How to make a slate fence. slate fence

Flat slate in everyday life is called sheet asbestos cement. Such products have been known for a long time and are used for the construction of various structures, including enclosing ones. A fence made of such material is considered one of the cheapest. In order to have no doubts about the advisability of using these products, let us briefly dwell on the advantages of such fences.

Features of slate fences

• The arrangement of the foundation is not required, as for brickwork.
• Small construction cost. If you focus on averaged data (they are different for each region), then, for example, about 720 rubles will have to be paid for a sheet measuring 3.5 x 1.5 (with a thickness of 10 mm). The same sample of 12 mm will cost around 1,000 rubles. And if we take into account that no special equipment or equipment is required, the services of professionals, then there is a cost-effectiveness of such an option for erecting a building envelope.
• During operation, flat slate does not need regular maintenance. Anyone who has encountered wood fences knows how much time and effort has to be spent on processing the material with various special compounds - flame retardants, antiseptics. Asbestos cement is only enough to paint, although some owners do not even do this. By the way, if you consider how much work it costs to paint a picket fence, then here the “plus” of flat slate is obvious.
• Maintainability. It makes no sense even to compare which is easier - to replace a slate sheet or a reinforced concrete slab in the fence. And the process of restoring the integrity of brickwork is even more difficult.
• For those who do not like the curious looks of their neighbors towards their site, such a fence will provide reliable protection in this regard.

Flat slate fence construction technology

We will not dwell on the process of preparing the route - how and with what to clean it, how to make markings. Each owner has his own piece of land, and he himself will determine the amount of work. Therefore, we will consider only the main stages of construction. A zealous owner himself will think of what and how can be improved.

As such, it is more convenient (in terms of fastening sheets of asbestos cement) to use metal pipes. The places for the holes are determined based on the dimensions of the products, since the greater their weight, the more often the posts should be placed. But at the same time, the length of the profile used must be taken into account.

The pipe installation process is very simple. At the bottom of the hole, a small layer of fine gravel (gravel) is poured interspersed with coarse sand. Such a "bedding" is well compacted. After that, a support is installed in the hole, aligned vertically, and the same gravel is backfilled. Moreover, it needs to be “loaded” in small parts, while pouring cement + sand with a solution (preliminarily ramming the next portion of rubble).

By the way, this is not required. As a rule, its installation is carried out if it is planned to tile the area. But this work is also quite simple. A shallow trench is dug between the pillars and exactly the same “filling” is made as in the holes. The elements of the curb are laid on top and fixed according to the same method.

Since the slate fence is located in the open air, it is better to use "galvanization". The blanks are fixed on poles in such a way as to form a frame on which sheets of asbestos cement will be fixed. In fact, these are 2 horizontal guides going from support to support. As an option, at the bottom, additionally install a corner on which the sheets will rest. This will also protect the lower sections of the slate from mechanical damage.

For greater reliability of such a “skeleton”, it is advisable to install vertical racks from segments of this material between the profiles (at a certain distance).

As fasteners, the so-called farmer self-tapping screws are used.

Holes for fasteners are pre-marked and drilled in the material. Experts advise fixing the slate with roofing screws. The only thing that is useful from the special tool is a screwdriver. Given the massiveness of the sheets, the work is done with an assistant.

Its peculiarity is that, firstly, it is necessary to work only with well-dried products. Otherwise, after drying, the gap between the samples will become even larger, turning into a decent gap. Secondly, they should not be placed too tightly, since when wet, the slate slightly increases its dimensions. And the owner determines the specific interval between the sheets himself, taking into account these recommendations.

• Surface Finishing
• It is necessary to think over how to “disguise” the ends of the fasteners sticking out from the back of the slate fence. Most likely, a coat of paint will be enough.
• External finishing of sheets.

• Sheet asbestos cement has a porous structure. And since any fence is a structure placed outside buildings, in the open air, experts recommend painting flat slate. Acrylic paints are most suitable, as they have good water-repellent properties. In addition, their elasticity ensures that during operation the coating layer will not become covered with cracks and will not begin to “shaggy”. On sale there are even special compositions designed specifically for painting slate fences.
• There are recommendations to deepen the lower sections of the sheets, then you do not have to deal with the device of the curb. Of course, each owner himself decides the expediency of just such an installation of slate, but one should not forget that the material is able to absorb moisture. Therefore, the usefulness of this advice is questionable. Including, in terms of the maintainability of such a fence. It is better to mount the sheets so that there is a small gap between them and the soil.
• Determining the depth of the holes, it is necessary to focus on the load that the supports will experience. This is not only the weight of the sheets, but also, for example, gusts of wind. Also, will lighting fixtures be attached to the poles? There are many nuances.
• To connect the fence with other structures (for example, a building), a corner is attached to their surface (vertically).
• It is not recommended to use a wooden beam (instead of a profile) for fixing sheets, since the service life of any wood is limited.

Do-it-yourself flat slate fence

Flat slate in everyday life is called sheet asbestos cement. Such products have been known for a long time and are used for the construction of various structures, including enclosing ones. A fence made of such material is considered one of the cheapest. In order to have no doubts about the advisability of using these products, let us briefly dwell on the advantages of such fences.

How to make a slate fence with your own hands

Slate is not a very durable material, its direct purpose is installation on a roofing device.

Slate fences are most often erected for temporary site fencing or enclosures for pets.

Preparing to install a slate fence

Necessary material for the construction of a slate fence:

• Slate, wave or flat. Flat is easier to attach to the frame, unlike slate with waves.
• Steel pipe for racks, up to 100 mm in diameter. A larger diameter should not be used, a smaller one can, although this will be at the expense of structural strength.
• A wooden beam, 100 by 50 mm in size, to which slate sheets will be attached.
• The corner is metal, size 85 by 50 mm, it will serve as a frame for attaching a wooden beam.
• Fasteners - studs, self-tapping screws.
• Cement, sand, crushed stone for the preparation of concrete mortar and the installation of posts.

Installation of slate fence posts

Having marked the contours of the future fence, you need to install corner posts. We dig holes for posts, their depth should be at least two bayonets of a shovel.

Then you can immediately prepare concrete for pouring the first columns. Next - cut the pipe, which will act as columns, into identical pieces. The length of the pieces depends on the height you planned, plus the size that will go into the hole.

Then we proceed to the installation of the columns: we lower them into the pits and burst them with a boot. Immediately try to align the posts vertically with a building level. When the post is installed, you can fill the hole with concrete.

Having installed all the corner support structures, stretch a twine between them and prepare holes for the next supports along it.

We fix the corner and timber for the future fence

The concrete poured into the pits should set well, usually a week is enough for this.

After this time, you need to cut the corner into equal parts. The size of the parts should be equal to the diameter of the pipe used or slightly larger.

After that, you should drill holes in the pipe for the diameter of your studs. Holes are drilled at the top and bottom of the pipe and, accordingly, in the center of the corner piece.

Attach the corner to the support with a hairpin in such a way that a shelf is obtained, into which the beam will then lie. This fastening method makes slate fences strong and rigid.

There are two options for installing the beam. At the first, when you fasten the corner to the support with a hairpin, the timber should also be drilled to the diameter of the hairpin and immediately tighten the structure with a hairpin. The beam will be held directly on the support, pillar.

In the second option, secure the corner with a hairpin, tighten well. After that, drill holes in the corner shelf, which is adjacent to the post, and through these holes, pull the beam to the corner.

We fix the sheets of slate

When the frame is ready, you can start installing slate sheets. Self-tapping screws for corrugated board are suitable for their fastening.

Using a nozzle for the head of a self-tapping screw, a drill or a screwdriver, fasten the sheets to the timber. If you have a flat sheet, then join the ends and drill the sheet through into the timber. If the slate is wave, overlap one or two waves.

