Royal® Aluminum Fence Installation Guide · Fence Installation Guide Getting Started Fence...

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Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc. 1-800-543-3231 ©2009 Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc -- Do not copy or distribute these instructions without proper written consent. For distribution exclusively with Royal® Aluminum fence products. - 1 - Royal® Aluminum Fence Installation Guide Getting Started Fence Installation - Overview - Getting started - Digging the holes - Attach the sections - Racking - Cement Them In - 45% angle Post Types - Overview - Lines - Ends - Corners - Three Ways - Blanks Gate Installation - Overview - Setting your posts - Hanging the Gate Frequently Asked Questions - Can I cut sections to make them fit openings smaller then 6 ft? - Parts of my layout are not square; can I install my fence to follow a radius? - How do I install on a slope? - How do I install on concrete, cement, etc. - How do I install between pillars?

Transcript of Royal® Aluminum Fence Installation Guide · Fence Installation Guide Getting Started Fence...

Page 1: Royal® Aluminum Fence Installation Guide · Fence Installation Guide Getting Started Fence Installation - Overview ... fence area is you can pre-digg all of your holes before assembling

Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc. 1-800-543-3231

©2009 Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc -- Do not copy or distribute these instructions without proper written consent. For distribution exclusively with Royal® Aluminum fence products.

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Royal® Aluminum

Fence Installation Guide

Getting Started

Fence Installation

- Overview

- Getting started

- Digging the holes

- Attach the sections

- Racking

- Cement Them In

- 45% angle

Post Types

- Overview

- Lines

- Ends

- Corners

- Three Ways

- Blanks

Gate Installation

- Overview

- Setting your posts

- Hanging the Gate

Frequently Asked Questions

- Can I cut sections to make them fit openings smaller then 6 ft?

- Parts of my layout are not square; can I install my fence to follow a radius?

- How do I install on a slope?

- How do I install on concrete, cement, etc.

- How do I install between pillars?

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Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc. 1-800-543-3231

©2009 Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc -- Do not copy or distribute these instructions without proper written consent. For distribution exclusively with Royal® Aluminum fence products.

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Getting Started

Congratulations on your Royal® Aluminum Fence purchase. You‟ve made a wise

money saving decision by choosing to install the fence yourself. This reference guide

should answer most questions you have about installing the product, please be advised

this is for reference purposes only. We suggest you read through the entire guide before

you install anything and that you keep the guide handy during the installation process.

Before you touch anything, please make sure you CALL MISS DIGG FIRST and any

other local utility companies to mark wires and pipes. Check with your local township for

any requirements they may have. If you have any questions or concerns we are always

available to answer installation questions during our normal office hours at 1-800-543-

3231.

Fence Installation

I. Overview- Our product is designed for the convenience of the do-it yourselfer.

All of our sections come pre-assembled and all of our posts are pre-punched

to accept the sections. The posts also have screw holes pre-drilled to make it

easier to lock the sections into the posts with the provided self tapping

stainless steel screws. Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc. is proud to

announce the arrival of the

Fence Post A major concern with conventional Aluminum Fencing Products is insect infestation. Holes

punched in traditional posts create an ideal spot for insects, especially bees, to gain access to the

interior of the post and build nests. This design short coming has been a long standing nuisance

for those using Aluminum Fence Products – until now.

Royal® Aluminum and Steel, inc. is proud to announce the arrival of the BeFree® Fence

Post. The patent pending BeFree® Fence Post utilizes a unique manufacturing process to bring

the channel in tighter to the post, virtually eliminating the gaps where insects would create nests.

This design improvement also makes our fencing product stronger than ever before. For the

BeFree® fence post to be effective, the cap must remain in place at all times, and the horizontal

rail must be attached securely to the post.

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Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc. 1-800-543-3231

©2009 Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc -- Do not copy or distribute these instructions without proper written consent. For distribution exclusively with Royal® Aluminum fence products.

