Making a metal or wooden picket fence. A fence made of wooden and metal picket fences How to make a picket fence with your own hands from wood

A picket fence is one of the most popular fences among people. This is due to its strength, durability and reasonable price of building materials. You can create such fences with your own hands in just a few days. Later in the article we will talk in detail about the types of these structures and the rules for creating your own picket fence.

Execution options

A picket fence is a fence that is made of vertically installed slats and crossbars. Reiki can be from the most different materials: metal, wood, plastic, polymer composite, polyvinyl chloride, etc.

In addition, the slats do not necessarily have to be positioned vertically - some craftsmen make elegant fences with a semicircular, horizontal or crossed picket fence arrangement.

Important! When constructing a fence made of wood, the self-tapping screws for attaching the pickets must be moistened in drying oil. This will extend the life of the fence.

It is best to lay out the picket fence in different ways when working with wooden material, since it is easier to correct in terms of length and width. This especially applies to those people who want to build a fence with their own hands for the first time and at the same time want to get creative with possible options layouts

The most popular options remain:

There are a lot of design options, but turning some of them into reality (without experience in building fences) remains an almost impossible task. The simplest option is to order an elegantly shaped picket fence from a craftsman (you can come up with the drawing yourself), and then simply install it vertically.

Made of wood

The most popular type of private fencing summer cottages. Wood remains one of the most affordable and environmentally friendly building materials. To install a fence from it, you do not need exotic tools or special skills or knowledge.

Moreover, professional craftsmen can build you a unique decorative fence from a wooden picket fence, which will be much more difficult to create from another material.

Made of metal

In this case, the slats are made of special metal alloys, which are coated with polymer coating. They have different lengths, depending on the needs of the buyer (180 cm, 230 cm, 260 cm, etc.).

Unlike corrugated sheeting, a metal picket fence leaves gaps between which your area can get sunlight. Tops metal slats can be made in a W shape, this design is a kind of protection against uninvited guests.

Made of plastic

Plastic-based picket fences have become increasingly popular lately. In most cases, this is due to the low cost of the material and wide choice various designs On the market.

The plastic picket fence has a profile hollow design, which is why it is quite fragile, especially when exposed to negative temperatures and ultraviolet radiation (the source of the latter is the sun's rays).

But science does not stand still, and today you can buy fairly strong and flexible plastic, and a fence made from it will be as durable as one made from metal. For example, polyvinyl chloride is a durable, flexible variety plastic that can withstand high mechanical loads.

Recently, picket fences made of wood-polymer composite (WPC) have become increasingly popular. WPC fences can withstand frosts down to -60 °C and heat up to 100 °C. WPC does not fade in the sun and does not contain harmful additives, so it is increasingly used as source material for the manufacture of fences.

Did you know? The world's longest fence is located in southeast Australia. Its length is 5614 km. It was built in late XIX century to protect sheep from those who hunt them wild dogs dingo.

Installation and installation of fencing

Installing a picket fence is not the most difficult task, but it still has its own nuances and rules. Next we will talk about this in detail.

Required tools and materials

To make a wooden fence we will need:

• wooden posts that will be used to install supports;
• timber - 40*40, length about 200-250 cm;
• pickets prepared for installation;
• stakes and cord for marking the area;
• concrete and crushed stone for installing supports;
• bitumen mastic, roofing felt and antiseptic (for waterproofing supports);
• manual or electric drill, tape measure;
• wheelbarrow;
• concrete mixer (if you are going to buy ready-mixed concrete, it won't be needed);
• tamping;
• bayonet and shovel shovels;

Important! At the time of buying finished material from wood, pay attention to its smell. Raw material with the “aroma” of mold indicates that rotting processes have begun in the wood.

If you are going to construct a fence from metal picket fence, you need to get the following materials and devices:

• welding machine;
• screwdriver or electric drill;
• rivets or screws;
• level;
• Bulgarian;
• prepared metal pickets.

In addition, you will need supports, concrete, a drill and other supplies to construct the fence frame. We have described all this in the list for a wooden fence.