If you need to cut the sheet, use a grinder and a concrete disc. For the accuracy of fastening the sheets, it is recommended to pull the thread from the first installed sheet to the corner post. This will allow you to control the assembly of the fence and fasten the sheets evenly.

The slate fence should be painted, this will protect the sheets from the penetration of moisture and the settlement of the fungus there.

Do-it-yourself slate fence in one day (video), With Your Hands - How To Make Yourself

How to make a slate fence with your own hands Slate is not a very durable material, its direct

How to build a slate fence with your own hands

It is easy to build a fence from an inexpensive and reliable material. It is enough to deal with fasteners, markings and a plan for future construction. For example, a slate fence will last longer than an untreated board. Yes, and in the private sector they even try to use old roofing material - you can make a fence from the back of the site from it. It turns out that both new and already used slate is suitable for work.

Features of using slate for the construction of a fence

Slate is one of the simplest and most inexpensive materials for making a fence. Moreover, any side of the fence will look neat. Modern slate is suitable for both rural areas and for houses in the city.

The slate is made of asbestos cement, so there is no need to wait for maximum strength. It is easy to guess that even the thinnest iron is more stable. However, there are developments in the use of slate. It is advisable to place the front part of the fence away from the road so that random debris from under the wheels does not damage the sheets. And the usual barriers between neighboring areas are easiest to make from slate, even one person can handle such work.

This material has been known for a long time. It is obtained by mixing Portland cement, asbestos and water. Evenly distributed asbestos fibers form a strong mesh that increases the impact strength and tensile strength of the material.

Advantages and disadvantages of using slate fence

• low cost;
• average fire resistance;
• the possibility of decorative processing with any paint;
• simple installation.

• asbestos in the composition is not an environmentally friendly material;
• explodes when heated;
• service life depends on the specific location. And the lower the temperature in winter, the faster cracks will appear. If you protect with acrylic (paint), then the service life will increase;
• protection is required when working with slate. Construction respirators must be worn so that dust does not enter the respiratory tract.

Types of slate used for fences

Wave sheets created from asbestos cement have a curly shape. The material has the following advantages:

Flat sheets of slate have the same composition, the difference is only in the form.

Both types of slate have flaws that can be ironed out. The appearance of the material deteriorates somewhat over the years, fades, fades. However, if you cover it with special substances, this can be prevented.

Flat or wave slate for a fence is a weak, more precisely, material that is fragile in bending. Do not forget about the weight of such a building unit, it is quite large compared to the same metal sheet.

If you decide to buy slate, and not use the old one from the roof of a house or outbuilding, then you should keep in mind that it is easier to mount and ship flat sheets.

Do-it-yourself slate fence installation

Making a slate fence is easy. On a not very large area, such work can be done in a few days.

Preparation for construction: marking the territory

There is no important feature in the layout of the slate fence. This working moment is the same as the layout for any type of fence. To begin with, it is worth clearing the part of the territory where construction will be carried out. Next, you need to pull the thread and install it in such a way that along the entire length it repeats the line of the future fence. The markings are usually fixed to pegs, posts, steel reinforcement or any other remnant of building material. Accuracy in size and the location of the thread along the entire length of the future slate fence is the main requirement for marking.

When calculating the building material, it turns out the required number of pillars for the entire fence. In the process of marking, it is necessary to accurately put a landmark in their place. A specific distance is maintained between each pillar, with a careless attitude to this stage, further work will only become more difficult. After all, all sheets of slate have the same size. It is under him that they plan to mark the pillars.

When buying a new fence material, many prefer flexible slate. It certainly won't be blown away by strong winds. Such a building material has a rectangular shape, its surface is either flat or wavy. The downside is this: the declared service life is only 15 years, and every 5 years it is necessary to replace the protective layer. The interior of the flexible slate is subject to burning.

The standard dimensions of wave slate are 1750 by 1135 millimeters.

The long side of the sheet is usually attached horizontally. Wave material must be mounted on an overlapping fence, for which there is a margin of 125 mm. This makes it easier to calculate the length of the fence. It is easy to guess that for 1 meter of construction you will need one sheet, set horizontally by a wave.

Interestingly, it is when working with wave slate that you should not be afraid of incorrect marking, because the sheets can hide all the errors between the pillars.

Flat material is available in four sizes:

1. Length 3 meters, width 1.5 meters.
2. Length 2 meters, width 1.5 meters.
3. Length 1.75 meters, width 1.13 meters.
4. Length 1.5 meters, width 1 meter.

Most often they try to buy the third option, paying attention to the thickness. This parameter should be equal to 10 mm, then the sheet itself will weigh 40 kg. For comparison: a thickness of 8 mm is already lighter - 30 kg.

Calculating the amount of material is very simple: you need to measure the total length of the fence and divide by one sheet. More precisely, by the amount that remains without overlap. Having received the required number of units, it is necessary to purchase with a margin of 2 or 3 pieces.

An example of calculating the number of sheets of wave slate

Assume that the total length of the perimeter is 40 meters. The wave slate 1750 by 1135 mm in the amount of 40 units is being worked on (the working surface of one sheet is 1 m). With a margin, they buy not 40 sheets, but 42-43, because marriage and mistakes in construction are inevitable.

When installing on your own, it’s better to work in pairs, but you can’t do it without the following set of tools:

• grinder or screwdriver with a cutting nozzle;
• drill;
• welding machine;
• spanners;
• levels;
• plumb;
• construction hammers;
• fixing bolts.

Step by step guide to making a slate fence

The work is performed in the following sequence:

1. Using a hand drill around the perimeter of the marking, arrange holes for the poles. When there is no such tool, they take an ordinary shovel to work and carefully dig deep, but not wide holes. They try to make sure that further pouring with a solution is economical. Pits are made one third of the length of the pillars.

Finishing and decorating a slate fence

It is not difficult to protect, decorate and maintain this type of fence. It is enough to follow some established rules:

1. The slate sheet is not attached to the very surface of the earth. They maintain a distance of 10–15 centimeters from the lowest point, arranging a special backfill below. Thus, the material will remain dry.

Any mechanical damage to the slate is thought out in advance, otherwise its service life is reduced several times.

Slate was invented for roofing, but it is not always worth creating reliable fences or barriers from it. They stop at this material only if there is a large residue after construction or there is no suitable modern material in the store. Although in the backyards of the countryside, where the likelihood of theft of good material is too high, nailing old slate to the poles will be the best solution.

How to make a slate fence with your own hands - step by step instructions, construction options and decorations with photos and videos

How to choose the right slate for the fence. How to make measurements and calculations. Step-by-step instructions for installing a slate fence with your own hands.

How to make a slate fence with your own hands: installation options and features

Asbestos-cement slate for site fencing is not often used. Bad publicity served him the habit of using the "residual principle". Many cottage owners put old roofing slate covered with moss and nail holes on the fences. Their neighbors, looking at its unpresentable appearance, choose other options for fences.

If, however, you approach the matter competently, without trying to save on the fence due to the outdated roof, then slate can successfully compete with other types of sheet materials.

We set the goal of this article to consider the advantages, features and examples of slate fences. We hope that after getting acquainted with them, many readers will change their attitude to this material.

Slate fence. More advantages than disadvantages

So, what is good about a fence built from flat or corrugated slate?

• Firstly, such a fence is durable and unpretentious in maintenance. The service life of high-quality slate is measured in decades. At the same time, it does not rot, does not rust, does not collapse under the influence of frost and heat.
• Secondly, the price of a slate fence is low.
• Thirdly, the installation of this material is quite simple and does not take much time.
• Fourthly, with a creative approach, the appearance of a slate fence is not inferior to more expensive materials (stone, wood, polycarbonate, metal).

