Difference between a stick-built fence and a pre-made panel ...

3 things to consider before building your next wood fence!

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What is the difference between a stick-built wood fence and the premade panels?

We get this question a lot and it is a very important one! There are 3 main things to consider in regards to this subject.

First: Ability to rack

The difference in total job cost between a stick-built wood fence and a premade panel is minimal compared to the difference in quality and longevity you will get out of your fence. Premade wood panels are made square so if there is any slope where they are being installed the panels will have to be installed in a &#;step&#; like manor to follow the change in grade. When we stick build our panels we buy all the pieces for the fence individually and we put it all together on site to suit your exact landscape grade.  We are able to follow the grade and &#;roll&#; the fence to follow with an even sightline across the top. Another important aspect is gates. Current codes require a minimum of 6&#; of fall from the edge of the house in the first 10&#;. This allows for water to drain away from the home and also means that 95% of the time we are installing a gate we are installing it on a slope on each side of the home. When we stick build we can rack the gates so that they are level side to side but follow the grade of the land. Premade gates are square so you may have more gaps and a &#;step&#; like sight line across the top of the fence. 

Second: Fasteners

Fasteners are important. No one wants to have a new wood fence installed and be out every weekend refastening loose pickets and boards because the fasteners aren&#;t doing their job. When we stick build our fences we use full round head (not clipped), ring shank galvanized nails. These nails are galvanized (to be used in exterior environments), they are ring shank (the nail shank is ribbed for extra holding power, and they have a full round circle nail head (not a clipped, half head), so you get the full 360 degrees of nail head holding your fence together and not just 180 degrees of nail head. We have tried using coil picket nailers in the past but have found that the nails are just too small. Once a picket is nailed on you can easily grab it and pull it off, the nails coming out with the fence picket. Our 21 degree framing strip nailers that we use to install our wood fences fire the largest and highest quality nails to help your fence last for years to come. The other thing a good quality nail does is it helps keep the wood fence straight. Wood fences naturally warp, twist and check overtime but the stronger fasteners you have holding all your pieces together the better your chances are of your fence minimally moving over time. 

Third: Larger dimensional lumber

The final aspect of installing a stick-built fence over a premade section is that you get full size dimensional lumber. For example, in your standard wood privacy fences that are 6&#; tall you typically have 3 horizontal nailers in each section. These are the pieces the vertical pickets get attached to. A lot of the premade panels use either 1x4 or a 2x3 to save money. We use a full 2x4. The main advantage of using a full 2x4 is its ability to resist larger lateral wind loads as well as to keep the fence panel from sagging in the center. When you have 8&#; of pickets between posts the horizontal nailers are what support the section from post to post. When you have 3 full 2x4&#;s doing that supporting versus smaller dimensional lumber you have a much better wind load rating and a much lower chance of your new fence sections sagging from post to post. The last thing you want is after a year of having your new fence installed it looks like a wave pool across the top because the sections sagged in the center between the posts. 

We hope this helps educate you when you are making your next purchasing decision for a wood fence! Let us know if you have any questions or comments and please consider the differences in quality between a stick built fence and a premade panel fence before making your next wood fence purchase!

Panel Smart

If you are building a fence with a purpose around your home or business then you should consider welded wire fence panels. This type of fencing is the strongest that you can find. Because it is so strong, it is often used to enclose livestock and large animals. Also, many zoos use wire fence panels for their animal cages for display and to keep everyone safe. The wires and cross sections of the wire fence are welded together, to create a fortress that cannot be penetrated.

The company is the world’s best Roll Top Fence Panels for Sale supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Stands Up to the Elements

You can get welded wire fencing in different types of thicknesses, depending on how strong you need it to be. Unlike a chain link fence, you can get welded wire fence panels designed exactly to the measurements that you need. In fact, all fence panels from Louis Page are custom-made. The welded wire fence panels are made of weather resistant material, so it will not be damaged or destroyed in even the most severe weather.

Panels or Rolls?

Fence panels are strong and highly weather resistant. But so is fencing that comes in a roll. A quick note about the difference between panels and rolls. Panels are easier to install. They come custom made to your specifications, need minimal to no cutting or cutting tools, and they can typically be installed by two people. All these attributes make panels ideal for quick installations with minimal work crews. Wire fence rolls are terrific for jobs that have larger work crews, professional installers, and materials like posts, rings, pliers, and everything else you need to make a fence. Most of our customers that buy fence rolls are using them on work sites for safety and protection reasons. That's not to say homeowners and landscapers aren't buying fence rolls, because they are! For projects like gardens that require protecting fruits and vegetables from deer, deer fencing is ideal. The gauge of the deer fence is strong enough to keep deer out and easier to manipulate because of its gauge size. But when it comes to pools (and other projects), fence panels are the answer.

Welded Wire Fence Panel Install Tips

If you are planning to install your fence on your own; here are a few tips that you should follow:

Tension

One of the most common mistakes that people make when installing their wire fence panels is low tension. If the fencing is not tight enough, it can sag or bow. This will take away from the security and durability of the fence. If you are using it to enclose large animals, the chances of them escaping are high. For tensioning the mesh, you simply need a pair of pliers.

T-Posts

It is important to understand that not all posts are built the same. You should use a steel t-post. If you are worried about the way that your fence is going to look, you should look into green metal posts. If you are going to be using the fence for livestock, you can consider an electric fence; however, you would need to install a T-post made of PVC, as it doesn't require any insulation between the electric wire and the fence.

Animals

If you are going to be using your fence to contain animals, you need to make sure that you are getting a fence large enough for the animals. Before you install the fence, you should take into consideration that your animals will grow and so may your herd. You also want to make it large enough to keep wild animals out of the enclosure.

If you need to install a strong fence on your property for safety purposes or to enclose large animals, fence panels are the best solution and/or welded wire fencing, rather than a chain link fence. Welded wire panels and fencing are strong, pleasing to the eye, and easy to install. Of course, fence panels are the easiest to install.

Are you interested in learning more about Welded Gabions? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!