Advantages and disadvantages of metal profile fences, the choice of material for the fence according to various criteria, installation options for the structure. A metal profile fence is a solid fence made of durable sheet metal with excellent external data. The basis of the fence is a new generation of corrugated decking, which can be easily mounted to load-bearing structures. We will talk about the nuances of the construction of structures of this type in this article.
Features of a metal profile fence
Such a hedge is the most popular and affordable option for fencing a site. She will not only reliably protect the territory from uninvited guests and close it from prying eyes, but also decorate the home ownership. This became possible due to a variety of colors and a huge number of shapes and sizes of blanks. The design of the fence does not differ from other types of products: the sheets are attached to the base, which is formed by the fence supports and cross beams.
The main element of the structure is corrugated board - steel sheets, which are profiled using a special technology. The result is products with multiple waves that increase its rigidity.
The thickness of the wall material does not exceed 0.7-0.8 mm, but, despite such modest parameters, it is very durable, withstands strong winds and other mechanical loads.
The scope of the metal profile fence is very wide. It is used to enclose summer cottages or private households. It protects the territory of industrial enterprises from illegal entry. On the territory itself, the hedge zones the interior space. In agriculture, partitions are made from it for keeping livestock.
Profiled sheeting is sold painted and does not require special coating after installation. Modern technologies make it possible to produce sheets that imitate the appearance of wood, brickwork or natural stone. Such decoration is loved by users who prefer natural textures.
Advantages and disadvantages of a metal profile fence
Such a fence captivates with numerous advantages:
- Blanks are sold at affordable prices and are cheaper than many similar materials.
- Construction time is minimal. It will take no more than three days from marking to the start of operation of the fence.
- The corrugated board can be used with other building materials - brick, concrete, wood, etc. This allows you to design the fence in the same style as the main buildings.
- The fence can be built of any height, because workpieces are produced up to 12 m in length.
- A high structure will cost several times less than from other material, and its strength will be higher.
- The fence can be easily disassembled and moved to another place.
- The structure of the building is very simple. Installation of a metal profile fence can be done even by people without construction skills.
- Profiled sheets are capable of absorbing up to 75 percent of the noise that comes from the street.
- The product is produced in a wide range of colors that will satisfy any user.
- The paint on the fence will never fade.
- Caring for it is very simple - to restore its original appearance, it must be periodically washed with water from a hose.
- The service life of the corrugated board reaches 50 years.
The owners should be aware of the disadvantages of a fence made of this material. There are very few of them. He is not able to withstand strong mechanical stress, therefore he is not fully capable of protecting the territory. Compared to graceful forged or monolithic stone buildings, the metal profile looks mediocre.
Fence installation technology from a metal profile
The whole process of fencing the site is divided into stages that should be strictly followed.
Fence materials and tools
Manufacturers have created a unique building material from which it is very easy to make a fence. But on the construction markets there are many modifications of corrugated board, pipes and other details for the fence, so making a choice is not easy. What details are needed for the construction of fences of this type, you can find out from the information below.
At the construction market, corrugated board with various operational characteristics is sold. In order not to be mistaken with the choice, pay attention to the following points:
- Marking … The purpose of the product can be determined by the letter designation. Type "H" is intended for roofs and ceilings; "C" - for fences and fences; "NS" - universal, can be used for any purpose. For the fence, it is better to take products marked "C", in which the height of the corrugation does not exceed 21 mm, and the wall thickness is 0.7 mm. If the structure is up to 1.5 m, a thickness of 0.5 mm is sufficient. You should not buy "N" brand decking. It is thicker and therefore more expensive. Fences in most cases do not require such strength and extra costs. An example of material designation: С20-1150-0, 8. The numbers indicate the following: С - type of corrugated board (wall); 20 - wave height; 1150 - product width; 0, 8 - its thickness. Sheets are made with a length of 12 m. Pieces of length 1, 5 m, 2 m, 3 m, 4 m are cut out of them. The height of the product should be equal to the height of the fence, so as not to cut the excess horizontally.
- Appearance … When buying, inspect the product carefully. High-quality workpieces have no burrs, irregularities, dents, scratches or other defects. All sheets are the same size, thickness and color.
- Protective covering … It is applied at the stage of manufacturing the panels. Aluminum spraying is considered a budget option. It protects sheets well against corrosion. A higher quality coating is created by polymer substances that allow you to paint the fence in any color. They have various formulations designed for specific operating conditions. For example, for residents of the coastal regions of the country, it is recommended to buy corrugated board covered with polyvinyl difluoride-acrylic paint, which is resistant to ultraviolet light. When choosing, it must be remembered that sections with plastisol, pural and PVDF coating are more expensive than products with polyester coloring. Currently, panels with a double-sided polymer coating are very popular, which look good from the outside and inside of the fence.
To support the structure, you can use various materials and structures - stone, brick, round and profile pipes, etc. The cheapest option is considered to be pipes with a diameter of 50-60 mm with a wall thickness of 3 mm.
Consider the aboveground and underground parts when sizing the posts. The racks must be recessed by 1/3 of the entire height of the pipe, therefore, with a fence height of 2 m, the support should be 2.7 m. To calculate the number of posts, measure the perimeter of the fence and divide by the distance between them - 2-2.5 m. take into account the dimensions of the gate and wicket.