The only serious drawback of asbestos-cement slate is its relative fragility. From a strong point impact, it bursts. You can restore a damaged sheet either by using steel plates (flat slate) or by replacing (wavy).

The choice of options for asbestos-cement slate for the fence is not too large. Anyone who wants to save money buys standard material with a sheet size of 1.75x1.125 m (8 waves) or 1.75x0.98 (7 waves).

In the nomenclature of flat slate used for fencing, sheets of 1.0x1.5 m in size are in greatest demand; 2.0x1.5 m; and 3.0x1.5 m.

Examples of slate fences

When deciding which slate is better to build a fence from, you need to familiarize yourself with the existing options for its installation and decoration.

Wavy slate is most often placed on horizontal runs from a profile pipe, a wooden bar, or a combination of "steel corner + wooden lath". Runs are fixed on steel (less often asbestos-cement) columns concreted in the ground or strip foundation. To fasten the runs (lag) to the racks, metal studs, self-tapping screws or welding are used.

Flat slate is mounted in two ways:

• On horizontal runs from a profile pipe.
• Within the framework of a steel corner.

The first installation method is no different from the installation of wave slate.

The frame mounting option is more reliable. The corner creates a frame that protects the edges of the sheet from chipping. Using a frame allows you to refuse to drill holes in the slate that weaken the sheet. The frame is welded to the post. After that, a sheet is inserted into it and fixed from falling out with short steel plates welded to the corner.

In this photo we see another option for mounting slate. No corner frame is used here. Sheets with pins are attached directly to the posts. From below and along the upper cut of the fence a corner was launched. The joints of the sheets are covered with a steel strip welded to the corner.

It should be noted one more, not the most successful, way of installing flat slate on a fence - the use of mounting eye plates. Holes in the edges of the sheet and the installation of a heavy 4-point slate increase the risk of chipping.

Everything is clear with the installation, but where is the promised beauty? the reader will ask. Indeed, it is time to move from the technical side to the aesthetic. It is not difficult to make a wave slate fence attractive and boring. To do this, it is enough to buy colored material.

Monochromatic fencing is not for everyone. Therefore, we recommend purchasing slate in different colors and fixing it on the fence, as on an artist's palette.

A good option is to paint the slate with special paints. They can be used not only for continuous tinting. The fence looks very nice, on the sections of which an ornament or a landscape is drawn.

If the family has small children, a nondescript fence can be painted by drawing fairy-tale characters. This decoration will certainly please the kids and create a cozy atmosphere.

Slate goes well with stone. You can find original types of fences in which these two materials are successfully combined.

In addition to asbestos cement, plastic and metal slate is actively used for fences. Plastic allows you to build a light translucent fence.

Metal slate is a well-known corrugated board. Unlike asbestos-cement sheets, it is not limited to a dimensional standard. This allows you to build fences of any height from it. The methods of attaching plastic and metal to the fence are similar to the technology for mounting slate from asbestos cement.

Features of self-installation of a slate fence

As we said at the beginning of the article, making a slate fence with your own hands is not difficult.

Preparatory operations include:

• Digging or drilling holes for posts. Their depth depends on the height of the fence, the type of soil, the strength of the prevailing wind in the area and can range from 60 cm to 1 meter. The size of the pits in the plan should be 20-30 cm larger than the cross section of the columns for high-quality concrete compaction.
• Concreting of racks in pits. This work begins with the installation of corner posts. Carefully leveling them in level and plumb, pour the concrete mixture. After it is set, a cord is pulled between the racks and ordinary posts are placed along it.
• The next stage is the installation of runs. They can be fixed to the outer plane of the posts or flush with it. Fastening is carried out with self-tapping screws or using welding.

How not to install slate?

Despite the ease of installation, in practice there are many errors and curious situations. We will consider a few of them. Runs for the installation of heavy slate must be rigid and durable. Despite this requirement, some site owners manage to use a thin plasterboard profile for this purpose.

Believing that the weakness of the profile can be compensated for by a large number of holes for fastening, they weaken the strength of the sheet.

The second typical mistake is the fastening of the slate not in the upper rigid part of the “wave”, but in the lower, most brittle one. For clarity, we present a diagram of the correct fastening of the sheet to the frame of the fence. It is taken from the technology of mounting roofs.

It can be seen from the figure that a self-tapping screw or a nail, with which the slate is attracted to the run, must have a rubber gasket to exclude the hard point pressure of the metal on the fragile sheet.

How to make a slate fence with your own hands: installation options and features

What is good about a slate fence? Examples of slate fences and their features, Features of installing such a fence with your own hands.

Slate fences are not considered traditional fencing options, but, under certain circumstances, they can help solve the problem quickly and inexpensively.

• Long service life of the material. Asbestos-cement sheets, even without additional processing, can serve for several decades. They do not change their original properties under the influence of low and high temperatures, are not subject to decay and oxidation;
• The cost of the new material is affordable, although most often for permanent and temporary fences use sheets that were in use, but retained their shape;
• Assembling a fence from flat slate with your own hands, as well as from wavy material, will not be difficult even for a novice builder;
• Asbestos cement sheets allow the maximum use of the imagination of the master. If desired, the sheets can be cut and create original design elements. Paint can be applied to flat surfaces, creating whole paintings.

Slate fences have and negative qualities:

• Fragility. Asbestos-cement sheets are quite easy to damage when struck with a hard object or when bent. The sheets burst, crack, and as a result, for repair, the whole element has to be replaced;
• The slate does not burn, but bursts at high temperatures, firing individual pieces.

What slate to use

You can make a slate fence 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

This material is abbreviated LP-P and LP-NP, which means pressed flat sheet And non-pressed flat sheet.

The difference between pressed and unpressed material is determined by the different value of bending strength.

Pressed sheets have greater strength due to a denser structure, which increases the service life of the material, its frost resistance and resistance to shock loads. The positive aspects of non-pressed products include their small, compared with pressed sheets, weight, as well as 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 designate corrugated sheets VO, VU and UV, which means wave ordinary, wave reinforced And unified wave. Sheets differ not only in strength characteristics, but also in size: VO - 1120x680 mm, VU - 2800x1000 mm, UV - 1750x1125 mm.

Ordinary corrugated products are used for organizing roofing at small private housing construction facilities (sheds, summer cottages, bathhouses), reinforced sheets can be used to cover roofs at industrial facilities, and universal slate is suitable for any buildings and structures.

For the fencing device, the most suitable option would be to use a reinforced corrugated sheet.

It has the highest strength among the considered asbestos-cement wave materials, which means it will last longer as a material for the fence. In addition, reinforced sheets are light in weight (27 kg), which is important when making a do-it-yourself wave slate fence.

Specially buying slate in order to build a fence does not make much sense. If you have to spend on fencing, especially if you have to make a fence on the facade of the site, it is better to purchase stronger and more durable sheets of metal profiled sheet, but if you have to make a fence between neighboring areas, then it is best to make a fence from old slate with your own hands.

Which base to choose

Two options can be used as a foundation for a slate fence: a strip base and individual concreting for each pillar.

Tape base

This type of foundation involves the selection of soil around the entire perimeter of the future fence. The width of the tape should be at least twice the diameter of the post, and the depth depends on the depth of soil freezing in the area, but cannot be less than 0.8 m.

