Straight slate fence. How to make a slate fence with your own hands - preparation, calculation and step-by-step construction technology

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It’s easy to build a fence from inexpensive and reliable material. It is enough to understand the fasteners, markings and plans for the future construction. For example, a fence made of slate will last longer than one made from untreated boards. And in private households they even try to use old roofing material - it can be used to make a fence at the rear of the site. It turns out that both new and previously used slate are suitable for the job.

Features of using slate for fence construction

Slate is one of the simplest and inexpensive materials for making a fence. Moreover, any side of the fence will look neat. Modern slate is suitable for both rural areas and houses within the city.

The slate is made of asbestos cement, so maximum strength cannot be expected. It’s easy to guess that even the thinnest iron is more stable. However, there are developments in using slate. It is advisable to place the front part of the fence away from the road so that accidental debris from under the wheels does not damage the sheets. And ordinary barriers between neighboring plots are easiest to make from slate; even one person can handle such work.

This material has been known for quite a long time. It is obtained by mixing Portland cement, asbestos and water. Evenly distributed asbestos fibers form a strong mesh, increasing the impact strength and tensile strength of the material.

Advantages and disadvantages of using slate for a fence

Advantages:

low cost;
average fire resistance;
opportunity decorative processing any paint;
easy installation.

Disadvantages:

asbestos in the composition is not an environmentally friendly material;
explodes when heated;
service life depends on the specific location. And the lower the temperature in winter time, the faster the cracks will appear. If you protect with acrylic (paint), the service life will increase;
When working with slate, protection is required. It is necessary to wear construction respirators to prevent dust from entering the respiratory tract.

Types of slate used for fences

Wave sheets made from asbestos cement have curly shape. The material has the following advantages:

Flat slate sheets have the same composition, the only difference is in shape.

Both types of slate have flaws that can be ironed out. The appearance of the material deteriorates somewhat over the years, becomes dull and fades. However, if you cover it with special substances, this can be prevented.

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Flat or wavy slate for a fence is a weak material, or rather, brittle in bending. Don’t forget about the weight of such a building unit; it is quite large compared to the same metal sheet.

If you decide to buy slate rather than use the old one from the roof of the house or outbuilding, then you should keep in mind that it is easier to mount and load flat sheets.

DIY slate fence installation

Making a slate fence is easy. On a not very large area, such work can be completed in a few days.

Preparation for construction: marking the territory

Some kind of important feature There is no slate fence in the markings. This working moment is the same as the layout for any type of fence. To begin with, it is worth clearing the part of the territory where construction will take place. Next, you need to tighten the thread and install it so that along its entire length it follows the line of the future fence. Markings are usually secured to pegs, posts, steel reinforcement, or any other remaining building material. Accuracy in size and placement of the thread along the entire length of the future slate fence is the main requirement for marking.

When calculating the building material, it becomes clear required amount posts for the entire fence. During the marking process, it is necessary to accurately place a landmark in their place. A specific distance is maintained between each pillar; if this stage is neglected, further work will only become more complicated. After all, all slate sheets are the same size. It is for this that they plan to mark the pillars.

Selection of material and its dimensions

A good construction market or supermarket can offer:

euroslate, also known as ondulin;
asbestos cement slate;
plastic slate.

All these materials are intended for roofing, but are also perfect for fences. When choosing, you need to focus on the characteristics:

plasticity;
rigidity;
hardness

When purchasing new fencing material, many people prefer flexible slate. It probably won't be damaged by strong winds. Such construction material has a rectangular shape, its surface is either flat or wavy. The downside is this: the stated service life is only 15 years, and the protective layer must be replaced every 5 years. The interior of flexible slate is susceptible to burning.

Video: flexible polycarbonate slate

Calculation of the required amount of material

Standard sizes wave slate are 1750 by 1135 millimeters.

The long side of the sheet is usually attached horizontally. The corrugated material must be mounted on the fence with an overlap, for which there is a margin of 125 mm. This makes it easier to calculate the length of the fence. It is not difficult to guess that for 1 meter of construction you will need one sheet, placed horizontally in a wave.

What’s interesting is that when working with wave slate, you shouldn’t be afraid of incorrect markings, because the sheets can hide all the errors between the pillars.

The flat material is available in four sizes:

Length 3 meters, width 1.5 meters.
Length 2 meters, width 1.5 meters.
Length 1.75 meters, width 1.13 meters.
Length 1.5 meters, width 1 meter.