If you are going to fence your area with a plastic fence, it is best to immediately purchase ready-made fences, the whole point of installing which is to install supports and attach ready-made plastic sections to them. These sections have already been constructed (plastic pickets are attached to the crossbar).
You can buy the entire structure disassembled, but then you will have to attach the pickets yourself, using rivets or glue. The tools required for installation are the same as in previous cases.

Installation of supports

The durability and reliability of the fence will depend on the quality of installation of the support posts. The supports can be driven deep into the ground using a sledgehammer, they can be concreted, but it is best to install them in a parapet filled with concrete.

Last option installation has several advantages:

• the fence design will be more durable and reliable;
• the picket fence will not come into contact with soil moisture, which will significantly extend its service life;
• water from neutral territory will not be able to freely flow to your site.

The distance between the installed supports should be within 2-3 meters. The pillars need to be deepened by 1-1.5 meters, although this is not strict rule. Experts note that the support must be buried in the ground by at least 1/4 of its length.

Video: how to install a support post

Wooden supports must be treated with an antiseptic and bitumen mastic. These substances significantly extend the service life of the posts, because untreated wood can completely rot after 10 years (the period also depends on the type of wood).

In addition, the supports can be wrapped in roofing material, which prevents excess moisture from entering the wood.

Metal pillars can be concreted without pre-treatment, however, like plastic ones. The last two materials will not suffer significantly from contact with concrete or soil in the next few decades.

Important! When installing plastic or metal supports be sure to put a protective cap on the top that will not let water inside the column.

During installation, be sure to ensure that the supports are perfectly vertical relative to the ground level. It is recommended to install cross bars 5-7 days after installing the supports (if the concreting method was used).
If you simply drove the posts deep into the ground (without pouring concrete), the crossbars can be installed on the same day.

Each span must contain two crossbars, which are attached parallel to each other and perpendicular to the main supports. Metal crossbars are attached using anchors or a welding machine.

The second option is only suitable for those who have welding knowledge metal structures. After final fastening, the cross-sections are covered with primer (to protect the metal from corrosion).

If you are installing wooden crossbars, they must first be coated with an antiseptic and then painted in any color you like. Wooden cross sections can also be secured with anchors.

However, if your fence is small, having only decorative meaning(that is, it will not be subject to serious loads), the crossbars can be secured with several screws or nails.
Plastic cross bars are attached with rivets or special glue. However, in the vast majority of cases, for plastic fences on a support there is a special mount, where the cross-sections should be placed.

Just a few words about a plastic picket fence:

• if you purchased a fence to which you need to attach the pickets yourself, then the kit should include special connecting elements (and instructions for use);
• in most cases, plastic pickets are attached with glue or rivets;
• best buy ready-made fences, which are installed in just two steps (digging in support pillars and inserting sections into the connecting mechanisms).

Attaching a picket fence to a crossbar is very simple, you just have to remember important rule: The distance between adjacent slats must be the same. For control given distance it is necessary to prepare a template, which can be, wooden blocks or level (with which you control the evenness of surfaces). It all depends on how tightly you want to place the pickets relative to each other.

As for the connecting elements: for metal pickets you can use special metal screws or rivets, for wooden ones - nails or self-tapping screws. It is only important to choose optimal length connecting elements (so that they do not completely penetrate the diameters).

Each picket fence must be secured with two connecting elements at the top and two at the bottom. At the end of the work, the heads of nails, screws or rivets should be painted along with the picket fence.

Secrets of durability

The durability of a plastic picket fence will directly depend on the quality of the material. We advise you to buy durable composites, for example, wood-polymer.
Such material will be able to withstand both moderate mechanical loads and extreme weather conditions.

If you don’t throw stones at such a fence, it will remain unchanged on your site for decades. To for a long time to protect wooden and metal fences, it is necessary to regularly treat them protective coatings: varnish, primer, stain, etc.

Did you know? Polyvinyl chloride, on the basis of which they are made plastic fences, also used to create artificial leather, window profiles and airbags in cars.