A wooden formwork is being prepared for pouring. The pillars are installed at the time of pouring, tracking the verticality with 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

It is much more efficient and cheaper to perform concreting of each support. Individual concreting is carried out as follows:

1. Holes are dug at the marked points using a drill or manually. The diameter of the hole should be twice the diameter of the column. The depth of the hole must be at least 800 mm.
2. Sand is poured at the bottom of the hole and compacted, fine gravel is poured on top and also compacted.
3. Roofing material is used for waterproofing equipment. It is laid along the length of the hole in such a way that it fits snugly against the walls, in this case the roofing material also plays the role of a formwork for concrete.
4. Concrete for pouring the support is made from M400 cement and sand in a ratio of 1:3.
5. The solution prepared in a concrete mixer is poured into a hole, after which a pole is inserted.
6. To install the post strictly vertically, you need to check it with a plumb line and a vertical level.
7. The 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 installation of guides and slate.

Necessary materials and tools

To make a slate fence, 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 marking of the supporting pillars;
• support. For corner posts and gate supports, it is best to use more powerful metal pipes with a cross section of 100 mm; for intermediate supports and gates, metal posts with a cross section of 80 mm will suffice;
• as transverse guides for asbestos-cement sheets, a 50 mm thick edged board is used;
• for mounting 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 are required for each post, for attaching the guides from above and below;
• as a fastening material for the slate, self-tapping screws are required, for fastening the guide bolts with nuts.

To install the structure, you will need to purchase the following tools:

• level;
• plumb;
• drill for preparing holes for poles;
• shovel;
• a container for preparing concrete or a concrete mixer;
• drill;
• screwdriver;
• welding machine;
• hacksaw;
• wrenches;
• cutting wheels for concrete and grinder;
• goggles, 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 goggles.

Calculation of the required amount of materials with examples

In order to correctly calculate the required amount of materials for a slate fence, you should accurately measure the length of the future fence. Before starting work, you need to find reference points that mark the boundary of the site, this must be done by the owner himself. In order to avoid claims and disputes with neighbors, you may have to call surveying specialists and update the site layout plan.

We assume that the boundary boundaries of the site coincide with the existing ones, and using the example of a 20x25 meter site, we will make a step-by-step calculation of the necessary materials:

1. The perimeter of the site is 90 m. For the equipment of the gate, 4 meters will be required, and 1 meter for the gate, respectively, the blind fence remains: 90-4-1 = 85 meters. If flat slate with dimensions of 1.5x3 m is used for installation, to cover 85 meters you will need: 85/3 = 28.33 sheets, rounded up and it turns out - 29 sheets.
2. 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.
3. To calculate the number of intermediate supports, divide one side of the fence by the distance between the posts (it is recommended to install the posts every 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, you need to subtract the width of the gate and gate: 20-4-1=15, and also divide by 2.5. The total will be: 20 pillars in length (two sides), 8 pillars in width on one side, and 6 pillars on the front side. In total, 34 intermediate supports with a cross section of 80 mm and a length of 3 m are required.
4. Boards with a thickness of 50 mm and a width of 130 mm were chosen as transverse guides. With two rows of guides at the top and bottom, 180 meters of boards will be required.
5. A metal corner 50x50 mm 250 mm long will be used as a support for the guides. The total number of pillars is: 6 + 34 = 40, respectively, 80 segments of the corner will be required, with a total length of 20 meters. When buying a corner, you should take into account the length of the standard product (6, 9 and 12 m).
6. To attach the rails to the support, you will need 80 mm bolts with nuts. For 80 supports with two attachment points, 160 bolts will be required.
7. To fix the slate, self-tapping screws 50 mm long will be used. For each sheet, 12 self-tapping screws are required (fastening pitch 500 mm), respectively, for the entire fence you will need: 29x12 \u003d 348 self-tapping screws.
8. The concreting of one support will require 5 kg of cement and 15 kg of sand. All you need is: cement - 40x5 = 200 kg (4 bags), sand - 40x15 = 600 kg.

The height of the support pillars depends on the depth of soil freezing in the construction area, so the height of the pillars will differ depending on the climatic zone.

Instructions for building a slate fence

The construction of the fence consists of several stages. The following instructions will help beginners in construction independently complete all the work in stages and without errors.

Planning. Before starting work, you should prepare a plan. On the plot diagram, the points where the corner posts will be located should be noted, the distance between them is measured, and the installation sites of the intermediate supports are marked.

Markup. All support placement points are transferred from the plan directly to the site. The corner points are found first and pegs are placed on them. Further, a cord is pulled around the entire perimeter, which will allow you to accurately mark the installation sites for intermediate supports, and a peg is also driven in to indicate the place of support.

Excavation. At the next stage, holes are prepared for the supporting pillars. The depth of immersion of the support into the ground depends on the depth of freezing in the area, but making holes less than 0.8 m deep is not recommended.

Pillar preparation. Before installing the pillars, it is necessary to prepare them for being in an aggressive environment, for which the metal surface is cleaned of rust and painted over with special compounds or bitumen.

Concreting. As a formwork for concrete, roofing material is used, which is placed along the walls of the pit. It is advisable to compact the bottom of the hole and fill it with sand and gravel. After preparing the hole, concrete is poured into it, and a post is inserted.

The verticality of the installation is checked using a plumb line and a level. Further work with supports is possible only after a week, after the mortar has gained sufficient strength.

Installation of supports for guides. Pieces of a corner with holes for fastening the guides are welded to the installed pillars. The points of attachment of the segments with the pipe 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, wooden rails must be painted to strengthen the wood and protect it from rotting.

Slate installation. Fastening the slate to the guides is best done by two people so that the partner can hold the sheet in the required position. The slate is fastened with self-tapping screws to wooden rails using a screwdriver. 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 fastening slate is not recommended, as it requires a certain amount of skill to work with them.

When marking the fence, small gaps should be left between the sheets and at the junction of the sheets to the ground. These gaps will help reduce the windage of the entire structure, which will allow the fence to withstand hurricane winds.

Final works. At the last stage, a gate and a gate are installed. Gate leaves and gates are usually welded separately from a metal profile or corner. For fastening the wings to the posts, special canopies for the gate are used.

The wicket and gate can also be closed with flat slate, but since these elements will be used frequently, it is recommended to use a lighter and more durable metal profiled sheet. After hanging the gate leaves and gates, locks are installed.

At the final stage, start finishing work. To extend the life of asbestos-cement sheets, it is recommended to treat them with coloring compounds. For this purpose, acrylic paints for concrete are best suited.

The use of 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.

Related videos

There is a fence in almost every private house, well, or in almost every one. The owners thus protect their territory from prying eyes. Recently, a lot of new products have appeared, and a slate fence is one of them.

How to choose what you need for fencing?

"How to make a fence from improvised materials"? - You will probably be interested to know the answer to this question, especially if you have your own plot, but there is no fence on it. Many have already adopted the idea of ​​​​newfangled material and were satisfied. So, for those who have decided in this way to protect their personal space from the prying eyes of strangers, we will talk about slate, which is in no way inferior to other materials that are used to install fences - brick, concrete slabs, wood, metal mesh or corrugated board.

This is a budget option for those who want the site to look beautiful and aesthetic, but do not have large sums for more expensive fencing material. By the way, many people use slate sheets as a fence not only in their summer cottage, but also within the city. And believe me, this option is in no way inferior to more expensive counterparts. And the thing is that now you can order different types of this material and different colors. So, in the construction market you can find ondulin (euro slate), asbestos-cement slate, plastic slate.

Sheets are used mainly as roofing, but no one bothers you to use your skills and imagination in order to install a fence from such a product. Choosing from varieties of slate material for these purposes, you can focus on one that has good plasticity (and is often used for roofs with irregular geometric shapes), or one that has such qualities as super rigidity and hardness. Many, of course, give preference to flexible slate, which is quite plastic - this is achieved by manufacturing products based on bitumen and fibers of various origins.

