Instructions for choosing and self-installation of pillars for the dacha fence

The fence is one of the simplest and most reliable access control structures, which not only outlines the boundaries of the site, but givesowner a sense of comfort and security in their territory. The main supporting element of any fence are pillars for the fence. Reliability and decorative component of any fence depends on the appearance, quality of the material. Do not forget about the correct installation of the supporting structure, which determines the durability of the fence. In this publication we will talk about how to choose and install the fence posts with your own hands, without attracting expensive specialists and heavy construction equipment.

Read also our article: polycarbonate fence - fast and easy!

Supports for fencing: variations and characteristics of the material

Today, the domestic construction market offers the widest range of support elements and materials for their manufacture. You can make poles for the fence with your own hands from wood, metal, concrete blocks and bricks. In modern construction practice are widely used supports for light barriers of a combination of composite materials and concrete. Consider the main characteristics and installation features of each supporting structure in more detail.

Wood

The majority of our compatriots traditional material for the manufacture of supporting structures of fences is a wooden beam or rounded log. Wooden fence posts are best made of hardwood and resinous substances of the wood species:

• oak;
• larch;
• acacia;
• pine;
• spruce;
• fir.

According to specialists, it is absolutely impossible to use wood for support structures such as: birch;aspen;beech;alder.

The main advantage of wooden fence posts is the possibility of self-installation. The disadvantage is the fragility of wood, exposure to moisture and high temperatures, rotting, infection with fungal infection. The average "lifespan" of wooden poles is 2-4 years. To increase the service life of wood, various impregnations based on antiseptics and copper sulfate, roasting of the upper layer, and tarification are used. One of the most effective methods for installing wooden pillars for fences is to install it on a crutch, a metal support structure that eliminates the contact of wood with the soil.

The choice of support elements made of wood is justified in the case of using a similar material, chain-link or mesh of modern polymers as a building envelope.

Metal

Today, metal poles for the fence are quite popular among developers. Compared to wood, metal is more reliable, durable, perfectly withstands high lateral loads, combined with wooden fencing, steel mesh, corrugated board, etc. The supporting elements most often used are hollow steel pipes of round or square cross section with a diameter of at least 60 mm andwall thickness 1.5-2 mm. The main advantages of metal bearing elements are:

• the ability to install on them virtually any fasteners by welding or threaded connections;
• the use of various installation techniques.

The disadvantages of metal pipes are: high cost, low resistance to corrosion and possible deformation due to temperature changes. To increase the "life" of the metal requires regular staining, rust removal, protection of the internal cavity from moisture.

Concrete

Concrete poles for the fence of proper quality - this is the best solution for powerful and high "deaf" fences. Concrete structures have a number of advantages, among which the most significant can be considered: high strength, durability, not demanding maintenance. The main disadvantage is the high cost. Today, in the domestic market of building materials several ready-made proposals:

1. F / B beams.
2. Supporting elements with guides for intake panels.
3. Decorative fence posts - cast concrete pillars with various relief patterns.
4. "Grape columns", which are perfectly used by our compatriots as supporting elements for light enclosing structures.

Buying prefabricated concrete pillars requires large financial investments, although all costs justify themselves for a long service life. That is why the developers recommend to make concrete supports themselves, using as a matrix for pouring a standard polymer mold, which is easy to buy.

Asbotsementnaya pipe

The use of this material as a supporting structure can be called an economical solution. Pipes from this material have a small mass, have good strength characteristics, do not give in to corrosion. However, for the installation of transverse lags for asbestos-cement pipes, the developer will need to use specialized fixings, clamps and girths.

In addition, the negative qualities of this material can be considered:

• Poor combination with wood, fence plates, metal profile fencing.
• The possibility of rupture under the influence of freezing water trapped in the cavity of the pipe.

To increase strength characteristics and provide greater durability, fill the cavity of asbestos-cement supports with sand-cement mortar with installation inside steel reinforcement.

Brick

Bricks made of bricks for the fence are durable and decorative, but require special knowledge and professional skills from the developer. Brick pillars have an impressive mass, so I demand the creation of a foundation. The durability of brick supports is questionable, as it depends on the correct installation of the entire structure, proper foundation creation, drainage system, the presence of a cap that protects the wall from moisture.

