For over 30 years, Laois man Roy Wallace gained experience in all types of fencing and with the knowledge he picked up, it was no surprise that he started his own business in 2003.
“I had been working with the Farm Relief for a number of years beforehand and during that time, I was fencing. So I decided to start out on my own, working for a few local farmers and as the business grew, we diversified into other areas of fencing also,” stated Roy.
These days, Wallace Fencing provides a wide range of fencing services to an ever increasing customer base that includes clients in the agriculture, construction, amenity and domestic sectors from their premises in Mountrath.
From concrete, metal, electrical, to wire fencing to domestic, they provide fencing to a wide range of customers.
This professional service is very much a family affair as Roy’s sons Trevor, Steven and Derek have all worked in the business, with Trevor currently on hand to help look after the day to day running of their affairs.
“We provide a comprehensive service in. Many people might think that fencing is a straight forward job, but it is certainly not and there are many issues to be dealt with, but through our experience, we feel we have the capabilities to deal with any problems that we may encounter.
“Some examples of difficulties we have encountered include a client wanting a fence in a part of their land that was solid rock underneath the grass. Of course we couldn’t drive a stake into the rock, so we broke the rock to give the client the fence they needed.
“We also offer full site preparation. In many instances boundary fencing is hampered by overgrown hedges and vegetation. In such cases, we will strip back the debris to determine the boundary line and thereby maximise the space inside the fence.”
No job is too big or small for Wallace Fencing and every customer is treated with the same respect, a motto that Roy has always stuck by.
“We are specialists in fencing and no job is too big or too small for us – all work is seriously considered. We undertake a wide range of work from replacing broken fences to installing heavy duty industrial fencing in a large area.
“We specialise in small complicated jobs that other fencing companies might turn down. We provide innovative solutions to complex problems. We are determined that the fencing not only looks good on completion but that it also fulfils the required function.”
Roy stressed that nothing only top quality materials were used for their fences ranging from Swedish posts and rails to galvanised powder coated steel.
“Our materials range from Electric fences, Swedish octo-posts, stakes, posts, strainers and railing, tornado galvanised wire (plain, barbed or sheet). We supply galvanised gates with optional chain link, half and full mesh. Timber gates in a range of designs and widths.”
Wallace Fencing specialises in security fencing also and this comes in galvanised and powder coated concrete posts and rails are also available.
Any timber that the company uses is pressure treated, which when done correctly means that the life span of the fences are greatly enhanced.
“All timber fencing is available in standard or bespoke designs. As well as installation we specialise in maintenance and repair and can easily upgrade your existing fence by replacing damaged panels with heavy duty alternatives made to fit your existing posts.”
Their work has seen them carry out projects all across the country and their clients include farms, equestrian centres, councils, agricultural, industrial or amenity, such as playgrounds, school grounds, playing fields, football/rugby pitches, and sports grounds.
Another service in their portfolio is the sale of farm gates, which is something that the Wallace family have been doing for the past year or so.
“We would supply and fit farm gates and at the moment, we are selling about 100 gates per year. We use heavy duty posts to hang the gates, which ensure that they will stay there for many years.”
Wallace Fencing also focuses on providing agricultural services to their customers. “Our services include spraying crops, spreading fertiliser and slug pellet application, manure spreading and slurry spreading. Arable operations include ploughing, harrowing, cultivation, drilling, rolling, sowing, harvesting and bailing. Potato Operations include seedbed cultivation bedforming, destoning, planting and harvesting.”
They also hire out their own in house machinery, such as combine harvesters and industrial tractors.
All in all, Roy is pleased with the direction that the business is currently heading as he stated that the main aim was to keep the customers happy.
“We have a lot of repeat custom and I suppose that is a sign that we are doing something right. I’d be happy with the workload at the moment. The fencing is going from strength to strength, but it wasn’t a great year for the tillage as the price of grain dropped, but hopefully that will improve.”
Contact Details
Wallace Fencing
Roy Wallace
Ringstown,
Mountrath,
Portlaoise,
Co. Laois.
Tel: +353 863618263
e-mail: [email protected]
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 5 No 1, January/February 2017
