Features of metal fences, types of fences, advantages and disadvantages, installation technology. A metal fence is a fence that is not inferior in reliability to similar structures made of stone or concrete. In this article we will tell you how to make such a fence, consider its types and features.
Construction of metal fences
Structurally, metal fences are divided into three main types:
- Blind fences … They are distinguished by a solid canvas, which reliably hides the territory of the site from outside view.
- Through fences … They allow light to pass freely and do not interfere with the view of the area outside of them. At the same time, end-to-end enclosing structures are quite rigid and reliable.
- Sectional fences … Such structures are distinguished by ease of assembly, high strength and excellent protective properties.
Varieties of metal fences
In appearance, mesh, welded, forged fences and fences made of profiled sheet are distinguished. Let's consider their features in detail.
Mesh fence
The most common version of such a fence is a chain-link mesh, fixed on support posts. The material for such a mesh is wire, from which square or diamond-shaped cells are formed by weaving and spot welding.
The affordable cost of a chain-link mesh fence makes it extremely popular among home garden owners. Such a fence does not interfere with the penetration of light into the beds, creating favorable conditions for growing vegetables and other crops. In addition, it is quite reliable and does not require special skills during installation.
Another type of such a fence is a galvanized mesh fence on a strip foundation. A layer of a special coating applied to the main part of the structure protects the mesh fence from the effects of weather conditions and precipitation. The sprayed material can be of different shades, which makes the through-fencing aesthetically pleasing.
A metal mesh fence on a strip foundation is more rigid than a chain-link mesh fence. The concrete tape of its base eliminates any deformation of the structure associated with the movement of groundwater. Such fences are often installed around sports and playgrounds, where a view of the entire territory is of great importance.
Welded fence
Such a fence is made by connecting the metal elements of the lattice with electric welding. Sometimes they are combined with forged products. The parts of the fence sections welded together often represent an artistic composition. If it is correctly adapted to the style of the house, the welded fence will bring considerable aesthetic pleasure to its owners and their guests.
Such fences are durable, strong and relatively cheap when compared to fences made of forged parts.
Wrought iron fence
To create a forged fence requires a lot of effort, accuracy and experience, so it is made by hand by professional craftsmen. The result of their hard work can be a true work of art. Forged fences are often distinguished by individuality and austere beauty.
Due to the high labor intensity of manufacturing, such a fence is not cheap. The master prepares each of its sections separately. Then they are connected into a single structure by pillars-columns, which can be made of steel, stone, brick or concrete. All these materials are perfectly combined with artistic forging.
Profiled sheet fence
The popularity of this type of metal fences is due to the affordable price of the materials used, their low weight and reliability.
The profile sheets from which the sections of such a fence are made have a wavy surface. This significantly increases the rigidity and bending strength of the material. Such sheets are difficult to deform or damage. The service life of a fence made of profiled flooring reaches 50 years.
During the production of corrugated sheets, special paints are applied to their surface, which, after drying, guarantee anti-corrosion resistance to the material. They can have different shades. This simplifies the choice of the color of the future fence. The thickness of the profiled sheets is 0, 4-1, 2 mm.
Installation of the fence is simple, it can be done independently on the foundation or without it. Such a structure belongs to the type of blind fences. Due to the overlapping of the section sheets, the fence made of profiled sheets is practically devoid of slots through which the site could be viewed.
Advantages and disadvantages of metal fences
The strength and reliability of metal fences is confirmed by many years of practice in their use. In addition, the installation of such structures has a number of significant advantages:
- Reliable protection of the backyard area from prying eyes and intrusion of unwanted guests is provided.
- There is a wide range of designs and materials for the construction of high quality and beautiful fences.
- With proper care, metal fences are resistant to rainfall, wind and corrosion.
- The installation of solid fences provides the site with protection from the wind, and with a fence height of more than 3 meters, good sound insulation.
- Welded, wicker or forged elements of the metal fence are in perfect harmony with the pillars made of natural stone, facing bricks and concrete.
The problems posed by the construction of such a fence are much less. These include the following:
- Significant weight of materials, especially for welded and forged fences. It creates certain inconveniences during transportation and installation of fencing parts.
- The need for periodic maintenance. If the anti-corrosion coating of the fence is broken, it must be restored. Otherwise, the metal will rust and deteriorate over time.
Metal fences installation technology
It is quite possible to build any metal fence with your own hands. This will require possession of construction, welding equipment and simple tools. We will briefly describe the technologies for the construction of mesh, forged and some other fences below.
