Foundation for Fences

It is the best way to protect real estate and other items from unauthorized access and deter stray creatures and predators from entering the secured area. It is important to remember that all the displayed beauty and strength depend on a specific foundation. In the majority of instances, this foundation serves as a strip footing for fencing. In the event that soil layers are unstable, however, screw piles can also serve as the framework support.

How to Construct a Fence?

For barrier works, the choice often falls to quick-erect structures. A fence with a helical screw foundation is one such type of structure. In this case, the piles can also serve as supporting posts. Materials such as:

• Metal: forged sections, profiled sheeting;
• It is made of chain-link or welded mesh with a polymer coating.
• Concrete or brick;
• Wooden picket.

Fences made from stone or brick are not built in a day, and their installation takes into account the requirement for strength and durability.

However, it is advisable to opt for screw-in posts as supporting elements for temporary or portable barriers, as their installation and removal will have minimal impact on the area.

There are several important factors to consider during the design phase, regardless of the material you choose for the spans.

• This primarily depends on the structure's height and the soil composition of the site where it is situated. The stress placed on the structural framework depends on its dimensional parameters. The probability of a barrier on a concrete foundation being insufficiently suitable for operational purposes directly correlates with the presence of mobile components within the soil structure present at the site. Structural instability can result in breaches in its integrity, whereby soil masses undergo movement.
• The support element has been designed with specific operational parameters that are specifically designed to meet safety and reliability standards. The more stable the geological formations, the wider the selection of foundational designs.
• The need for relocation during property expansion or contraction necessitates the use of foundations that can be disassembled without impacting the soil with construction debris. This is especially crucial if the land is used for cultivating plants or establishing park areas.
• The desire to reduce costs and optimize investments influences the choice of materials for the spans, which, in turn, specifies the characteristics of the created supporting points.

Advantages of Screw Piles

What are the advantages of using screw-in supports, and why is it preferable? A helical screw foundation is a highly effective solution for establishing a structural base for any building placed on unstable soil layers.

First, we must determine the depth at which stable rock formations are situated in order to select the appropriate pile length to reach them. Hence, the conduct of a soil structure analysis is a mandatory prerequisite if one desires to define the construction as:

• reliable;
• strong;
• durable.

The primary characteristics of screw piles include their capacity to be installed and removed at any time of the year.

Fencing constructed with spans constructed from heavy stone, particularly when the structural base comprises screw-in framework elements with sufficient capacity to withstand high pressure, is the optimal solution when contemplating a cost-effective foundation. Even when a stone barrier is constructed to a height of three meters or more, the precise calculation of the quantity and structure of supporting components ensures the enclosure lasting stability.

A pile is a metal tube with welded blades or a cast piece that is inserted into the ground through manual or mechanical screwing, reaching stable layers and anchoring in them. Due to the spiral structure, the weight of the supported structure is distributed over a larger area, rather than being concentrated at the endpoint.

Regardless of the future behavior of the unstable soil layers above the stable stratum with the anchored screw-in element, their behavior will not have any impact on it. This is the essence of such a support point. It is possible to place barriers in the most unpredictable soil conditions, ensuring reliable protection against unauthorized intrusion into the enclosed territory for decades and centuries. Furthermore, a metal pile is lighter than construction materials like stone and concrete, which helps reduce the load on the soil masses.

Pile Sizes for Fences 

For fences with a lightweight span, support posts with a diameter of 57 millimeters are suitable for use. These fences could be constructed from metal profiles or chain-link mesh. It is preferable to construct fences with a heavier span with a foundation of support posts with diameters of 76 or 89 millimeters.

When substantial embedding is required, it is important to consider the functions carried out by the support post. If it serves as a continuation of the pile, the choice of post size should account for the depth of its penetration and the degree of elevation of the column. Additionally, the dimensions of the spiral section should be considered, as it serves the purpose of distributing the load onto the ground.

Installation Features of Screw Pile Foundation 

When constructing fences of significant height, it is important to consider the wind load on such a structure. Therefore, it is advisable to have at least two runs between adjacent posts, in the lower, upper, and middle parts of the height, with corresponding attachments. This is particularly applicable to fences constructed from profiled sheeting. As the material is relatively lightweight, it is unnecessary to construct robust piles to support a fence constructed from profiled sheeting. However, it is recommended that runs be calculated at a rate of one per meter of fence height. In this particular instance, there is no threat posed by wind, as it will not be capable of bringing down the fence.

It is also noteworthy to mention the distinction between blade-type piles and prismatic concrete piles with a pointed end. During soil swelling after winter freezing, the piles may not always provide stability, as they may be pushed out. On the contrary, supports equipped with blades facilitate the secure anchoring of the fence and alleviate the need for height adjustments during spring.

If a decorative post is installed in the pile shaft, it may not be necessary to pour concrete in the inner portion. In this particular instance, the pile is trimmed to a minimum distance from the ground, and the post bearing the required specifications is erected.

In a matter of hours, the required quantity of piles can be installed either manually or through mechanical means, requiring the assistance of a pile driver or hydraulic auger. In this way, you will obtain a foundation that meets all the necessary standards of the construction industry and has the required load-bearing capacity and durability.