Flexible slate is similar in appearance to asbestos-cement sheets, is produced in a rectangular shape and may have a wavy surface. Its advantages, first of all, are that it does not rot and can withstand heavy loads, and it can be mounted taking into account the presence of an old fence. In addition, such material can be ordered in different colors and types. However, there are also disadvantages - a short service life - about 15 years, with the need to replace the protective layer after 5 years, as well as susceptibility to combustion.

What fencing options are available?

By the way, you can take a metal analogue as a basis. It is also available in a version with a wavy surface - it does not burn, it is quite reliable, it can withstand strong winds, but there are also disadvantages. It must be periodically treated with special anti-corrosion materials. If we take ordinary slate sheets as a basis, then they have the most significant drawback - they are afraid of mechanical damage, and with a strong impact of a stone, you risk being left with a hole or a crack in the fence. And if you still decide to install such material, then it is better to do this in places where there is less busy traffic.

You can safely protect some territory with such a product inside the yard - in this case, this option is more acceptable. But if you decide to protect your territory in this way, then this is clearly the wrong choice. Ordinary slate will not save your site from penetrations - this, of course, is another minus, and an additional plus is that this material is not afraid of high and low temperatures, heavy rainfall or constant direct sunlight.

So, dwelling on such an option as a fence made of wavy or flat slate, choose, first of all, based not on the appearance of the product, but on its composition and scope.

How to make a slate fence with your own hands - simple and easy!

We will give an example of how to put up a fence made of slate and materials left on the farm after the reconstruction of the roof of a house. This situation, for sure, is faced by many residents of summer cottages - after the repair, whole slate sheets remained, and you would like to use them with benefit in the household. So why not use them as a fence? For this workflow, you need to prepare metal pipes, beams, corners - then your fence will be stable, and you will not be afraid that it will be blown away by the wind.

How to make a slate fence with your own hands - a step by step diagram

Step 1: Prepare materials

We buy timber, corners, metal pipes. The latter will serve as the basis for the fence device. With such a set of materials, it will be stable and will last for many years. The base, of course, can be replaced, but professionals still advise using metal pipes as frame pillars.

Step 2: Mounting the poles

We prepare pits - they are needed for installing pipes. It is better to dig them to a depth of about 50-60 centimeters, and choose a distance of 2.5-3 meters from each other. Metal pipes are cut in advance according to the parameters you need - all of the same length. After that, special holes must be drilled in them - they will be needed for fasteners. In the future, with the help of a bar and a metal corner, you can fix your fence using flat slate or its wavy counterpart.

Do not forget to lubricate the lower part of the pipe, which will be in the ground, with an anti-corrosion coating, and then with bitumen (it must first be melted and diluted with a small amount of solvent). Pipes are placed in holes and filled with concrete. Do not forget, using the building level, be sure to check the correctness of their installation.

Step 3: First installation steps

First, we install two pipes on the sides, and between them we stretch the rope. If the fence is very long, then we recommend using several additional intermediate posts. The main thing is that the stretched cord does not sag. The rest of the pipes are placed, already focusing on the stretched rope. The concrete mortar itself will dry out within 14 days, but if you need to quickly install the fence, then you can continue work after 24 hours.

Next, bolts to the posts should be fixed bars and corners. The corners are pre-cut into pieces (for example, 10 cm long, with the same pipe diameter) and then holes are drilled in them for fasteners. Next, the beam should be fixed together with the metal corner at the same time. After that, all three parts - a corner, a bar and a metal pipe - are fixed to each other.

Step 4: Installing the slate

A bar for a fence made of flat or wavy slate is connected using the "end connection" method - a direct overlay in half a tree, screwed to the corners with ordinary self-tapping screws. Now you can proceed with the installation of the material itself - the sheets are fastened with self-tapping screws to a wooden beam, and first a thin rope or rope is pulled between the posts for a guide. Professionals advise to check the horizontal position with a device such as.

So, the first sheet is mounted very carefully - the final result will depend on the accuracy of installation at this stage (since the first sheet is the main guide vector for the entire fence). Sheets are fixed with screws. If you are installing a wave slate fence, then try to get a proper and strong overlap at the edges. Each installed sheet should align with the previous slight overlap, but on the surface it should look like the new slate sheet is a continuation of the previous one.

When constructing such a fence, it is necessary to leave a ventilated space below - it is not recommended to install sheets directly on the ground. You can leave the fence in a hinged version, or you can mount a small foundation. Just learn that these are additional funds and costs. Here is your fence and ready. Once the fence has been installed, it can be repainted in the desired color. Painting will additionally protect the asbestos cement from bad weather and partially help neutralize the influence of such an element as asbestos (although the harmfulness of this material is still in question).

How to cope with the task?

For those who are faced with such technology for the first time, we want to offer the following "cheat sheet":

Slate is one of the most affordable building materials for building fences. At the same time, anyone, even a novice home master, can build a slate fence with his own hands. However, it cannot be considered as a cheap material. Compared to wood, slate is more expensive. But unlike brick or corrugated board, a fence made of the material in question will come out cheaper.

Wave Slate Fence

Until relatively recently, slate was offered as a roofing material, but today it is actively used as hedges.

Among the main advantages are the following:

1. Fire safety. This material is not combustible, and during strong heating it does not emit toxic substances.
2. Long service time. A fence made of flat slate can last at least 35 years, wavy - more than 25 years.
3. Slight elasticity, which does not allow breaks when stretched, allows the material to resist strong gusts of wind without breaking its integrity.
4. Resistant to aggressive chemicals.
5. Slate does not make loud noises during rain, unlike other sheet materials.
6. Frost resistance, as well as resistance to sudden temperature changes.
7. You can build a fence with your own hands - when building this fence, there are no difficulties. At the same time, the structure is rapidly erected.
8. Ease of processing - sheets are well drilled and cut with conventional tools.
9. Euro-slate has excellent performance, which is coated with pigmenting phosphate or silicate compounds. In addition to high decorative qualities, this increases resistance to atmospheric phenomena: the material more easily tolerates significant temperature fluctuations, freezing, and almost does not allow moisture to pass through.

Wave material fence in the village

In general, the slate fence comes out quite neat, although, of course, we are not talking about high aesthetic properties.

Often on the forums there is a discussion of various shortcomings of protective structures made of slate.

Among the main ones are:

1. The main drawback is the composition of the slate. The material contains a hazardous substance - asbestos. But asbestos is dangerous only during the cutting of the sheet or when stored in closed warehouses. If slate sheets are on the street, then they are safe for health.
2. Low resistance to moisture. It is undesirable to install this fence in areas with a humid climate. The fence will not be able to hold out in its original state for a long time. The surface will quickly darken, become covered with moss, crack.
3. The fence turns out to be quite heavy due to the large weight of the slate itself. This often creates some inconvenience during installation and operation in the future. During construction, stronger load-bearing elements will be needed. During future use, the fence may tilt due to the significant weight.
4. Low aesthetic appeal. Wave slate fencing does not look very nice. If you choose a colored material, then the situation can be significantly improved, but it must be painted almost every year. A do-it-yourself flat slate hedge has better decorative qualities, as well as a more attractive look.
5. Fragility. The fence has a low level of resistance to point impacts. Any mechanical load can contribute to a split or hole, which will entail repair of the structure. Also, after a while, when the fence begins to tilt under its own weight, cracks may appear in the areas of fasteners to the elements of the crate.

The photo below shows a slate fence.

A fence made of wave slate at their summer cottage

The latter is 12% heavier, but its strength characteristics increase by 22%. This is how you can partially solve the issue of fragility. At the same time, the material has a more accurate geometry and more than 45 cycles of freezing and thawing. But if you want to make a budget fence, then you can choose LP-NP.

Wave slate also has several types. Today, manufacturers have increased the range due to various methods of painting products. This greatly increased the attractiveness of the material, and consumers got rid of the problem of how to paint a slate fence.