It is advisable to paint the fence every 2-3 years; such procedures will protect the metal from oxidation and the wood from rotting. If you are the owner metal fence, then only the supports and cross-sections should be painted, since the pickets themselves are already coated with a special protective coating.

Advantages of picket fences

The advantages of these types of fences include:

1. Ease of installation. Even a beginner can build a fence; To do this, you just need to follow the rules that are described in detail in this article.
2. Easy to care for. Metal and plastic fences only need to be cleaned of dirt and dust, and wooden ones need to be coated with protective varnish or paint once every 1-2 years.
3. Metal and plastic products protected by special polymer layer, which prevents corrosion and various biological damage.
4. You can create a structure that will let sunlight into your area.
5. The cost of picket fences is moderate, especially when compared with concrete or stone fences.
6. You can build a very beautiful decorative fence from wood - you just need to use your imagination and attract experienced specialist who will turn your idea into reality.

Disadvantages of picket fences

Among the disadvantages of this type fences can be distinguished as follows:

1. Compared to corrugated fences, picket fences are more labor-intensive to install.
2. A tree can lose its decorative beauty after just 10 years (crack, split, etc.). This can happen even with proper care, because a lot depends on the type of wood and climatic conditions a certain region.
3. A picket fence is fragile and can break under the weight of a person who tries to climb over it.

Now you know what types of picket fences there are and how to install them correctly on your property. Play with your imagination, use your imagination and skills, and you will definitely succeed.

Continuous or through fencing made of wooden slats widely used for fencing houses and summer cottages. A wooden picket fence has many advantages: its production requires minimal costs, and if repairs are necessary, it can be done as quickly as possible.

Required materials and tools:

roulette, building level, strong twine;
shovel or drill;
metal pipes or wooden logs for making supports;
transverse logs (veins) made of metal or durable timber coniferous species 50x100 mm (for every 30 m of fence you will need 10 supports and 20 three-meter veins);
fence;

Wooden picket fence

Sand, cement, crushed stone for pouring metal support pillars;
hacksaw with medium teeth;
axe, hammer;
chisel with a wide blade;
plane;
screwdriver;
mounting brackets and bolts for attaching crossbars to racks;
self-tapping screws or galvanized nails;
sandpaper for sanding wood;
drying oil, paint and brush for painting.

Installation of support pillars

To make the fence even, the soil should be carefully leveled. Before leveling, the area where the construction of the fence is planned is cleared, and trees and bushes are uprooted. The roots of many plants (poplar, willow, rose hips, etc.) are quite tenacious, so even small cuttings should be removed. Otherwise, after a couple of years, the remaining roots may produce abundant growth and damage the hedge.
1. Along the perimeter of the site, in the place of future supports, gates and gates, small pegs, between which a string is stretched. To ensure that the fence is perfectly level, before you begin installing the support posts, you should measure their location several times using a building level.

A string is stretched along the perimeter of the fence

Advice. When wet, wood becomes heavier, which significantly increases the load on supports and joists, so they must be made of sufficiently strong wood or metal.

2. The standard interval between supports is 2.5-3 m. This distance will be enough to support the entire span. The distance between the supports must be equal to the length cross beams taking into account the indentation on the fastening.

3. At the location of the supports, use a shovel or drill to make holes 70-100 cm deep (this figure depends on the type of soil). Fill the bottom of the pit with a layer of 20 cm broken brick, stones or gravel, then sand. This “pillow” is thoroughly spilled with water and compacted.

4. Wooden logs cleared of bark and knots. To protect against dampness and insects, the part that will be underground should be burned at the stake or treated blowtorch. Wood can also be impregnated with bitumen.

5. Wooden supports should not be poured with mortar - they will rot very quickly in concrete. They are installed in pre-prepared holes and covered with crushed stone and sand. In this case, each layer of such backfill is spilled with water and compacted.

Advice. Since the main load will fall on the pillars and veins, it is better to make them from metal. They should be thoroughly cleaned of rust and coated with any anti-corrosion solution. Places that will be in the ground should be treated especially carefully.