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II. Getting Started – Before you do anything you must call Miss. Digg. Miss

Digg will set up flags to indicate where underground pipes and cable are. You

obviously will want to avoid these areas when installing your fence. Next

you‟ll want to establish a fence line, we suggest that you start at a corner or

end with a stake and run string. You will need to set a post every (72-1/2”

center to center) for Residential Fence - (72 7/8” center to center) for

Commercial Fence - (71 ½” center to center) for Industrial Fence.

III. Digging the Holes – You will need a 5 or 6 inch auger to dig the holes. You

want to dig the holes 3½ feet (42 inches) deep. Depending on how large the

fence area is you can pre-digg all of your holes before assembling your fence.

Set the fence up & brace it before you start cementing it in. When digging

your holes the shape of the hole should resemble a bell. The diameter at the

bottom of the hole is wider than the hole at the top; this is called belling, since

it resembles the shape of a bell. This will anchor the set post and help to

avoid the post from heaving the post due to frost. Never have the top portion

of the hole larger in diameter than the bottom.

Page 4: Royal® Aluminum Fence Installation Guide · Fence Installation Guide Getting Started Fence Installation - Overview ... fence area is you can pre-digg all of your holes before assembling

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©2009 Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc -- Do not copy or distribute these instructions without proper written consent. For distribution exclusively with Royal® Aluminum fence products.

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IV. Attach the Sections – To set the correct section height above grade you will

need to use blocks or wood. For pool fence, consult your local pool code for

above grade restrictions. In most cases pool fences can only be set 2 inches

above grade. For our standard styles, you can set the grade anywhere from 1

inch to 4 inches. Before you cement in the posts you will need to attach the

section to the posts. Slide the section into the posts, and lock it in using the

self tapping screws. You may have to trim the channel when installing the

channel into the corner post. Level the Posts before you cement them in. You

may want to put a level line at the top of the fence also, and pull sections up to

that line. Please check to make sure you are facing the screw side of the fence

all in the same direction.

V. Cement it in – The posts may be shorter than the depth of the hole, such as

36” deep hole with 24” of post to put in it. This is alright; once you pour the

cement the post and cement all becomes one unit. Once you have the first

post level, you will want to cement that one post in. Begin to assemble your

panels in an upright position, post, panel, post, panel until the end of your line.

Now you want to block, level, and brace the panels to be cemented, and then

begin to cement these posts. Then you can proceed to the next line of fence.

Please check height and alignment every 60 ft. You want to stop pouring the

cement when it is about 3 inches to 4 inches below the grade. Push the dirt

back into the remainder of the hole and build the dirt around the post to keep it

from moving. When the cement dries, use dirt to bring the post hole to grade

level.

VI. The fence sections are manufactured to accommodate installation on a slope.

When installing on an uneven grade our fencing has the unique feature of

“racking” to the left or the right to follow the slope. This avoids the unsightly

stair stepping that is required by most other aluminum fence. Please check to

see if the screw side of the fence is facing all the same direction when

installing. As manufactured, the sections can rack 6 to 8 inches every 6 feet.

If you need it to rack more then that, we can manufacture a special section to

do so, up to 42 inches per every 6 foot sections.

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Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc. 1-800-543-3231

©2009 Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc -- Do not copy or distribute these instructions without proper written consent. For distribution exclusively with Royal® Aluminum fence products.

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Post Types

The posts are the 2, 2-1/2, or 4 inch square vertical pieces of aluminum. These are

sometimes referred to as poles. We have several different types of posts and it is

important that you understand what each type of post is used for.

Line Posts – These are the most commonly used posts.

They have holes on two sides and are used to connect two

sections of fence in a straight line or to connect fence at

angles that are less then 90° or to follow a radius.

End Posts – These posts only have holes to accept fence

on one side. You use them to complete a line of fencing.

These posts are also used to stop a line of fence to hang a

gate. When that is the case, the post is marked as

“Heavy” indicating that it is of a thicker grade.

Corner Posts – These posts are used at corners or areas

where you have fence meeting at 90 degree angles. There

are holes on two sides to accommodate two intersecting

sections of fence.

Three Way Posts – Three way posts have holes on three

sides. These posts are sometimes used when connecting

to a neighbors Royal Aluminum fence at a corner when

sharing lines of fence.

