Types and selection of metal picket fence

The fence around the suburban area serves as a protective and decorative function, and also provides privacy, if it is made quite high and dense. If earlier the barriers were built of wood, now many people prefer to use a metal picket fence. It is more practical and durable, in addition, there are different types of material - you can choose what best suits your goals and budget.

The picket fence is made of sheet steel. A fence is built around the site from the finished planks. For mounting, they also use racks and cross rails to secure all the elements. In appearance, the structure resembles a familiar wooden fence.

The thickness of the metal picket fence usually varies between 0.4-1.5 mm, although other parameters are possible when custom made. To protect against rust, products are galvanized or coated with a special coating. And also the fence structure can be painted if you decide to change the color.

There are several reasons why you should choose a picket fence as your fence.

• Durability. The average lifespan is about 30 years, but with proper care, the fence will last longer. Some manufacturers provide a guarantee for up to 50 years.
• Strength. The metal strips are covered with a protective compound, so they are not afraid of weather factors. And also the products are resistant to mechanical stress - this is facilitated by stiffening ribs.
• Simple installation. The owner of the site can install the fence himself without resorting to the services of workers. In addition, it is not necessary to pour the foundation for this structure, which also makes installation easier.
• The possibility of combining. Can be combined with corrugated sheet, brick or wood if you want to create an original fence.

The picket fence is quite unpretentious in maintenance, it does not need to be constantly covered with protective equipment, it does not rot and does not fade in the sun. In a few years, if you want to renovate the fence, you can paint it any color. The material is fireproof, does not burn and does not contribute to the spread of fire. Transportation of products is quite profitable - they do not take up much space in the body, so you can bring a large batch to the site at once.

The production leaders are Germany, Belgium, Finland, therefore the material is also known as euro shtaketnik. This is not some kind of separate variety, but only one of the variants of the name of the same metal strips.

The strips of the Euro shtaketnik can differ significantly from each other in thickness, weight, dimensions and type of coating. They come in different shapes, which allows you to create interesting design solutions. Steel in coils is used for production, but the raw materials also have their own differences.

A steel strip can be used as a blank. This is a roll that is narrower than standard rolls. It is passed through a rolling mill to get the slats. Depending on the number of rollers and the configuration of the mechanism, the picket fence can differ in shape, number of stiffeners and, as a consequence, strength.

The second option is manufacturing from a metal profile. This is a cheaper method in which the steel sheet is cut into pieces without processing on special machines. Using this method, you can make your own picket fence, but it will turn out to be less durable and with sharp edges. And also work is carried out using a manual sheet bending machine, but in this case it is difficult to obtain strips with the same profile, which affects the stability and aesthetic characteristics of the iron fence.

Picket fences can also vary in quality of steel, depending on which grade was used to obtain the workpiece. Usually, cold-rolled sheets act as raw materials - they are more durable, but hot-rolled metal is also found in cheaper products. Regardless of the type of steel, the strips need additional processing to increase their service life.

To protect against rust and weather factors, the products are galvanized. In addition, an additional coating is applied, which is of two types.

• Polymeric. Better quality and more reliable, depending on the manufacturer, the warranty period for it varies from 10 to 20 years. If the technology is observed, this coating protects against corrosion, temperature extremes and mechanical stress. Even if the fence is scratched, the steel will not rust.
• Powder. The service life reaches 10 years. This option is more affordable, but if the paint is applied directly to the metal without an additional anti-corrosion coating, then when scratches appear, the fence will rust. It is seemingly impossible to determine whether the technology has been fully followed, therefore, if possible, it makes sense to think about the polymer coating so as not to doubt the quality.

Galvanized picket fence can be one-sided or double-sided painting. In the first case, a protective soil is applied to the gray back side. You can leave it as it is or paint it yourself using a spray bottle. Manufacturers also offer interesting options for staining wood, applying patterns and textures.

The upper part of the plank can be flat, semicircular or curly. And also the edges can be with or without rolling. The first option is preferable, since untreated sections are a source of injury - they can be cut or caught by clothing during installation.

The shape of the profile is also different.

• U-shaped. This is a longitudinal rectangular profiling. The number of stiffeners can be different, but it is desirable that there are at least 3 of them for sufficient strength. It is considered the most common type.
• M-shaped. The shape with longitudinal profiling in the center, in section, looks like two connected trapezoids. It is considered the most stable because it allows you to create more ribs. In addition, such a picket fence looks more interesting than a U-shaped one.
• C-shaped. Semicircular profile, rarely found due to the more complex manufacturing method. Strength of the slats is given by special grooves, which play the role of stiffeners.

The height of the strips can vary from 0.5 to 3 meters. The width is usually in the range of 8-12 cm. The average metal thickness is from 0.4 to 1.5 mm. Thick planks will be stronger, but heavier, they will need a stable support, they may have to fill the foundation to prevent the fence from collapsing. Manufacturers often offer custom-made planks with any dimensions, so there will be no problems finding suitable materials.

Modern technologies allow you to give the finished product any shade. Some tones are especially popular.

• Green. This color is pleasing to the eye, and also goes well with bushes, trees and other vegetation, if it is present on the site.
• White. It looks impressive, especially if the Provence or country style is chosen for the decoration of the territory. However, you will have to regularly wash the fence, because all the dirt is visible on white.
• Brown. It is considered to be wood-like. This color combines well with other shades, and is also not too easily soiled.
• Gray. A versatile tone that will suit any style of decoration. Often, owners leave the back of the fence gray if they purchase a picket fence with a one-sided covering.

