Fences, Deck Boards and Railway Sleepers - Blog - AVS Fencing Supplies

It's time to review your Garden Fencing & Garden Landscaping

2010-03-03T16:26:00.011Z

With the worst of the snow and wind gone now is an ideal time to review your Garden Fencing and Garden Landscaping and either carry out repairs or plan improvements.

While you are tidying your perennials and starting to air the greenhouse, it is also a great opportunity to make sure all your fence panels are fully supported and all your fence posts are safe. Spring is a great time to start planning how you can improve your garden in time for spring and summer period, so when the air heats up, you can enjoy looking at the fruits of your labour.

You may want to include new and improved fencing line, so why not take a look at our new fence panels such as Lap Panels, Closeboard Panels or Grange Elite Fence Panels. It is also a good time to start creating new landscaping features such as new flower beds, which can be created with railway sleepers.

AVS are your fencing experts

2010-02-19T11:24:00.008Z

AVS Fencing are at your service with fencing expertise.

We have made even more improvements to our website and now we offer an 'expert' service to our customers. We have recently energised our efforts on the AVS website to include all the necessary tools you may need to erect your garden fencing, such as Lap Panel Fencing & Closeboard Fencing.

You will also be pleased to know that we have added more fencing tools for your convenience and we have also improved our 'search' box to you find what you want quickly and easily. Some of the new tools we have added are: Post Hole Diggers, Hammers, Shovels, Spirit Levels and a Chalk Line.

If you need any help on anything to do with any of our products, you can request a call back via our website.

AVS website goes gold

2010-02-12T11:07:00.008Z

2010 has seen great improvements to the AVS Website, so if you haven't visited us for a while, it's worth a good look. Due to interest rates being so low, the investment experts say that gold is a good investment these days! And guess what? Some of the new products that have been added to the new improved AVS website are Gold Lap Panels and tools.

AVS also have a new postcode checker so you can find out if we deliver in your area. We also have excellent live monthly offers on a range of products which has resulted in a very positive start to 2010. In fact AVS are celebrating as we have had a 33% increase in visitor numbers and an increase of 172% in sales in January 2010 – even with the snow!

March is just round the corner, so it's timeto start thinking of getting your garden fences in shape for summer. Visit the AVS website and have a good look at what we've got on offer.

Why size matters

2010-01-22T15:27:00.015Z

Lots of people want a 6' high (1.80m) Fence and we all know that 6' fence panels are a best seller. However, what happens when you want to put a 6" (150mm) gravelboard underneath the fence panel to prevent it contacting the ground and rotting or holding back a little soil from a neighbouring garden?

The answer is that is the height will increase and you may not want a 6'6" or 1.95m high fence as you will need a longer more expensive post. Another negative reason for a taller fence is that it will also have more wind resistance making it prone to expensive storm damage, plus it may overshadow your garden.

The good news is that AVS Fencing have increased their range of 5' 6" fence panels and associated accessories, including concrete slotted fence posts which are becoming even more popular because they are long lasting and also the panel can be changed easily by lifting out and slotting in a new one.

Also, our concrete gravelboard is even better than the timber gravelboard, and can also slot snugly under the fence panel keeping it off the ground and holding back a little loose soil at the same time.

Timber Fence posts stay warm in big freeze

2010-01-15T13:12:00.009Z

Frozen Britain will soon thaw and it won't be long until Spring is here. Now is the time to look at upgrading your garden fencing . Good news! AVS have just launched a brand new timber fence post with a lifespan guarantee of at least 15 years.

How is this 15 year guarantee possible?
Because AVS timber fence posts are kiln dried before treatment to reduce moisture content. This treatment combined with us selecting the right species of timber (British Pine - redwood, rather than whitewood), is the secret to our 15 year guarantee. We are proud of our new product as it is the first of its kind in the UK for this type of post and treatment process.

To find out more about our 15 year guarantee timber fence posts, call 01403 740200 or click here.

How do you ensure that non-concreted fence posts stay secure?

2009-12-10T18:12:00.014Z

In our previous blog tip, we advised you whether you needed to concrete your fence posts. If after reading that post, you decided not to get the concrete out, we suggest that you read the following to find out how you can ensure that your non-concreted fence posts stay secure.

First off, backfill the fence post hole with excavated soil;
You should have a good length of wood (or similar) to use as a rammer;
Ensure you dig the hole big enough to get the rammer all around, which will ensure the fence post gets right down to the bottom of the hole;
Fill the hole very slowly, and stop at frequent intervals to ram the soil down firmly;
Concentrate most on the bottom of the hole and the top of the hole;
Try and get as much soil as possible back into the hole.

There you go, simple. Even if the latest budget hasn't been your 'Darling' and you can't afford the concrete. Rest assured, you can still erect a firm, secure fence post!

Do I need to concrete my fence posts?

2009-12-03T16:28:00.008Z

Do you want to have garden fencing that make the neighbours go green with envy? It is essential to concrete certain types of fence posts into the ground. With others it is a complete waste of time and money. How do you know which are which? Follow these simple rules to ensure your fence panels stand loud and proud throughout the tough British weather.