Types of wave slate sheets:

• unified slate (UV);
• reinforced sheet (VU);
• wave ordinary sheet (VO).

The wavy look of slate can be seen in the photo below.

Private house fence

It is best to make a fence from wave slate with your own hands from a unified UV sheet. It has a high density, as well as convenient dimensions for work. The weight of the sheet is no more than 25 kg, and the useful size is almost close to the actual one. This reduces consumption and also facilitates the installation process.

Preparatory work

Before you make a slate fence with your own hands, you need to make calculations. Calculate the slate fence is very simple. It is only necessary to measure the perimeter of the fenced area, subtract the openings of the gates and gates. Then a drawing is made where the supports of the future fence are placed: angular and intermediate. Subsequent calculations are made after the selection of slate sheets.

Preparation of supports for a slate barrier

Dimensions and building materials

Regarding the strength between the wave and flat sheets of slate, there is no significant difference. This material, one way or another, is fragile. Therefore, it is necessary to choose products taking into account their availability, price and the desired result.

A flat slate sheet is easier to install and allows the installation of individual elements without overlap. Accordingly, with a significant length of the fence, 2-3 sheets can be saved.

Installing fence posts and fixing a log

During the acquisition of the material, you need to pay attention to the geometric dimensions:

• mismatch of linear dimensions should be no more than ± 4 mm;
• wave - no more than 5 mm for pressed sheets, up to 9 mm for non-pressed sheets;
• diagonal deviation should be no more than 4 mm.

To determine the quality of slate, you need to read its marking, as well as measure any sheet. You also need to pay attention to the color of the surface: darkening is the cause of high humidity and improper storage of the material.

Fence installation scheme

As for the height of the slate fence, in this case there are many nuances. The SNiP does not specify clear requirements, it only recommends installing fences with a height of no more than 2 m.

However, if we consider solid fences, then in this case the size is reduced to 75 cm.

Also, local regulations may specify certain restrictions. But still, most often problems with hedges of the “wrong” height appear only if the homeowner himself could not find a peaceful solution with his neighbors.

There is one more nuance: the optimal height of the fence is about 2 m. This is quite enough for the territory to be fenced off from prying eyes. But in standard products this size does not exist. There are two ways out: either use a wave sheet, or find a flat slate made according to TU, which has such a size.

Sketch of a slate fence

Design and calculation

It is necessary to measure the area to find out how much slate is needed to build a fence.

Fence Installation Drawing

If the calculation is a fractional number, it is rounded up. You also need to remember the fragility of the material, so it must be purchased with a margin of 7%, for the example described, 6-7 sheets.

Also in the estimate of calculations are supports for the fence. It is advisable to use metal profile pipes for slate fences. The fence posts are set at intervals of 2.5 m, but for better strength they are often placed at a distance of 2 m. This will slightly increase the financial costs and labor intensity of the construction of the structure, but it is better to have an extra margin of safety.

Self-tapping screws for fastening slate

Step-by-step instructions for calculating support pipes for a fence using the example of a plot measuring 45x35 meters:

1. Supports for gates and gates - 4 pieces.
2. Corner posts - 4 pieces.
3. Intermediate poles are installed along the long side of the territory, taking into account 45/2 = 23 pcs. (the number must be multiplied by 2).
4. Back of the territory: 35 / 2 = 18 pcs. (also multiplied by 2).
5. A total of 90 supports are needed.

Scheme of fastening corrugated slate to a tree

Supports are required with a cross section of no more than 10x10 cm. The length is determined taking into account the height of the fence plus 1 m per recess in the ground.

Materials and tools

Required materials:

1. Metal corner 55x90 mm for fastening transverse logs.
2. Beam 60x140 mm - the total length is 2 more than the size of the fence.
3. Fasteners.
4. Anti-corrosion agent.
5. Ruberoid, cement.

Do-it-yourself fasteners for installing slate

During marking and preparation for installation, you will need pegs, a garden drill, a level, a rope. When building a fence, you will need:

• welding;
• concrete mixer;
• electric drill;
• Bulgarian;
• keys set;
• saw blade for metal.

When cutting and drilling products, you need to take care of personal protection, since asbestos, even in small quantities, irritates the surface of the mucous membrane.

Installation instructions

First, corner posts for the fence are installed along the perimeter of the territory. A rope is stretched between them, holes are marked along it for intermediate supports. The installation steps are detailed below.

Slate fence installation scheme

To install a fence you need:

1. Make holes in the ground for supports using a garden drill. It is not worth digging deeper than 1 m of a hole, because then there will be an overrun of concrete. Check the interval between the holes - it should be the same around the entire perimeter of the fence.
2. Clean the fence posts from dirt, cover with an anti-corrosion compound, bituminous mastic.
3. Lay the roofing material in the holes, pour it with concrete, insert the supports, ensuring a vertical level with the help of stretch marks. Leave until the cement hardens for approximately 10-12 days.
4. Weld transverse steel strips to the supports to fix the beams. Treat the prepared carrier crate with an anti-corrosion solution in several layers.
5. Dig a small trench between the fence posts and lay a brick base. In areas where there is a slope of the earth towards the backyard, it is necessary to organize drainage.
6. Drill holes in the bars at the ends for fastenings, fix them with bolts to the fastening strips.
7. Put the slate sheet on the prepared base, mark the attachment points to the rails.
8. Fix the slate to the crossbars of the fence with special hardware. In this case, rubber washers must be placed under each self-tapping screw.

Drawing of the correct fastening of the corrugated slate

During the construction of a solid slate fence, it is desirable to organize ventilation of the backyard area. Why leave a gap of 5 cm between the canvas and the ground level (suspended installation) or small gaps between the supports and the canvas.

Perhaps one of the most affordable materials for installing a fence can be called slate. By this name, by the way, they often mean not only the classic asbestos-cement slate, but also the profile corrugated material made of metal, rubber, plastic, bitumen and cellulose. Not all types are suitable for fencing a site or some part of it, but only those that have a rigid structure.

A do-it-yourself slate fence can be installed from a wave or flat material made from asbestos cement or metal. Sometimes, but very rarely, a bitumen-cellulose variant, known as ondulin or euroslate.

Types of slate suitable for installing a fence

To make a choice, you need to know all the advantages and disadvantages of each type of material, the possible difficulties of the installation process.

Asbestos concrete slate

Asbestos concrete slate is most often used to install fencing sites and places for keeping pets. It is produced in the form of flat and wavy sheets. The composition of the material for their manufacture is approximately the same, but the sheets themselves can have different thicknesses and sizes.

The mixture for the manufacture of this material includes three components in different percentages - these are asbestos (10%), cement (85%) and water. 5% can be allocated to various modifying additives. After kneading, the composition is pressed into sheets of the desired size and shape, and then it is sent for drying in a certain mode.

wave slate

"Classic" wavy slate

Asbestos-cement wave (in some sources - wavy) slate is used for the following works:

• Wave slate, which has a regular profile, is used to cover roofs.
• Wave slate with a reinforced profile is used to cover the roofs of industrial buildings, as it differs from ordinary sheets in a longer length.
• Wave slate, which has a unified profile, is used both for covering residential buildings and for industrial buildings. It has a medium size, that is, more how ordinary, but less how at the reinforced

The table shows the standard dimensions of wave slate:

Dimensional parameters	Value in mm (depending on profile type)		Limit deviations
	40/150	54/200
Length (L)	1750	1750	±15
Width (B):
6 wave sheet	-	1125	±15
7 wave sheet	980	-	+10; -5
8 wave sheet	1130	-
Thickness (t)	5.8	6,0; 7,5	+1,0; -0,3
Wave Height:
Private (h)	40	54	+4,0; -3,0
Overlapping (hᶦ)	32	54	+4,0; -5,0
Overlapped (h ²)	32	45	+4,0; -6,0
Overlap Width (b ᶦ)	43	60	±7
Edge overlap width (b ²)	37	65	-
Wave pitch (S)	150	200	-

flat slate

Flat asbestos concrete slate is used for fences more often than wave, as it is more convenient to install and has a large thickness.