Blank Posts – These posts have no holes punched in them

and have no screw holes. They are most commonly used

when mounting a gate to the side of a house, since you

only need an area to hang the hardware from, but there is

no sections attaching on either side.

Page 6: Royal® Aluminum Fence Installation Guide · Fence Installation Guide Getting Started Fence Installation - Overview ... fence area is you can pre-digg all of your holes before assembling

Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc. 1-800-543-3231

©2009 Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc -- Do not copy or distribute these instructions without proper written consent. For distribution exclusively with Royal® Aluminum fence products.

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Gate Installation

I. Overview – The gate is one of the most important parts of your fence. Not

only does it provide entry and exit to your fenced in area, but it gets the most

use out of all of the parts of your fence. For this reason we always provide

our Royal® Aluminum gates with the highest quality self closing hinges and

locks. Because of heavy use, you have been provided two heavy duty posts to

hang your gate with. Set these posts aside until you are ready to put your gate

up.

II. Setting your Posts - Depending on the job, we usually suggest that you set

your posts before ordering your gate. When setting gate posts that will be

accepting fence from the other side please be careful to set the bottom hole of

the end post with enough clearance to accept the section of fence plus the

amount of height you want it to be above grade level. All of our gates are

custom made to fit into the gate opening with our hinges and our latches.

When you order a four foot gate, we do not send you a gate that is four feet

long, we send a gate that will fit a four foot opening with our hinges and latch.

The only way to know what the gate opening should be is by measuring the

inside-to-inside dimensions when the gate posts are in the ground, as per the

diagram below. If you already have your gate, you want to make-sure that

you install the posts so the inside to inside dimensions of the posts are equal to

the opening size of the gate. As with the sections, you want to dig the holes

42 inches deep with a 5 or 6 inch auger and use one bag of cement per hole.

Stop pouring cement once you have reached 3 or 4 inches below the grade.

When the cement dries, fill the hole with dirt to make it level with the grade.

For gates that are mounted on a sloped area, please measure from the top of

the shorter posts straight across to the taller posts and give us the difference to

the top of the taller post, gates with a grade change have to be special ordered

after the fencing is installed.

III. Hanging your gate – Depending on what your gate is for dictates where you

place the hardware. If you don‟t have a pool you can mount your hardware

any way you choose. When you are using your fence to enclose a pool you

will have to set the gate swinging away from the pool, and your gate latch has

to be set at 54” above the grade. In most areas, a top pull magnetic latch is

also required for pools. Before physically attaching the hardware, you should

make sure that the gate fits in the opening and that you left enough clearance

so the gate is not hitting the ground. If necessary, the spring on the self

closing hinges can be adjusted with a Phillips head screw driver.

Page 7: Royal® Aluminum Fence Installation Guide · Fence Installation Guide Getting Started Fence Installation - Overview ... fence area is you can pre-digg all of your holes before assembling

Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc. 1-800-543-3231

©2009 Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc -- Do not copy or distribute these instructions without proper written consent. For distribution exclusively with Royal® Aluminum fence products.

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Page 8: Royal® Aluminum Fence Installation Guide · Fence Installation Guide Getting Started Fence Installation - Overview ... fence area is you can pre-digg all of your holes before assembling

Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc. 1-800-543-3231

©2009 Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc -- Do not copy or distribute these instructions without proper written consent. For distribution exclusively with Royal® Aluminum fence products.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I cut sections to make them fit openings smaller then 6ft?

A: Yes, you can cut our sections to fit spaces as large or small as you need. In most

cases your layout won‟t perfectly accommodate our 6ft. sections, so some cutting will

be required. This is best done on the job site as you are installing the product, since

the measurements you take can be effected slightly by small changes in the fence line

as you go along. Before you can re-attach the cut section to the post you have to re-

cut in our notching system (pictured below). The best way to accurately make the

cuts is with wire snipers. You can get the length and design of the notching system

by putting the newly cut section on top of an uncut one, and following the notching

on the railing.

