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Posts Panels Installation Party Fences Stock Fences Paling Fences Featheredge Fences

 

Fencing Posts 3 types of posts are commonly available; timber, concrete or steel. Timber should be at least 100x100mm in section, and must be treated, quality lumber. We do not recommend any of the 'spike' fixing systems promoted for timber posts, preferring all posts to be properly anchored into the ground with concrete. They are more trouble than they're worth, they are treacherous in any but the heaviest ground, and you never see reputable fencing contractors using them, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Concrete posts are typically slotted for standard panelling, pre-drilled for wires, or fitted with brackets to carry non-standard or heavy panels. The steel posts are typically used with security or anti-vandal fencing.	Concrete fence posts for panel fencing
Fencing Panels Panels come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and materials. The most common are wooden panels, a few of which are illustrated below. There are also steel palisade panels, mesh panels and panels of more decorative materials, such as willow or bamboo. The concrete slotted post systems also enable the concrete base panels to be used in place of wooden panels, up to a maximum height of 1.8m.
Common fencing types

Installing slotted concrete sectional fencing Most commonly available fencing of this type are described and sold in imperial units, which will be used here for clarity. The posts required should be 525mm (1'9") longer than the height required. So, for a 1.8m (6') high fence, a 2.35m (7'9") post is required.
Post detail	Set up a taut string line to guide the run of the fence and final alignment. Excavate post hole approx 300x300mm (12"x12") in plan and at least 525mm (1'9") deep. It's common practice to dig the post hole at least 50mm (2") deeper than the required minimum, to allow for a thin concrete bed to be used to adjust the height of the post and so aid final profiling. Mark post at ground level (525mm (1'9") up from bottom of post) with a pencil. Place half a spade of concrete into hole (if required) and insert post. Check that pencil mark tallies with required ground level, adjusting post by twisting into bedding concrete, or adding extra concrete bed, as rquired. Once height is correct, align the post vertically, check on 2 perpendicular faces for plumb, and jam in place with a few half-bricks, broken concrete flags or other hardcore, prior to concreting.
Use a dry mix concrete, (see Mortars & Concretes) and sprinkle this in amongst the hardcore. Water it in with a can or a hose, and use a long bar or stick to poke the wetted concrete down amongst the hardcore, filling all the voids. Add more dry mix and water in as required. The top of the concrete/hardcore should be kept a couple of inches below ground level. Once the post is in position, place base panel to ascertain distance and line to next hole. Put base panel to one side whilst hole is dug, then re-position and level prior to positioning next post. Make sure post is fairly tight against base panel, and check for height and plumb before concreting and moving on to next section. Leave fitting of timber panels until all posts are in. In windy conditions, it's best to allow concrete to set overnight before fitting panels, which dramatically increases the fence's wind-resistance.
Other Fences Party fences:
Double-sided fence - simple and cost-effective to building a fence that looks good from both sides. 3D view	Cross-section view of post fixing Plan view
Stock fences:
Stock Fencing	Stock fencing is normally used to keep grazing animals penned in, or out, as the case may be, There are a variety of mesh sizes and heights used to control different stock, from a 13mm mesh to control small animals such as rabbits, to a 2 metre high deer fence. Timber posts are typically used, driven into the gound, if it is a firm and stable soil, or concreted in poorer soils. Posts are typically 100mm diameter, with 150mm diameter used at corners and angles, which are braced with 75-100mm struts, usually angled at 45° to the upright.
Paling fences: Palisade, Paling or Picket fences are usually seen around gardens, indeed, they seem to be a quintessential component of the much fancied English Cottage Garden. Normally around 900mm high, but any height from 600 -1800mm can be used to suit the site.
The posts are fixed into position, the 75x50mm rails added so that they are approximately 100-150mm above/below the top/bottom of the palings, and then the palings are nailed to the rails. Palings are usually made from 75mmx19mm timber, with a pointed, rounded or ornate top. They are spaced at regular intervals, usually 50mm, although this can be adjusted to suit paling type and size. There palings can also be cut to form an arched top to each section of fencing.	Palisade Fencing
Featheredge fences: Featheredge boards are more or less triangular in section, usually 150mm wide and 20mm thick, tapering to 3mm. They can be used to create a closed section of panel, by overlapping the boards, leaving no gaps between the boards. They are generally overlapped by 25-50mm an nails diven through two baords at a time, to fasten the boards to the rails behind. Cross-section	Featheredge Fencing

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