Winter has not fully set in so if you have not had your in-ground sprinkler system winterized, now is the time to do it. The approaching holidays keep everyone busy, but if you wait much longer, it may be too late!

Your sprinkler system saves you time, money, and keeps your landscape looking its best during the spring and summer months. However, it is best to think about the winterization process once cold weather arrives and the grass goes dormant. Winterizing your sprinkler system means you take the steps necessary to ensure that your system's pipes will not freeze and break during the cold winter months.

There are two types of pipes typically used in sprinkler systems. These are Polyurethane and PVC. Though Polyurethane pipes are known for...

If the summer has taken a toll on your wood deck – or if you’ve just invested in a new one – now is the time to clean, restore and protect the wood from possible moisture damage during the winter months ahead. Here are some tips for "winterizing" your deck:

• Clean the deck thoroughly to remove dirt, fungus and gray surface wood with a formulated deck cleaner. Weathered gray wood, rust spots and stains from mildew, moss, algae and tannin bleed can ruin the look of your deck. Even newly built decks can require cleaning to remove invisible surface barriers that prevent the adhesion of stains and sealers.

• Strip any deteriorating or unwanted stain or finish.

• Seal your deck with a water repellent finish before the beginning of winter....

Race fans are gearing up for the Grand Prix of Baltimore, but the work behind the event is already in progress and will continue right up to Labor Day weekend. Long® Fence is providing 36,000 linear feet of temporary fencing to establish the spectator area for ticketed race fans. Pedestrian barricades will also be implemented for crowd control and safety. White PVC fence will be used in unrestricted areas that focus more on aesthetic appeal. For additional reasons of safety and security, Long® Fence will also enclose the pedestrian bridge over Light Street with temporary fence and screening.

Twenty-five percent of the track is constructed in the last six days, so most work on the...

We know that many of you in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia are not feeling celebratory and festive, but we would like to wish our friends, neighbors and associates a very Happy Fourth of July! As we work through the aftermath of last Friday's storm, we know many of you are still without power, with damaged homes and property. Several of our offices and many of our employees have been affected as well.

Since Friday night, we have been working with federal and local governments, Homeland Security, the National Park Service and the Disaster Relief Agency to address the areas of most critical need. We have been steadily responding to business and homeowner requests since Saturday, with some communication limitations imposed by storm power outages. Thank you for your patience, and as always, we appreciate your business.

Long® Fence recently completed installation of a wood soundwall fence for Handwerk Construction at the Norfolk Southern railway intermodal facility in Greencastle, PA, about 20 miles north of Hagerstown, MD. A soundwall, also called a noise barrier, sound berm or acoustical barrier is an exterior structure designed to protect sensitive land uses from noise pollution. Noise barriers are the most effective method of mitigating roadway, railway, and industrial noise sources.

Long® Fence is continuing with installation of a 9-ft. chain link perimeter fence and gates at the facility. The Greencastle facility will be part of a high-capacity, 2,500-mile intermodal route...

Nothing says, “I love you Mom!” like a comfy chair where Mom can relax while you fix dinner. Why not go one step farther and put that chair on a new, low-maintenance deck? Spring is a popular time to begin home improvement projects, especially if it's an upgrade to outdoor living spaces. With the economy keeping more homeowners in place, improving your home can elevate both your enjoyment and its eventual resale value.

Even if you choose just the right improvement -- one that makes you love your home even more and one that will appeal to potential buyers come selling time -- you may still be wondering how much you'll recoup on your investment.

Some home improvement projects pay off more than others in terms of enhancing your...

Each year the Maryland State Highway Administration evaluates all contractors and subcontractors working on SHA projects. The primary benefits of the evaluation process are to:

• document historical performance in detail

• encourage continuous improvement

• provide industry comparison

• provide incentive for positive public relations

• flag marginal or unacceptable bidders

• encourage partnering

• provide feedback

• reduce inspection staffing levels

Long® Fence is proud to announce reception of an overall grade of “A” from the Maryland SHA for the calendar year 2011. Long® Fence was graded based on the following criteria: administration, personnel, equipment,...

Long Fence was recognized by their contracting peers as a leader in damage prevention at the 2011 Greater Chesapeake Damage Prevention Training Conference held November 2-4, 2011 in Ocean City, MD.