Besides, you can choose a color that simulates a specific texture. For example, golden oak, walnut or cherry. Application of patterns or drawings is possible. In addition, you can alternate colors in a checkerboard pattern, use different tones to design the supports and the planks themselves.

The design of the structure can be different depending on the method of placement and connection of the planks. Before installation, you can review the fixing methods and choose the appropriate option.

• Vertical. The classic version with a picket fence, easy to install and familiar to everyone. The distance between the planks can be chosen at your discretion, or you can fix them close to each other, without gaps.
• Horizontal. It is less common than vertical, since it requires more time for installation work and increases material consumption. If this is not critical, then such a construction may look quite interesting.
• Chess. The planks are mounted vertically in two rows so that they overlap each other and leave no gaps. This is an option for those who want to provide a private area on their site. In this case, the material will be required twice as much.

You can creatively approach the design of the upper part and make a ladder, wave, arc or herringbone, alternating planks of different heights so that they form the desired shape.

The metal picket fence is in demand, so there are many companies that produce such products. There are several popular brands that have earned a good reputation among customers.

• Grand Line. It produces metal tiles, corrugated boarding, picket fences, siding, and also manufactures other types of building materials. The company operates not only in the Russian but also in the European market. The catalog contains U-shaped, M-shaped, C-shaped strips with different dimensions.

• "Eugene ST". Produces a picket fence under its own trademark Barrera. It is made from steel with a thickness of 0.5 mm. Products are coated with a protective composition based on zinc, silicon and aluminum. The top can be cut at right angles or in a semicircular shape. The width of the panels is from 80 to 128 mm.

• TPK Metallokrovli Center. The company specializes in various building materials, including a picket fence. Steel 0.5 mm is used as a base, raw materials from leading plants - Severstal, NLMK, MMK. Finished planks have seamed edges, each product is packed in a separate foil upon delivery. The manufacturer gives a guarantee up to 50 years.

• Kronex. Production association from Belarus with a network of offices in the CIS countries. For more than 15 years it has been producing building materials under its own trademark. Among the products there is a budget line, as well as a high-strength picket fence with a large number of stiffeners.

• Ural Roofing Materials Plant. The company specializes in the production of facade systems, corrugated boarding, metal tiles and related building materials, has been operating since 2002. The picket fence is also available in the assortment, you can order any shape and size of the planks, choose a color on one or two sides, wood or other texture.

First of all, you need to calculate the amount of material in order to know exactly how much to order. It depends on the type of construction chosen - for example, if you decide to mount the strips in two rows, staggered, then the consumption will increase. Therefore, the design should be thought over in advance.

This provision permits the use of a picket fence no more than one and a half meters high. If you want to put up a more impressive fence, it is worthwhile to agree with the neighbors in advance and take their written consent so that there are no complaints in the future.

The fence can be solid or with gaps. The first option is chosen by those who value privacy. If you do not want neighbors and passers-by to drop in at you, such a fence will solve the problem, but the material consumption will be higher. The design with gaps allows sunlight and air to penetrate, so you can plant flowers, shrubs or break beds around the perimeter. Gardeners and gardeners will like this option, it will also be possible to save money, since less picket fence is required.

It is advisable to be able to go to the base or to the store and see the batch of goods live. The fact is that during inspection, unpleasant surprises can be found - strips, the edges of which can be easily bent even with your fingers, as well as a discrepancy in the thickness of the metal to the declared parameters. At the same time, the same manufacturer can have other batches without any complaints. All this is due to the fact that the quality of raw materials is not always stable, especially little-known firms that are trying to save money on production are guilty of this. Large companies tend to enforce technology compliance.

Pay attention to the edges of the planks. It is better to choose a picket fence with a rolling. This processing has several advantages:

• the fence becomes stiffer and stronger, its resistance to physical influences increases;
• the risk of injury is reduced - during installation, you can cut yourself on sharp edges, but this will not happen with rolled ones;
• the fence on the site will look more aesthetically pleasing.

Of course, rolling increases the total cost of the structure, since it is a rather laborious and complex process. But the price justifies itself, because a high-quality picket fence will serve you for several decades.

The thickness of the profiles is one of the key parameters. Manufacturers are obliged to indicate it, although in practice this does not always happen, so do not hesitate to ask the seller for the necessary information. Indicators of 0.4-0.5 mm are considered optimal. Some companies offer slats up to 1.5 mm, they will be stronger and more stable, but keep in mind that the total weight of the structure will increase and additional support will be required.

The shape of the profile is not so important, standard U-shaped strips do an excellent job if the installation work is done correctly. But the number of stiffeners should be taken into account - they determine the strength of the structure. You must have at least 3 pieces, and better - from 6 to 12. And also M-shaped strips are considered more stable, so if maximum reliability is important to you, pay attention to this shape.

As for the color scheme, focus on your own preferences and the design of your site. You can use shades from the same spectrum for decoration, combining lighter and darker tones, or make a bright fence that will become an interesting accent.

Many companies offer turnkey picket fences. This is a good option if you have no construction experience or don't want to waste time. In this case, the workers will carry out the installation on the site, and you will receive a finished fence. And you can also do the installation yourself. This does not require a large number of tools, and you can even cope with the task in one person.

If you want to save money, you can purchase a metal profile of a suitable thickness and cut strips from it for a picket fence. This should be done with special scissors for metal, but not with a grinder, since it burns out the protective coating. The problem is that it is quite difficult to make a straight edge by hand; you will also have to additionally process the cuts to protect them from rusting.As a result, the work will take quite a lot of time - perhaps it would be more expedient to purchase a ready-made picket fence.

For a small overview of the types and quality of the picket fence, see the next video.