Installation of metal supports

6. Support posts must be installed strictly vertically. To do this, use a building level.

Aligning the supports

7. Once the supports are aligned, they are secured using spacers. Next it is poured concrete mortar with the addition of crushed stone. Its proportions depend on the brand of cement.

Important! All subsequent work is carried out only after the solution has set (at least 1-2 days).

8. To ensure that the height of the fence is the same along the entire perimeter, after installing the first and last pillar, a nail is driven on top of them, and a string is stretched between them, which will serve as a guide for other supports.

A string is stretched between the supports

Fixing the picket fence

1. Grooves are prepared in wooden pillars (two for each pillar) 30 cm deep. Their location is measured with a building level.

2. A vein is inserted into each groove and secured to the post using self-tapping screws (a more durable option) or nails. In this way, all the pillars are tied.

Attaching the log

Advice. When using metal supports, rust can quickly appear in the places where the veins (logs) are welded to the posts, so it is better to fasten them with mounting brackets and bolts. Using staples purchased from a store or made yourself from strips of metal, you can attach and wooden joists.

Attaching the support to a wooden core using a bracket

3. Standard length picket fence 1.25 m. When using boards non-standard sizes they are cut to the required length.

4. The outer pickets are attached first, and they should be located exactly 90° relative to the vein. To protect the boards from rotting, their lower end should be placed at a distance 5 cm from the ground. Next, the remaining boards are attached.

Fixing the picket fence

Advice. To avoid splitting, pickets, screws or nails should not be placed along the same line. To prevent the ends from sticking out, you should not attach them too close to the edge.

5. Distance between pickets may be arbitrary. They can be attached either as a continuous sheet or with a slight indentation from each other. However, for the fence to look aesthetically pleasing, these indentations must be the same along the entire length of the fence.

Advice. When installing a continuous fence, to prevent deformation due to changes in humidity, the boards should be fastened with a small gap.

The boards are attached with a small gap

Painting and decorating the fence

To prevent the wood from absorbing too much paint, before painting it is coated with drying oil and allowed to dry. For painting use any frost-resistant paints, stains or decorative varnishes.

Decorating a picket fence is easy. For example, you can cut its upper part at a certain angle, make it semicircular, or, combining the length of the picket fence, decorate the top of the fence with a zigzag or ladder. The cut ends are sanded or sanded. Pickets sawed at a certain angle not only look more original, but absorb less moisture: it rolls off its surface.

Any decorative elements fences are cut out according to the template from plywood using jigsaw. They can be made separately and then attached to separate sections of the fence.

Types of picket fences

Options for decorating a picket fence

Video: Installing a picket fence with your own hands

One of the most common types of fencing is a picket fence. This is explained by the fact that such a fence looks beautiful, and making a picket fence with your own hands is simple and accessible to any home craftsman.

Its structure is very simple: pillars are installed, transverse slats are nailed to them, to which pickets are attached at a certain distance; they can be either wooden or metal. Some people make such a fence without gaps; in this case, the pickets are attached close to each other.

If you decide to make a wooden fence, then you need to purchase posts, cross slats, a picket fence and screws, as well as paint or stain, it all depends on what you decide to use to open it.

Rice. 1 Wooden fence

That's it now more people makes a choice towards metal rather than wooden fence, this is explained by the fact that the service life of such a fence is much longer.

Despite this, there are still many lovers of wooden fencing.

There is an installation option combined design, when the supports and slats are made of metal, and the pickets are made of wood.

So you can do durable design, since the main load goes directly to the pillars and cross bars.

You can purchase wooden pickets with a width of 2 cm; to attach the slats to the posts, it is best to purchase special fasteners, and the installation of the pickets is carried out using galvanized self-tapping screws and a screwdriver.

Carrying out installation

If you want to build a beautiful and reliable fence, do not rush, take the time to complete the preparatory work.

To do this, you need to clean the area, remove grass from it, mark it, and if necessary, level it.

Rice. 2 The design of such a fence

To install the fence evenly, drive in pegs and pull the cord, which you will then use to carry out installation. Using a tape measure, mark the places where the posts will be installed; the distance between them should correspond to the length of the transverse slats, taking into account the width of the support.

