You want to install a fence on your property, but you don’t understand the technical terms—here’s what you need to know.
As with most purchases, the more you understand about commercial fencing, the easier it is to choose the right product. Few customers, however, have the opportunity to learn even basic fencing terms, making it difficult to evaluate their options. The following guide to fence construction terminology will empower you to make the best security decisions for your business:
Pickets
On ornamental fences and others with a similar structure, pickets are the solid vertical bars that extend all the way from the ground to the top. They are typically made from iron or aluminum, and are either screwed or welded to the rest of the fence.
Finials
Finial tips are decorative pieces attached to the top of the pickets, which often look like the head of a spear. They are not essential to the fence, and some manufacturers do not include them. Most do, however, in order to give the barrier an attractive, recognizable appearance.
Rails
Rails are the solid horizontal bars that connect to the pickets. They are necessary to stabilize the pickets and hold them in place.
Brackets
Fence brackets secure the rail ends to the nearest posts. They are only necessary for iron fences.
Posts
Posts are large, vertical structures placed at regular intervals along a fence. They can be rectangular or round, and they provide a solid base against which the rest of the pieces are stabilized. For most fences, either they are bolted to a solid surface on the ground or their bottom sections are buried with concrete.
Post Caps
Just as finial tips adorn the tops of pickets, post caps decorate posts. Unlike finials, however, caps also have a non-decorative function; they prevent debris and water from accumulating along the fence. Caps can have either ball or flat shapes.
Angles
Whether to encompass a specific piece of land or avoid hitting obstacles, fence sections often must connect in ways that are not fully perpendicular. These types of connections are known as angles.
Clearance
This refers to the space that separates the lowest part of the fence panel and the ground. Clearance affects how deeply the posts must be buried in the ground and what kinds of solid surfaces they can be attached to.
Gauge
The gauge is the thickness of the materials used in the fence. Ideal gauges vary by the fence piece and the type of metal used. Aluminum posts, for example, should have a 4 inch by 4-inch gauge, while steel posts need 6 inches by 6 inches.
Gate Frame
The posts on either side of a gate make up its frame. The frame can also include a bottom post welded to the side ones.
It’s great to be informed about fence construction terminology, but there is no need for you to be an expert when you have us on your team. United Fence & Construction Co. is committed to providing you all the information you need to choose fencing to secure your property. To learn more about commercial fencing in Arkansas, contact us by calling 501-222-1503 today.
