Below are a few fundamental guidelines on building a rural fence:
1. Make the area clear
After mapping out the location for your fence, the next step is to prepare the area. Remove tall grass, sticks, and branches, while also taking into account the proximity of waterways, land contours, and soil composition.
2. Set up your strainer posts and stays
These posts serve as the foundation of your fence, supporting the tensioned wire. If they falter, the entire fence will be compromised. Ensure they are deeply set to prevent them from pulling out when under pressure; the deeper they are, the stronger their load-bearing capacity.
After setting the strainer posts in the ground, proceed with installing the stays. Keep in mind that the stay lengths should typically be at least 2.5 times the height of your fence.
3. Set out your star pickets
Run a wire near the ground between the strainer posts as a reference point. Arrange the star pickets evenly and ensure they are aligned perfectly!
A useful guideline for picket spacing is approximately one picket every four meters. Anything exceeding five meters will result in a fence that is weak and challenging to tension.
4. Secure your star pickets into place.
Drive your star pickets into the ground.
Make installing star pickets easier by using a post driver. Simply position the picket and then place the driver over the top. Apply downward pressure to drive the post into the ground effortlessly.
When planning your fence, ensure that your star pickets are buried 600mm deep in the ground. Adjust the height of the star pickets accordingly to accommodate this requirement.
5. Tension or strain your wire
Attach one end of the wire to the strainer post, then thread it through the star pickets to reach the strainer at the opposite end. Utilizing a wire strainer will simplify the task and help ensure the wires are correctly tensioned.
Ensure to slightly over-tension the wire, considering that some tension will be lost during tying off. You have the option to secure it with a gripple or twisting tool, or if you feel comfortable, you can use a figure-eight knot or a slip knot for tying off.
6. Attach the wire to the posts
Your last task involves connecting the wires to the star pickets and strainer posts to ensure wire stability. To secure the wire, run one wire under the line wire and the other over it, or utilize a fence post clip.
Congratulations, your basic star picket fence is now finished!
Please note that Simply Timber have all the equipment you need to make a fence thanks to the following suppliers:
👉 Whites Rural Group
👉 Southern Wire
👉 Markfi Gates
👉 Benalla Timber
Contact us to find out more - (03) 5743 0000
Simply Timber and Roofing Supplies
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