If Vacation home made of wood, then a picket fence will look most organic in landscape design: you can build it with your own hands using several simple options. At the same time, construction will not require large financial and physical costs, and necessary tools will be found in stock of any home owner.
Advantages and disadvantages of a picket fence
Despite the fact that today many new materials have been created that are durable and reliable, many owners suburban areas prefer to use fences made of picket fences. And this is not surprising, because wood is not only aesthetics and environmental friendliness. The material used since ancient times is distinguished by such characteristics as:
- decorativeness;
- versatility, in which wood fits well into any landscape and any style, is combined with most known building materials, including concrete, brick and metal;
- ease of installation;
- easy maintenance, which requires only timely painting or impregnation of the coating with special antiseptic solutions;
- reliability, because high wooden fence It is difficult not only to overcome, but also to break.
When building a fence, depending on its purpose, the picket fence elements can be placed either close to each other or with gaps of different widths.
A solid fence will completely cover the area from prying eyes. A fence with gaps has a more decorative purpose; moreover, garden and vegetable crops can be planted directly next to it.
The only drawback of wood products is their relatively short service life, which can be significantly extended by using antiseptic impregnation or varnishing. If you do not forget about timely care of the fence, it can last more than 20 years.
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Preparing for the construction of a fence
Before you make a picket fence with your own hands, you need to decide what type it will have and what materials it will be combined with. For example, the tops wooden picket fence you can leave them in their original form or cut them in the shape of an angle, semicircle, etc. Brick and stone are often used in combination with wood, acting as posts for securing the fence. As an example, the construction of a fence with posts made of wood or metal pipes is described. In order to build a fence, you will need:
- wooden picket fence;
- beams or logs made of wood (or metal pipes);
- timber with a cross section of 5x8 cm or poles with a diameter of 6 to 10 cm;
- roofing felt or tar;
- primer;
- varnish, antiseptic impregnation or paint;
- bitumen mastic;
- galvanized nails or screws;
- wooden pegs;
- sand or gravel;
- concrete solution;
- metal plates, the diameter of which is equal to the diameter of metal pipes, or special plugs.
In addition, you need to prepare the following tools:
- nail puller;
- hammer;
- screwdriver;
- pliers;
- screwdriver;
- tape measure and marker;
- drill with drills;
- sandpaper;
- level and plumb;
- nylon cord or rope;
- crowbar and shovel;
- metal brush.
Immediately after purchasing the picket fence and beams, care must be taken to protect them from rotting. To do this, all the material needs to be soaked with an antiseptic solution, and the part of the timber that will be in the ground needs to be covered. bitumen mastic. If metal pipes are purchased for poles, you need to brush them with a metal brush, and then coat them with a primer and paint them with a special paint.
In addition, it should be remembered that precipitation entering the cavity of metal pipes will sooner or later lead to corrosion, which will most negatively affect the durability of the supports.
To eliminate this process, top part pipes should be closed with plugs, the role of which will be played by metal plates.
To cover the prepared fence frame with a picket fence, you need to build a template.
It is a cross in which 2 pieces of board are nailed at right angles to each other.
The width of the stand board should be equal to the width of the gap between the two picket strips.
The cross board has a length of 40 to 50 cm. By applying the template to the veins of the fence being built, you can quickly fill the slats.
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Installation of wooden fence supports
When all the materials are prepared, you need to mark the area for the construction of a wooden picket fence. Then the ground is cleared of bushes, branches and topsoil. Pegs are driven in at the locations where the fence posts are installed. The distance between them should not exceed 3 m. Ideally, the distance should be equal to the length of the poles or bars that will act as veins.
If the gaps between the posts are too wide, the veins will sag, which will significantly reduce both the durability and decorative value of the fence.
After marking the territory, they begin to install supports. First of all, holes are dug or drilled to a depth of at least 130 cm.
For the safety of the fence, it is advisable to make a small strip foundation, but when beams or metal pipes are used as supports, you can limit yourself to in the following way their settings:
- Sand or gravel is poured into the pits in a layer of about 20 cm;
- the sand is compacted and spilled with water;
- the supports are coated with tar or wrapped in several layers of roofing felt;
- the supports are installed in the pits (verticality is checked with a plumb line);
- the remaining space is filled with concrete mortar.
