Types Of Outdoor Fences
Fences can be used as a trellis for roses or other vine type plants if they are open. If fencing is closed, it can be used as a guard against wind or sun, or as a privacy fence. The materials used to make the fence will determine largely on how it can be used. The most attractive fences are the ones made of wood in various forms, but there are some newer fences that can be made of asbestos-concrete and corrugated sheet metal, these are colorful and guard against rot much better. These types of fences are heavier and they are usually used in a zig-zag pattern to stand up against strong winds.
People can encounter some serious problems when trying to sustain the life of a wooden fence from rotting at the ground line. The bottom of the fence experiences both wet and dry conditions. Some of the best woods to use for withstanding rot are the California redwood and Southern cypress, white and red cedar are also sufficient as well. When painting the wood with a preservative, it will do no good at lengthening the life of your fence, if it will not penetrate the wood.
This is why a post that has been machine treated will do much better at resisting rot. If you use a good preservative product, on clean, dry wood, paint on two or three coats and that should be good enough.
Additionally, the point where the post touches the ground, any place where two pieces are nailed to each other on a wood fence is subject to rot, so treat the wood where the pieces are joined, prior to installing the fence. This preserves it much better then painting it later.
You will need to place your fence posts deep enough into the ground that they will be able to withstand strong winds, so an average of 2 feet or deeper is recommended. Set heavier posts using concrete and tap them firmly into place so the fence does not wiggle. Any hardware used should also be galvanized.
The most common types of fencing to use is the traditional picket fence. This post and rail fence and the hurdle fence, but with increasing stress on privacy fencing, the louvered and lattice fences are gaining even more popularity.
The post-and-rail type fence is made of posts being spaced about every 10 feet, and have large slots cut into them. The 11 feet long railing is tapered to flat ends, which are then inserted into the posts. Hurdle fences are split rail that are built into a frame work that is braced into the posts. Then they are nailed together with the end pieces of each panel then forming the posts.
Picket fences are traditionally white and have posts that are spaced from eight to twelve feet apart, rails that are 3 by 4 inches and pickets that are 2 to 3 inches wide and pointed on the bottom. The pickets need to stand about 2 inches off the ground and extend above the top railing by quite a distance. The spindle fence is a type of picket fencing with round spindles which pass through the holes in the rail.
There are many different variances in building a board fence when used for screening purposes. Board fences are easier to construct than a hand weaved fence. A broad board can be alternated with a narrower rail, or the board can be applied vertically, like palings, and a staggering of boards on either side of the railing. Boards can be slanted in a sort of louver effect to give it a sort of privacy, while still allowing air flow and sunshine.
A basket-weave type of fence may be constructed from thin, flexible boards and can provide total privacy and an attractive background for plants. It is a hard project for the do-it-yourselfer however.
