The Fence Post

A Few Guidelines for Installing your Wire Fence

First: Decisions

1. Determine the kind of fence you will need, based on the requirements of the application - the purposes and needs of your particular situation.
• You can choose from a wide variety of fences and meshes.
• Different heights, size, and spacing of mesh openings, finishes, and gauges of wire fence are available to fit every use.                                                                                                                                                
2. Establish where the corners and ends of the fence are to be located.                                                                     
3. Calculate the amount of fence and posts (end, corner and line posts) needed for the job. Don't forget to add any gates that are required to complete the project.
• Wood or studded T posts can be used to hang the fence.
• Figure line post spacing at 8 to 10 feet apart.

Next: Installation

1. Fence posts
• Make sure end, corner and gate posts are placed deeper in the ground than line posts for more holding power. Corners and ends may need bracing, depending on the type of fence used.
• Be sure to tamp and level wood posts before moving on to the next step.
• T posts can be driven into the ground using a manual post driver with handles. The driver eliminates the potentially dangerous use of an unwieldy sledgehammer.                                                                               
2. Attaching fence to posts                                                                                                                                   
•  Wood posts - galvanized slice-cut staples can be used. These are available in 3/4", 1", 1-1/4", 1-1/2", 1-3/4" and 2" sizes.
• Studded T posts - metal clips are provided with each post to securely hold the fence.                                       
3. Stretching the fence - the appropriate amount of tension depends on which mesh is used. Woven wire fencing, especially high-tension field and deer fences, requires a lot more tension than welded wire fences.

An Excellent Overview

Another excellent instructional video from the folks at Bekaert. Learn how to install barbed wire to make a safe and secure fence. A general overview of the process of getting that fence in place. High tensile wire means no stretching.

4 Foot Fences - Recommended Guidelines 

• Fences should be as long as possible.
• Install with a bottom gap of 6 in. under the fence.
• Steel posts should be on 8 ft. centers.
• End posts should be 6 ft. or less from the adjacent post and braced.
• Wood picket snow/sand fence should be pulled taut to at least 250 lb/ft.
• Synthetic fences should be pulled taut at tensions specified by manufacturer.
• Plastic fences should be sandwiched between two 2" x 2" boards wired tightly to the steel post at the center and at 6" from each edge.

The Height and Bottom Gap

• Height is the most important factor in fence design.
• It has the greatest influence on particle trapping efficiency, storage capacity, and cost.
• Adding 6 in. to a 4-ft. fence increases its capacity by 30%.
• Characteristics of the fencing material, such as porosity and size and shape of openings, are relatively unimportant.
• The gap between the bottom of the fence and the ground increases the height and capacity of a snow fence.
• The bottom gap reduces snow deposition close to the fence.
• A gap larger than 8" may be desirable in locations where the fence may become buried.

Posts and Tensioning

• Steel studded T or U posts can support wooden slat or plastic snow fences.
• Posts for a 4' fence should be spaced 8' apart.
• Posts must be designed to withstand wind loads, and allow proper tensioning of fencing materials.
• Plastic snow/sand fences require tensions as high as 250 pounds per foot of height.
• Posts at ends or corners should be braced longitudinally.
• Curved fence lines are undesirable - the tensioning forces tend to pull down the fence.
• The force that the wind exerts on a fence depends on the wind speed, density of the air, upwind topography and ground cover, and the height and porosity of the fence.

A Wooden Snow Fence

• Wood snow fence has slats 1-1/2" wide, held together with double strands of twisted wires.
• Porosity is typically about 60%.
• Available with red oxide stain or natural unstained finish.

High Tensile Plastic Sand or Snow Fence and Tensioning

• Most plastic fences, such as Nordic Plus II by Tenax, are made from black or orange polyethylene.
• Plastic fencing has high tensile strength, but it can be cut and is susceptible to abrasion.
• Fence must be well secured to posts.
• Fencing should be tensioned to the manufacturer's specification.
• End posts must be adequately braced to allow tensioning of the fence.

Information was taken, in part, from the Strategic Highway Research Program by The National Research Council. For more extensive and in-depth information about snow fences.

Supplies, Directions, & Handy Tips

Here's a video demonstrating how you can install field fence so that it's straight and will last a long time. See our other blog articles "How To Install Wood Fence Posts" and "How To Build Strong Bracing For Fences" for additional helpful information.                              

And! What you probably don't want--