Horizontal lines are necessary to create a frame for corrugated sheets. They are made of rectangular pipes with a wall thickness of more than 2 mm. Their number also depends on the perimeter of the site, but the size of the fence should be taken into account. If it is up to 2 m high, the logs are laid in 2 rows, if more than 2 m - in three. Most often they buy profiles with dimensions 49x25x2x6000 mm. Before making a fence from a metal profile, prepare a working tool. You will need:
- Angle grinder with a power of 2 kW - for trimming structural elements.
- Roulette - to determine the position of the posts on the site.
- Plumb line and building level - to control the position of supports and logs in the vertical and horizontal plane.
- A shovel or drill - for making holes under the posts. If the soil is hard, it is desirable to have an electric or gasoline-powered mechanism with a cutting tool with a diameter of 250 mm.
- Welding tools - inverter or semi-automatic, if horizontal beams are planned to be welded to the supports. A gas burner is suitable for such purposes.
- Tools for making holes for self-tapping screws.
- Tools for screwing in self-tapping screws - screwdrivers or a drill with adjustable speed.
- Concrete mixer - for mixing concrete.
- A wheelbarrow and a shovel.
Installation of supports for a metal profile fence
The durability of the fence largely depends on the quality of the pipe fastening in the ground. The most common two options for installing racks, which reliably hold the structure throughout the entire period of operation:
- The structure is held on supports embedded in the ground … In this case, the structure is covered from bottom to top with sheets. This option is more economical and is produced in the shortest possible time.
- The structure has a foundation or plinth with brick pillars … The rest of the space is filled with corrugated board. The hedge has a beautiful appearance, but more funds will be needed to build it.
The construction technology of both fences differs only in the installation of supports.
The procedure for fixing power elements without a foundation:
- Remove vegetation from the surface of the site where the fence will be built. Cut off the protruding elements on the site, fill the depressions with soil.
- Drive pegs in the corners of the future hedge.
- Pull the cord between them and fasten to the pieces of wood.
- Mark the position of the holes for the wells.
- Drill the hole to the calculated depth.
- Place a 10-15 cm thick pillow of a mixture of sand and gravel on the bottom.
- Cover the underground part of the posts with an anti-corrosive compound.
- Install the supports in the corner pits, set them in a vertical position using a level and temporarily fix them with wedges.
- Stretch the cord over the posts, set it to the horizon and make sure that the ends of both supports are at the same distance from the cord.
- Prepare a concrete mortar from cement, sand and gravel, which are taken in a 1: 3: 3 ratio.
- Fill the corner posts with concrete, making sure they are vertical. After filling the pits, the solution must be pierced with fittings so that the air remaining in it comes out.
- Install pipes in the remaining holes, set them in horizontal and vertical planes along the cords and level and fill with concrete. Further work can be performed after the solution has solidified.
- Close the ends of the beams with plugs or decorative elements - balls, lances, etc.
Installation of supports with a foundation and brick posts is a painstaking business, but the result is a beautiful and practical fence.
The work is performed in the following sequence:
- Prepare the ground surface for work and mark the foundation as in the first case.
- Dig a trench 40-50 cm deep and 60-70 cm wide. The width should be such that it is convenient to mount the formwork.
- Assemble wooden formwork 25-30 cm wide in the ditch.
- Install metal rods in the ditch to reinforce the foundation. This must be done due to the large weight of the brick pillars, to which the weight of the profiled sheets will be added. Also, strengthen the vertical structures, so install the rods in these places vertically.
- Fill the foundation with concrete.
- Lay out the pillars with bricks, covering the reinforcement on all sides. Check the verticality of the structure during operation.
- At a height of 20-30 cm and 150-160 cm from the ground, lay mortgages in the form of brackets into the supports, to which horizontal logs will be attached. They should be located in the same horizontal plane throughout the fence.
- Cover the brick pillars with a lid to protect them from precipitation. Further work can be continued after the brickwork and concrete has hardened.
Fastening horizontal beams
The lags are attached to the supports in two ways - by welding or by bolting. The first option is more convenient and faster, but you need to know how to work with a welding machine. The upper and lower beams are attached at a distance of 20 cm from the end of the product and from the ground.
The second method does not require outside help. For fastening, make through holes in the supports and horizontals and connect them with bolts and nuts.
When mounting, align the working surfaces of the beams in one vertical plane.
Fixing profile sheets
Installation of a metal profile fence starts from the gate. Place the first sheet vertically and fix it to the horizontal with self-tapping screws. Install the remaining sections with an overlap of at least 1 wave.
Attach the product to one beam with three metal screws 3, 2x10 mm - along the edges and in the middle. Steel rivets can also be used. Do not take aluminum ones to avoid galvanic couples between products made of different materials. This will corrode the sheets. Tighten the fasteners with a screwdriver.
If desired, part of the soil can be removed between the posts and the strip can be concreted, creating a blind area on both sides of the fence.
The fence should be periodically cleaned of dirt with soapy water. It is not recommended to use products containing solvents. They can ruin the coating of the sheets.
How to make a fence from a metal profile - watch the video:
[media = https://www.youtube.com/watch? v = 62bD504eGLk] When erecting a fence from metallopofile, amateur performance and savings on building materials are not allowed. You cannot treat the fence as a temporary structure. If you strictly adhere to the construction technology, you can build a fence from a metal profile with your own hands, which will stand for many years.
