An iron fence has a number of properties that ensure its long-term operation: resistance to corrosion, high strength, resistance to mechanical deformation and external factors. There is a structure with similar characteristics - a reinforced concrete fence. However, it is heavy, which is not always suitable.
Selection of materials and calculation
The most popular design of a fence made of iron is the version with corrugated sheets. Metal pipes (round, square) are used as pillars. Recommended sizes of these elements: for a round stand - from 57 mm and above, for a square analogue - 60x60 mm and 80x80 mm. The number of pillars is easy to determine.
Need to make a sketch future design, which will allow you to determine its perimeter. You will also need the width of one section, which corresponds to the distance between the racks. Next, the perimeter is divided by the span width.
The dimensions of the pillars were not included in the calculations; accordingly, it was assumed that the center of the pillar is the junction of two adjacent spans. As a result, the actual width of the section will be reduced by an amount equal to the width of one column or the sum of half the columns. The amount of material filling the section, for example, corrugated sheeting, is determined based on the dimensions of one span between two adjacent pillars.
To fasten the profiled sheet, logs are used: 40x25 cm or 40x20 cm. For fence heights below 1,800-2,000 mm, 2 pieces are enough. crossbars To fasten all elements, a roofing screw is used, its quantity corresponds to 3 pieces. on the lag.
Fence installation - step-by-step work
If an iron fence is selected for installation, the sequence of actions will be as follows:
- preparation, marking of the site;
- digging holes, trenches - depending on the type of foundation;
- arrangement of supports;
- installation of logs;
- fastening of corrugated sheets.
Iron fences of many types are mounted according to a similar pattern.
Site marking
The soil surface is cleared of weeds, holes and mounds are leveled. The perimeter of the fenced area is marked. In this case, it is necessary to make notes where the gate, gate and each fence post will be located.
This can be achieved through stakes. The perimeter is marked with a rope; the corners of the future structure should be straight.
An iron fence can be built on a columnar or strip-column foundation. Next, you need to dig holes for the pillars. The height dimensions of the base are determined by its configuration and terrain.
For example, the strip-column option involves digging holes for posts with a depth of 1-1.5 m, i.e. below the depth of soil freezing. The foundation area for the gate section is prepared with a depth of up to 0.5 m.
The diameter of the holes in the ground for the pillars varies from 25 to 40 cm. A sand and crushed stone cushion is laid at the base of the holes.
Preparation of the solution
For the foundation, take 1 share of cement and 4 shares of sand. To make the structure stronger, crushed stone is added. Before pouring the mixture into the hole under the counter, you need to moisten its bottom.
Features of installation of poles
Regardless of what type of barrier is being built: reinforced concrete, iron or wood, installation is carried out using building level, otherwise it will be problematic to make an even structure.
The stand is driven into the sand and crushed stone cushion. But you just need to do this as carefully as possible so as not to go to great depths, since in this case there is a high risk of corrosion on the pillars.
Types of pole installation
Filling with concrete mixture should not be done to the top of the hole, but to a level of 10-15 cm below the soil surface. The remaining area is covered with soil, but only after the concrete solution has dried.
Attaching the log
If we compare iron and, then in the first case sheet material held on metal crossbars. In the second option concrete panel descends along gutters in the pillars. Similar elements are assembled like a children's construction set.
Various ways to attach joists
The iron fence joists are secured with self-tapping screws or welding. For these purposes, a special part was created - a cross made of channels. The installation distance of the logs from the top and bottom points of the column can be from 20 to 40 cm.
Installation of profiled sheets
To do reliable design, it is enough to use three self-tapping screws per joist. The total number of fasteners per fence section will be up to 9 pieces, provided that 2-3 pieces were used. crossbars Adjacent sheets are mounted overlapping each other.
If you install using roofing screws with a rubber gasket, the corrugated sheeting will not be damaged.
Upon completion of installation metal frame, it needs to be painted. To do this, the pillars and joists are cleaned of dust and dirt, then primed and painted. At the final stage of fence construction, decorative overlays on the pillars. Reinforced concrete fencing panel and metal require different approach for processing.
A metal fence is installed on the site of a house or cottage quite often. High level popularity is due to a number of useful properties: fire safety, reliability, long-term operation, relatively low cost. The steel version of the fence is a successful alternative to structures made of natural material and brick.
Types of metal fences
There are many variations of fencing for a home or cottage. In addition to individual varieties, there are also combined versions, when they combine different materials in a single organic composition.