Page 9: Royal® Aluminum Fence Installation Guide · Fence Installation Guide Getting Started Fence Installation - Overview ... fence area is you can pre-digg all of your holes before assembling

Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc. 1-800-543-3231

©2009 Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc -- Do not copy or distribute these instructions without proper written consent. For distribution exclusively with Royal® Aluminum fence products.

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Q: Parts of my layout are not square; can I install my fence to follow a radius?

A: Yes, you can install the fence in a semi circle or to follow a curve, however you have

to plan for it before ordering the fence. To follow a radius you have to use a „line post‟,

not a corner post, this is a common mistake. To prepare the section to follow the curve,

you have to use wire snipers to notch back the sections a little more (consult picture

above). You‟ll want to make small extensions to the notches, holding the section against

the post on each cut to see how well you are following the curve. The longer the notch,

the more of an angle the section will have. If you are following a radius over a small area

(example 180° over an area of 6‟) you have to cut smaller sections and order extra line

posts to put in-between. If you fax or bring a layout before ordering, we can help you

figure how many extra posts you will need.

Page 10: Royal® Aluminum Fence Installation Guide · Fence Installation Guide Getting Started Fence Installation - Overview ... fence area is you can pre-digg all of your holes before assembling

Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc. 1-800-543-3231

©2009 Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc -- Do not copy or distribute these instructions without proper written consent. For distribution exclusively with Royal® Aluminum fence products.

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Q: How do I install on a slope?

A: When installing on an uneven grade our fencing has the unique feature of “racking” to

the left or the right to follow the slope. This avoids the unsightly stair stepping that is

required by most other aluminum fence. Simply hold the section down and push it to the

left or right to adjust the degree of slope. Please note – make sure the screw side of the

fence is facing all the same direction when installing. As manufactured the sections can

rack 6 to 8 inches every 6 feet. If you need it to rack more then that, we can manufacture

a special section to do it up to 42 inches per every 6 foot sections

Page 11: Royal® Aluminum Fence Installation Guide · Fence Installation Guide Getting Started Fence Installation - Overview ... fence area is you can pre-digg all of your holes before assembling

Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc. 1-800-543-3231

©2009 Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc -- Do not copy or distribute these instructions without proper written consent. For distribution exclusively with Royal® Aluminum fence products.

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Q: How do I install on concrete, cement, etc.

A: To install on/in cement, brick, or concrete you have two options. The first is referred

to as „coring‟. We always suggest coring because it preserves the look and strength of

the fence the best. Coring involves drilling holes for the posts into the concrete and filling

them with a special type of cement, called „Rockkite‟. To start you will need to get a

core drill with a 3” round bit for a 2” post, this can be rented from your local hardware

store. You will use this drill to core holes into the cement for every post. When coring

the holes, they should not go all the way down to the dirt. For example, if your cement is

4” deep, you would only want to core down 3”. This is necessary to prevent the fence

from shifting with the cement, brick, or concrete you‟re installing it into. Since the holes

you are digging are not nearly as deep as the holes you would put into the ground, each

individual post must be cut shorter to accommodate the new hole depth. Your second

option is to use „shoes‟. These have to be ordered with your fence, and you need one per

post. They allow you to physically attach the posts onto the surface you‟re installing

onto, without drilling any holes. Since all of our posts are longer then the fence to

accommodate the holes you normally would dig, using shoes means you have to cut all

your posts. We always suggest that you core into the cement, since the shoes are not as

strong as when the posts are cemented into the ground.

Page 12: Royal® Aluminum Fence Installation Guide · Fence Installation Guide Getting Started Fence Installation - Overview ... fence area is you can pre-digg all of your holes before assembling

Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc. 1-800-543-3231

©2009 Royal® Aluminum and Steel, Inc -- Do not copy or distribute these instructions without proper written consent. For distribution exclusively with Royal® Aluminum fence products.

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Q. Can I make special angles such as a 45% degree angle without using a bracket?

A. Most angles can be done by cutting back the notch. If you can‟t achieve the

degree that you need that way then you will have to cut the horizontal rail on the

angle that you need (see below). You will want to use a line post to install.