Most often they try to buy the third option, paying attention to the thickness. This parameter should be equal to 10 mm, then the sheet itself will weigh 40 kg. For comparison: a thickness of 8 mm is already lighter - 30 kg.

Calculating the amount of material is very simple: you need to measure total length fence and divide into one sheet. More precisely, by the amount that remains without overlap. Having received the required number of units, you need to purchase with a reserve of 2 or 3 pieces.

An example of calculating the number of wave slate sheets

Let's assume that the total length of the perimeter is 40 meters. Wave slate 1750 by 1135 mm in the amount of 40 units is being used ( working surface one sheet is 1 m). They buy not 40 sheets with a reserve, but 42–43, because defects and errors in construction are inevitable.

Necessary tools for building a fence

When installing on your own, it’s better to work in pairs, but you won’t be able to do it without the following set of tools:

grinder or screwdriver with a cutting attachment;
drill;
welding machine;
spanners;
levels;
plumb line;
construction hammers;
mounting bolts.

Step-by-step guide to making a slate fence

The work is performed in the following sequence:

Use a hand drill to create holes for the posts around the perimeter of the marking. When there is no such tool, they take an ordinary shovel and carefully dig deep, but not wide holes. They try to make sure that further filling with the solution is economical. The holes are made one third of the length of the pillars.
Install pillars. Corners from metal profile or pieces of pipes. These components, together with the pillar, must subsequently be filled with concrete or cement. The distance between the pillars is no more than two and a half meters.
Install veins. Between the pillars you need to fasten horizontal strips, which are usually made of timber, and in low-cost construction - from poles. These elements need to be secured with screws. If the veins are made from a profile pipe, they are mounted using welding machine. In the absence of such a tool, you can drill holes in iron posts and attach any type of pole to bolts. When this part of the work is completed, it is advisable to protect the fence frame with automotive mastic. Usually they try to apply more than one layer, then the frame structure will be completely protected from corrosion.
Post preparatory basis along the entire fence line. Going to work old brick, less often a special site is filled.
Install the fence cloth. Sheets of slate are alternately secured to the frame with nails or self-tapping screws.

Video: how to paint fence posts correctly

Finishing and decorating a slate fence

This type of fence is easy to protect, decorate, and maintain. It is enough to follow some established rules:

Any mechanical damage to slate is thought out in advance, otherwise its service life is reduced several times.

Video: installing a slate fence

Slate was invented for roofing, so create from it reliable fences or there is not always a barrier. They stop at this material only if there is a large remainder after construction or there is no suitable one modern material in the shop. Although on the outskirts of the countryside, where there is a possibility of theft good stuff too high, nailing old slate onto the poles would be the best solution.

Slate is one of the most available building materials for erecting a fence. At the same time, anyone, even a beginner, can build a slate fence with their own hands. House master. However, it cannot be considered as cheap material. Compared to wood, slate is more expensive. But unlike brick or corrugated board, a fence made from the material in question will be cheaper.

Wave slate fence

Until relatively recently, slate was offered as a material for roofing, but today it is actively used as fences.

Among the main advantages are the following:

Fire safety. This material It is not flammable, and during strong heating it does not emit toxic substances.
Long service time. Fence from flat slate can last at least 35 years, wavy - more than 25 years.
Slight elasticity, which does not allow ruptures when stretched, allows the material to resist strong gusts of wind without compromising its integrity.
Resistance to aggressive chemicals.
Slate does not make loud noises when it rains, unlike other sheet materials.
Frost resistance, as well as resistance to sudden temperature changes.
You can build a fence with your own hands - there are no difficulties in constructing this fence. Moreover, the structure is prefabricated.
Ease of processing - the sheets can be easily drilled and cut with conventional tools.
Euro-slate, which is coated with pigmenting phosphate or silicate compounds, has excellent performance. In addition to high decorative qualities, this increases resistance to atmospheric phenomena: the material more easily tolerates significant temperature fluctuations, freezing, and almost does not allow moisture to pass through.

Wave fencing in the village

In general, the slate fence comes out quite neat, although, of course, we are not talking about high aesthetic properties.

Often there is a discussion on forums various disadvantages protective structures made of slate.