Main design options:
- Based on a chain-link mesh. Metal fences of this type are easy to install, their cost is low, and in addition they do not require maintenance. But if you have a suitable tool (“nippers”), a fence made of such a mesh can be easily damaged. Another disadvantage is an unobstructed view of the house/cottage.
- Welded mesh. It is characterized by increased strength in comparison with its chain-link type analogue; therefore, it will not be easy to damage the fence. The basis of the design is steel material. Arrangement of finished sections: wire fabric + frame made of profile pipes. Such fences are widely used at municipal facilities, industrial zones, and gas stations. Installation welded mesh on a residential building site is carried out infrequently due to the following disadvantages: too simple design, free overview of housing.
- Forged fence. Is decorative design, as they are distinguished by excellent external characteristics. To do wrought iron fence, you need to put in a lot of work. Its peculiarity is that it is made by hand, and best result provide specialists with extensive experience in similar works. Due to the rather significant cost, it is not advisable to use this design for fencing the dacha.
- Profiled sheet is one of the most popular solutions today. It is characterized by high strength, provided that an option with excellent characteristics is selected. It has been in use for decades. However, for the home the option with polymer coating thanks to attractive appearance. Installation of a galvanized fence is usually done to fence off summer cottages, parking lots, warehouses, construction sites, as it serves little purpose and looks unpresentable.
- One of the varieties is in the form of a picket fence, but only made of metal.
- Fittings. It is characterized by simplicity of design, is offered at an affordable price, however, it does not hide the object behind itself, so it is rarely used for the home.
If desired, you can combine bricks with reinforcement or forged elements, profiled sheet with natural materials etc.
Installation of support posts
If you plan to install metal fence do it yourself, it is recommended to choose a metal pipe as a support post. Brick racks are difficult to build without experience in this type of work.
Installation of fencing on an uneven area
To make a reliable structure, you should use a material with high strength characteristics. So, if pipes are installed round section, the permissible minimum is 57 mm in diameter. For square analogs, the following values are sufficient: 60x60 mm and 80x80 mm.
Support installation options
It can be put into the ground without using a concrete mixture, for which it is used garden auger. With its help, holes are prepared with a slightly larger diameter than the support, while the depth is determined by the height of the fence - 30% of the height. To make the fence more reliable, after installation the post is driven into the ground 20 cm.
If used concrete mixture When installing the fence, before starting work, a square base is welded to the base of the pipe. The stand is installed in a roofing felt sleeve previously lowered to the bottom of the hole, after which concrete is poured.
Stages of installing a chain-link fence
Having chosen any of the above options for installing support posts, you can begin to implement it. In the case of pouring concrete, it is recommended to leave the solution for several days until completely dry (6 days). Next, it remains to stretch the mesh.
To avoid sagging, the wire used to tension the material must pass through the holes in the posts. It is recommended to secure the outer support posts using braces.
To fix the mesh, use a wire with a diameter of 6.5 mm. Welding can make its fastening more durable. At the final stage, the structure should be painted, which will additionally protect the metal from external factors.
Installation of fencing made of profiled sheets
The steel version of the fence on the site of a house/cottage has its advantages in terms of reliability and service life, however, if you use unprotected material, the fence will not last long.
Therefore, it is better to choose a version with a polymer coating, on both sides. Pillars in in this case are installed at a distance of 2 to 3 m, the pits are filled with concrete and crushed stone.
Next, the logs are welded - transverse pipes rectangular section(40x20 cm, 40x25 cm). Their number depends on the height of the fence. The corrugated sheeting is attached to the joists using roofing screws equipped with a rubber gasket. In order for the fence to fit into the landscape of the cottage/house site, you should cover the visible part of the fasteners with paint of a suitable shade.
The sheets overlap each other. The number of screws is determined by the dimensions of the corrugated sheet. On average, 6-9 pcs/sheet are used. On last stage fastened decorative elements on the fence.
If installation is planned to be carried out on our own, it is better to choose metal pipes for installation as support posts. It is important to install them correctly and as smoothly as possible, since the functionality of the fence will depend on this. Possible problems: skewed gate leaves and wickets, which will complicate operation; instability of supports and further gradual destruction of the fence.
For many decades, the most affordable and common type of protection for private plots in Russia was wooden fences. However, they have many disadvantages, the main ones being insufficient resistance to atmospheric and mechanical influences, the risk of fire and the need for careful maintenance.