Before creating support elements made of bricks, careful research is needed on the soil freezing depth, groundwater location, soil composition, etc.

Based on the above, it can be concluded that fence with brick pillars is a rather expensive solution, especially if you take into account the services of specialists andcost of delivery of material to the construction site.

There is one fairly simple and therefore popular method of creating brick supports. In place of the future support, a metal pipe is installed in the ground.

Next, put the formwork to create a concrete parapet. After the concrete hardens, the pipe is lined with bricks, and the parapet is decorated with tiles “under the brick”.

fence installation installation rules. Although self-installation of fence posts is not the most time-consuming occupation in construction, you need to know and follow certain rules. A few recommendations from the installers of installation of intake supports, regardless of the material used:

1. Before creating, it is necessary to perform work on marking the perimeter of the fence, the location of the lag. To do this, between the extreme posts, you need to tighten the cord at the level of the upper and lower cross member.
2. Determine the installation site of the pillars based on the length of the fence. The optimal distance between the fence posts should be from 2 to 3 meters.
3. Drill holes for supports. The depth of the pillars depends on the type of soil. In sandy and rocky soils, the depth of the holes should be at least 1/3 of the height of the fence. On heaving soils make pits deep below the freezing point.
4. The diameter and shape of the “glass” for the column is calculated depending on the wind load, installation method and support material.

Next, we consider the main points of the installation of the supporting elements of the fence made of wood, metal and concrete.

Installation of wooden support elements

As extreme at the perimeter of wooden supports, experts recommend the use of solid wood poles with a diameter of 150 mm. For supporting elements in the middle of the structure, logs with a diameter of 100 mm can be used.

Before installing, it is recommended to treat the posts with an antiseptic, and wrap the end of the support element with several layers of roofing material.

Procedure:

1. In the ground, use a drill to prepare vertical holes of the appropriate diameter. The diameter of the hole should be twice the cross-section of the column. Depth of laying wooden column 500 mm with a fence height of 1500 mm. Increasing the height of the fence, you should increase the depth of the support.
2. Provide drainage. At the bottom of the hole should be poured a layer of sand, screening or rubble.
3. Install the support in a “glass” strictly vertically. Check the installation with a level.
4. Split the supporting element in the pit with broken brick.

Fill the space between the “glass” and the pillar with rubble, periodically tamping it with scrap or other convenient tool.

Installation of concrete pillars for the fence. For self-creation of concrete pillars, you can use concrete poured concrete formwork for columns, which can be relatively inexpensive to buy at any major hardware store.

Installation Procedure:

1. Assemble a formwork with a height of 1 m from four sides. Next, collect only three sides, the fourth is not installed. Free space is used for pouring concrete.
2. Fasten the shields with slopes.
3. Install a reinforcing structure inside the formwork.
4. Fill concrete into the mold with horizontal layers.

Next, install the anchors for mounting the fence.

Among our compatriots, dummies for the fence are very popular, despite the fact that this solution is not a budget solution. Such supporting structures as a designer are assembled from special concrete blocks. The main difficulty is the creation of the foundation on which the material is laid.

Blocks for fence posts have a cavity. The installation of the pillars of this design is quite simple: the blocks are stacked on each other, the cavities are reinforced and filled with concrete.

Installation Rules for Metal Support Structures

Two methods are used for the installation of metal supports: concreting and driving in.

1. In the first case, a hole in the required depth is created by a drill in the ground. The diameter of the hole should slightly exceed the cross section of the metal column. The pole is vertically installed in the prepared hole. The space between the support and the walls of the "glass" is filled with concrete.
2. The second option involves hammering a support into a smaller hole with a sledge hammer. This method is used for lightweight structures and only on heavy soils.

You should know that there is another effective way of concreting metal hollow pillars, which is as follows: the pit is filled with concrete, after which the support is driven in. This method provides a better fixation of the pole in the ground.

One of the simplest( but not cheap) options for creating a supporting framework for fencing is to install screw posts for the fence.

Installation of supports of this design is quite simple, does not require special time and labor costs. The pile is simply screwed into the ground. The upper part of the support, on which the supporting structure will be installed, may have a round or square section.

How to install a fence post - video