Download - Construct fencing

© Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE 2007

Written and Compiled by: D Foote & B Trewin

Fence construction, planning,

maintenance, demolition

and site clean up and preparation

Construct fencing

Preparations for fencing include

Establish the type of fence required• Sheep• Cattle • Horses • Deer

Is the positioning of the fence going to involve high traffic area and multi type stocking?

Planning involves

• Choosing the best style for the job.

• Post spacings?

• Line post type?

• Strainer and Stay type?

• Gauge of wire and number of wires?

• Length of fence?

• Number of gate ways?

• Type of gates?

• Number of strains required?

• Extras such as standouts, insulators etc?

• Can you re use materials from an existing fence, if so how much?

Planning involves

Draw up your plan to show the style of fence proposed for contractors to quote on or for employees to clearly understand the construction.

Planning involves

Standard fencing pattern proposed for paddock subdivision and boundary.

Materials details as follows;Unit prices Price per

100mEnd sections 8” posts with 10 ‘ top rail $54.00/ea

Line posts 4-5” spaced 5 meters apart$6.70/ea $140.00

Wire Bottom and middle wire plain 2.5 mm flexi bell$130/1500m $18.00

Top and intermediate wire 4mm white sighter wire $185/400m

$50.00Cap wire 2.5 flexi bell electrified

$130/1500m $9.00 1.05m netting

Planning involves

$262/100m $262.00Clips, nails & stables

$10/100m $10.00Nail on plastic insulators

$61.50/200 $8.00

Gate $80.00/eaGate furniture $30.00/set

Cost summaryFence per 100 meters Approx $497 materials only.End sections per each $54Gate & furniture $110

Estimated cost of 1225 meters of fence with 4 gates and 7 end sections (material only) $6906

Prices current at 12/8/03 through Murray Goulburn.

Planning involves

Planning involvesMaterials details as follows;Unit prices Price per 100m

End sections 8” posts with 10 ‘ top rail$54.00/ea

Line posts 4-5” spaced 5 meters apart$6.70/ea $140.00

Wire Bottom and middle wire plain 2.5 mm flexi bell$130/1500m $18.00

Top and intermediate wire 4mm white sighter wire $185/400m$50.00Cap wire 2.5 flexi bell electrified$130/1500m $9.00 1.05m netting $262/100m $262.00

Clips, nails & stables$10/100m $10.00

Nail on plastic insulators$61.50/200 $8.00

Gate$80.00/ea

Gate furniture$30.00/set

Cost summaryFence per 100 meters Approx $497 materials only.End sections per each $54Gate & furniture $110

Estimated cost of 1225 meters of fence with 4 gates and 7 end sections (material only) $6906 Prices current at 12/8/03 through Murray Goulburn.

Planning involves

Planning (Cont)

• Type of labour required for construction?

(Self, employees, contractor, labour exchange)

• Type of equipment required for construction?

• Total Cost = ?• Economics or value for money

Planning considerations

• Is the area fire prone?

• Does the fence need to be portable?

• What are the likely stocking rates?

• Does the type of livestock requiring to be fenced need heavier construction materials for animals such as bulls?

• Do you have a range of livestock types?

• Does the type of ground require special construction techniques, equipment, materials: example – hills, gullies, water ways, soil types, swamps and vegetation etc?

• Do you require the fence to last?

• Does the fence need to keep out various types of vermin?


• Length of strain • Fire resistance • Stock type• Electrical conductivity • Flexibility or stretch requirement


The type and gauge of wire to be used is dependant on

• Workability preferences

• Economical considerations

• Compatibility to the type of post materials

• Environmental implications such as salt etc.

• Does the fence require a horse sighter wire such as “Bayco”


Maintenance issues

• Does the fence have trees along it?

• High stocking rates

• Fire resistance

• High traffic areas

• Longevity

• Materials

• Rust

• Vegetation along bottom wires

• Water ways passing through

• Soil type

• Economic stage

• Security

• Vermin control

Maintenance issues.

Construction techniques• Labour and equipment required for

the type of construction can include:– Type of materials used– Types of terrain involved– Trees and vegetation around site– Soil types– Stage of season– Time period involved– Economic situation– Attention to detail

Good fence construction practices include

• Wear PPE – gloves, eye protection from U.V and wire, broad brimmed hat, steel capped boots

• Do not drop – small pieces of wire (livestock die from swallowing)

• Do not drop – fence staples

• Fill in all holes

• Do not leave unnecessary mess such as lengths of wire lying around

• Pick up all the old posts

• Do not leave un rammed dirt around new posts where stock can scratch it out

• Always drive wooden posts small end first

• Put a pilot hole large enough for the size of post being driven

• Always use a cap with wads in when driving pre stressed concrete posts

• Always take particular care when using PTO post hole diggers


• Always keep hands away from the top of posts when using a post driver

• Take particular care when operating tractors with post drivers in hilly areas (Always put the dolly down before driving)

• If barbed wire is being strained “Keep away and do not put hands near without gloves.” Remember barbed wire can cause similar injuries to a chain saw especially high tensile barbed wire


• Always ram the dirt around the bottom and top of a post as firmly as possible.

• Make sure that line post positioning is as close as possible to alignment with the strainer posts (Remember – Install end strainers first with tops of strainer at least 25mm above tops of line posts).

• Make sure to keep base of line posts as close as possible to alignment (The tops of posts can be moved quite a bit to bring them in line without looking to bad).


Strainer and stay assembly for wet area

STAY 2/3 OF WAY FROM GROUND

RAMMED EARTH

CONCRETE

RAMMED EARTH

CONCRETE

GROUND LEVEL

STRAINER POST

TOP WIRE SHOULD BE 25MM FROM TOP OF POST

STAY BLOCK FITTED FIRMLY AGAINST STAY WHEN BLOCK IS ANGELED INTO SOLID FLUSH CUT EARTH BACK

RAM THE LOOSE EARTH BACK IN AROUND STAY AND FRONT OF STAY BLOCK