Among the main ones are:

The main drawback is the composition of the slate. The material contains dangerous substance– asbestos. But asbestos poses a danger only during cutting of the sheet or when stored in closed warehouses. If slate sheets are placed outdoors, they are safe for health.
Low resistance to moisture. It is not advisable to install this fence in areas with a humid climate. The fence will not be able to remain in its original condition for a long time. The surface will quickly darken, become covered with moss, and crack.
The fence turns out to be quite heavy due to the large weight of the slate itself. This often creates some inconvenience during installation and subsequent operation. During construction, more durable load-bearing elements. During future use, the fence may tilt due to its significant weight.
Low aesthetic appeal. Wave slate fencing does not look very nice. If you choose a colored material, the situation can be significantly improved, but it must be painted almost every year. A self-installed flat slate fence has better decorative qualities, as well as a more attractive appearance.
Fragility. The hedge has low level resistance to pinpoint impacts. Any mechanical stress can contribute to splitting or hole formation, which will require repair of the structure. Also, after a while, when the fence begins to tilt under its own weight, cracks may appear in the areas of fastening to the sheathing elements.

The photo below shows a slate fence.

Wave slate fence on a summer cottage

The latter is 12% heavier, but its strength characteristics increase by 22%. This is how the fragility issue can be partially resolved. At the same time, the material has a more accurate geometry and has 45 more freezing and defrosting cycles. But if you need to make a budget fence, then you can choose LP-NP.

Wave slate also has several types. Today, manufacturers have increased their range thanks to in various ways painting products. This significantly increased the attractiveness of the material, and saved consumers from the problem of how to paint a slate fence.

Types of wave slate sheets:

unified slate (UV);
reinforced sheet (RS);
wave ordinary sheet (VO).

The wavy look of slate can be seen in the photo below.

Fence of a private house

It is best to make a wave slate fence with your own hands from a unified UV sheet. It has high density, as well as convenient dimensions for work. The weight of the sheet is no more than 25 kg, and the useful size is almost close to the actual one. This reduces consumption and also simplifies the installation process.

Preparatory work

Before you make a slate fence with your own hands, you need to make calculations. Calculating slate fencing is very simple. You just need to measure the perimeter of the enclosed area, subtract the openings of wickets and gates. Then a drawing is made where the supports of the future fence are placed: corner and intermediate. Subsequent calculations are made after selecting slate sheets.

Preparing supports for slate fencing

Dimensions and building materials

Regarding strength, there is no significant difference between corrugated and flat slate sheets. This material, one way or another, is fragile. Therefore, it is necessary to select products taking into account their availability, price and the desired result.

Flat sheet slate is easier to install and allows the installation of individual elements without overlap. Accordingly, with a significant length of the fence, you can save 2-3 sheets.

Installation of fence posts and fastening of logs

When purchasing material, you need to pay attention to the geometric dimensions:

mismatch linear dimensions should be no more than ±4 mm;
wave - no more than 5 mm for pressed sheets, up to 9 mm for unpressed sheets;
The diagonal deviation should be no more than 4 mm.

To determine the quality of slate, you need to read its markings, as well as measure any sheet. You also need to pay attention to the color of the surface: darkening is the cause high humidity and improper storage of material.

Fence installation diagram

As for the height of a slate fence, there are many nuances in this case. SNiP does not specify clear requirements; it only recommends installing fences no more than 2 m high.

However, if we consider solid fences, then in this case the size is reduced to 75 cm.

Also local regulatory rules may be subject to certain restrictions. But still, most often, problems with fences of the “wrong” height appear only if the homeowner himself was unable to find a peaceful solution with his neighbors.

There is one more nuance: the optimal height of the fence is about 2 m. This is quite enough to ensure that the area is screened from prying eyes. But this size does not exist in standard products. There are two ways out of the situation: either use a wave sheet, or find a flat slate made according to specifications, which has this size.

Sketch of a slate fence

Design and calculation

It is necessary to measure the area to find out how much slate will be needed to build the fence.

Drawing for installing a fence

If the calculation results in a fractional number, it is rounded up. You also need to remember about the fragility of the material, so you need to purchase it with a margin of 7%, for the example described, 6-7 sheets.

The estimate also includes fence supports. It is advisable to use metal profile pipes for a slate fence. Fence posts are placed at intervals of 2.5 m, but for better strength they are often placed at a distance of 2 m. This will slightly increase the financial costs and labor intensity of constructing the structure, but it is better to have an extra margin of safety.