The pillars must be installed securely, so the depth of the pit must be at least 50 cm. The installation of the pillars must be done using a level or plumb line, after which they are securely concreted.

Only after the concrete has hardened well can you move on to the next stage of the work.

Now you need to attach the transverse strips to the posts using fasteners, then mark the locations for the pickets on them using a marker and tape measure.

This is necessary so that they are installed at the same distance, only in this case the appearance of the wooden fence will be beautiful and attractive. All that remains is to take a screwdriver and self-tapping screws and attach the pickets.

Metal fence

The installation of not a wooden, but a metal picket fence is becoming increasingly popular, this is explained by its significantly longer service life.

On the modern construction market you can purchase metal pickets that are coated with a special polymer coating.

Although the price of a metal picket fence is slightly higher than a wooden one, it does not need to be painted, since it is already coated, and this is not only convenient, but also profitable.

To install a metal picket fence you will need the following tools:

Despite the fact that the pickets are metal, the weight of such a structure will not be very large and there will be enough posts made from them profile pipe section 60x60mm.

In order to make longitudinal slats, you can use a pipe with a cross section of 20x40mm. Pickets can be purchased with a thickness of 0.5 to 2 mm; the thicker they are, the longer their service life will be, but the greater the weight. Fastening is carried out using galvanized self-tapping screws.

Carrying out installation work

For crossbars, you can purchase a pipe with a length of 2 to 12 meters, but so that there is no heavy load on the pillars, the distance between them should not exceed 3-4 meters.

Rice. 4 Fastening the metal picket fence

The pillars are installed in prepared holes and securely concreted to prevent water from getting inside; a special plug must be installed on top.

The holes for corner or outer pillars must be made deeper, since these supports will bear the maximum load.

The store usually sells such a picket fence with a width of 10-12 cm, depending on what type of fence you want to make, choose the distance between the individual pickets.

After the concrete has hardened and the pillars are securely held, transverse strips are attached to them; this can be done by welding or using special fasteners. Next we make markings and attach the pickets using screws.

Fencing finishing

If you have made a wooden fence, then it must be coated with paint or varnish. Most often, compositions based on alkyd resins are used; they make it possible to highlight the structure of the wood and look more attractive than a fence painted with paint.

You can use wax-filled materials as finishing. In this case, the wax is deeply absorbed into the wood and reliably protects it from damage.

While painting the fence, Special attention Pay attention to processing the sides and ends of the boards, since they are most susceptible to moisture. It is recommended to paint all parts before installation, and then do this again after installation.

With metal pickets everything is much simpler, since they are sold already coated with a polymer composition that reliably protects them from corrosion and have an attractive appearance.

Table 1. Cost of materials.

If you decide to purchase ready-made sections of a wooden picket fence, then the price of one section 2.5 meters long and 1.5 meters high will cost you about 3000-5000 rubles.

It is impossible to give a definite answer as to whether a metal or wooden fence is better; it all depends on the preferences and capabilities of the owner, and the installation of such fences is carried out almost the same way.

A wooden picket fence is a once half-forgotten type of fencing that has now become a trend again, gradually replacing the popular metal. Wood is universal and warm material, symbol home comfort in temperate climates. There are wooden picket fences in almost every locality Russia. Although they got their name from German word pole or pillar.

Classics of the genre

The specificity of the fencing structure makes it durable and strong, the material gives comfort and decorativeness, the main advantage is the variability of the proposed construction. Dimensions - width, height and length - can be given any size, and simple painting will change even the most unsightly row of wooden slats.

The picket fence received its name due to the specificity of the device from several standard elements. The developed technology for installing such barriers makes the fence functional and strong, and relatively inexpensive. The established scheme: the longitudinal strips are fixed to the longitudinal slats.

Fence on the site

They are fixed on strong support posts dug into the ground or concreted.

Craftsmen, in an effort to decorate everyday life, moved away from the boring German standard. A simple picket fence is sometimes a real work of art.

