How to make a slate fence with your own hands? Do-it-yourself slate fence: let's take a step-by-step look at how to make a wave slate fence Fence from asbestos pipes and slate.

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, at the same time spilling cement + sand with a solution (preliminarily ramming the next portion of crushed stone).

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 feasibility 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

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 beam 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:

Length 3 meters, width 1.5 meters.
Length 2 meters, width 1.5 meters.
Length 1.75 meters, width 1.13 meters.
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:

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:

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 block, 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 wind prevailing 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.

Almost every owner of a private house or summer cottage, acquiring a building or building a new one, takes care of the safety of the territory of his possession from extraneous intrusions and prying eyes. To do this, he installs a fence around the perimeter of his site.

Peculiarities

Today, manufacturers offer a wide range of building materials for creating a fence. Fencing can be created from wood, brick, natural stone, gitter mesh or netting, corrugated board, concrete slabs. There are status variants of iron fences made of forged, welded metal and their combinations.

Any type of such fences has a number of advantages. Most of them are beautiful and solid, distinguished by reliability and durability, as well as a variety of designs, but they also have a certain number of disadvantages. Here is a solid cost, and the complexity of their installation, and the need to attract professional specialists and construction equipment to their construction. Often all these factors are predominant when choosing a fence.

Nevertheless, there is another material that is affordable and does not create technological difficulties in the construction of a territory fence from it - slate. A fence made of it can be equally soundly and thoroughly erected both in a rural or summer cottage, and in a city. True, slate is rather fragile and is afraid of shock loads. It is better to build fences from it away from the roadway, for fear of a random stone from under the wheels or some kind of surprise from street vandals. It is more expedient to build a fence from this material somewhere inside the site, enclosing, for example, a yard from a vegetable garden or a garden with a slate fence, or to install such a fence on the border with the neighbors' possessions.

Slate is a well-known building material. It is made by mixing asbestos with cement and water.

Asbestos fibers, evenly distributed in this mass, create a strong mesh, providing tensile stability of the material and giving it the appropriate impact strength.

Varieties

Most people distinguish between two types of gray slate: wave and flat, without knowing some of the nuances, information about which can be useful in choosing the right material. So, flat slate exists in two forms: pressed and non-pressed.

The first option is much more massive, so its strength characteristics are very high. Due to the high density of its sheets, their strength increases to 25%, and the impact strength of such slate reaches 2.5 kJ / m2. Due to this circumstance, the fragility of this material is not so high. This also implies its other property - frost resistance, which is why the pressed type of slate should be considered the most favorable option for creating a fairly strong fence.

Wave type slate also exists in several varieties, of which the most interesting are its painted sheets from modern manufacturers who have managed to significantly expand the range of this building material. Therefore, now he has acquired a more attractive appearance, relieving the consumer of the need to deal with the painting of the fence. Sheets of such slate, due to the specific shape of the asbestos cement profile, are more rigid and durable, even having a slight thickness of the order of 4.7-7.5 mm.

If a wave slate is chosen for the construction of the fence, then the best option for this would be the brand "UV" - a unified type of profile. Its sheets are distinguished by a density that is more significant compared to wave analogues, and their dimensions make it possible to work with them with sufficient ease and convenience.

The weight of one sheet of this brand does not exceed 26 kg, and its width minimizes material consumption.

Properties

Slate is a material made from a mixture of asbestos with Portland cement and modifying additives. All these components are mixed during the manufacturing process in water until a thick homogeneous mixture is obtained. It is subjected to pressing on the appropriate technological equipment and further high-temperature drying.

The advantage of this material lies in its affordability. So, the cost of a sheet of wave slate 1750 × 970 mm with a thickness of 5.2 mm is about 205 rubles.

Asbestos cement slate is a fairly durable material. Its sheet is able to withstand a point load of about 70 kg or more. At the same time, such material is not subjected to deformation and is not covered with cracks, continuing to retain its factory shape.

Another useful property of slate, produced along with other building materials in accordance with GOST, is its durability. For unpainted material, the minimum service life is about 30 years.

Sheets of the painted product will serve over 50 years.