Self-tapping screws for fastening slate

Step-by-step instructions for calculating support pipes for a fence using the example of a plot measuring 45x35 meters:

Supports for wickets and gates – 4 pieces.
Corner posts - 4 pieces.
Intermediate posts are installed along the long side of the territory, taking into account 45 / 2 = 23 pcs. (the number must be multiplied by 2).
Rear area: 35 / 2 = 18 pcs. (also multiplied by 2).
A total of 90 supports are needed.

Scheme for attaching corrugated slate to wood

Supports are required with a cross-section of no more than 10x10 cm. The length is determined taking into account the height of the fence plus 1 m for the recess into the ground.

Materials and tools

Required materials:

Metal corner 55x90 mm for fastening transverse joists.
Beam 60x140 mm – total length 2 larger size fence
Fastening elements.
Anti-corrosion agent.
Ruberoid, cement.

DIY slate installation fasteners

During marking and preparation for installation, pegs will be required, garden auger, level, rope. When constructing a fence you will need:

welding;
concrete mixer;
electric drill;
Bulgarian;
a set of keys;
metal file.

When cutting and drilling products, you need to take care personal protection, since asbestos, even in small quantities, irritates the surface of the mucous membrane.

Installation instructions

First, corner fence posts are installed along the perimeter of the territory. A rope is stretched between them, and holes for intermediate supports are marked along it. Step-by-step installation described in detail below.

Slate fence installation diagram

To install the fence you need:

Make holes in the ground for supports using a garden auger. You should not dig a hole deeper than 1 m, as this will result in excess consumption of concrete. Check the spacing between holes - it should be the same along the entire perimeter of the fence.
Clean the fence posts from dirt, coat them with an anti-corrosion compound and bitumen mastic.
Place roofing felt in the holes, fill with concrete, insert supports, ensuring a vertical level using guy wires. Leave until the cement hardens for approximately 10–12 days.
Weld transverse steel strips to the supports to secure the beams. Treat the prepared load-bearing sheathing with an anti-corrosion solution in several layers.
Dig a small trench between the fence posts and lay a brick base. In areas where the ground slopes towards the garden area, it is necessary to organize drainage.
Drill holes for fastenings in the beams at the ends, secure them with bolts to the fastening strips.
Place the slate sheet on the prepared base and mark the fastening points to the slats.
Fix the slate to the fence crossbars with special hardware. In this case, you need to place rubber washers under each self-tapping screw.

Drawing correct fastening wavy slate

During the construction of a continuous slate fence, it is advisable to organize ventilation of the garden area. Why is a gap of 5 cm left between the canvas and the ground level ( suspended installation) or small gaps between the supports and the canvas.

There is a fence in almost every private house, well, or almost every one. The owners thus protect their territory from prying eyes. IN Lately Many new products have appeared, and a slate fence is one of them.

How to choose what you need for fencing?

“How to make a fence from scrap materials”? – You will probably be interested in knowing the answer to this question, especially if you have your own plot and there is no fence on it. Many have already adopted the idea of the newfangled material and were satisfied. So, for those who decided to protect their personal space from prying eyes in this way strangers, we will talk about slate, which is in no way inferior to other materials that are used to install fences - brick, concrete slabs, tree, metal mesh or corrugated sheets.

This a budget option for those who want the site to look beautiful and aesthetically pleasing, but do not have large sums for more expensive fencing material. By the way, many people use slate sheets as fencing not only at their summer cottage, but also within the city. And believe me, this option is in no way inferior to more expensive analogues. And the whole point is that nowadays you can order different types this material and various colors. Thus, on the construction market you can find ondulin (Euro slate), asbestos-cement slate, and plastic slate.

The sheets are used mainly as roofing, but no one is stopping you from using your skills and imagination to install a fence from such a product. When choosing a material for these purposes from the varieties of slate, you can focus on one that has good ductility (and is often used for roofs with irregular geometric shapes), or one that has qualities such as super rigidity and hardness. Many, of course, give preference to flexible slate, which is quite plastic - this is achieved by making a product based on bitumen and fibers of different origins.

Flexible slate is similar in appearance to asbestos cement sheets, is produced in a rectangular shape and can have a wavy surface. Its advantages, first of all, are that it does not rot and can withstand heavy loads, and it can be installed taking into account the presence of an old fence. In addition, such material can be ordered different colors and types. However, there are also disadvantages - short term operation - approximately 15 years, with the need to replace the protective layer after 5 years, as well as susceptibility to combustion.

What fencing options are there?

