Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/75653
22 • AUGUST 2012 • WORLD FENCE NEWS Recently, we spoke with Ken Byrd of Statesville Fence & Land- scaping Inc. in Statesville, North Carolina, who told us that, while the years 2009 through 2011 were pretty bad, 2012 was much improved up to this point. At the time we spoke, the company was very busy. We were told that the company business mix is 90% commercial and 10% residential. Ad- ditionally, we were told that the com- pany has been serving the fence industry for some 11 years, although FENCER'S FIELD REPORT A monthly column of industry bits & pieces Compiled by contributing editor Jim Lucci and the staff of World Fence News the owners themselves have a com- bined experience of over 60 years, and the crews have a combined experience that exceeds 30 years. The company services both residential and commer- cial customers by providing chain link, both in galvanized and vinyl coated, National Metal Industries WE'RE NOT JUST SLATS! TOP CAP CHAIN LINK FITTINGS COLOR SLEEVE wood, ornamental (steel and alu- minum) as well as PVC fences. They also offer custom made gates, gate op- erators, and telephone entry systems. On the commercial side, the com- 2 Neil Court, Oceanside, NY 11572 • (516) 594-0364 • Fax (516) 594-0377 PVC FITTINGS pany does work for Lowe's, Wal-Mart, Ricci Brothers of Raleigh, N.C., as well as others. Residentially, they service high- end customers with fencing that is pre- dominantly ornamental iron or wood. Ken told us that people are getting many more quotes than they have in the recent past. We then asked what the company thought the outlook for the residential market was at year end, and Ken told us that the residential market is cycli- cal in that it slows down in the spring and picks up in the fall. The summer- time, he says, is the rental season. Ken said that, additionally, he doesn't ex- pect the market to be strong this year when all is said and done. We then asked if the company BOLLARD COVERS TOOLS PRIVACY SCREEN WWW.NMIFENCE.COM Proudly Working to Take the Fence Industry to New Heights! Ornamental Gates Chainlink Gates Aluminum or Steel Frame took any cost savings measures for this year, and Ken responded that there are some payouts, of course, that have to be made regularly, but for the most part they have cut everything down to the bone. If the work continues at the pace it is going now, he feels that the company will recover nicely. We then asked, on the residential side, when they sell their fence jobs, do they sell other items like trellises, arbors, etc., and Ken said no, but they have installed a few decks for those high-end customers who have asked for them. We then asked how the economy was in the area, and Ken told us that it was "fair, but unstable." He said that there was a lot of good commercial work such as fire department con- tracts, EMS training facilities, 911 op- erational facilities, etc. He added that the GCs for those projects are still doing well. There are not a lot of foreclosures occurring, we were told – some, but not a lot. He added that there is also a lot of unemployment, higher than the na- tional average. We further asked about the com- pany strategy being utilized for 2012, and Ken told us that the company is "running hard," going after everything. The motivation, he said, is that he doesn't know yet if it will suddenly slow down, so they are going full out now. Also, Ken told us that he is pay- ing overtime to finish jobs and get paid Tymetal Corp. Tymetal Corp. has been providing the highest quality cantilever gate systems to fence contractors for over 25 years. Tymetal Corp.'s customer service focus is on gate systems only, providing the most complete sales and technical assistance before, during and after the sale, with a gate product that sets the industry standard. Value Seven styles of gate construction for demanding applications and budgets – all Tymetal made in the USA gates install quickly, operate effortlessly and eliminate costly call backs. Tymetal gates comply with ASTM F2200-11a and UL 325 to give you the best gate system available today. Service Same day quotes and special design requests are welcomed. Tymetal Corp. has on staff engineering and design personnel that are made part of your team. Any custom systems for gate openings from 4' to 500' are matched to your budget and operating requirements. "I have used Tymetal's products for the past 20 years and have been happy with the quality and service that they have offered my company. I can always count on them to help my company with detail drawing and technical help on the gate systems. We have also asked them at times to help us design gates for projects that may require a special type of gate to work in an opening. Tymetal is instrumental to my company's success in the markets that we work in. Our customers are very satisfied with the quality of the gates that we have installed and most will now specify only Tymetal gates to be installed on their sites." Leif O. Glesne Midwest Fence & Gate Company Fort Dodge, IA Fortress Gates Providing the BEST Gate Systems Cantilevers – 10'-120' Box Frame Rollers – 60'-500' Vertical Lift Gates – to 60' Overhead Slides - standard to 40' Vertical Pivot Gates – to 24' Swing Gates – to 24' Pedestrian Gates All in Ornamental or Chain Link Tymetal Corp. www.tymetal.com 800-328-GATE (4283)