In addition, it is very cold hardy. Asbestos cement is one of the porous materials. This allows slate to retain its properties for a long time under the influence of low temperatures for a very long time. Slate is also a very reliable material, since it is not affected by corrosion, cannot serve as a breeding ground for insects and molds, it is not affected by moisture and heating to high temperatures.

Due to the presence of a protective coloring layer, colored grades of wavy slate are not so sensitive to the action of water on them and withstand negative temperatures better. A painted sheet lasts 1.5 times longer than its conventional counterpart of the same thickness.

All these qualities are manifested by slate in situations where it is used directly as a roofing material. When it is used to build fences, it can manifest itself somewhat differently. In such a fence, a slate sheet is placed vertically, so there is a risk of impact on its sheet perpendicularly or tangentially, which is fraught with cracks or chipping.

The weight of the smallest wave-type slate sheet is 18.5 kg, and for its flat counterpart, this figure ranges from 75-350 kg. The use of such heavy sheets will require more reliable concreting of the base for the bearing supports and the use of appropriate fasteners.

Asbestos, which is present in the composition of this material, when it is drilled and cut, forms dust harmful to humans.

Therefore, it is necessary to work with him in respiratory and eye protection.

fence construction

The length of the fence is measured with a tape measure around the perimeter of the site.

Its construction is carried out in several ways. The most reliable and stable type of such a design is a fence installed on a tape-type foundation. To obtain such a foundation, it will be necessary to pour concrete into a pre-installed formwork. If the territory of the site has irregularities with height differences, then for an even arrangement of the formwork, it will be necessary to prepare the base.

A simpler technology is to install a fence on concrete supports. This method is used for rocky soils and sandy soil types.

If the fence is erected according to this method without pouring the strip foundation, then the perimeter of the fence is marked, and the installation sites of the corner supports are indicated. For this purpose, the estimated parameters of such a fence are measured. At the nodal points, pieces of reinforcement or wooden stakes are driven in, between which a fishing line is stretched.

At these points, a manual or gasoline drill excavates at a depth of about 70–90 cm. Drilling on rocky soils requires special attention, since the cutting edge of the tool is damaged and blunted at high speeds. The traditional alternative to such a drill will always be a crowbar, a shovel and a pickaxe.

Pole supports are treated twice with bituminous varnish to protect the metal from corrosion. After they dry, the concrete is mixed.

Before installing each of the supports, a piece of roofing material folded in half is laid on the bottom of the pit. Then the support is vertically installed in the pit, leveled and poured with concrete with its periodic ramming.

If necessary, you can pre-fill the post with stones or small gravel.

Concrete is mixed from 1 part cement, 4 parts sand, 6 volumes of crushed stone and water. With this mixture, the pit with racks is filled to the top. Subsequent work is carried out after the concrete has hardened.

Steel support posts can be installed using a method called "concrete collar". Having a hole 0.5 m deep, the pipe is hammered into it another 0.5 m below the bottom and poured with concrete.

Similarly, work is being carried out to excavate the soil for the pits and install supports in them at the remaining reference points of the entire perimeter of the territory. When this work is completed, intermediate poles are marked and set up with a step of 2.5 m and amendments for gates and gates.

After the concreting of all pillars is completed, it is necessary to wait for the final hardening of the concrete mixture, which lasts about 7 days, so that the concrete gains the strength necessary to withstand the mass of sheet slate.

While the concrete is hardening, you should start cutting steel strips from the corner, which is cut by the “grinder” into fragments 200–250 mm long. Holes are drilled at the edges of these elements for attaching guides to them. Then these fragments of the corner are welded to the post in its upper and lower parts with indents from the top and bottom of 200–300 mm.

The guides for fastening the slate sheets will be wooden beams with a section of 50 × 130 mm, which are adjusted along the length of the span. The beam should be treated with a wood antiseptic before installation on the supports.

Then, at the point of attachment of the guide bar to the corners, pre-welded to the pole supports, through holes are drilled for the tie bolts with which the guide bars are attached to the support.

Slate is a material not so popular for fencing. For fences, elements left from the roof are mainly used, but sheets have appeared on sale that do not need decoration and additional finishing. And in skillful hands, a slate fence will decorate the estate with little spending.

Depending on the raw materials used, it differs in structure, shape, working properties.