The photo shows pseudo-Russian style, decorated using the simplest tools.

Before painting

A wooden picket fence built in a dacha easily turns from a functional fence into a decorative fence. This happens thanks to in different ways fastening, the whimsical imagination of the owner who worked on it, unusual coloring or the use of slats of different lengths.

It’s hard to say what exactly brought the practice of installing wooden picket fences back into everyday life and construction:

• fashion for natural materials;
• the inherent decorativeness of wood;
• relatively affordable cost;
• a nostalgic mood for the good old days, when such fences were the most common thing and covered every meter of outlying streets and villages;
• the ability to install a picket fence with your own hands, without special tools, to independently and accurately calculate the required footage;
• option to order a fence from a construction company;
• almost any size of fencing.

Fence decor

Perhaps the combination of advantages made a wooden picket fence popular. The use of imagination and skills gives rise to such beautiful fences that passers-by stop to admire. And for a long time now it has not occurred to anyone to think that the owner’s choice was forced to make more low cost wooden picket fence.

The photo shows a capital structure in the Magnat style.

Beautiful fence for a private house

Picket fence - best choice, possessions, cottages, township and rural housing. In his undeniable advantages includes:

• various designs, subject to any whim of the owner;
• the presence, if necessary, of additional reinforcement, shields stuffed to close gaps, metal or;
• variable methods of placing slats (options for laying a picket fence: checkerboard, herringbone, oblique crossbars, beams, imitation of a log house);
• Availability modern compositions for impregnation, allowing to extend the previously short life of the structure, and at the same time emphasize the natural beauty of the tree;
• opportunity to paint beautifully using modern paints with their bright color scheme, if necessary;
• reliability of the structure, which can be further enhanced by using brick or metal pillars.

The photo shows a simple picket row. Comfort and a sea of ​​light.

Democratic option for a country house

You can buy such material at almost any construction market or supermarket. A picket fence made of other materials (or) can be ordered on a turnkey basis or made with your own hands. A fence calculator can be found on websites for builders. To calculate approximate cost, it is enough to simply take measurements.

How to make a picket fence can be found in the information space, but any zealous owner knows perfectly well the technique for constructing a simple and durable fence. He would prefer, having purchased materials, to begin installing the fence in order to be proud of the fence he made with his own hands.

Original and beautiful hedge

Preparation of material

The future builder has 2 options: he can buy ready-made slats, processed in a special way, with the required parameters (in extreme cases, he will have to trim a little) and begin installation on the day of purchase. Craftsmen who have equipment prefer the second, more complex way: they make pickets with their own hands.

Drawing for installation of the structure

DIY installation

The design of an ordinary fence is extremely simple. Strong pillars are dug in at a distance of 2 meters from each other, capable of withstanding the weight of the picket fence even in wet(wood becomes heavier when wet). Holes are dug under them, with a depth of 70 cm (for strength, a meter is possible). To make the fence beautiful and even, the holes are first marked with pegs, and string is pulled between them.

The distance is measured with a tape measure; it should not exceed 3 meters.

This type of fencing will last a long time.

Installation of posts and guides

Pits for posts must be equipped accordingly, taking into account the type of soil. They can be made with a drill or dug, this is not important, but sand and gravel must be poured onto the bottom and compacted thoroughly before installing the post and making concrete pouring. For a simple fence at the dacha, you can do without concreting. And for the strength of the structure, reduce the distance between the supports by a meter.

Installation option without concreting pillars

But best option— concrete the pillars so that after installation you do not have to deal with repairs as a result of unfavorable weather conditions. Experts are sure that wood rots faster in concrete, so it is better to lay sand and gravel, carefully compacting each layer. The pillars are additionally treated for strength. Bitumen is used as a democratic option.

Set of picket fence sections

The logs are attached to wooden post, but do not forget that we install them only after the concrete has hardened thoroughly. Metal brackets are used to fix them. There are different types of fences and to attach them, if the design is simple, people use screws or nails.