By the way, you can use a metal analogue as a basis. It is also available in a version with a wavy surface - it does not burn, is quite reliable, and can withstand strong wind, but there are also disadvantages. It must be periodically treated with special anti-corrosion materials. If we take ordinary slate sheets as a basis, then they have the most significant drawback - they are afraid mechanical damage, and at strong impact stone, you risk being left with a hole or crack in the fence. And if you still decide to install such material, then it is better to do it in places where there is less busy traffic.

You can safely fence off some area inside the yard with such a product - in this case, this option is more acceptable. But if you decide to protect your territory in this way, then this is clearly a wrong choice. Ordinary slate will not save your area from penetration - this, of course, is another minus, and an additional plus is that this material is not afraid of high and low temperatures, heavy precipitation or constant direct sunlight.

So, when choosing an option such as a fence made of wavy or flat slate, choose, first of all, based not on the appearance of the product, but on its composition and scope of application.

How to make a slate fence with your own hands - simple and easy!

We will give an example of how to install a fence made of slate and materials remaining on the farm after reconstructing the roof of a house. Many residents probably face this situation. summer cottages– after the renovation, there are whole slate sheets left, and you would like to put them to good use on your farm. So why not use them as a fence? For this workflow you need to prepare metal pipes, timber, corners - then your fence will be stable, and you will not be afraid that the wind will blow it away.

How to make a slate fence with your own hands - step-by-step diagram

Step 1: Prepare materials

We buy timber, corners, metal pipes. The latter will serve as the basis for constructing the fence. With this set of materials, it will be stable and last for many years. The base, of course, can be replaced, but professionals still advise using metal pipes as frame pillars.

Step 2: Installation of poles

We prepare the holes - they are needed for installing pipes. It is better to dig them about 50–60 centimeters deep, and choose a distance of 2.5–3 meters from each other. Metal pipes are pre-cut according to the parameters you need - all of the same length. Then you need to drill special holes in them - they will be needed for fasteners. In the future, using a beam and a metal corner, you can secure your fence using flat slate or its wavy analogue.

Do not forget bottom part lubricate the pipe that will be in the ground with an anti-corrosion coating and then with bitumen (it must first be melted and diluted with a small amount of solvent). The pipes are placed in holes and filled with concrete. Do not forget to use a building level to check that they are installed correctly.

Step 3: First installation steps

First, we install two pipes on the sides, and stretch a rope between them. If the fence is very long, we recommend using several intermediate additional posts. The main thing is that the stretched cord does not sag. The remaining pipes are installed, already focusing on taut rope. The concrete solution itself will dry within 14 days, but if you need to quickly install a fence, you can continue work after 24 hours.

Next, the beams and corners should be secured to the posts with bolts. First, the corners are cut into pieces (for example, 10 cm long, with the same pipe diameter) and then holes for fastening are drilled in them. Next, you should fasten the beam together with the metal corner at the same time. After which all three parts - corner, beam and metal pipe - are fixed together.

Step 4: Installing Slate

Beams for a fence made of flat or wavy slate are connected using the “end connection” method - a straight half-wood overlay, screwed to the corners with ordinary self-tapping screws. Now you can start installing the material itself - the sheets are attached with self-tapping screws to wooden beam, and first stretch a thin rope or rope between the pillars for guidance. Professionals advise be sure to check the horizontality using a device such as.

So, the first sheet is mounted especially carefully - the final result will depend on the accuracy of installation at this stage (since the first sheet is the main guide vector for the entire fence). The sheets are secured with self-tapping screws. If you are installing a corrugated slate fence, try to get a proper and strong overlap at the edges. Each slate sheet installed should overlap with the previous slight overlap, but in appearance it should look as if the new slate sheet is a continuation of the previous one.

When installing such a fence, it is necessary to leave a ventilated space below - installing sheets directly on the ground is not recommended. You can leave the fence mounted, or you can install a small foundation. Just remember that these are additional funds and costs. Now your fence is ready. Once the fence has been installed, it can be repainted in the desired color. Painting will additionally protect the asbestos cement from bad weather and will partially help neutralize the influence of such an element as asbestos (although the harmfulness of this material is still in question).

How to cope with the task correctly?

For those who are encountering this technology for the first time, we would like to offer the following “cheat sheet”:

Every homeowner can install a slate fence around a house with their own hands. This is one of the easiest to install and cost-effective options for fencing a site. A slate fence will look good both on a summer cottage and on city streets.