Fence made of profiled sheets
To install such a fence, you will need rectangular shaped pipes for supporting pillars and creating a frame, profiled sheets, self-tapping screws, a grinder, a screwdriver, a drill, a shovel, a building level, a hammer, a cord and pegs. If the pillars are planned to be made of brick, you will additionally need cement mortar and protective caps.
First, you need to break down the perimeter of the fence using pegs and a cord, taking into account the location of the gate, wicket and support pillars. The optimal distance between the posts is 2.5 m. The depth of the excavations in the ground for them is 1.2 m, and the width is 0.2 m. After installation and fixation of each post, it is necessary to fill with concrete strictly vertically along the level of the excavation.
When it hardens, you can prepare the frame of the fence for sheathing with profiled flooring. To do this, the support posts must be connected by welding with three horizontal pipes 40x20 mm, placing them evenly over the entire height of the supports. This procedure must be done with each pair of racks. After that, the frame should be painted, since after sheathing it will be impossible to do this.
Profiled sheets should be installed with one wave overlap, fixing them with self-tapping screws on horizontal guides. A distance of 0.15 m should remain between the bottom of the sheet and the surface of the soil to avoid early corrosion of the material from moisture. It is advisable to select the caps of the fasteners to match the color of the flooring. Using a screwdriver will greatly facilitate the sheathing of the frame.
Mesh fence
For the installation of a metal fence from a mesh, you will need supports, a "chain-link", wire, screws, a screwdriver, a building level, pegs, a cord, a tape measure, M400 concrete, a drill and a shovel.
After marking the perimeter of the fence using a tape measure, pegs and a cord, it is necessary to dig holes for the supports. Their depth should be 0.6-0.8 m. If you have a drill, you can use it instead of a shovel. The pillars in the holes must be installed strictly along the perimeter of the fence. To do this, after installing the extreme supports, you need to pull a cord between them and install the rest along it.
When all the pillars are in their places in the design position, the holes should be poured with concrete and left to solidify. This will take 5-6 days, it all depends on the weather and the quality of the mixture.
After this time has elapsed, you should start stretching the mesh "chain-link" on the supports. To do this, holes must be drilled in the posts and a wire must be passed through them. To eliminate the sagging of the mesh, a tensioning device must be installed in each span of the fence.
The mesh fabric should be fixed on the fence using a wire of 6, 5 mm. It should be threaded through the cells of the "chain-link" and welded to the supports. Welding must be carried out in a mask, overalls and in dry weather, keeping in mind the safety measures. After the installation is completed, it is recommended to paint the mesh fence with an anti-corrosion compound.
Wrought iron fence
Such a fence can be made by hot or cold forging. The last method is suitable for self-execution. To implement it, you will need machines for decorative twisting of sectional parts of a forged fence, a welding machine, a "grinder", a locksmith's vice and a set of household tools.
You should start by choosing the shape and pattern of the fence lattice. Good ideas can be found on the Internet. Lattice supports can be metal, concrete, stone or brick. We will focus on the first option. It implies the following order of work:
- Using pegs, tape measure and a cord, break the perimeter of the future fence, taking into account the location of all its racks.
- Dig or drill 50x50 cm recesses in the ground for the supports. Their depth should be up to 0.7 m.
- It is recommended to weld a reinforcing cage from metal rods 10 mm in diameter to the bottom of the supports. Such reinforcement will increase the stability of the posts before attaching heavy forged fence sections to them.
- Supports reinforced with reinforcement must be installed in the prepared pits strictly vertically, controlling the installation process with a building level. To fix the racks in the final position, you can use spacers made of wooden blocks.
- Fill the pits with the supports installed in them with concrete and leave them for a week to harden the mixture.
- After 6-7 days, the prepared sections of the forged fence can be welded or bolted to the posts. The finished fence should be painted to avoid corrosion.
When using stone, concrete or brick for the manufacture of racks, the procedure for installing a metal fence is the same. In this case, the steel pillar will play the role of a reinforcing rod inside the decorative support. Due to the increase in the weight of the structure, a strong foundation will be required for a forged fence with stone posts. Therefore, before installing metal reinforcing racks around the perimeter of the future fence, you need to dig a trench and lay a metal frame made of 12 mm rods into it.
How to make a metal fence - watch the video:
Before making a metal fence, it is useful to inquire about the cost of basic materials. The price of one sheet of corrugated board is 300 rubles, and a roll of netting "netting" is 500 rubles. You can buy blanks for a forged fence or use the metal that is available on the farm on the site.