Another installation diagram

How to correctly assemble the board part directly is also decided in different ways:

1. The block of crossbars and picket fence is assembled on the ground, and then attached as a whole to the supports.
2. The logs are installed on poles, and the pickets are nailed to the finished frame.

For a simple fence that allows light to pass through, optimal set- in sections. It makes it possible for several builders to work at once: some assemble sections, others attach ready-made panels to the veins.

Picket fences are eternal timeless classic. Due to its low cost and ease of installation, installation of such a fence is accessible to any summer resident. In the article we will tell you how to install a wooden picket fence, talk about the choice of materials, their preparation, and the stages of creating a fence.

Advantages and disadvantages of picket fences

A fence made of picket fence allows sunlight to pass through and does not provide strong shading.

Today's construction market is replete with materials for fencing: corrugated sheets, concrete sections, polycarbonate and much more. A wooden picket fence may seem rustic and rustic in comparison. But this material has a number of undeniable advantages:

• it fits harmoniously into the countryside landscape;
• allows you to create an airy and openwork, but at the same time durable structure;
• shades the area a little;
• inexpensive;
• easy and quick to install.

Choosing a picket fence

In order for the fence to serve for a long time and be strong enough, the choice of material must be approached responsibly. When purchasing, you need to pay attention to the following points:

It is very important to avoid following errors when choosing a picket fence:

1. Buy material from low-quality wood. Any defects - black spots, knots, mold - will affect the strength and service life of the fence. It is necessary to reject pickets with signs of cross-layering - a wood defect in which the fibers deviate from the longitudinal axis.
2. Buy dyed material. Unscrupulous manufacturers often hide the above-described defects under paint.
3. Buy material without taking into account the terrain. Wood different breeds behaves differently under conditions high humidity. If country cottage area located in a lowland or in an area where it often rains, you should pay special attention to this point.

For operation in such conditions, it is better to choose a picket fence from the following types of wood:

Breed	Characteristic
Spruce or pine	Light wood shade. High resistance to rotting and splitting. There may be resin pockets, reducing the strength of the picket fence.
Aspen	A popular type of wood for baths and well log houses. It is practically not subject to rotting from moisture. It is easy to process, resistant to splitting, and has a slightly greenish tint. May be affected by fungus and requires treatment with fungicides.
Larch	The rock is extremely resistant to decay and turns to stone in water. The wood is durable, very strong, with a beautiful reddish tint. Difficult to process.

Tip #1. When purchasing a picket fence, you can ask the manufacturer when the wood was harvested. Practice shows that materials winter harvesting differ more high quality than spring or summer.

Preparation of tools and materials

If you are thinking about a carved decorative fence, at the stage of preparing the materials, pickets are used to give it the desired shape.

When starting to build a wooden fence, you need to acquire the following tools:

• jigsaw or hacksaw;
• screwdriver or hammer;
• screws or nails;
• rope and stakes for marking;
• plumb line;
• shovel.

You should also prepare support posts and veins to which the picket fence will be attached. To concrete the pillars you will need a certain amount cement mortar. All wooden elements future fence is pre-treated special compounds, preventing rotting and molding:

Compound	Characteristic
"Aquatex Ground antiseptic"	Non-washable alkyd coating with enhanced protection against biological damage. Does not change the color of wood, can be coated with paint, maintaining its properties.
"Euro Eco Wood"	Finnish glazing antiseptic from the Tikkurila company. Provides protection for wood from moisture, fungus and ultraviolet radiation for up to 5 years. Does not change the color of the wood.
"KSD"	A unique impregnation that provides not only bioprotection, but also fire resistance of wood. Does not wash out, does not change the color of the wood, and can be coated with paint.

Tip #2. Bottom part It would be a good idea to treat the support pillars with liquid bitumen. This will ensure reliable protection from rotting, even if the supports are not concreted, but simply dug into the ground.

Installation of the base for attaching pickets

As an alternative to concreting, the support beams can be supported on metal piles with a U-shaped flange.