After fixing the supports and drying the concrete, you can begin installing the veins - transverse parts fences on which the picket fence strips will be mounted.
In Russia, wood has long been widely used as building material. They build from it log houses, window frames, interior items, kitchen utensils. This natural material allows you to create an atmosphere internal comfort and comfort. A wooden picket fence is one of the most popular types fencing in suburban construction, which is simply indispensable when arranging a site in rustic style. Such a fence, on the one hand, outlines the boundaries of the site for us, and on the other, its territory is not obscured.
Picket fences can be given any height, shape, color, and even clearance distances, thanks to which they acquire original look and with their appearance complement the design of the suburban area.
A wooden picket fence is used as a reliable fence personal plot, an element of territory zoning, decorative framing of beds and flower beds
Stems with flowers, filling the gaps in the gaps between the vertical slats, give the fence a more attractive appearance
The continued popularity of this type of fencing is explained by a number of its parameters and properties, the main ones being:
- Versatility. Wooden fences fit perfectly into any landscape. They go well with any other bases, organically fitting into an interior made of stone or brick, concrete or metal.
- Easy to install. Any summer resident or owner can install a picket fence independently. country house without resorting to the services of professional craftsmen.
- Ease of care. Caring for the fence consists only of timely painting of the surface and eliminating defects that may arise during operation as a result of mechanical stress and seasonal precipitation.
- Reliability. A high wooden fence will serve not only decorative element landscape design, but also reliable protection owners of the site.
One of the advantages of a picket fence, compared to a traditional solid fence, is the ability to plant plants right at its base.
- Support pillars. They can be made of metal pipes or thick beams.
- Picket fences. Narrow slats are made from edged or planed boards.
- Veins. Cross bars placed horizontally between support pillars, 2-2.5 meters long, are made from bars with a cross-section of 40 mm.
When choosing a material to make a picket fence, you can go in two ways: purchase a ready-made picket fence or make it yourself from boards. The first method saves time. The finished fence can be installed on the day of purchase. But significant drawback low-quality raw wood can serve as the basis for a picket fence, which during operation will “drive” the fence. When choosing the second path, the owner will need to make an effort to spend several days making all the elements of the fence. But as a result, he will have a picket fence that fully corresponds to his ideas and wishes.
If the material is not sufficiently dried, it is necessary to use special dryers for wood, because under natural conditions drying can take several seasons
The service of drying wood, as well as cutting crossbars and pickets, can be ordered at a place where wood products are manufactured. When preparing the material yourself, you must carefully file down and sand all the tops.
Design options for the tops of a wooden picket fence
Bottom part wooden supports These pillars need to be coated with hot water. This will prevent wood from rotting and extend the life of the structure.
Installation and installation of fencing
The installation of a picket fence is carried out according to the same principle as the construction of other types of fencing. First of all, the direction of the future fence is determined. It must be freed from weeds, bushes and tree branches that will interfere with construction. Then beacons are stretched in the cleared area and a place for the pillars is marked along the stretched cord. The distance between the pillars should not exceed three meters. Otherwise, long spans between supports may cause the crossbars to sag under the weight of the pickets.
Support pillars can be installed directly into the ground, but to create a more durable structure, it is better to construct them using cement-sand mortar.
To install the posts, you will need to dig a hole using a drill, the depth of which is determined by the height of the fence. On average, a depth of 1.3 m is sufficient
The posts are installed on a 20 cm gravel cushion, which helps prevent the support from being squeezed out when the soil freezes. Vertically fixed columns are covered alternately with layers of concrete and soil mortar.
After installing the posts along the line of the fence, you can install veins between them. In principle, there are two ways to install a fence: with the first, the crossbars are first attached between the posts, and then a picket fence is nailed to them, and with the second, the spans are assembled separately and fixed to the supports using blocks.
The first picket is attached vertically, and the rest are aligned according to a T-shaped template, in which the width of the leg of the letter “t” is equal to the pitch of the pickets, and are nailed
On average, the distance between the pickets is equal to the width of the boards themselves. You can secure the crossbars to wooden support posts using self-tapping screws, bolts or regular nails. The veins are attached to the metal posts using a specially welded corner for attaching the timber.
