General Tips and Advice
Factors to Consider when Choosing A Fence
The following factors should be taken into consideration when choosing a fence:
- Price/Quality: As with most products, there is a direct relationship between quality and price. The quality of a fence panel is determined by its construction characteristics. These characteristics include - timber width, timber grade (pressure treated vs dipped), size of panel, and panel strength (single sided vs double sided). The greater your demands in terms of these characteristics, the more expensive the fence panel will likely be.
- Fence Height: While the width of a fence panel is normally a standard 1.8m, its height can vary. If a fence panel is to be placed into a timber post, the fence height off the ground can vary from 600mm to a maximum 2.4m; if a concrete post and base panel are used, the fence panel can be extended to a maximum 2.7m. The height is generally determined by the purpose for which the fence is being used as well as the ground conditions.
- Purpose: Fences are normally erected to fulfill one of the following purposes:
- Privacy - to screen off/divide one dwelling from another.
- To screen off a hedge or some other unsightly object.
- Shelter - to provide some protection from adverse weather conditions.
- Decoration - to place against a concrete wall to eliminate a "cold look" or to use as a base for plant creepers to grow. A trellis panel is commonly used for the latter purpose.
Pros & Cons of Concrete Posts vs Timber Posts
These are the vertical posts to which a fence panel is affixed.
- Concrete is essentially a permanent fixture while a timber post will need to be replaced at some point.
- Concrete posts do not rot and are therefore longer lasting than timber posts (pressure treated timber is rot-free for approximately 15 years, while dipped timber would normally have a useful life of only 2-4 years).
- Concrete posts provide a more solid and rigid fence structure.
- Timber is more aesthetically pleasing, less "cold" on the eye.
- Timber is lighter to handle when erecting the fence panels.
- Concrete posts are more expensive than timber posts.
Post and Panel Fencing
Timber Panel and Concrete Panel
Post and Panel fencing is the most effective solution where a dividing wall is needed between adjoining properties.
Manufactured to B.S. 1722: Part 11: 1986 Specification for woven wood and lap boarded panel fences.
Posts should be buried to a depth of 600mm in a 300 x 300mm hole, and backfilled using concrete to a prescribed mix type C15 as described in the "Irish Building Specification."
- Easy to Handle
- Simple and fast construction
- Low cost compared with traditional wall construction
- High quality finishes
- Saving in construction time
- Minimal site labour
- No Crainge
Sizes Available
- 2135mm
- 2440mm
- 2745mm
- 3050mm
- 3355mm
- 3660mm
Step-by-Step Guide to Erecting a Fence Panel
Assuming a standard concrete post of 2.4m high, a concrete base panel of 300mm high, and a 1.8m x 1.5m fence panel.
- Step 1: Decide where you wish the fence to be positioned.
- Step 2: Set a straight string line between the start and end points.
- Step 3: Mark the position of the 1st concrete post, noting its dimensions (CP = 125mm x 100mm).
- Step 4: Dig a hole of 600mm deep and 460mm in diameter into which the 1st concrete post is placed.
- Step 5: Measure 1.88m along the string line from the back of the 1st post to determine the centre of the hole to be dug for the 2nd post. Replicate this process for all the holes needed and proceed to dig, ensuring that all post are level in all directions.
- Step 6: Once all holes are dug, slot-in the 1st concrete base panel at a 90-degree angle to the concrete post, ensuring a distance of 1.52m from the top of the concrete base panel to the top of the concrete post. Fill the hole with cement to solidify the concrete post.
- Step 7: Slot-in the chosen fence panel.
- Step 8: Slot-in the 2nd concrete post.
- Step 9: Replicate the above steps for all remaining fence panels.