Types of material

When planning to install a slate fence on your property, you must take into account that this material is quite fragile and is susceptible to mechanical damage. In addition, it should be understood that such a fence is not very reliable means protection against unauthorized entry.

When installing wave slate, the connection is overlapped by 1-2 waves, so that each subsequent sheet looks like a continuation of the previous one. To trim the sheets, use a grinder and a concrete disc. If flat slate is used, then each sheet can be “dressed” in a frame of metal corners. This will significantly strengthen the entire structure and give the finished fence a more aesthetic appearance.

Despite the fragility of the material, the fence can last for a long time, because slate is not afraid of precipitation, hot sun rays and sudden temperature fluctuations. It does not burn, does not deform, and is not susceptible to corrosion or heavy loads. A slate fence does not require a solid foundation.

To build a fence, you can use wave or flat slate. The choice will depend on the wishes of the owner of the site. In terms of strength, they do not differ from each other. Only flat sheets are easier to work with when installing the fence.

Even a small pebble thrown from under the wheel of a passing car can disrupt the integrity of the material and cause harm. appearance. Therefore, it is better to install slate fences on those streets where there is no heavy traffic, or to use them to delimit the territory of a site, for example, between a utility yard and a garden.

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Stages of fence construction

To build a slate fence with your own hands you need a little time, a simple tool and simple materials, which can be found anywhere.
At the next stage of construction, it is necessary to make the frame of the future fence. To do this, planks made of timber or profiled pipe are attached horizontally to the supports. Wood screws are used as fastenings for the beams, and electric welding or bolts are used for the pipes.

To work you will need:

Types of slate: 1 - natural slate, 2 - flat slate, 3 - wavy slate of ordinary profile, 4 - rubber slate, 5 - ondulin, 6 - nullin, 7 - gutta, 8 - euro-ondura slate.

Bulgarian.

Drill and drill bits for it.

Welding machine.

Set of wrenches.

Construction level and plumb line.

Hammer.

Cord.

Slate (wavy or flat sheets).

Metal corners.

Metal pipes for supports.

Wooden bars.

Fasteners (bolts, nuts and hexagonal head screws).

Bitumen.

Anti-corrosion composition.

Concrete.

The work begins with the installation of supports. To do this, holes about 50 cm deep are dug in the ground. This is quite enough to securely fix the pillars. If the farm has a hand drill, then this task can be completed much faster. Optimal distance between supports – 2.5 m.

Metal pipes, channels or corners, which are cut into segments, can act as supports. Their length will depend on the planned height of the fence and its size.

The supports are installed in the recesses and filled with concrete. It is first necessary to treat the metal supports with anti-corrosion compounds or coat them oil paint in several layers. First, supports are installed at the corners of the site and a cord is stretched between them. Then the rest are placed with a reference point on the cord. The verticality of the installation is checked with a plumb line. TO further work You can start only after the concrete has completely dried.

Elements of a slate fence: 1 - slate, 2 - post, 3 - concrete, 4 - concrete pad, 5 - bedding, 6 - fastening, 7 - bolt, 8 - nut, 9 - bracket, 10 - plug.

The finished frame must be coated with an anti-corrosion compound. This will protect him from exposure environment and will extend service life.

Next, you should prepare a base that will hold the slate sheets and prevent them from breaking at the fastening points. This can be a curb poured from concrete, stone or brick laid around the pillars. The main thing is that the surface of the base is smooth.

Next, you can begin installing the slate sheets. The first one is installed especially carefully. Because he will set the direction for everyone else. When installing it, you must use a level. The sheets are fastened to the frame using self-tapping screws or slate nails. To make the fastening as accurate as possible, it is necessary to tension the thread from the first sheet to corner support. This will make it possible to control the assembly and perform the fastening smoothly.

First, measurements must be taken to help accurately calculate the amount required material. A diagram of the future fence must also be drawn up, in accordance with which the territory will be marked. Along the perimeter of the fenced area, pegs, reinforcement or other suitable material and a thin twine is pulled. All elements of the future fencing will be installed along it. During marking, you should mark the installation locations of the supports.

Each owner summer cottage or the owner of a private house, there is a need to build a fence or replace an old fence. The costs of such a necessary undertaking are very significant, and this forces one to incline towards budget decisions those who cannot afford the construction of expensive and solid fences.

