Fence Post dimensions

Richard Knight · 4 Jul 2008

I'm about to build a post and rail fence as a boundary around a raised concrete / tiled terrace. The fence will be 1 metre high with 40/50cm bolted to the side of concrete block terrace.

The longest run will be 13 metres. Based on the size of the rails available to me here (3m long, 12cm wide) I plan to have posts every 1.5m which I imagine will make for a sturdy fence. Doing this makes best use of the 3m rail lengths and although increasing the number of posts (I'd originally worked on 2m spacing between the posts) reduces the total cost due to less wastage on the rails.

So - based on 1.5m between posts, what diameter do you think the posts should be? Is 6cm by 6cm enough, of should I do for 10cm by 10cm for example?

Thanks for your help.
Richard

2scoops0406 · 4 Jul 2008

Richard Knight said:
I'm about to build a post and rail fence as a boundary around a raised concrete / tiled terrace. The fence will be 1 metre high with 40/50cm bolted to the side of concrete block terrace.

The longest run will be 13 metres. Based on the size of the rails available to me here (3m long, 12cm wide) I plan to have posts every 1.5m which I imagine will make for a sturdy fence. Doing this makes best use of the 3m rail lengths and although increasing the number of posts (I'd originally worked on 2m spacing between the posts) reduces the total cost due to less wastage on the rails.

So - based on 1.5m between posts, what diameter do you think the posts should be? Is 6cm by 6cm enough, of should I do for 10cm by 10cm for example?

Thanks for your help.
Richard

6x6 are you joking?, 10x10 min

Richard Knight · 4 Jul 2008

No, not joking.

The thing is most references say 10 by 10, but then they also say 1.8m apart based on 3.6m rails. So....if I'm looking at a 15%'ish reduction in the size of the opening, it stands to reason to me that I can go smaller in post size.

What do people think?

2scoops0406 · 5 Jul 2008

They'll break.

Thermo · 5 Jul 2008

lowest you can go is 75 x 75, but i would go for 100 x 100. Your theory about the reduction doesnt hold true im afraid.

JohnD · 5 Jul 2008

a post 100x100 will look right

a post 50x50 will look ridiculous (and will break anyway)

edited

as you say

Richard Knight said:
... a post and rail fence as a boundary around a raised concrete / tiled terrace.....

it is particularly important that it should be strong enough to prevent people toppling off

Richard Knight · 5 Jul 2008

Thanks for the responses. A great help.

2scoops0406 · 6 Jul 2008

Personally I think the 3" (75x75) are rubbish, I would always recommend a 4" (100x100) post.

Thermo · 6 Jul 2008

depends what effect you are after, but on any normal type of fencing i totally agree. I always like seeing the look on clients faces when we just snap them off when removing a fence!

2scoops0406 · 6 Jul 2008

Aye, one puff of wind and over they go

I reckon if you used 60x60's it'd be dangerous to "let one go!"

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Fence Post dimensions

Richard Knight

2scoops0406

Richard Knight

2scoops0406

Thermo

JohnD

Richard Knight

2scoops0406

Thermo

2scoops0406

DIYnot Local

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