Users often search:

Let's analyze each type in detail.

Asbestos-cement

Standard slate. Suitable for both roof and fence. Sheets are obtained by pouring a mixture of asbestos, cement and water into molds. Asbestos fibers create a strong mesh, which increases the strength, resistance of the material to stress. Available flat or wavy.

Photo: the use of asbestos-cement slate for fencing the territory

Among the important advantages of using sheets for the construction of a slate fence, it is worth noting:

Of the minuses - fragility. When falling, the sheets crack or break into pieces. If damaged, the wavy elements are no longer subject to repair, while the flat ones are reconstructed with the help of metal overlay plates.

In addition, during the cutting of slate, caustic asbestos dust is released, which is harmful to the respiratory system. Therefore, you need to work in a protective mask or respirator.

slate

Natural material. It looks like stone plates of different sizes. Most often used in the arrangement of the roof.

Photo: the roof of the southern house is made of natural (slate) slate

For fences, it is used as an auxiliary material when it is necessary to decorate concrete or combined sections. Differs in durability, resistance to influences of environment, does not need additional finishing.

Other types

In the building materials market you can find:

plastic slate. The basis is a high-quality polymer. It has different degrees of light transmission. It is applied to a roof, walls in summer arbors, greenhouses. In addition to the metal frame, it will become a beautiful fence.
Euroslate. This name was given to Ondulin, Aqualine, Nulin and other roofing materials. They have different production technologies, but each type is based on polymer and pressed cellulose. Waterproof. Not applicable for fence construction.
Rubber. Composition - recycled rubber, fiberglass waste. Obtained by pressing. It has light weight and high strength. It is rarely used for the construction of fences, more often for roofing.

Photo: polycarbonate fence

There are other types of slate, but when planning the construction of a fence, you should choose asbestos cement. The design will turn out to be inexpensive, it will not be difficult to make it even for one, and with the right painting, it will look beautiful.

Sheet types: dimensions, working properties, cost

A homogeneous mixture of asbestos, cement and water is put into molds and pressed, and then dried at high temperatures.

The result is a wavy or flat slate. We will analyze the nuances of each of the materials.

flat

In accordance with GOST 18124–95, such sheets are:

Pressed (LP-P). It has a high level of strength - 23 MPa (kgf / cm 3), which is many times more than the second type. Impact strength - 2.5 kJ / sq. m. Heavy in weight. Frost-resistant. To get a reliable design, it is recommended to install a fence from flat pressed slate.
Unpressed (LP-NP). In many technical characteristics, it is inferior to pressed ones. Bending strength does not exceed 18 MPa. The only advantages are light weight, low price.

The most popular sheet sizes are:

2*1.5m;
1*1.5m;
3*1.5 m.

Thickness from 6 to 10 mm.

The use of flat slate requires the arrangement of a reliable foundation and fasteners. The average price is 700-800 rubles. for 1 sheet.

Mounting to poles is carried out in two ways:

The first option is considered more durable, since the frame protects the edges of the sheet from damage. At the same time, the slate remains solid without holes. The frame must be attached to the supports by welding.

The second option is easier. Using a similar technology, wavy elements are mounted.

wave

Three types are produced:

IN. Wave sheet with regular profile. Length - 112 cm, width - 68 cm. It is used for arranging the roof of buildings with a height of not more than 15 m.
VU. Reinforced wave. Length - 280 cm, width - 100 cm. It is used as a facing material for roofs of industrial and industrial enterprises.
SW. Unified Wave. Length - 175 cm, width - 112.5 cm. It is considered universal, since it is used both for the roof of private houses, industrial areas, and for various types of fences.

The unified sheet profile is considered the best for a reliable wave slate fence, because it has a high density, a convenient working width.

The minimum weight of 1 sheet is 18.5 kg, the maximum is 26 kg, the thickness is up to 7.5 mm.

Running slate dimensions:

1.75*1.125 m for 8 waves;
1.75*0.98 for 7 waves.

The average price of a standard sheet is from 200 rubles.

The elements are fastened to metal or wooden joists. In this case, the pillars can be made of different materials.

Often they buy colored sheets that do not need finishing, but cost at least 50% more than standard ones.