Finishing and decorating the fence
The finished fence leaves only other negatively influencing factors.
It is necessary to seal all cracks and chips with putty compounds, saturate the picket fence with an antiseptic, and then cover it with varnish, stain or paint
Film-forming agents do not adhere well to freshly planed boards and do not last long. To “roughen” the surface of the wood, you can sand it with medium-grain sandpaper.
Stain is an excellent preservative that protects wood from the development of microorganisms and mold
The varnish will protect the wood from moisture. Using stain and clear varnish, you can also imitate various types of wood.
- Materials and tools
- Manufacturing technology
A picket fence is one of the most popular types of fencing used to improve country cottage area. The main thing is to implement it correctly. This type of fence has gained popularity due to a number of advantages, the main ones being low cost of construction and appearance.
Materials and tools
Installation of a wooden fence does not require special devices, unless we are talking about combined structures consisting of several different types of materials, such as stone or brick. Load-bearing vertical and horizontal supports for the fence can be made of wood or metal.
To install the picket fence you will need:
- wooden beam 50x50 mm;
- wooden beam 20x40 mm;
- nails or screws;
- antiseptic;
- paint material.
A square beam is needed to make vertical supports, and its length is planned in accordance with personal wishes: everyone determines the height of the future fence for themselves.
The support is dug into the ground at least half a meter, so you need to add 50 cm to the desired height of the element for the fence.
A beam of smaller cross-section (20x40 mm) is intended for horizontal reinforcement of picket spans. Its quantity will directly depend on the length of the fence being installed. Nails or screws are suitable as fastening elements. The second option is more preferable, because the screws do not become loose during the operation of the structure.
Fasteners must be purchased from galvanized metal, which does not rust from exposure to atmospheric conditions.
Antiseptics and paint and varnish materials there are many on the market. You need to choose products intended for outdoor use. The tools you will need are a wood saw or a jigsaw. If you nail the boards, you will need a hammer, but it is better to fasten the screws with a screwdriver. A shovel will be useful for installing support posts.
Manufacturing technology
A step-by-step diagram for assembling a picket fence with your own hands will help you properly organize and complete the work from start to finish.
- At the first stage, it is necessary to properly prepare the wood: all natural material need to be soaked several times with an antiseptic using regular paint brush. The process is quite labor-intensive, but it cannot be ignored. This measure will help protect the tree from exposure environment, will protect from rotting, extending its service life.
- Now you can begin installing the supports. We begin work by marking the places for their installation. In places where the fence changes direction (at corners), we install pegs and stretch a strong rope between them. Then you need to calculate the number of supports. To do this, measure the distance between the pegs and divide it into equal intervals, the length of which does not exceed 2 meters. The resulting value will be the step between the supporting pillars, and at the site of their installation it is necessary to dig holes, taking into account the fact that the support must go into the ground at least half a meter, below the freezing point. For long and reliable service, the supporting structures are wedged with coarse gravel and compacted with earth. Laying roofing felt in holes dug for posts helps to increase the service life of wooden supports, and the supports themselves are wrapped in the same roofing felt in places where they are buried in the ground.
- At the third stage, transverse fence guides are usually installed. The main thing is that each vein is located strictly horizontally. This is easy to control with a building level. Horizontal supports are mounted in two places (at the top and bottom of the fence), but in the case of a high fence you will have to install an intermediate guide. The veins are fixed to the vertical supports of the picket fence with self-tapping screws or nailed.
- The final step is to install the wooden picket slats directly onto the fence. The longest, but very simple process is to ensure that each picket is screwed strictly vertically at equal intervals. If you pull the thread on the lower edge of the pickets, this will ensure that they are placed at one level.
At the fourth stage, the assembly process ends - the wooden picket fence is now ready for use. All that remains is to paint it in any chosen color, but many craftsmen additionally decorate the fence using simple techniques. This applies to the design of the upper edge of the pickets, which are given a certain shape.
