Wooden fence: examples and ideas
A wooden fence is a popular type of fencing site, which in addition to the protective function, serves as an element of landscape design. Unlike the construction of massive fences made of concrete, stone or brick, the installation of a wooden fence is cheaper, does not require the use of heavy equipment and significant physical effort. In addition, it is accompanied by minimal interference with the existing landscape of the site.
The advantages of a wooden fence:
- Environmental friendliness. Wood is a natural material that is safe for human health and the environment. A wooden fence does not harm plants growing nearby, does not shield sunlight and does not overheat in the sun.
- Easy to install. Installation of a wooden fence does not require complicated concreting and other labor-intensive operations. The finished sections of the fence are light enough for one person to cope with their installation (with the exception of special large-sized design structures or massive spans of solid wood).
- Aesthetic appearance. A wooden fence will complement any rural landscape. If necessary, you can use an edged board under a transparent coating with a well-visible natural texture or completely level it using opaque paint.
- Large selection of options. Unlike metal profile or concrete fences, which can only be installed according to the factory model, a wooden fence does not have a single correct assembly option. Even the simplest option – picket fence – can be assembled horizontally or vertically. You can install wooden fences, blinds, wattle fence or mount boards diagonally. It is allowed to use parts of different thicknesses, lengths, widths, with varying degrees of processing of the outer surface, as well as different lumber (from a simple unedged board to a bar or slab).
Popular wooden fence ideas
Before erecting a wooden fence, it is necessary to determine the requirements for dimensions, reliability and cost of the structure.
В Popular types of fences:
- A classic fence. Wooden fence in the form of a blind span, which form closely fitted boards. Allow vertical or horizontal arrangement of parts. To strengthen the fence using a concrete or cement foundation. Solid wooden spans can be interspersed with columns of brick, wood or metal. The natural pattern of annual rings and the natural texture of the material form a presentable appearance of the fence.
The picket fence. Like a classic fence, it is formed from tightly fitted wooden parts, but instead of boards, logs of small diameter are used. To strengthen and more durable use of the fence, they are recommended to be mounted on top of a previously prepared strip foundation. This type of fencing has an original appearance and reliably protects the site from unauthorized entrance. It is possible to install a light version of the picket fence using thin logs without a tight fit to each other. To create a decorative effect, they can be painted in different colors, stylizing pointed peaks under the tips of sharpened pencils. In this case, the fence will look like an open box with pencils. - Lath fence. A traditional view of a wooden fence in the form of a fence with evenly spaced vertical boards. It is possible to mount both a light picket fence and its massive version with a dense arrangement of parts. Suitable for use not only as a protection of the site from penetration, but also for decorating the exterior. A widespread variant is the “checkerboard” fence, in which both surfaces of the fence are external, so that the fence looks equally presentable from the outside and from the inside of the site. This effect is achieved by fixing the planks in a checkerboard pattern. In addition to practicality and visual appeal, this type of fence is characterized by high mechanical strength. To create original fencing based on a picket fence, it is possible to select the optimal distance between the parts or to form a curly upper edge of the spans. Parts can be mounted horizontally on top of each other. Using special gaskets, the effect of complete opacity of the fence is achieved. The upper part of the fence can be used as a support for climbing plants.
Lattice. A kind of wooden fence in which the emphasis is not on the protective function, but on the decorative effect. Small details are placed inside a wooden frame, where their intersection forms a beautiful pattern. Suitable for use as a support for climbing plants. For decorative purposes, it is possible to combine in one span various types of fencing, for example, picket fence and grating, or a combination of planks of various shapes and sizes. - The Ranch. A type of fence used to delimit large areas. It resembles a fence on a cowboy ranch. Spans of the fence in this style are formed by longitudinal wooden bars mounted on posts. Due to the significant – up to several tens of centimeters – the distance between the bars, this type of fence is not used to protect the territory from the entrance from outside. For decorative purposes, ranch-style fences are combined with concrete, brick, or stone foundations.
Installation of a wooden fence
Stages of construction
- Territory marking
At this stage, the location of the pits for the columns is determined and marked (the preferred length of the gap between the columns is 1.8-2.5 m). - Tension of beacons
A thin rope or twine is pulled along the proposed fence line, securely tying it to small posts. A tightly stretched rope is used as a guideline until work is completed. - Foundation construction
The construction of the fence begins with the foundation. It can be a stone, brick or concrete foundation, as well as wooden poles installed on a concrete basis. - Preparation of pits for poles
Using beacons and construction tape measure the coordinates of the pits. Excavation of the drill is done using a drill or manually with a shovel. With a fence height of 2 m, the depth of the pit is about 1 m. The distance from the column to the border of the pit should be at least 0.25 m. - Installation of poles
Focusing on the beacons, the poles are installed in pits, if necessary, knocked down with a sledgehammer to the required level and fixed with stones for concreting. Then the pits are filled with a pre-prepared solution. When using wooden poles, their lower part is fired with a blowtorch, coated with resin and wrapped in roofing material. This prevents rot damage to the support from prolonged exposure to soil. If metal pipes are used as pillars, their top is covered with a sleeve or plug, which prevents the ingress of precipitation and rust damage to parts. - Wood preparation
To improve the appearance and extend the life of the fence, the wood used is recommended to be pre-treated with antiseptic compounds. They will reliably protect the material from the negative effects of precipitation, decay, fungi, mold and damage by wood-eating insects. To protect against ultraviolet radiation and improve the appearance of the part, they are treated with special varnishes (strips must be processed before installation, since subsequently a significant part of them will be hidden). - The construction of the fence
On the base are fixed boards that form the body of the fence. To increase the strength, metal corners are used, to which strips, boards or a picket are fixed. If the fence is mounted without foundation, to protect the material from moisture and to prevent contact with the soil, the boards are fixed at a distance of at least 10 cm above the ground. The method of mounting parts depends on the type of fence.
Care of a wooden fence
Periodic exposure to atmospheric precipitation leads to decay of the wooden parts of the fence. In the dry period, the boards dry out and crack. Iron hinges, bolts and other accessories rust and loose over time.
Repair of a wooden fence begins with iron parts. Hinges and mounting b rackets are lubricated with rust remover. Loosened and weakened parts must be removed to drive special gaskets (keys) into the expanded holes.
Broken parts are replaced with new ones (galvanized fittings are recommended for fences).
If a gate with a height of more than 3 m is installed in the fence, use at least 3 loops.
Affected by rot and mold, wooden parts are replaced with new ones that are similar in shape and size. After dismantling the old part, the attachment point is treated with an antiseptic solution.
To update the appearance and protect the wood, the fence is regularly painted (the coating layer is updated as necessary). If a separate section of the fence needs repainting, a cracked layer of old paint is removed with an abrasive tool. Then apply 1 coat. After drying, the area is repainted, applying paint to the entire surface of the part.
Before the complete repainting of the fence, the layer of the old coating is completely removed with a grinder. This ensures a reliable fit of fresh paint and aesthetic appearance of the fence.
Compliance with the specified recommendations for installation and care will extend the life of the fence for a long time will retain its presentable appearance.