Flat slate sheet size in mm	Sheet weight in kg.
Flat asbestos concrete unpressed sheet (LNP)
3000x1500x12	104
3000x1200x12	83
3000x1500x10	87
3000x1200x10	78
Flat asbestos-concrete pressed sheet (LPP)
3000x1200x40	348.1
3000x1200x35	293.98
3000x1500x25	250
3000x1500x20	180

This material is used not only for fencing the site, but also for installing partitions in adjoining utility rooms or for cladding walls with them.

General physical and performance characteristics asbestos concrete slate - in table:

Name of indicator	Indicator value
	Wave slate 40/150	flat slate	Flat slate for cooling towers
Bending strength, MPa (kgf/cm3), not less than	16(160)	18(180)	20(200)
1,5(150)	-	-
Impact strength kDm/m2 (kgf cm/cm2), not less than	1,5(1,5)	1,5(1,5)	2,0(2,0)
Density g / cm3, not less than	1.6	1.6	1.7
Waterproof. hours, not less	24	-	-
Frost resistance: number of freeze and thaw cycles	25	25	25
- residual strength in %, not less than	90	90	90.1
Weight of one sheet in kg	26.1	30	27.1

Until recently, all slate had a uniform light gray color. Today you can find material painted in various shades.

Colored slate not only has an aesthetic appearance, but is also more protected from external influences due to a layer of protective paint. Sheets almost do not absorb moisture, which means they become resistant to low temperatures. Practice shows that the service life of painted slate sheets is about one and a half times longer than that of ordinary ones.

Any asbestos-cement sheets have their advantages and disadvantages, which you also need to know about when choosing this material for installing a fence.

Positive traits

The advantages of the "classic" slate include the following:

• Affordable price compared to other materials used for the construction of fences.
• Sufficient strength. Asbestos concrete the sheet can easily withstand the weight of an adult without deforming or cracking.
• Slate durability. Since this material is mainly intended for roofing, manufacturers have set a minimum service life of 30 years for ordinary slate and 50 years for painted slate. However, most often quality lasts much longer. With proper installation in the fence structure, the sheets will stand no less, unless, of course, they are subjected to an accentuated shock load.
• Asbestos concrete is not combustible, which is very important for fencing a suburban area.
• Slate is not subject to corrosion, moisture from the soil or in the form of precipitation will not have a destructive effect on it.
• The material does not heat up in the sun, which also increases its service life.
• In addition, asbestos concrete can easily withstand any frost without losing its qualities. Usually the guaranteed pledged resource of frost resistance is not less 25 deep freeze and thaw cycles.

Disadvantages of asbestos-cement slate

First of all, it is necessary to name those of them that most often appear if the slate is installed in the form of a fence:

• Brittleness of the material. With a directed impact or when falling, asbestos concrete sheets easily crack and split, especially in cases where they are made in violation of technology.
• The weight of the sheets is quite large, which is 22-26 kg for wave slate, and even more for flat slate - from 78 to 350 kg. To install it in the form of a fence, you need to prepare a reliable foundation.
• Asbestos, which is part of slate sheets, emits fumes harmful to humans, therefore, when cutting or drilling sheets, it is recommended to protect the respiratory tract and eyes from getting asbestos concrete dust. Near a fence made of such slate, it is impossible to install a children's sandbox or a pool, to equip a resting place so as not to jeopardize the health of loved ones.

By the way, in many countries the use of asbestos in residential construction has long been banned. There is debate about which material is safer - chrysotile asbestos (used in production in Russia and other countries of the former USSR) or amphibole (European development). The conclusion is that both substances are carcinogens. This must be taken into account when choosing a material for the fence.

metal slate

Metal slate is often called corrugated board, which is most often produced from galvanized steel with a thickness of 0.4 ÷ 1.0 mm. The surface of the sheet is treated with anti-corrosion compounds, primed, and covered with a polymer on top - these materials create protective layers that preserve the metal from corrosion.

Usually this is a multi-layer well-protected structure.

Metal slate is used in construction for:

• , technical, industrial and utility buildings.
• Construction of permanent fences for private suburban areas and temporary fences for construction sites.
• Sheathing of walls of temporary or outbuildings.

Metal slate can have gentle (like a regular one) waves or angular ones.

Decking (metal slate) is divided into three types according to the height and structure of the profile:

• Wall - marked with the letter "C". It is he who is more suitable for installing a fence. The wave height of this profile is from 8 to 45 mm.
• The profile for the roof is designated by the letter "H". The height of its wave is from 57 to 115 mm. It is also distinguished by the fact that grooves are provided on the surface for water drainage.
• The universal profile "NS" is suitable for wall cladding, and for mounting a fence, and as a roofing material. The height of its wave can be 35 ÷ 45 mm.

This material has both positive qualities and disadvantages, which you must be aware of if it is chosen for fencing the site.

Prices for various types of slate

Positive traits

• Ease of installation, which can be done by one person.
• The light weight of the sheets, which is only 3.5 ÷ 5 kg per 1 sq.m., allows you to do without building a foundation.
• Fire resistance, resistance to high and low temperatures.
• The mechanical strength of the material - it does not give T t cracks and cannot split, unlike asbestos concrete slate.
• Due to the oxide and polymer coating, metal slate sheets are resistant to corrosion.
• Very large selection of material colors
• The low cost of metal slate can significantly save on site fencing.
• The service life of metal slate is 35 years or more.
• Environmental safety of the material.
• The smooth surface does not allow moisture and dust to linger on the surface.

Material disadvantages

If the material is chosen for the installation of a fence, then it can be said that it has no drawbacks that could prevent such an application. There are not many disadvantages of metal slate and when using it for roofing, but they still exist:

• If slate is purchased that does not have a protective coating, then its service life will be limited, since corrosion is inevitable.
• The material is very noisy in heavy rain or hail.

Installed metal slate overlap. For rigidity, you can make an overlap in two waves. Therefore, this must be foreseen in advance in the calculations of the installation of pillars between spans.

Fence base

After the material for the fence has been selected, you need to decide how best to install it.

Two variants of the base for a slate fence are used - these are posts with a crate, installed at a certain distance from each other, without a unifying concrete belt, or a strip foundation with supports built into it.

When planning supports, you need to consider the weight and structure of the material chosen for the fence. So, when installing metal slate (corrugated board), any of the presented options will do.

To install a fence asbestos concrete slate, it is still recommended to choose a base with a fill.

If flat slate is chosen for the fence, the most massive of all the materials presented, then it is better to put a concrete base for it. And additionally - enclose each of the sheets in a frame welded from a metal corner.

If the columns for fixing such a structure are massive and have a large depth, then sometimes they do without a strip foundation, installing only free-standing supports.

However, flat slate is also installed directly on the ground, fixed on concrete, asbestos-cement or metal posts.

Strip foundation with pillars

The strip foundation is a reinforced concrete strip, deepened into the ground and rising above it to a certain height. Its parameters directly depend on what material the fence will be built from, since the greater the weight, the wider and deeper the foundation should be.

For a slate fence, a large foundation width is not needed. But if a fence made of flat heavy slate is installed, then the base or supporting posts must be well deepened.

The preparation process includes marking the territory, determining the fence line, digging a trench for a concrete foundation tape, drilling holes, adding a waterproofing and drainage layer, and fixing a log on them.