Do-it-yourself step-by-step installation of a slate fence

The construction instructions are in many ways similar to the erection of a corrugated fence, but there are still differences in the set of tools, the order of fasteners, and the finishing of sheets.

A preliminary cost estimate is drawn up, the total cost of the work is calculated.

The location of the future structure is correctly selected, taking into account the requirements of SNiP, so that in the future there will be no disagreements with neighbors.

Slate fence scheme: section width 2500 mm, frame height 1800 mm, sheet height 2000 mm, post driving depth 1200 mm.

Necessary materials, tools

Their list is as follows:

Safety precautions should not be neglected. Work should be carried out in overalls, when cutting sheets into parts, wear a respirator, an eye mask.

Marking, foundation

After preparing tools and materials, you need to proceed to cleaning the surface of the earth at the construction site from plants, roots, and debris. Excess soil can be taken out with a wheelbarrow to the garden.

The foundation is selected not only according to the load. An important role is played by the relief features of the site.

Under the slate fence, it is allowed to equip both strip and columnar foundations, and other bases.

Pole installation

Wooden or metal ones are often chosen for wavy slate, for flat sheets.

In rare cases, erected and mounted.

For a durable fence, metal poles are chosen, attaching other elements to them by welding.

lag mount

Let's give an example of an inexpensive option for a fence - fixing wooden logs to metal poles.

Work order:

We prepare the required elements immediately after pouring the foundation. Then there will be no downtime.
We cut the steel corner with a grinder into strips 200–250 mm long.
We drill holes along the edges so that it is convenient to fasten the logs from the timber.
We weld the strips to the supports in two places: with an indent from the top by 200 mm and from the bottom.
We treat the timber for the log with an antiseptic. It is recommended to take a section of 50 * 130 mm.
We drill holes through the prepared places. We fix the beam to the supports with coupling bolts.

If you use profile pipes for fastening, then the procedure is performed both with and without a steel corner, only by welding.

Sheet mounting

Fastening of flat sheets is carried out in a pre-prepared frame of steel corners.

There is an alternative, more popular and simple, but it is inferior in reliability. Suitable for wave, flat slate.

The order is as follows:

If you need to cut the sheet into pieces, you should moisten it with water beforehand so that less asbestos dust is released during cutting.

How to paint the fence, the choice of paintwork

Slate processing provides the following benefits:

prolongs the life of the sheets, prevents the appearance of cracks;
the surface does not gather dust, looks smoother;
you can give the fence the color you need, the degree of haze;
protects slate from the formation and development of moss, lichen;
the fence looks nicer.

You need to choose paints and varnishes carefully, since not all compositions are suitable for processing a slate surface.

alkyd;
acrylic;
silicone (organosilicon);
enamel type "liquid plastic".

For pre-treatment, special protective primers are used. You need to choose them so that they are compatible with the paint.

It is worth noting that when using most paints, priming is optional, with the exception of acrylic.

It is this type that is considered the best for a slate surface despite the high cost. It protects against fading, creates a protective film.

Primer, paint is applied with any convenient tool:

roller;
brush;
spray gun.

Popular colors are:

Brown;
green;
Red.

But if the desired tone is not in the finished form, you can apply tinting, that is, add a tinting dye of the desired shade to the purchased paint, which is purchased separately. Stir better with a construction mixer.

How to paint slate

The consumption of the product per linear meter depends on the chosen method of application (brush, roller, spray gun). Approximate figures are always indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging.

Basic . The entire surface with ends, joints, corners is stained.
Finishing. Apply after the first one has dried. Gives the structure a uniform uniform color.

If necessary, the number of layers can be increased, but it is up to you to decide whether to do this or not.

Fence decoration

You can decorate the fence not only by painting in one color.

Many owners acquire ready-made colored sheets of contrasting tones, alternating them with each other. Due to this, the structure turns out to be brighter and more interesting.

Multi-colored ornaments and landscapes look beautiful on slate. Such a fence will have no analogues, it will become a real author's work.

The option of decor with a stone is allowed. But this is an expensive solution and is rarely used by hosts.

Photo gallery

The photo below shows different ways of mounting slate sections, interesting ideas for decorating such structures.

