Hello!
We want to set up a fence consisting of a somewhat denser section at the bottom (vertical slats with a cap rail directly on top of them), plus a cap rail at a higher level, and we are considering what dimensions we should choose for the posts, slats, etc. The posts should be 2.0 m tall, the lower section of the fence should be about 1.2 m high, and the upper cap rail should be at about 1.9 m height. We are thinking that the vertical slats should be 7 cm wide and there should be a 2 cm gap between the slats. A few questions:
1) What dimensions should the posts have? 7x7 cm? 9.5x9.5 cm?
2) Is it appropriate to have 180 cm between the posts? Less? More?
3) Is it sufficient if the cap rails have dimensions of 4.5x7 cm? (We might plant ivy or some other climbing plant on certain parts of the property, so the cap rails need to support the weight of snow-covered climbing plants.)
4) What dimensions should the horizontal rails (holding the slats together) have?
5) Is there anything against 7 cm slats with a 2 cm gap, in relation to the other measurements?
Many thanks for any tips and feedback we might receive!
We want to set up a fence consisting of a somewhat denser section at the bottom (vertical slats with a cap rail directly on top of them), plus a cap rail at a higher level, and we are considering what dimensions we should choose for the posts, slats, etc. The posts should be 2.0 m tall, the lower section of the fence should be about 1.2 m high, and the upper cap rail should be at about 1.9 m height. We are thinking that the vertical slats should be 7 cm wide and there should be a 2 cm gap between the slats. A few questions:
1) What dimensions should the posts have? 7x7 cm? 9.5x9.5 cm?
2) Is it appropriate to have 180 cm between the posts? Less? More?
3) Is it sufficient if the cap rails have dimensions of 4.5x7 cm? (We might plant ivy or some other climbing plant on certain parts of the property, so the cap rails need to support the weight of snow-covered climbing plants.)
4) What dimensions should the horizontal rails (holding the slats together) have?
5) Is there anything against 7 cm slats with a 2 cm gap, in relation to the other measurements?
Many thanks for any tips and feedback we might receive!
In a project like this, you mix construction and aesthetics. 7x7 cm posts are probably sufficient, but 9.5x9.5 cm gives a more sculptural impression. There is a good way to solve the problem, which is to draw the fence to scale. Outdoor constructions often need to be somewhat oversized, partly because wood outdoors has slightly poorer properties and partly because the geometric conditions (narrow and long constructions) enhance the impression when the fence sags.
The appropriate distance between the posts mainly depends on the dimensions of the horizontal parts and aesthetic considerations. With 1.8 m, 4.5x7 cm is sufficient. As a top rail on the flat side, 4.5x7 cm is also enough. The dimensional starting point is the picket slats. With such small dimensions on these, I think the other measurements harmonize.
The appropriate distance between the posts mainly depends on the dimensions of the horizontal parts and aesthetic considerations. With 1.8 m, 4.5x7 cm is sufficient. As a top rail on the flat side, 4.5x7 cm is also enough. The dimensional starting point is the picket slats. With such small dimensions on these, I think the other measurements harmonize.
Thanks Justus! It sounds like we are not completely off, thenJ justusandersson said:
We've made a to-scale sketch but have been unsure about durability and how the proportions will be perceived in practice (especially considering the fence is quite high overall). It was great to get some external input! Thanks!