Much more reliable structures made of concrete, brick and stone. But their price is significant, they take a lot free space and require significant labor costs.
As a result of all this, for Lately, metal fences took first place in popularity.
Advantages of such structures
Metal fencing has the following advantages:
- high reliability;
- strength;
- practicality;
- Fire safety;
- wear resistance and long service life;
- ease of care;
- Most of their types are low cost.
Note! Installation of metal fences is quite simple and does not require special skills. Therefore, you can install them yourself.
Main types of metal fences
Like all other fences, metal analogues are divided according to their level of openness:
- fences with open spans between supports, through which the protected territory is visible, are called transparent;
- Monolithic structures in which the space between the pillars is filled without gaps are called solid or blind.
The first type of fencing includes the following subtypes.
- . They can be made from woven mesh (chain-link) or a welded analogue. Provided that the material is simply stretched between the supports and secured to them, this is the simplest and most cheap option the described fences.
- . It has the same design as its traditional wooden counterpart. Logs are attached horizontally to the supports, to which, in turn, metal strips are fixed vertically, with gaps of several centimeters. Before you make a metal fence of this type, keep in mind that it most likely carries decorative function, than protective, because its height rarely exceeds 1.5 m.
- Lattice fence. Can be forged or welded. This type the most expensive, but also the most beautiful view metal fences.
- . Consist of individual elements– frames welded from profiles or pipes. They can be filled with mesh, welded or forged grating. Sections can be simply attached to a frame of supports and joists, or additionally installed on a foundation.
Solid fences include structures made of corrugated sheets. They can also be sectional or made simply from sheets of this material.
Construction of metal fencing
Let us give as an example how self installation metal fence, installation of fencing made of profiled sheets.
Materials that will be needed
- Support pillars. You can use round ones as them. steel pipes having a diameter of at least 76 mm or square and rectangular analogues.
- Lags. This frame element is attached horizontally to the supports and gives rigidity to the fence fabric. For them, you can take profiles or pipes with a cross-section of 40×20 mm.
- The corrugated sheet itself. The most suitable wall grades for making a fence are: C-8, C-10, C-20 and C-21.
- Fastening elements. To fix the sheets to the frame, you can use either roofing screws, at least 35 mm long, or rivets.
- Required amount concrete.
Fence installation
- First you need to calculate and plan everything, i.e. draw up a fence project. Decide exactly where the gate will be located, as well as the wicket. Starting from their edges, you can calculate required quantity pipes for supports.
- Next, based on the design drawing, calculate how much materials you need. After this, an estimate should be drawn up for the installation of a metal fence.
- When you have everything, start marking the fence. To install the supports, measure the spaces between them. They should be the same and be 2.5/3 m. Please note that the fence line should be as even as possible.
- Next, at the marked points, dig holes 1/1.5 m deep and at least 15 cm in diameter.
- Then install the support pipes in them. To strengthen them, fill the holes 20 cm with crushed stone or gravel, then fill them flush with the ground with concrete. Do not forget to check the accuracy of the installation of the supports with a level or plumb line.
- After the concrete has hardened sufficiently, which will take about 7 days, begin installing the joists. The instructions for their quantity are as follows: if the height of the fence is less than 1.8 m, two horizontal rows of pipes, below and above the frame, will suffice. If the fence is higher, then put another partition in the middle. To fix the lags, use welding.
- Now all that remains is to secure the corrugated sheet. Connect its sheets overlapping, with self-tapping screws, in increments of 50 cm.
How to make other types of metal fences
Installing different types of metal fences with your own hands is quite simple. The rules for their installation are very similar. Only the installation details differ.
For example, to install a chain-link fence, you first need to dig in supports in 3-meter increments - iron steel pipes with a cross-section of at least 70 mm. If the soil is dense, you can strengthen them with small cobblestones, and then fill the holes with earth, compacting it. If the soil is weak, the holes need to be filled with concrete. The mesh itself can be attached to the posts with bolts or welded to them.
As you can see in the photo, sectional fencing is installed in almost the same way. The only difference is the installation of the panels themselves. It is best to fasten them with screws.
Note! Metal fences are durable and reliable. However, like other analogues, they require care. Paint them regularly, simultaneously removing pockets of rust and peeling areas of old paint.
By watching the video in this article, you will receive Additional information how to build metal fencing on one's own.