BUT. markup

• The marking of the territory is carried out according to the plan, which is in the cadastral passport of the site.
• The process starts from the corner of the future building. Used for marking rope, pieces of reinforcement or wooden pegs.

The first step is marking

• First, at the corner or at the beginning of the site, an anchor point is determined, from which the direction of the trench for pouring the foundation will be marked.

The evenness of the foundation strip, and hence the entire fence, will depend on how accurately the markings are made.

After marking, the area under the stretched ropes can be additionally marked with lime, pouring lines from it.

B. Trench

• The trench is dug along the marked lines, with a depth of 300 ÷ 400 mm.

• Further, at a certain distance, holes are made with a hand drill for installing support posts. The maximum distance between them can be 2500 mm, and the diameter is 100 ÷ 120 mm larger than the diameter of the posts.

• If the fence will use the usual asbestos concrete slate, then the posts should be installed to a width of two ÷ three overlapped sheets, provided they are fixed on two or three horizontal logs.
• The depth of the holes for the poles should be about 1000 mm.

• If the width between the columns is 2500 mm or more, then a hole is drilled between them for the installation of a concrete amplifier in it, which will give the necessary rigidity to the entire reinforced concrete tape.

B. Foundation pouring

Upon completion of the preparatory work, you can proceed to the arrangement of the foundation and the installation of columns.

• A 100 ÷ 150 mm layer of sand is poured into the holes for the posts, and an 80 ÷ 100 mm layer of crushed stone is laid on top of it. They need to be well sealed.
• Further, posts are installed in the holes and leveled according to the level (plumb).
• The next step is to pour a concrete mortar made from cement and gravel into the space around the posts. In the form of spacers between the walls of wells and columns, stones selected in size can be wedged.

The poured concrete must be left to set for at least one day.

• After the concrete has set, so that the posts stand rigidly, they are connected with horizontal logs, which are welded or screwed at an equal distance from each other.

For metal and flat asbestos concrete slate logs made of rolled steel (a corner or a rectangular shaped pipe) are well suited, but for a wavy asbestos concrete it is better to use wooden blocks.

• After that, a backfill is made into the trench under the foundation, first from sand, and then from crushed stone, and it is well compacted.
• After that, it is installed, while the reinforcing bars are not welded together, but are fastened with a wire twist. The top of the reinforcement belt is located approximately 30 mm below the future foundation surface.

• A wooden formwork is knocked together along the entire trench. If desired and possible, it can be installed from segments of flat slate of the desired height. Such formwork in this case can be fixed, and the foundation itself will immediately have even walls that do not require additional decorative finishing. Moreover, flat slate can then be painted in any color or applied to it with a pattern, for example, an imitation of stone or brick. The height of the above-ground part of the foundation can have a height of 200 to 500 mm.
• After the formwork is ready, a concrete solution is poured into it - this process is recommended to be carried out in one step so that there are no gaps between the layers of concrete pouring. Otherwise, moisture may accumulate in the gaps, which, when frozen, can damage the solidity of the foundation tape.

From above, the concrete is leveled and left to dry. The process of drying and curing takes at least 8 ÷ 10 days. After the foundation is ready, it remains only to install slate sheets.

Prices for cement and mixture bases

Cement and mixture bases

Pillars without strip foundation

• If there is no possibility or desire to arrange a foundation for a slate fence, you can get by with the installation of only columns. In this case, you will need to deepen the holes for their installation. They begin work, in the same way as during the construction of the foundation, by marking the line of the future fence.

In this embodiment, one rope is enough for marking, which is stretched starting from the anchor point for the length of the entire fence in one or two directions.

• Further, along the rope measure and mark the location of the installation of the posts. A peg or piece of reinforcement is installed in the center of the future hole.
• Then holes are drilled in the marked places. In this case, they must be at least 1000 mm deep and have a size larger than the diameter or cross section of the pipes by two ÷ two and a half times.

This must be done because the pipe will not have such supporting walls that would ensure its rigid verticality, which the racks have in combination with the strip foundation. This means that its position will need to be strengthened by welding several reinforcing sections to the bottom of the column, placing them crosswise.

This is especially important to do if round or square posts with a small cross section are installed.

• If the support posts are used asbestos concrete pipes that have a sufficiently large diameter (150 ÷ ​​200 mm), they themselves must stand stably and do not require additional spacers.
• Sand and gravel are poured to the bottom of the well, and then it is well compacted.

Then a column is installed, stones are poured around it, and then the remaining space is poured with concrete mortar. The verticality of the installation is immediately verified exactly, and then all this is left alone for 8 to 10 days - until the concrete sets and hardens well.

In the next step, the columns are tied with horizontal lags, which will give rigidity to the structure and will serve as the basis for attaching slate sheets.

The columns are interconnected by horizontal jumpers - lags

As a log, you can use a square pipe or a metal corner into which a wooden bar is inserted and fixed - it will be easier to screw the slate sheets.

To fix horizontal logs on round pipes, special metal ear plates with holes are welded onto them.

Video: one way to install fence posts

Installation of slate sheets

After the base is ready, they proceed to, in fact, the installation of the fence from slate sheets.

• It is not difficult to fasten metal sheets - they use special self-tapping screws with heads that have the color of slate sheets, equipped with a press washer and a rubber gasket

Metal slate is screwed to the lags at the bottom of the wave.

• Wave mount asbestos concrete The slate is made through the top of the wave. Sheets can be fixed with slate nails or self-tapping screws. But before you screw in the screws or hammer in the nails, be sure to drill holes for them with a drill and a special drill. When tightening or driving in fasteners, rubber or silicone gaskets are put on them.

• It is very important to set the first sheet of the row strictly vertically. It is installed at the building level, fixed in two or three places, in addition to the edge on which the next sheet of slate will overlap (one or two waves). The sheet is fixed on each crossbar with three to four self-tapping screws.

• Flat slate can be fixed not on logs, but in a frame made of a metal corner, which is made according to the size of the sheet. The frame is welded to the supporting pillars, and then installed in it asbestos concrete flat sheet. Then, metal stoppers are welded from the back of the frame, which will hold the slate inside. This method is the most optimal when installing a fence made of flat slate, since there is no need to drill holes that weaken the material - with even a slight mechanical impact, a crack may appear on the sheet. There is only one drawback of this method - the high consumption of rolled metal.

If a sheet of flat slate is installed on the foundation and screwed to the logs or lugs welded to the support pipes, then the holes are carefully measured and carefully drilled. In this case, fastening is carried out with bolts, on which rubber gaskets are put on on both sides. And besides them, before tightening the nut, a wide metal washer is put on.

Fittings or other decorative design

In order for a fence made of metal slate to have a finished look, it can be ennobled with special fittings that are made for wall metal profiles - these are corners of different sizes, a U-shaped bar that closes the upper and lower edges of the fence, a lower protective bar that closes the gap if necessary between the foundation and slate, as well as roofs of various types for supporting posts. All these details can be matched in color to the main shade of slate, or, conversely, they can be purchased in a different color that goes well with most of the fence.

Flat slate can be covered with plain paint, or you can even be creative and transfer an image of a corner of nature or another interesting pattern (graffiti) to it, which will complement the overall look of the entire yard.

In addition to the aesthetic transformation, the slate covered with paint will also acquire additional protective qualities, since the hygroscopicity of the material will decrease.

The task for creative hosts is artistic painting (graffiti) on the fence

You can paint not only flat slate, but also wave, although the latter can be purchased already in painted form.

Fencing from any slate is easy to install and affordable, so it is installed both on the boundary between two adjacent sections, and on the border with the street. This material will give the appearance of the territory accuracy both from the street and from the inside of the yard, therefore it will suit any design and color scheme of home decoration.

Video: an example of building a slate fence