Hi all,
going to have a go at erecting my first fence next week, after a bit of thought we've decided to go with closeboard.
Been reading around on here and elsewhere but still have a few questions - be gentle!!
First off, arris rails or cant rails? I gather that generally arris rails are used with metal brackets rather than morticed into posts these days, but is this a slightly weak fixing?
In terms of looks (from the 'bad' side) I think arris rails flush with post face looks better than cant rails where you have a small gap between posts and featherboard, but it certainly looks stronger.
I gather that bays tend to be in 2.4m, 3m or 3.6m. 3m will likely suit my garden layout, but is there any guidelines around width of bays and how many rails you use, or how many support stumps? I gather for a 3m bay, 1.8m high I'd be using 3 rails, and a centre support stump?
Is it still considered the done thing to have the good side facing the neighbours? We are paying half each, but I will be erecting.
Only trouble I have with that is that she has a shed on our boundary line which would mean I would have to offset the fence into my boundary by enough room to work from her side up against the fence, with that in mind it makes sense to me to have good side facing us.
I have an alley way to the rear of garden so will go with good side facing outwards there.
Other question I have is around the posts and stumps. What are the best tools for digging the post holes? Just a narrow spade and effort, or some type of auger? I've also read that you can get away with fitting the posts and ramming down the drymix, carry on fitting the rails & featherboard, then wet the cement at end of the day? Is that a good idea for DIY, or could it end in tears and a fallen fence halfway through the day!!
Final thing, I have a slight fall to the garden, is it best to try and keep the run flat by burying the gravel boards a little, step at each bay, or run the gravel board down the slope and let the featheredge match the slope?
Sorry for all the numpty questions!!
going to have a go at erecting my first fence next week, after a bit of thought we've decided to go with closeboard.
Been reading around on here and elsewhere but still have a few questions - be gentle!!
First off, arris rails or cant rails? I gather that generally arris rails are used with metal brackets rather than morticed into posts these days, but is this a slightly weak fixing?
In terms of looks (from the 'bad' side) I think arris rails flush with post face looks better than cant rails where you have a small gap between posts and featherboard, but it certainly looks stronger.
I gather that bays tend to be in 2.4m, 3m or 3.6m. 3m will likely suit my garden layout, but is there any guidelines around width of bays and how many rails you use, or how many support stumps? I gather for a 3m bay, 1.8m high I'd be using 3 rails, and a centre support stump?
Is it still considered the done thing to have the good side facing the neighbours? We are paying half each, but I will be erecting.
Only trouble I have with that is that she has a shed on our boundary line which would mean I would have to offset the fence into my boundary by enough room to work from her side up against the fence, with that in mind it makes sense to me to have good side facing us.
I have an alley way to the rear of garden so will go with good side facing outwards there.
Other question I have is around the posts and stumps. What are the best tools for digging the post holes? Just a narrow spade and effort, or some type of auger? I've also read that you can get away with fitting the posts and ramming down the drymix, carry on fitting the rails & featherboard, then wet the cement at end of the day? Is that a good idea for DIY, or could it end in tears and a fallen fence halfway through the day!!
Final thing, I have a slight fall to the garden, is it best to try and keep the run flat by burying the gravel boards a little, step at each bay, or run the gravel board down the slope and let the featheredge match the slope?
Sorry for all the numpty questions!!