Behind last years metal fences have become more popular and in demand. Along with other types of fencing, metal products are leaders in availability, reliability, durability, practicality and fire safety. As the experience of the past decades shows, the most accessible and popular view protection of the yard was wooden fence, which was heavily damaged by the weather and required careful maintenance. Alternative way buildings made of stone, brick and concrete were and still are, but they are very expensive, take up a lot of space and require a lot of effort during construction.
Along with other types of fencing, metal fences are leaders in accessibility, reliability, durability, practicality and fire safety.
Metal fencing is very effective and wear-resistant. They are easy to care for and are more affordable in terms of material and installation.
And as for installation, it requires much less skill than when laying out a stone or brick fence, and you can make a metal fence with your own hands.
Types of metal fences and their features
The first thing a person encounters when choosing a fence for his site is the variety of materials from which it is made.
A sectional fence is made not from mesh, but from pipes and profiles, due to which such a fence will be much stronger and of better quality.
Chain-link fence. This is the easiest and most economical solution to fencing problems. Such protection of your possessions will be very effective against uninvited guests, people or animals, since it does not contain large holes and its height is more than 1.5 m.
Sectional fences are welded. This type of fencing is quite expensive, but in terms of service life it is not inferior to any other. The sections are made not from mesh, but from pipes and profiles, thanks to which such a fence will be much stronger and of better quality. At the moment, such designs are used quite widely. Due to their uniqueness, geometry of shapes and the ability to make any pattern to order, they are popular. Despite high price, the demand for them is growing.
Fences made of metal profiled sheets. The most popular type of fencing, resistant to mechanical damage. Has a large selection of colors.
DIY metal fence
Installation is a painstaking job, but understandable enough to do it yourself. In order to build high-quality and correct fence, you need to prepare the following materials:
- Supports - for this purpose you must use metal pipe with a diameter of at least 76 mm.
- Logs are a fence element that is mounted transversely and provides rigidity to the fence. For these purposes, flat profiles measuring 40x25 mm are used.
- Corrugated sheets are the most optimal models for use in fencing C-8, C-10, C-20, C-21.
- Fasteners - in order for the structure to be well secured, it is necessary to stock up on dowels with a length of at least 35 mm.
To install a fence, the first thing you need to do is calculate and plan the perimeter.
- The first step is to calculate and plan the perimeter. It is necessary to clearly define where the gates will be and Entrance door. Starting from the edge of the gate, you can calculate the number of pipes needed for supports.
- The next step will be marking the site. To accommodate support pillars you should measure the intermediate distance between them. It should be 3 m, the fence line should be smooth. Having marked the locations, it is necessary to dig holes for each post, taking into account the fact that the depth should be from 1 to 1.5 m, and the diameter should be at least 15 cm.
- It will simplify the process of making pits with your own hands, manually or electric drill. To strengthen the pillars, fill the pipe 20 cm with gravel, then concrete the pipe with a 1/8 solution (cement/sand) and let it stand for 3 days. Note: the pipe is leveled and a rain cap must be placed at the top.
- When the supports for the fence are securely fastened, we proceed to install the logs. The number of logs per span relative to the height of the fence is calculated. If the size is up to 180 cm, then two metal crossbars are sufficient. If it is higher, then there are more partitions. To combine vertical and horizontal bases, welding is ideal. With its help, the connections will be as strong and durable as possible.
- After finishing preparatory work you can start attaching the corrugated sheets. For installation, metal screws 35 mm long are used. The gap between joints is 50 cm. It is more reliable to overlap the sheets. It is also necessary to remember that when installing a fence it will not be possible to avoid scratches, in this case it would be wise to stock up on a can of spray car paint required color.
Installing metal fences with your own hands is not difficult, the process is the same, and the installation rules are similar. For example, in order to build chain-link fences with your own hands, you need to install a base, iron pipes, the size of which should not be less than 70 mm in diameter. And you can fix them by simply digging them in, but if the soil is loose, then you can’t do without filling with mortar. Such pillars will perform a supporting function; they must be placed every 3 meters. Fixing and aligning the pillars occurs in the same way as when installing a fence made of corrugated sheets. The chain-link can be fastened in several ways: bolted or welded.
When working with welded sectional panels, the process of installing supports is repeated again. The only difference is in the installation of the panels: they are either bolted or welded. Such a fence, even made by yourself, will last a very long time and will look very elegant.
Metal fences are strong and durable, but, like everything that surrounds us, they need care. In order for the service life of the fence to be as promised by the manufacturer, it is necessary to paint it in a timely manner, while removing rust and peeling paint.