Having cleared the area where the fence will be installed, markings are made using stakes and rope. Then proceed according to the following plan:

• At intervals of 2 m, holes are dug for support pillars. Depth – at least 100 cm.
• Drainage from sand and crushed stone is poured into the pits, supports are installed and their strictly vertical position is checked with a plumb line.
• The pillars are concreted.
• The supports are connected to each other by horizontal veins.

As a standard, two veins are made: the lower one - at a height of 20 cm from the ground, the upper one - 20 cm below the support pillar.

Installation of a picket fence "Duga"

A picket fence is not necessarily a boring rural option with an even top cut. Give the fence interesting view it is possible by mounting the pickets in an arc:

• The pickets are prepared by creating a rounded top cut.
• By adjusting the length of the pickets, they are mounted between the supports of the sections in the form of a wave.

Horizontal installation The slats successfully imitate expensive fences made of metal picket fences.

The difference with this design is that the pickets are not laid vertically, but horizontally. If this type of installation is selected, the distance between support pillars need to be cut to the length of the pickets. Another option is to dig additional ones between the main supports. Horizontal veins in in this case not required.

The “Blinds” fence is especially suitable for damp areas, providing them with good ventilation.

Quite complex, but very spectacular look laying the picket fence - in the form of blinds. However, wooden supports are less suitable for creating such a fence. It's better to take metal channel and for each pillar tie it in pairs with their “backs” facing each other. Horizontal veins, like for the Ranch fence, are not required.

Installation of pickets is carried out in such a way that they are located horizontally, but under small angle. The finished canvas resembles half-closed Mediterranean blinds. Similar design good because it provides ventilation and light transmission, but at the same time provides excellent protection inner space area from prying eyes.

Installation of a picket fence “Lattice”

Another non-standard solution– laying a picket fence in the form of a lattice. It is more convenient to tie such a fence to the supports in ready-made sections, so installation takes place “on the ground”.

The “Lattice” fence does not create a feeling of enclosure and harmonizes not only with wooden, but also with brick buildings.

• To make a lattice section from a picket fence, you will need a wooden or metal carcass. The strips are cut to the required length and attached to the frame crosswise.
• If you use Lattice to create a fence metal elements, it is better to paint them to match the color of the pickets. This will ensure the visual integrity of the structure.

Current questions about picket fences

There is a special construction formula for this: N=L/(S+d). The value L here shows the length of the fence, S is the width of each picket fence, d is the interval between them. If there is a picket fence standard width 5 cm, which needs to be laid in one layer with an interval of 3 cm, then 125 pickets will be required for 10 meters of fence.

Question No. 2. How to care for a picket fence?

A wooden fence, mounted from well-prepared material, needs minimal care. Once a year in the spring, it needs to be carefully inspected and the pickets that have become unusable should be replaced. Fences older than five years may require stripping old paint and re-treatment with an antiseptic composition.

Question No. 3. Which picket fence is better - wooden or metal?

A metal picket fence (called a Euro picket fence) is more profitable than a wooden one, since its service life is almost unlimited. It's easier to care for - polymer coating it is reliable, and a fence made from this material will have to be painted no earlier than after 10 years. Its disadvantage compared to the classic one wooden fencing– complexity of installation.

Question No. 4. How to paint a wooden fence correctly?

First, you need to clean the wood from all contaminants and sand it. If it is not impregnated with an antiseptic, or the impregnation period has expired, apply protective composition and left until dry. After this, the wood is covered with a layer of primer. You can skip this step, but you need to remember that the primer allows you to save the base coat. For perfectly even painting, the dried primer layer is sanded and the paint is applied with a roller.

Question No. 5. Is it possible to make a picket fence with your own hands from boards?

Certainly. To keep material consumption to a minimum, you need to take six-meter boards with a thickness of 20 mm. The tools you will need are a jigsaw, a grinder with grinding disc and an electric planer. The boards are marked by length - usually into four parts of 1.5 m each - and sawed with a jigsaw. If the width of the board is large, each piece is opened longitudinally. The same tool can be used to shape the upper cuts - at an angle, spear-shaped or rounded. The edges of the workpiece are processed with an electric planer, after which the entire surface of the picket fence is thoroughly polished.