How To Build A Fence - Choosing The Correct Hardware
Before ordering the timber you need to work out the number of nails and other hardware that you will be using. Any big box hardware retailer will be able to supply both the timber and the hardware for the job. So it pays to prepare a complete list for both to save on making multiple trips.
It pays to pick up the nails in bulk as a fencing job will use hundreds of nails. You will need to work out the type and size of nails you will be using on your fence and then work out the quantity required. All nails used in fencing will need to be corrosion resistant. Top quality galvanised nails are preferable for most fencing projects as the yare unlikely to corrode and wet conditions and thus weaken their holding power. You can also use stainless or aluminium nails but these are more expensive than galvanised nails.
The nails most often used in fencing are "common" nails and "box" nails. The larger diameter of common nails gives them more holding power than box nails, but they are also harder to drive into the timber, and are more likely to cause splitting. For the decorative mouldings or trims finishing nails can be used. The small heads of the finishing nails means that they hardly visible. But also there holding power is much less than common or box nails.
Nail length also affects their holding power. When choosing the correct length for the nail selects nails which are three times as long as thickness of the timber which they are expected to hold. To work out the quantity of nails you will require count up the number of nails you will use for one section or bay of the fence. Then multiple this number by the number of fence bays. Add on 10 percent to this figure to allow for wastage. Using a similar calculation method for any brackets, screws etc that you will use in the job. Find the quantity for one fence bay then multiple by the total number of bays. As with the nails these other fasteners should be corrosive resistant.
This is how you can find the quantity and type of hardware you will be using in the fence. Carefully planning of the hardware requirements of the fence will save you time and will save you money. So it is well worth spending a bit of time on this to get it right.
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If you want to discover more about the full process of building a fence please visit my site How To Build A Fence where you can find step by step instructions for many fence designs http://www.how-to-build-a-fence.info/
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