Outdoor living staples

In an effort to set themselves apart from the competition in the Owatonna, Minnesota, area, MSL Landscape & Fencing added the “& Fencing” part of its name five years ago, says owner Bill Miller.

“We were looking for something to make us stand out. It has just been wonderful. As long as you are selling a good product, you will get a lot of calls,” he says.

While fence installation and maintenance requires a perhaps new and different skill set for many contractors, the service could turn out to be profitable. Miller estimates that fencing now makes up about 65 percent of his work.

Similarly, adding deck and pergola installation/maintenance can also attract more customers, present significant up-sell opportunities and complement an established landscape design portfolio.

Before getting involved in one or all of these outdoor living installations or to improve the quality of the work, hear from a few contractors about their best tips and tools for success with decks, fences and pergolas.

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