The Miss Utility Damage Prevention Committee holds the annual Dig Smart Awards to promote underground utility safety and recognize those who work toward damage prevention.

Long Fence was chosen as the 2010 Dig Smart Award Winner for two regions, Maryland and Washington DC, due to exemplary performance against the entry form criteria. Long Fence reinforced the importance of calling Miss Utility prior to the start of a job, actively participated in public forums that focus on damage prevention and provided an established set of damage prevention procedures.

This was the first time a company has won for both Maryland and DC in the same year. For more information on the Dig Smart and Locator Achievement Awards,...

During the dog days of summer, be sure to keep an extra eye on your four-legged friend. Dogs can suffer from heat stroke, often faster than a human. Your dog is at a greater risk of heat stroke if he is a working dog that exercises outdoors daily, or is confined to a crate, kennel, outdoor doghouse or vehicle. Although your dog needs shelter from the sun, if a kennel is your only option, be sure the area is well ventilated, shaded and a supply of fresh water is always available.

If your dog is confined to the yard, be sure the yard is safely fenced and offers shade. If your yard is not well-shaded naturally, consider a retractable awning. Dogs dehydrate very quickly in the summer sun, so be sure to refill a large water dish often throughout the day. There are self-watering products on the market that attach to your hose or outdoor...

Long® Fence is proud to be a contributing sponsor to the Military Bowl matchup between the Air Force Falcons and University of Toledo Rockets held at RFK Stadium in Washington DC on December 28, 2011. The event will air live on ESPN at 4:30 pm EST.

Long® Fence has donated the fencing that will surround Military Village on the Armory Mall. Military Village is an event unlike any other showcasing our military’s assets that are used world-wide to secure our safety. The village will be nestled between the DC Armory and RFK Stadium so that the vast majority of game day attendees can visit and walk through the Village to get a first hand look at our military strength. Many government contractor participants will be in attendance with special give-a-ways to the public throughout the day.

DRASH shelters are scheduled to have a Navy Centennial Museum, Northrop Grumman Night Hawk Helicopter, Navy Huey helicopter, a Coast Guard Rescue helicopter, a military tank, Humvees, drones...

It’s hard to find anyone who hasn’t been affected by the difficulties our country has faced during these past few years, so we’d like to take a moment to thank our customers, business partners and employees, knowing that each and every one of you has a story to tell. We are also grateful to our veterans, who protect our rights and freedoms. We hope Thanksgiving will find all of you blessed with a place to call home, plentiful food and the comfort and warmth of family and friends.

First an earthquake, then a hurricane! From the sound of our phones this week, we know that many of our friends out there suffered some type of property damage during Hurricane Irene. No matter how well you prepare for a storm of this type, the force of the wind on your trees and other structures can have devastating results.

In the same way you prepare to keep your house and family safe during a major storm, you can prepare your yard to minimize damage. Here are some measures you can take:

1. Check the trees. Tall and lush trees could protect your home from high winds, but their dry and scraggly branches could break off and cause damage to your house, fence and yard. Prune any overreaching, unhealthy or dead branches that threaten to become harmful projectiles during a strong storm or hurricane. Weak or rotting trees are prone to cracking, breaking and falling in the high winds that accompany these serious storms. Not only can trees be destructive, they can be deadly...

Nothing says summer more than Fourth of July fireworks, hot dogs and watermelon. Living in the Washington DC area, we are fortunate to have any number of major fireworks displays practically in our backyards, including the National Mall.

Our beautiful beaches on the Eastern Shore will also be a popular destination this weekend. If you aren’t brave enough to fight the crowds at either of these locations, the we suggest an alternative: Stay home and relax in your own backyard!

An investment in a deck or patio for your home will yield far greater returns than a fleeting vacation at the beach. Spend your Fourth of July enticing your neighbors with the delicious aroma of barbecue. Maybe even invite them over now that you have plenty room to entertain!

Try this recipe for homemade barbecue sauce courtesy of the National BBQ Association:

Easy Three-Cup Barbecue Sauce

Combine the following liquids:

          1 cup water
          1/2 cup...