Fence sections can be made in the shape of a wave or an arc. To do this, markings are applied to the fence and trimming is done according to the template. The pickets are sharpened on both sides in the shape of a sharpened pencil - this will protect the yard from unauthorized access.
You can often find picket fences with carved planks - we’re talking about creative approach carpenter This kind of work cannot be called simple.
Alternative to wooden supports
No matter how future supports are prepared and processed, wood is inferior in durability to metal. If you want a wooden picket fence to last a long time, and its service life is not limited to 15 years, it is better to use a metal base, which is mounted in exactly the same way, with the exception of a few points. The posts are made from metal pipe with a cross section of 40 mm, fixed in the ground with concrete mortar.
To ensure optimal adhesion of the load-bearing element to the concrete, scraps of reinforcement or metal plates are welded to the bottom of the vertical supports.
Horizontal veins are made from a metal pipe of smaller diameter and welded between the vertical support elements, ensuring the horizontal placement using a level. Then each picket fence is fixed to the previously constructed metal carcass sharpened self-tapping screws. The result will be a wooden picket fence, but reinforced with a metal base.
Even if the pickets become unusable over time, they can be replaced, the supports will remain the same, and this saves money.
There are many options for a wooden picket fence, and it can be used as a base. brickwork, which in combination with natural wood gives a special effect. Instead of brick, if funds allow, spans of stone are laid out. Such a massive structure will require a foundation. And this is a more labor-intensive process.
Choosing a fence for the site not an easy task- it is necessary that it be reliable, durable, beautiful. All these requirements are met by a fence made of metal picket fence(Euro picket fence). Climbing on it is problematic - not the same rigidity. Breaking it is “boring” - usually, those who like to misbehave limit themselves to bending a couple of slats. Beauty, of course, is a subjective criterion, but such fences look better than the same solid one. In addition, they are not so susceptible to wind loads, which allows saving on support poles. An additional plus is that they are breathable. In general, a good option.
What is a metal picket fence
A metal picket fence is made from a sheet of galvanized steel. A relief is formed on the sheet, after which it is cut into picket strips and covered protective compounds, paints. The resulting strips are of a certain height. Usually the height is from 150 to 180 cm. To complete the fence, you also need support posts (usually 60*60*2 mm), bowstrings (two or three crossbars that go between the posts) and fasteners.
Types, shapes, profiles
The thickness of the metal of the Euro picket fence can be from 0.4 to 1.5 mm. The most common is made of steel with a thickness of 0.5 mm. The width of the picket is from 80 mm to 128 mm, the length is up to 2 meters.
P and M - shaped profiles of a metal picket fence
There is a metal picket fence with different profiles: P (rectangular), M-shaped and semicircular. M-shaped ones have more ribs and therefore have greater rigidity. But there are also U-shaped ones, in which grooves are formed in the “back”. In this case, it is already difficult to say which of them will be tougher. Most likely, the latter, especially if it has rolled edges.
Semicircular ones also have greater rigidity, but are more difficult to form and usually have a higher price. For added strength, additional grooves can also be formed along the long side.
In general, the more grooves-stiffening ribs, the better the bar’s resistance to bending along its length. But as the terrain becomes more complex, the price becomes higher. Since it is quite large in itself, you usually have to look for a compromise. In any case, the bar should withstand your attempts to bend it.
What to look for when choosing
When you choose a metal picket fence, it is advisable to look at the lot offered to you in person. The thickness of the metal may be stated to be the same, but in practice it turns out that the edge of a strip from one batch can be bent with a finger, but with another batch this trick is not possible. And this is from one manufacturer. The issue is the quality of the metal batch, and it is rarely stable.
A rolled edge, several layers of protective coatings - these are the signs of a good metal picket fence
Also, be sure to pay attention to the edges - it is better if they are rolled. Firstly, it has a more attractive appearance, secondly, the picket fence is more rigid, and thirdly, the sharp edge is curved and it is impossible to get hurt. The only drawback of a picket fence with rolling is its higher price, since it requires special equipment and additional processing time.
If we talk about the products of specific companies, then the Euro picket fence Grand Line (Grand Line), Barrera Grande, Nova, TPK Center Metalroofing, FinFold, UNIX (Unix) are popular.
