Before You Start
The type of foundation underneath the proposed fencing area will determine the post substructure needed to support the fence.
- On solid concrete or masonry surfaces it is recommended to use our CrabWood fence metal supports.
- If the fencing is to be installed over soft – non/concrete surfaces or loose soil you can install the posts by burying them 600 mm in the soil supported with concrete .
Spacing The Fence Slats & Posts
Due to natural expansion and contraction of material with changes in temperature, please ensure the following gapping requirements for all CrabWood Fencing products:
An expansion gap of 6mm should be left between the fence slat and post.
When measuring between post supports you need to allow for the fence slat width (1800mm), the fence post indent width ( 50mm ) and the fence slat expansion gap ( 6mm ).
CrabWood fencing post supports need to be fixed to solid foundations such as concrete or masonry work. The distance between (2) posts will be (1800 mm), the fence post indent width (50 mm) and the fence slat expansion gap (6 mm ) = 1866 mm in total .
If fixed to concrete you must ensure the concrete has a depth of at least 10 cm.
Mark out the run of the post support centres (1866mm apart). Please note that the posts should always be on your side of the property boundary . Place metal post supports in position, ensuring they are level and square to the run of the fencing.
- With the supports in position, use the 4 pilot holes in the post supports to mark the support fixing holes to be drilled With an 8 mm masonry drill bit, pre drill the fixing holes to the correct depth (80mm if using coach bolts, 100mm if using rawl plugs).
- Firmly secure the post stand using the desired fixings, ensure there is no movement in the stand.
When Installing The Fence Panels with the post in place, slide the fence post onto the stand .
- Ensure you have the post grooves in the correct direction to allow for your 90 or 180 degree fencing run.
- For a shorter height of fencing, you can simply cut the fence posts to size
When Installing The Fence Panels with the post in place, slide the fence post onto the stand .
- Ensure you have the post grooves in the correct direction to allow for your 90 or 180 degree fencing run.
- For a shorter height of fencing, you can simply cut the fence posts to size
With opposing fence posts in place, you can now start to add the fence slats.
- First, clip the fence panel cap to the bottom of the first fence slat • Slide the slat, with panel cap attached, down the grooves in opposing fence posts
Installing CrabWood Fencing on a gradient.
All fence slats and posts can be cut to size to help with slopes.
- Either, the fence slat ends can be cut to the angle of the slope, or the bottom fence panel slat(s) can be cut to the angle of the slope (the bottom panel cap must be in place when installed).
As the fence slats are 1800mm in length, they will fit between existing standard WPC /Metal posts .
- The aluminium fence panel caps can be used as sliders in which to hold the fence slats (as well as finishing off the top and bottom of the fence)
- The fence panel caps can be cut to the required height
Continue to slot in the remaining slats until the required fence height • approx. 7 to 9 slats for a standard 1.8 m (6 ft) fence height . width of slat will range between 145 – 180 mm
