Sunday, November 21, 2010

Fabricated Wroughtiron Fence

Fabricated wrought-iron fences have many design options.


A fabricated wrought-iron fence can provide a safe place for your children and pets to play in your yard. It also can set your yard apart from the neighbor's wooden fence. Wrought-iron fence components are easy to assemble and install. The hardest part of the fence installation is digging the fence posts. If you have several posts to dig, rent a power auger to make the job go faster. While you can build a wrought-iron fence by yourself, it helps to have an assistant when it's time to install the panels. Does this Spark an idea?


Instructions


1. Establish the fence line by placing a pair of stakes tied together with string where you plan to build the fence. The string is your guide to keeping the fence installation straight.


2. Measure the length of the fabricated wrought-iron fence panels you are using. This amount is how far apart you need to dig each fence post. Mark post locations along the string line with spray paint. If you wind up with a space too narrow for a fence panel, adjust the length of the fence line. Your other option is to shorten a panel to accommodate the narrower space. It's usually easier to shorten the fence row.


3. Dig the postholes with a power auger. Holes should be 6 inches in diameter and at least 2 feet deep. If you just have a few holes to dig, use a pair of hand-held posthole diggers, or jobbers.


4. Mix a batch of quick-set concrete according to package directions. Place some concrete in the first hole with a shovel. Set a post in place. Hold a carpenter's level against the post to ensure the post is straight up and down. The front edge of the post should be against the string line you set in Step 1. Once the post is in position, fill the hole to within 4 inches of the top with concrete mixture. Finish filling the hole with dirt you dug up as you dug the posthole. Pack the dirt tight around the post with a hand tamper.


5. Set the remaining post as you did in Step 4. Allow the concrete two to three days to dry so it can better support the weight of the wrought-iron fence panels.


6. Slip the brackets that came with the fence panels over the ends of the horizontal pieces on the panels. Hold a panel between a pair of fence posts. Level it using the carpenter's level as your guide. Secure the top pair of brackets to the post using a drill to drive the self-tapping screws that came with the assembly kit. Fasten the bottom pair of brackets in place as well.


7. Continue setting the remaining panels in place between the panels. Check each panel for levelness before you attach it. It should also be level with the adjacent panel, unless you are installing the fence on a slope. In that case the tops of the panels look like stair steps.

Tags: fence panels, came with, carpenter level, fabricated wrought-iron, fabricated wrought-iron fence