Despite the fact that slate is not so in demand in the construction of fences, with a creative approach, the design will turn out to be reliable and beautiful. At the same time, the costs from the family budget will be minimal.

Slate - budget material for the fence

Ennobling private property, the owner seeks to make it beautiful and protected from the noise and bustle of the city. A fence placed along the perimeter of the site organically completes the exterior and hides the yard from prying eyes. However, it does not have to be expensive and massive. With your own hands, a fence can be made from slate - a budget material that turns into a functional structure by assembling it with improvised tools.

Slate is a building material made from asbestos cement. It does not apply to high-strength products, therefore it is recommended to place slate fences away from the roadway (to avoid damage by stones bouncing off the wheels). But if you want to demarcate a plot between neighbors, create enclosures for animals, or separate a yard part of a property from a garden, a slate fence will be the most economical option for a fence.

The advantages of slate are:

Low cost;
Ease of assembly;
fire resistance;
Possibility of dyeing in any color.

The material also has disadvantages. For example, when processing asbestos-cement sheets with a drill or a grinder, you cannot inhale the resulting dust. Slate is not among the environmentally friendly materials. The service life of the material depends on the place of installation. In cold regions, slate fences will not be durable. In favorable conditions, the service life increases, and acrylic paint coating will help extend the life of the fence.

Slate is wave and flat. Both types withstand heavy loads and high temperatures. They are not afraid of moisture and corrosion. But the materials are very brittle in bending. Therefore, you need to work with them carefully.

Preparation for the installation of the fence

Like any construction business, building a slate fence with your own hands requires preparation and consistent work.

Installation of a slate fence

First you need to stock up on the materials from which the fence will be created.

Slate - wave or flat. The owner chooses the type of material at his discretion, there is no fundamental difference between the sheets. But flat slate is easier to attach to the frame.
Steel pipe with a diameter of up to 100 mm. It will be used to create racks. If the pipe diameter is too small, the design will be unreliable. But masters also do not advise buying a pipe with a diameter of more than 100 mm.
Wooden beam 100 x 50 mm. Slate plates will be attached to it.
A metal corner measuring 85 x 50 mm - it will turn into a frame for attaching a wooden block.
Sand, crushed stone, cement - a concrete solution is prepared from them, which will be needed during the installation of the posts.
Fasteners: studs Ø 10 - 12 mm and self-tapping screws with a wide hat (their hexagonal head fits a wrench).

Of the tools in the work will come in handy:

Plumb;
Level;
Bulgarian;
Rope;
Hammer;
Welder;
Set of wrenches;
Drill with drills.

Installing columns

Having decided on the size of the future fence and having purchased slate sheets and the missing materials, the owner must install the corner posts and place the rest of the elements in relation to them.

Methods for installing fence posts

The instruction will help to organize all the actions:

Digging holes for posts. The depth of the pits is made such that it is at least 2 bayonets of a shovel. Immediately knead the solution necessary for pouring the first supports.
The pipe for the manufacture of columns is cut into identical pieces. Their length depends on the height of the planned fence, which is built from slate with your own hands, and plus a small margin that will be in the pit.
Installation of racks is carried out by lowering them into a hole and falling asleep with rubble. The verticality of each support is checked by a building level. The deviated columns are corrected and the holes are concreted.
As soon as 4 corner posts are fixed, a cord is pulled between them and holes are dug for other load-bearing elements.

While the supports are being placed between the corners, the rope is not removed. The correct location of each column during installation is verified with a level. Neglect of this rule threatens to skew or fall the finished fence.

We fix the corner and the beam

The fastening of the iron corner and the wooden beam is carried out after waiting for the concrete to harden. The mixture sets well in about a week, but if the work needs to be done as soon as possible, it is advisable to wait 2 days. Further, identical segments are made from the corner with a size that matches the diameter of the pipe. A small error in the big direction is allowed.

Poles with fasteners for wooden beams

After cutting the corner in the pipe, holes are made that match the diameter of the studs. Drill holes top and bottom. In the center of the segment of the corner, exactly such holes are drilled. Then, with the help of a hairpin, a corner is attached to the support. The result should be a shelf on which the beam will subsequently be placed. This method of fastening gives slate fences rigidity and strength.