Painting methods
It is also worth understanding the painting method. There is an iron picket fence with double-sided and single-sided painting. When one-sided, the back side is covered with a layer of primer without painting. Has, accordingly, grey colour. A metal picket fence, painted on one side, gray on the inside. It's not so bad - it doesn't catch the eye. If you are not satisfied with this option, either buy it with double-sided painting, or paint it yourself. Paint is taken “for roofs”, choosing the appropriate shade. Note that brush-painted metal looks... not very good. If you have a spray gun, the appearance will be good, although not ideal.
This is what the “wrong side” of a metal picket fence painted on one side looks like
You should also take into account that there are two types of painting of metal picket fences:
- polymer coating;
- powder paint.
The first method is much more reliable, since the application technology requires special equipment and strict adherence to technology. As a result, such a picket fence can withstand increased mechanical stress. Even if a scratch appears in the coating (although you have to try), the metal does not rust, since there are still protective coatings that prevent rust from occurring.
Polymer coating is the best choice today
Powder coating, in theory, is no worse. But only if it was done according to the rules: applied to primed metal protective covering, and on top of it - powder paint and baked it in special chambers. But the point is that you can apply paint in the “garage”, and you can somehow burn it there. The result will just be completely different. In addition, there are ready-made sheets of Chinese origin. In them, paint is applied in the workshop, but often directly onto an unprimed steel surface. It is impossible to determine all these nuances externally, and after the slightest scratch rust appears. So the polymer coating is more “safe”.
What can a metal picket fence look like?
You can like metal fences or not, because there is no dispute about tastes. But in terms of practicality, they certainly outperform. Once installed, you won’t think about the fence for years afterwards. It does not need to be painted for it to look decent, since good quality the paint lasts for years without visible changes. And this is one of the important factors that make you think about installing such a fence.
On a strip foundation
With clinker brick foundation and pillars
Installation methods
There is a single-row and double-row (double-sided, checkerboard) method of installing metal picket fence strips. With a double row, the slats are placed on both sides of the bowstring, and so that they overlap each other by at least a centimeter. Therefore, the distance between the slats should be slightly less than the width of the picket fence. With this installation, the planks on linear meter 55-60% more fencing will be required. But the fence turns out to be practically invisible - only from a certain angle can you see a small part of the area. And this despite the fact that the fence will not be continuous and all the “delights” of a solid fence will not affect you.
Most often, the planks are mounted vertically, but there are also horizontal method installation - it can also be single-row or double-row. A horizontal fence looks more “exotic”. When installing the planks in two rows (double-sided), the result is completely opaque.
The disadvantage of this installation method is that special pillars and intermediate pillars are needed that will provide the required structural rigidity. Another nuance: planks are usually produced up to 180 cm in length; longer ones will have to be ordered, but it costs extra money. So you will either have to install poles more often, or overpay for a non-standard size.
Dimensions and distances
When installed in one row, the gaps between the planks may be different. The exact distance is chosen arbitrarily, depending on how “transparent” you want to make the fence. Most often, the distance between the pickets is 35-50% of the width of the strip. But this is not a rule; there are both smaller and larger gaps.
When installing “checkerboard”, if you do not want your yard to be visible at an angle, the slats should cover 50% of the width of the picket fence or more. If visibility is not important, you can place them so that the edges overlap by only 1 cm.
The height of the fence is selected depending on the wishes of the owners. If you want the yard to be as closed as possible from prying eyes, the length of the slats should be at least 180 cm. Taking into account the fact that they will be slightly raised above the ground, this is enough to ensure that the vast majority of people will not be able to look into your territory.
If you don’t care whether something will be visible through the fence or not, you can take both 1250 mm and 1500 mm. In the first case, the fence will end somewhere at the chest level of passers-by, in the second - at eye level or slightly lower (see the figure for an approximate layout), and this is without a foundation.
Span width vertical fence from a metal picket fence - 200-250 cm. It is at this distance that the pillars are dug in, then two or three crossbars are fixed between them. These cross members are called “logs” or “strings”. For a picket fence up to 150 cm high, two crossbars are sufficient; for taller ones, three are better.