Many of our area high schools are having their graduation ceremonies in the next couple weeks. This exciting time of year is often overshadowed by tragedy as celebrating students engage in behaviors that put them and others at risk. Fortunately, most schools provide alternative activities for graduating students that help keep them safe and sane. Long® Fence is proud to have been a long-time supporter of two of our area high schools’ Grad Night celebrations by providing temporary fence to secure the venues of the Grad Night festivities.

Long® Fence is known for providing safe environments in our community, but we also strive to provide safe work and jobsite environments for our employees. Fewer claims due to accidents and injuries reduce costs and time lost, allowing us to pass the savings along to our customers.

Long® Fence is the proud recipient of multiple 2011 safety awards:

• Two local chapters of Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc. awarded...

Long® Fence is pleased to provide fencing to support two upcoming regional events that highlight our Armed Services.

The USO Military Expo Village will be held at the Dover International Speedway NASCAR Race May 13-15, 2011 in Dover, Delaware. The largest military show ever featured at a NASCAR track will have visual and interactive displays including a replica foxhole that fully shows the living conditions for a soldier currently deployed overseas. The foxhole setup is designed with all the items a soldier would have to create their living quarters. For additional information go to USO Military Expo. Or check out Dover International Speedway.

The Joint Service Open House and Air Show will be held May 20-22, 2011 at Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George’s County, Maryland. The show will include the Thunderbirds, the Golden Knights, and other exciting aerial and ground...

If you’re going to fence in your yard, you will inevitably choose to install a gate. After all, a gate provides access and you will want to be able to move conveniently from one part of your yard to another. But you don’t always want access granted to just anyone. A good fence with secure gates and latches will give your home and property added security and protection.

You have choices when it comes to gate hardware, and some of the newer options help prevent a gate from being left open by landscape companies or meter readers. Have you ever come home from work, let the dog out, and then two minutes later you see your dog running loose across the street? All because the lawn care people serviced your yard that day and left the gate open! Self-closing, self-latching gate hardware may be the answer for you.

Self-closing hardware works like the pneumatic device on a storm door. These gates close automatically, preventing people from leaving the gate open accidentally....

Do you ever wonder what the difference is between ornamental steel and ornamental aluminum fencing? After all, they look the same, don’t they? Discovering the differences between these two materials can help you make the best choice for your needs when you are going for a low-maintenance fence with the look of wrought iron.

Steel and aluminum fencing look similar but have different benefits depending on your needs. Steel provides strength and security and enhances your property, offering value that can’t be surpassed. Aluminum has an economical appeal and never rusts making it the perfect choice for swimming pools.

LONG® FENCE Ambassador Series™ ornamental steel fencing offers zinc-galvanized corrosion protection with a powder-coat finish for beauty that lasts year after year. Industrial drive rivets secure the fence components and all brackets have permanent covers for additional security and aesthetic appeal.

LONG® FENCE Heritage™ Series ornamental aluminum...

For the fifth year in a row, Long® Fence has donated fencing to the United States Marine Corps for the District of Columbia Toys for Tots drive. Portable security fence panels were provided for use inside the Marine Corps Reserve Training Center at the Anacostia Annex in Washington DC. The panels are used to create a secure storage facility for the donated toys. Because of the large volume of toys received during the drive, the fencing is utilized for a period of about three months to restrict access to the toy storage area.

Long® Fence is proud to be able to provide support to this time-honored cause on the part of our United States Marine Corps. We wish them much success with their 2010 Toys for Tots campaign.

Anyone wishing more information, please visit the Washington DC Toys for Tots program website.

Your home is often center stage when it comes to outdoor holiday decorating, but all elements of your landscape including your fence, deck and patio can become props. Here are some ways to add holiday magic to the outdoors this year:

Decorate Trees and Shrubs

Many of us decorate trees and put them in our homes at Christmas, but what about the trees that stay outside? Whether you have trees growing in the yard or potted versions on the patio, spruce them up with holiday decorations. Try highlighting trees and shrubs instead of just stringing them with lights. Tuck white, green, red, amber, or other colored spotlights under bushes and trees to provide a warm glow.

Hang lights from tree branches. Faux candles (such as battery operated flameless candles) don’t require extension cords and can look lovely when hung from trees. Try placing them in lanterns. They’ll look great during the daytime as well as the night.

Hang ornaments specifically made for the...