Fastening a wooden bar is done in different ways:

In the process of attaching the corner to the support, the timber is also drilled, focusing on the diameter of the stud, and the entire structure is immediately connected with the stud. As a result, the part will be held on the pole itself.
The corner is carefully fixed with a hairpin and holes are drilled in the shelf adjacent to the support. Through the holes, the beam is pulled to the corner.

If a slate fence is placed as a temporary structure, it is not necessary to concrete the posts. To fasten the beam, you can use a knitting wire. To obtain a reliable durable fence, you will have to work hard; it is forbidden to ignore the construction stages.

We fix the sheets and ennoble the structure

Do-it-yourself installation of a slate fence is done using self-tapping screws. For a guide between the posts, they stretch the cord and check its horizontal level, then attach the sheets to a wooden beam. The first sheet of slate, which determines the direction of the entire structure, is mounted very carefully. Fix it with 4 or 6 self-tapping screws. All subsequent sheets are also fixed with self-tapping screws.

Installation of a slate fence

When building a fence from wave slate along the edges, you must try to make different half-waves. They will provide a better overlap connection. When installing each subsequent plate, it is necessary to monitor the correct alignment. The stock is not recommended to be made large. It should be such that the next sheet from the outside seems to be a natural continuation of the previous one.

To give the finished structure a complete look, you can frame the fence using iron corners 25 x 25 mm. Details are bent in accordance with the dimensions of the slate sheets and welded. On any shelf at the place of inflection, a cutout is made to facilitate bending. Frames from the corners are fixed with metal plates and welded.

Since the slate looks discreet, acrylic exterior paint (not oil) will help to make the fence more effective. A bright fence looks much prettier, and the paint coating protects it from the aggressive influence of the environment.

You can embellish the surface of the slate with cement mortar. The fence is cemented and drawings are applied to the frozen canvas through stencils. The finishing composition is kneaded from Portland cement, achieving the consistency of a thick dough. The surface of the slate sheets is leveled by spreading a layer of decorative composition, and then patterns are applied.

As an option for decorating slate, it is worth considering a plaster coating. The owner chooses colored plaster to his taste or gives the fence a spectacular look, creating colored splashes on a plastered decorative base.

How to extend the life of a slate fence

Extending the life of the slate

As you can see, it is very easy to mount a slate fence with your own hands. It is economical in construction and does not require daily maintenance. But in order for the structure to stand for as long as possible, the owner must know some tricks:

Sheets of material should not be attached to the ground. Leave a 10 cm gap for ventilation. If finances allow, it is better to lay a strip foundation between the supports on a sand cushion 5–10 cm high.
Painting slate sheets with ordinary paint is a waste of money. Acrylic or alkyd-acrylic based compositions designed for outdoor use help to increase the duration of the fence's service life.
Trees with brittle branches should not be planted near the slate fence. With strong gusts of wind, branches can break off and fall on the structure. Familiarize yourself in advance at what distance in relation to the fence you can place trees and shrubs.

Whether it is worth building a fence from used slate is a moot point. If the owner needs a temporary construction of an unpresentable appearance, then the old material will come in handy. But you will have to work with it very carefully due to the increased fragility and partial loss of its original qualities. If the enclosing structure is installed for years, it is better not to save money and buy new sheets.

Do not be afraid to seem greedy by building a fence from slate sheets with your own hands. For little money, you will get a budget version of the fence, which has an aesthetic appearance and is not afraid of changes in weather conditions. The design will look appropriate not only in the countryside or in a country cottage, but also on the modern streets of the private sector of a large settlement. Slate is non-combustible and non-toxic material, so the neighbors will not oppose such a fence. The main thing is to determine in advance the boundaries of your site and not to seize someone else's territory.

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.

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).

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.

The easiest option is a wave slate fence fixed on a wooden board to metal pipes.

To install wave slate, you can use steel water pipes, attaching them to posts made of asbestos-cement pipes

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.

Flat slate is fixed on horizontal purlins. At the bottom of the fence there is a gap for ventilation, covered with a steel mesh.

Fastening flat slate with a plate on the back of the frame

Exterior view of a flat slate fence with corner and stripe edging

Mounting slate on the eyes is an unreliable option

Colored wave slate is the easiest way to decorate a fence