Types of Fills
There are several more types of filling spans (distances between support pillars). The easiest way to install is a direct method - this is when all the planks are the same length. On top of such a fence you can put a U-shaped bar made of the same material (sold in the same place as the European picket fence). In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, it also covers the metal cuts, which increases the service life of the fence.
All “waves” require cutting most of the planks to a certain distance. One “wave” per span is made in increments of 50 or 25 mm. With a pitch of 50 mm, the height difference between the shortest and longest slats is significant, but the fence looks more openwork. In the case of a “wave” with a step of 25 mm or with a “double wave”, the difference is smaller. Upper bars are installed much less often here, but they can also be installed. Only at the point where the “wave” breaks will you have to cut the sidewalls and bend them.
Features and installation rules
When installing a metal picket fence in Middle lane In Russia, it is recommended to install poles from profiled pipes 60*60 mm (60*40 is possible). For crossbars, it is more convenient to take the same profiled pipe, but with a cross section of 40*20 mm. In this case, the fence will definitely withstand wind and snow loads.
When installing, the installation step of the pillars is 2 meters. If there are two crossbars, then they are attached so that there is 25-35 cm to the edge of the bar. With a picket height of 150 cm or more, the distance is 30-35 cm, with shorter ones - 25 cm. But, with a fence height above 1.5 m, it’s better to make three lags, and not only in regions with strong winds. It’s just that with two lags it turns out too long distance between the fasteners, which makes it easy to move the slats apart.
There are two ways to attach the planks: with self-tapping screws and with rivets. Self-tapping screws and rivets are installed on both edges of the strip on each of the crossbars. That is, if there are two crossbars, 4 screws/rivets are needed for each strip; if there are three, then 6 fasteners are needed per picket fence. You can, of course, attach it to one self-tapping screw or rivet on the crossbar, installing it in the middle. But in this case, pushing the picket fences apart with your hands is as easy as shelling pears - and there is no need to climb over the fence.
It’s faster to install this way, but it’s a “purely decorative” fence
Which type of fastener should I choose? Self-tapping screws are easy to install - this is their advantage. But they also unscrew easily, which, under certain circumstances, can be a disadvantage. Rivets take longer to install, but they are also much more difficult to remove. What to choose? On the front part of the fence or if the fence is left unattended for a long time (for a seasonal visit), it is definitely worth installing rivets. Of course, if the attackers set their sights on it, they will also be able to remove the rivets, but this will be more difficult. When installing a fence between neighbors in houses permanent residence, it is quite possible to attach a metal picket fence with self-tapping screws.
How to make it yourself
As you probably noticed, metal picket fences are produced using almost the same technology as corrugated sheets, and the sheet costs less. Therefore, many people have the idea to make a picket fence by dissolving the corrugated sheet into strips. In principle, this can be done if you are able to cut strictly along the line without any noticeable deviations. But for cutting you need to use metal scissors - punched or hand-held. Under no circumstances should you cut with a grinder, as it burns the protective cover. So the work ahead will not be easy and will take a lot of time. If this doesn't scare you, you can try it.
What is the disadvantage of a homemade picket fence made from corrugated sheets? Everything is obvious: the edge is rarely even, since it is difficult to do it manually. In addition, the cut is unprotected and may begin to rust. You can, of course, coat the sections with primer/paint, but in order for all the layers to adhere properly, an absolutely clean surface is required. That is, the cut areas must first be removed from dust (not so difficult, but it takes time), then also degreased. Only in this case will the protective coating be of truly high quality.
It is advisable to roll the edges - this will give the homemade picket fence greater rigidity, because additional reliefs are rarely formed on the profiled sheet. It “holds” its shape due to its size and alternation of waves.
One of the most common types of fencing is a picket fence. This is explained by the fact that such a fence looks beautiful, and making a picket fence with your own hands is simple and accessible to any home craftsman.
Its structure is very simple: pillars are installed, transverse slats are nailed to them, to which pickets are attached at a certain distance; they can be either wooden or metal. Some people make such a fence without gaps; in this case, the pickets are attached close to each other.
