The building materials market has recently received such a material as a European picket fence. That is how it is called among the population. In other words, this is a fence made of corrugated board. The difference between these two materials is that one is supplied already cut into pieces, the second is produced in the form of sheets. High quality cold-rolled galvanized steel is used for the manufacture of the picket fence.
The positive side of the metal picket fence
Among the main positive qualities are the following:
- There is the possibility of applying a special coating to the picket fence from corrugated board. Due to this, it is possible to change its texture from the simplest to the most complex, which is why, when using a good tool, the metal cannot always be immediately distinguished from another material.
- Due to the fact that metal is used as a raw material, it does not rot, like wood, for example. The double layer ensures that the corrosion protection is at a high level. Moreover, evenif a section begins to rust, you can simply replace a single element, and not change the whole sheet. This is one of the best benefits of corrugated picket fence.
- It is also worth noting a fairly large variety of dimensions. Fences can be from 50 cm to 3 m. Because of this, the area of \u200b\u200buse of this kind of fence is very wide.
- Let's not disregard the fact that each picket individually weighs much less than a single sheet, and therefore the transportation process is facilitated several times.
- The wear resistance of the material is enormous, resulting in a service life of 40 to 50 years.
- The corrugated board fence is very attractive also because its cost is acceptable for most buyers.
What is the material
Before proceeding to the installation process, it is worth paying attention to what exactly is the correct picket fence. These are profiled metal strips, the width of which is 10 cm, its length is from 1.5 to 3 m. It is also worth adding that you can purchase such material in the same place where ordinary sheet metal profiles are made and sold.
Initial work
In general terms, the installation process in the form of a corrugated fence picket fence is as follows:
- Work begins with the installation of support pillars around the perimeter of the future fence.
- The depth of digging pillars can reach 1.5 meters, and it depends on the climatic conditions of the region, as well as on the composition of the soil.
- In order to dig suitable holes, you can use hand tools such as a shovel or a garden auger, or you can use a gasoline garden auger to facilitate the process.
- To increase the stability of the supports, you need to fill them with crushed stone, and then pour concrete mortar on top and give it time to infuse and dry.
- The tops of the poles are usually covered with plugs or caps to keep moisture out.
- After the concrete in the pits hardens, you can proceed to work with the frame. It is usually made from a profiled round pipe by welding.
However, it is not always convenient to attach, for example, a combined fence made of corrugated board and a picket fence to a round pipe, and therefore rectangular profile pipes can be used. You can also use a bolted connection as a connection for purlins.
General work plan for the installation of pickets
After preparing the pillars and the frame, you can begin to install the slats themselves. The method of their fastening, their height, the size of the clearance, play an important role in creating the design. In addition, it is usually necessary to use self-tapping screws to match the picket fence in order not to spoil the appearance.
- The maximum possible distance between the planks can be no more than 5 cm.
- The frame is usually made of two crossbars. In the photo of the corrugated fence, you can see that each plank is attached with 2 screws to both the upper and lower parts.
- In order to maintain the distance betweenstripes, you can use the recommendations of specialists. When the desired distance is accurately determined, you should take a bar with this width, and by applying it, you can accurately determine the location of the next plank.
- It is not necessary to mount a fence with clearance. For those who do not like this, there is another option, which involves mounting the planks in a checkerboard pattern on both sides of the frame. Thus, you can create an original fence with excellent ventilation.
Some cons
Despite the fact that the metal fence made of corrugated board has a rather complex shape, as well as many fractures and stiffeners, it is a fragile material. It is very easy to cause mechanical damage or peel off the paint, for example. If the coating of such a material is damaged, then this place will quickly become covered with rust.
Stages of work. Preparing
If we consider the installation process in more detail, then all work begins with calculations. First, you need to make an accurate measurement of the area to be fenced. This approach will help you buy the right amount of materials. Secondly, in order to accurately determine the number of pillars, you need to know that the distance between each should be 2.5 meters. As supports, a profile pipe 60x60 mm and with a wall thickness of 2 mm is usually used. However, if this is a combined fence made of corrugated board and a picket fence, the photo of which will be presented, then others can be used.types of poles - wooden, brick, etc.
To accurately calculate the height of the pole, you need to determine the height of the fence itself. Usually, the supporting elements should rise above the ground by at least 1.5-2 meters, in some cases by 3. It must be remembered that the average height of the recess for the support is 1.2 meters. It is worth adding that a profile pipe of 80x80 mm, and not 60x60 mm, is often used as a base. However, this is not always justified and also increases the cost of the structure.
Installation of supports
Installation of poles is a very important step, and therefore it is worth considering this item in more detail when installing a metal picket fence. A fence made of corrugated board, as mentioned earlier, needs a profile pipe of 60x60 mm at least. Work is progressing as follows.
When a place for installation is chosen, a hole is dug to a depth of 60 cm using a drill. A pole with a length of 2.7 meters is installed in it. After that, the support must be driven another 60 cm into the ground with a sledgehammer, so it turns out that only 1.5 m of the column will remain above the ground.
A few clarifications should be made here. Experts recommend deepening the post by 1.4 meters if the soil on the site is not too dense. In addition, the pit must be concreted. If the density of the soil is considered normal, then such a screed is not required, you can simply fill it tightly with gravel. Before starting concreting or graveling, it is necessary to accurately align the column vertically with a level.
Frame
Next, you should pay attention to working with the frame. In order to make the fence more durable, it is worth using welding to fasten the transverse pipes. To do this, take profile blanks 40x20 mm and weld them to the posts. If the height of the fence is 1.5 meters, then two crossbars will be enough. The upper one is fixed 15 cm lower than the upper level of the post, and the lower one should be 20-30 cm higher than the ground level. Masters recommend fastening the gate and all the accessories that are required at this stage. After completion of all construction work, the frame must be primed and painted to ensure its longer service life.
Shtaketin fasteners
This stage is considered the final in the installation of the fence. It is quite simple, but here it is very important not to make a mistake with the distance between the planks, and also to choose the right color scheme for the screws that will fasten the racks. For a strong and reliable fastening of each plank to the crossbar, you need to use 4 self-tapping screws. Two are screwed into the top element, and two more into the bottom.
Some Features
There are still some features that may come in handy when installing a combined fence made of corrugated board and picket fence (the photo of which was shown) on your own. Firstly, it is recommended to buy planks with a rolled edge, as in this case the appearance of the finished fence will be more attractive. Secondly, the use of checkerboard order for suchfences are extremely beneficial if you want to fence yourself off from the views of your neighbors. At the same time, it is possible to install it in such a way that fresh air can enter the site without any special obstacles. The distance between the inner and outer section should not exceed 8 cm.
