Slate fences do not belong to the traditional options for the execution of fencing, but, in certain circumstances, they can help quickly and inexpensively solve the problem.
TO positive points installations of this type of fencing include:
- Long life of the material. Asbestos-cement sheets, even without additional processing, can last several decades. They do not change the original properties under the influence of low and high temperatures, are not susceptible to decay and oxidation;
- The cost of the new material is available, although most often for sheets that are used and retained, they are used for permanent and temporary fences;
- To assemble a fence from flat slate with your own hands, as well as from corrugated material, will not be difficult even for a novice builder;
- Asbestos-cement sheets allow you to maximize the use of the imagination of the master. If desired, the sheets can be cut and create original design elements. On flat surfaces, paint can be applied to create whole pictures.
Slate fences have negative qualities:
- Fragility. Asbestos-cement sheets are quite easy to damage when struck with a hard object or when bent. Sheets burst, crack and as a result, for repair, it is necessary to replace the whole element;
- The slate does not burn, but bursts at high temperature, firing individual pieces.
Which slate to use
You can make a fence from slate with your own hands from wavy or flat sheets. Wave material is more often used as a roof covering, while flat slate has many more applications.
Flat slate
The abbreviations are used to denote this material. LP-P and LP-NPwhich means flat pressed sheet and flat flat sheet.
The difference between pressed and non-pressed material is determined by different values of bending strength.
Pressed sheets are more durable due to their denser structure, which increases the service life of the material, its frost resistance and resistance to shock loads. The positive aspects of unpressed products include their low weight compared to pressed sheets, as well as their lower cost.
The industry produces flat slate in three main sizes:
- 1x1.5 m;
- 2x1.5 m;
- 3x1.5 m.
Wavy slate
The following abbreviations are used to indicate corrugated sheets. HE, WU and HCwhich means ordinary wave, wave amplified and unified wave. Sheets differ not only in strength characteristics, but also in size: VO - 1120x680 mm, VU - 2800x1000 mm, HC - 1750x1125 mm.
Ordinary wavy products are used to organize roofing at small objects of private house-building (sheds, dachas, baths), reinforced sheets can be used to cover roofs at industrial facilities, and a universal slate is suitable for any buildings and structures.
For fencing, the most suitable option is to use a reinforced corrugated sheet.
It has the highest strength among the considered wave materials from asbestos cement, which means that it will last longer as a material for the fence. In addition, the reinforced sheets have a small weight (27 kg), which is important when making a fence from a wave slate with your own hands.
Specially buy slate in order to build a fence, it makes no sense. If there are expenses for the fence, especially if you have to make a fence on the facade of the site, it is better to purchase more durable and durable sheets of metal profiled sheet, but if you have to make the fence between adjacent sections, it is best to make a fence from the old slate with your own hands.
What reason to choose
Two options can be used as a foundation for a slate fence: a tape base and individual concreting for each pillar.
Tape base
This type of foundation involves sampling the soil around the entire perimeter of the future fence. The width of the tape should be at least twice the diameter of the column, and the depth depends on the depth of freezing of the soil in the area, but can not be less than 0.8 m.
A wooden formwork is being prepared for pouring. Pillars are installed at the time of filling, tracking verticality using a plumb line.
This type of foundation is quite expensive and its organization for the construction of a slate fence is not reasonable. The use of slate implies savings, and strip foundations are best used for the construction of capital brick or concrete fences.
Individual concreting of pillars
Concreting of each support is much more effective and cheaper. Individual concreting is performed as follows:
- Pits are dug out manually using the drill or manually. The diameter of the pit should be twice the diameter of the column. The depth of the pit should be at least 800 mm.
- At the bottom of the pit, sand is poured and compacted, fine gravel is poured on top and also compacted.
- Roofing material is used for waterproofing equipment. It is laid along the length of the pit so that it fits snugly against the walls, in which case the roofing material also plays the role of formwork for concrete.
- Concrete for pouring the support is made of cement grade M400 and sand in a ratio of 1: 3.
- The solution prepared in a concrete mixer is poured into a hole, after which a column is inserted.
- To install the column strictly vertically, it is necessary to check it using a plumb line and a vertical level.
- A full set of concrete strength occurs within 28 days, but to continue the installation of the fence, it is enough to withstand 7 days. The gained strength will be enough for the production of mounting rails and slate.
Necessary materials and tools
To make a fence from slate, you will need to prepare the following materials:
- flat slate. The height of the fence will correspond to the height of the slate - 1.5 m, the length of the slate should be chosen based on the convenience of work and the layout of the support posts;
- supporting. For corner poles and gate supports, it is best to use more powerful metal pipes with a cross section of 100 mm, for intermediate supports and wickets, metal posts with a cross section of 80 mm will be sufficient;
- 50 mm thick edging board is used as transverse guides for asbestos-cement sheets;
- To install jumpers on a pole, you will need to organize a jumper in the form of a metal corner, 250 mm in size. At least two jumpers will be required for each post to attach the rails from above and below;
- as a mounting material for slate, self-tapping screws will be required, for fastening the guide bolts with nuts.
To install the structure you will need to purchase the following tools:
- level;
- plumb line;
- drill for preparing pits for poles;
- shovel;
- container for concrete preparation or concrete mixer;
- drill;
- screwdriver;
- welding machine;
- hacksaw;
- wrenches;
- concrete cutting wheels and grinder;
- safety glasses, gloves and a respirator.
Asbestos dust is very harmful to health, so when working with slate cutting wheels, you need to use a respirator and safety glasses.