If you decide to do wooden fence, then you need to purchase posts, cross slats, a picket fence and screws, as well as paint or stain, it all depends on what you decide to use to open it.
Rice. 1 Wooden fence
Now more and more people are choosing a metal fence rather than a wooden one, this is explained by the fact that the service life of such a fence is much longer.
Despite this, there are still many lovers of wooden fencing.
There is an option for installing a combined structure, when the supports and slats are made of metal and the pickets are made of wood.
Thus, it is possible to make a durable structure, since the main load goes directly to the pillars and crossbars.
You can purchase wooden pickets with a width of 2 cm; to attach the slats to the posts, it is best to purchase special fasteners, and the installation of the pickets is carried out using galvanized self-tapping screws and a screwdriver.
Carrying out installation
If you want to build a beautiful and reliable fence, do not rush, take the time to complete the preparatory work.
To do this, you need to clean the area, remove grass from it, mark it, and if necessary, level it.
Rice. 2 The design of such a fence
To install the fence evenly, drive in pegs and pull the cord, which you will then use to carry out installation. Using a tape measure, mark the places where the posts will be installed; the distance between them should correspond to the length of the transverse slats, taking into account the width of the support.
The pillars must be installed securely, so the depth of the pit must be at least 50 cm. The installation of the pillars must be done using a level or plumb line, after which they are securely concreted.
Only after the concrete has hardened well can you move on to the next stage of the work.
Now you need to attach the transverse strips to the posts using fasteners, then mark the locations for the pickets on them using a marker and tape measure.
This is necessary so that they are installed at the same distance, only in this case the appearance of the wooden fence will be beautiful and attractive. All that remains is to take a screwdriver and self-tapping screws and attach the pickets.
Metal fence
The installation of not a wooden, but a metal picket fence is becoming increasingly popular, this is explained by its significantly longer service life.
On the modern construction market you can purchase metal pickets that are coated with a special polymer coating.
Although the price of a metal picket fence is slightly higher than a wooden one, it does not need to be painted, since it is already coated, and this is not only convenient, but also profitable.
To install a metal picket fence you will need the following tools:
Despite the fact that the pickets are metal, the weight of such a structure will not be very large and there will be enough posts made from them profile pipe section 60x60mm.
In order to make longitudinal slats, you can use a pipe with a cross section of 20x40mm. Pickets can be purchased with a thickness of 0.5 to 2 mm; the thicker they are, the longer their service life will be, but the greater the weight. Fastening is carried out using galvanized self-tapping screws.
Carrying out installation work
For crossbars, you can purchase a pipe with a length of 2 to 12 meters, but so that there is no heavy load on the pillars, the distance between them should not exceed 3-4 meters.
Rice. 4 Fastening the metal picket fence
The pillars are installed in prepared holes and securely concreted to prevent water from getting inside; a special plug must be installed on top.
The holes for corner or outer pillars must be made deeper, since these supports will bear the maximum load.
The store usually sells such a picket fence with a width of 10-12 cm, depending on what type of fence you want to make, choose the distance between the individual pickets.
After the concrete has hardened and the pillars are securely held, transverse strips are attached to them; this can be done by welding or using special fasteners. Next we make markings and attach the pickets using screws.
Fencing finishing
If you have made a wooden fence, then it must be coated with paint or varnish. Most often, compositions based on alkyd resins are used; they make it possible to highlight the structure of the wood and look more attractive than a fence painted with paint.
You can use wax-filled materials as finishing. In this case, the wax is deeply absorbed into the wood and reliably protects it from damage.
While painting the fence, Special attention Pay attention to processing the sides and ends of the boards, since they are most susceptible to moisture. It is recommended to paint all parts before installation, and then do this again after installation.
With metal pickets everything is much simpler, since they are sold already covered polymer composition, which reliably protects them from corrosion and has an attractive appearance.
Table 1. Cost of materials.
If you decide to purchase ready-made sections of a wooden picket fence, then the price of one section 2.5 meters long and 1.5 meters high will cost you about 3000-5000 rubles.
It is impossible to give a definite answer as to whether a metal or wooden fence is better; it all depends on the preferences and capabilities of the owner, and the installation of such fences is carried out almost the same way.