An example of a classic slate fence

Budget construction option

A slate fence can be an excellent option if large expenses for such construction are not envisaged. Despite the fact that this building material is intended for roofing, its use in the construction of a fence is quite justified. Often, when replacing roofing material, old slate begins a second life as a building envelope: it is in no way inferior to new if painted.

This is what a painted fence made of slate and a metal corner looks like

This material is low cost, its installation does not require special skills and is accessible to everyone.

Therefore, the decision to build a slate fence with your own hands will help save money on paying employees. The slate surface is easy to paint, which makes it possible to harmonize with the house and environment. By choosing this option for fencing the site, the owner can be confident in the durability and cost-effectiveness of such construction.

Flaws

For all its advantages, slate is still roofing material and may not be an ideal choice in all respects. Let's list the main disadvantages of using it:

From all of the above, we can conclude that the use of such a fence is advisable for demarcating a neighboring property, but is of little use for a front boundary.

Wave and flat slate

The industry produces two types of slate - wave and flat. One of the options for flat slate is pressed. It is heavier, but also able to withstand greater loads. It is better to take a flat sheet, regardless of whether it is pressed or not, into a metal frame made from corners to improve the strength properties and give the fence a neat appearance.

The use of wave slate simplifies the installation process. In this case, you need to be careful and lay the sheets overlapping with the waves aligned.

An example of a flat slate fence

How to build a slate fence yourself

If you decide to build a slate fence with your own hands, then the first thing you need to decide is what type of sheets will be used for the fence. After this, measure the length of the planned fence and calculate the required number of posts based on the fact that their pitch is 2.5–3.0 meters. The number of sheets can be calculated using the total length of the fence and the dimensions of the sheets. It is better to purchase sheets with a small margin, because they are very fragile.

Preparation of materials

Before you start building a fence, you need to take care of providing yourself with materials, so that later you don’t get distracted and don’t have to buy what’s missing. Here is a list of basic materials:

It should be noted right away that the given dimensions of the corners and beams are approximate and may be different. The main condition in this case is to ensure the strength and reliability of structures.
The corners should be cut into equal parts. The length of the segment should be equal to the diameter of the pipe that is used as a column. On larger side The corners are drilled with holes for fastening.

The sections of pipes that will be in concrete are protected by applying an anti-corrosion compound, then covered with molten bitumen, adding a solvent to it. When working with bitumen, precautions must be taken, since this material is flammable. After bitumen treatment, the pipe section is painted with oil paint. To work you will need the following tools:

Hammer;
Grinder (for cutting slate);
Drill and drill bits;
Spanners;
Construction level and cord;
Welding machine (if you decide to weld corners or install a fence made of flat slate).

Installation of posts

Using a garden auger, it is necessary to follow the specified step. In order not to stray from the line of the future fence, you can pull the construction cord and focus on it when drilling. To do this, you need a thread (or cord) to be attached to.
The depth of the posts must be at least 50 cm.

This is necessary to ensure sufficient strength and stability of the support, since it bears a considerable load from the guide bars and slate sheets.

After a hole has been dug with a drill, the soil must be compacted manual tamper(this is a log with a block nailed to the end like a handle, resembling the letter T).

Installation steps wooden poles fence

Then the column is installed. It can be secured in the hole with broken bricks, if available, or covered with gravel. If it is necessary to ensure its strictly vertical position, checking the level or plumb line. If the pole tilts under its weight, it must be reinforced with supports until the concrete hardens.

How to attach a beam and a corner

After pouring the concrete, it is better to wait a week so that it hardens well and acquires the necessary strength. If this is not possible, then you must wait at least 24 hours before installing the fence.

In the pipes from above and below, at the level of fastening the upper and lower beams, holes are drilled according to the size of the studs (bolts). After this, using a pin, the corner is attached to the pipe so that its profile resembles the English capital letter L. This method has a positive effect on the rigidity of the structure.

Beam fastening options

The load from the weight of the fence and timber can be directly transferred to the post itself if the latter is attached to the post simultaneously with the corner with a pin. To do this, a hole corresponding to the diameter of the stud is drilled in the beam, then all the elements are pulled together.

Another option is to attach the timber to the corner. In this case, additional holes are drilled in the corner through which the beam is attracted to it. This operation must be preceded by attaching the corner itself to the post.

The end sides of the beams are connected to each other using a joint, which is called an end joint by carpenters. To do this, cuts are made at the ends of the beams to half their width.

Sample of fastening beams to pillars

When combining the beams, their ends are connected like a puzzle, the joining points are fastened with screws or bolts.

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