have two years to build the facility with interconnection to Piedmont Natural Gas pipeline along Hwy 421. Once the facility is operating and receiving landfill gas, the Recycling and Solid Waste Department will receive $300,000 annually with increases based on the Consumer Price Index and a variable payment based on how much landfill gas is received and marketed. The board held a public hearing and approved a rezoning for a two-story 20,800 square-foot building with an underground stormwater system for unspecified office and retail purposes at 7620 Market Street in continuance until June. The request comes from Cindee Wolf with Design Solutions on behalf of the owner, Bayshore Estates, Inc. Bayshore Estates is also the company behind the nearby Bayshore Estates community. They approved rezoning 2.74 acres from residential (R-15) to conditional business (B-2) to allow for the structure and remove the special highway overlay district (SHOD) from the property. SHOD requires larger setbacks than the developers would prefer, and they have agreed to comply with other SHOD requirements. One development would put 10 single-family homes and 327 townhomes on 42 acres at 5741 Carolina Beach Road and Shiloh Drive north of Manassas Drive. The request by James Yopp with River Road Construction LLC and Hoosier Daddy LLC asks for the land to be rezoned from lower-density residential (R-15) to moderate high-density residential (R-5). But before the meeting, the board received a request to continue the item. The proposal also includes open space and an amenity center. Students living in the development would be assigned to Anderson Elementary and Ashely High along with Myrtle Grove or Murray middle schools depending on the part of the neighborhood. The planning board last considered this application on March 2, and several people spoke against the request. The board then unanimously recommended the denial of the petition. Staff found that the proposal was consistent with the countys overall plan, but the county manager recommended denial because of the amount of traffic on Carolina Beach Road. The full agenda is available on the county commissioners website . Copyright 2023 WECT. All rights reserved.\n'