Calculation of the required amount of materials with examples
In order to correctly calculate the required amount of materials for a slate fence, it is necessary to accurately measure the length of the future fence. Before starting work, you need to find reference points that indicate the boundary of the site, this must be done by the owner himself. In order to avoid complaints and disputes with neighbors, you may have to call land surveying specialists and update the site plan.
Suppose that the boundary boundaries of the site coincide with the existing ones, and using the example of a 20x25 meter site, we will perform a step-by-step calculation of the necessary materials:
- The perimeter of the plot is 90 m. For the equipment of the gate, 4 meters will be required, and 1 meter per gate, respectively, for a blank fence remains: 90-4-1 = 85 meters. If for installation a flat slate with dimensions of 1.5x3 m is used, for an overlap of 85 meters you will need: 85/3 = 28.33 sheets, we round up and we get 29 sheets.
- Considering the height of the fence is 1.5 m and the need to deepen the support column into the ground at a distance of at least 1.5 meters, we find the height of the column - 3 meters. For corner supports and gates, you will need 6 pillars with a cross section of 100 mm.
- To calculate the number of intermediate supports, you should divide one side of the fence by the distance between the posts (it is recommended to install poles after 2.5 meters). 20 / 2.5 = 8 posts in width and 25 / 2.5 = 10 posts in length. From the length of the front side, subtract the width of the gate and gate: 20-4-1 = 15, and also divide by 2.5. Total result: 20 columns in length (two sides), 8 columns in width on one side, and 6 columns on the front side. In total, 34 intermediate supports with a cross section of 80 mm and a length of 3 m will be required.
- Boards with a thickness of 50 mm and a width of 130 mm were selected as transverse guides. With the arrangement of two rows of rails above and below, 180 meters of boards will be required.
- As a support for the guides, a metal corner of 50x50 mm with a length of 250 mm will be used. The total number of posts is: 6 + 34 = 40, respectively, 80 pieces of the corner will be required, with a total length of 20 meters. When buying a corner, the length of the standard product (6, 9 and 12 m) should be taken into account.
- To fasten the guides to the support, 80 mm bolts with nuts will be required. For 80 supports with two attachment points, 160 bolts will be required.
- 50 mm long self-tapping screws will be used to secure the slate. For each sheet, 12 self-tapping screws will be required (fastening step 500 mm), respectively, for the entire fence you will need: 29x12 = 348 self-tapping screws.
- Concreting one support will require 5 kg of cement and 15 kg of sand. Total required: cement - 40x5 = 200 kg (4 bags), sand - 40x15 = 600 kg.
The depth of the support pillars depends on the depth of freezing of the soil in the construction area, so the height of the posts will vary depending on the climatic zone.
Instructions for the construction of a slate fence
The construction of the fence consists of several stages. The following instructions will help beginners in construction to independently perform all the work in stages and without errors.
Planning. Before starting work, you should prepare a plan. On the site diagram, it is necessary to mark the points where the corner posts will be located, the distance between them is measured, and the installation sites of the intermediate supports are marked.
Markup. All support points are transferred directly from the plan to the site. The corner points are first found and pegs are placed on them. Further, a cord is stretched around the entire perimeter, which will allow you to accurately identify the installation sites of the intermediate supports, a peg is also driven in to indicate the location of the support.
Excavation. At the next stage, pits are prepared for the supporting posts. Depth of support in the ground depends on the depth of freezing in the area, but to make pits with a depth of less than 0.8 m is not recommended.
Pillar preparation. Before installing the poles, it is necessary to prepare them for being in an aggressive environment, for which the metal surface is cleaned from rust and stained with special compounds or bitumen.
Concreting. As a formwork for concrete, roofing material is used, which is located on the walls of the pit. The bottom of the pit is preferably compacted and covered with sand with gravel. After preparing the pit, concrete is poured into it, and a pillar is inserted.
The verticality of the installation is checked using a plumb line and level. Further work with the supports is possible only after a week, after the solution has gained sufficient strength.
Installation of supports for guides. Pieces of the corner with holes for mounting the guides are welded to the installed posts. The attachment points of the pipe sections and the bases themselves should be treated with anti-corrosion compounds and painted.
Installation of guides. Guides are bolted to the prepared bases. After installation, the wooden rails must be painted to strengthen the wood and protect it from decay.
Installation of slate. Fastening the slate to the guides is best done together, so that the partner can hold the sheet in the desired position. The slate is attached with screws to wooden rails using a screwdriver. In order to prevent chips and penetration of the base, a rubber washer should be placed under the head of the self-tapping screw.
The use of roofing nails for attaching slate is not recommended, since to work with them you must have a certain qualification.
When marking the fence, you should leave small gaps between the sheets and at the places where the sheets adjoin the ground. These gaps will help reduce the windage of the entire structure, which will allow the fence to withstand during hurricane winds.
Final work. At the last stage, a gate and a gate are installed. Gate leaves and gates are usually boiled separately from a metal profile or corner. To fasten the wings to the posts use special canopies for gates.
The gate and gate can also be closed with a flat slate, but since these elements will be often used, it is recommended to use a lighter and more durable metal sheet. After hanging the gate leaves and gates, locks are installed.
At the final stage, proceed to finishing work. To extend the life of asbestos-cement sheets, it is recommended that they be treated with coloring compounds. Acrylic paints for concrete are best suited for this purpose.
Using paints will allow you to change the gray, nondescript color of the slate. In addition, if you have artistic skills, you can decorate the entire surface of the fence with bright and original drawings.