Rules

If the fence is solid, you need to concrete the posts to withstand wind pressure.
Concrete your fence if it is a picket or palisade fence.
If the fence is chainlink concrete the end and corner posts to support against the tension of the wire.
If the post supports a gate concrete it.
If the ground is soft concrete it.
If the post is made of concrete, concrete it.
If the post hole fills with water when dug,use a dry concrete mix.
If the fence is a livestock fence of post and rail no need to concrete.
If the fence is a livestock fence of stock mesh no need to concrete.
If the fence posts are round normally no need to concrete.
If the post is an intermediate post for a mesh or strained wire fence, there is normally no need to concrete it.
If the fence is a low level trellis fence, it is advisable to concrete it.

If the rules above dictate that you should concrete your fence posts, then click here to log onto the AVS website where you can find all the necessary tools.

Tips for building a deck base

2009-11-27T12:25:00.008Z

Why are we talking about building a deck base in this awful British weather? Don't ask me!

If your garden has not flooded, and you have a weekend spare, then why not prepare you garden for decking. You never know, you may be able to enjoy BBQ next spring. Or perhaps eat your Christmas dinner on the new decking area if you have a nice patio heater, like the Zeus which was recently pitched on Dragons Den.

There is no right or wrong way to build a deck base. The objective is to create a solid level timber structure to fit the decking boards too - simple! What really helps is that the decking base is not seen so it does not matter what it looks like!

Two tools that will help you to do the job properly are:

Landscaping screws will join timber easily and firm:
Joist Hangers to butt joint one timber rail to another (rails are sometimes known as joists).

Both tools are easy to use and fast to use.

Use timber posts concreted into the ground to hold the structure in place.

The decking design will depend on the space you have which is a result of how high above the ground the deck is to be. Where space allows use beams to support joists, for example, if your deck is 3.60m wide and you have created a framework supported with Timber Posts and have fixed in place your 3.60m joists, then set at 450mm centres without additional support. At 3.60m long these joists will be too flexible to support the deck in the centre.

This is where a another larger timber rail (sometimes called a beam), set this immediately under and at 90 degrees to you. Set joists at approx every 1.8m in mid position with posts to support the beam. Without too many additional posts you now have a firm deck structure which you may fix your decking Boards to.

Can anyone dig a fence post hole?

2009-11-17T16:16:00.010Z

Luckily we are discussing fence posts, and not the Royal Mail's post or this blog would never of got written!

Back to fence posts, anyone can dig a fence post hole. It is easy but like most tasks you need the right tools.

Contractors use a long handled graft because it has the weight and the length to get into hard compacted soil, so that you do not need to kneel down. The next best thing to do (if you only have a few holes) is to use a garden border spade – the small ones with a blade approx 5-6" wide.

What does a good fence post hole look like?
It is about (2' 6" ) 750mm deep and about 250mm (10") square with straight sides. The size of a fence post will change slightly depending on post size.

How do I get the soil out?
If the hole is big enough (be careful not to make it too big), you will be able to get the soil out with the spade. If you have a lot of holes to dig. it is even easier with a double handled post hole digger, this is what contractors use.

What if the ground is stony or has concrete in it?
The answer is to use a 5' long crowbar or a power tool with a breaker attachment.

Top Tip:
How to dig out an old concrete fence post base:
Dig a hole in the soft soil immediately to one side of the concrete base to the full depth required. Once you have done this spit the concrete with a bar or breaker and lift the big chunks out. Don't make the same mistake a lot of people do, which is trying to break the concrete straight way. You will be rewarded by little chips of concrete and it will turn out to be a real marathon job.

Top tips for wooden fencing

2009-11-12T13:55:00.023Z

There are two main types of solid wooden fencing:

Which should I choose?

The pros and cons of fence panels:

Fence panels are not good on slopes because you will get gaps under the panels as panels need to be placed at 90% otherwise the posts will not vertical;
Fence panels are weaker and therefore not so good with our windy British weather;
The life expectancy of a fence panel is shorter for the above reasons;
You will have more holes to dig, as the posts are closer together;
The good news is that fence panels are easier to erect and also they are cheaper!

The pros and cons of Closeboard Fencing:

Closeboard fencing is a little slower to erect;
The initial cost of closeboard fencing is higher;
Closeboard fencing is ideal on sloping ground as you can stagger the fencing to fit the slope.
The design of closeboard fencing can be varied, which allows you to make certain sections stronger on exposed sites;
The lifetime expectancy of closeboard fencing is much longer;
Closeboard fencing is made of small parts which are assembled on site, therefore there are no heavy panels to lift.

Top tips
When replacing an existing fence, there is probably a short section somewhere along the fence line, alter the arrangement of this so that you do not have to dig up all the old concrete fence post foundations you can dig into fresh ground.

Erecting Fence panels
If the ground has a slight slope start at the top and work down. It makes stepping the panels i.e. adjusting to suit ground level a lot easier to get right.

Erecting Closeboard Fencing
Do this in 2 stages stage 1 Posts and rails stage 2 add the gravelboard and clad the fence with featheredge.

Talking of wood, Ronnie Wood from The Rolling Stones is expected to pay his ex-wife Jo £6.5 million after they were given a 'quick' divorce yesterday (November 11)! It's lucky that AVS fencing is highly competitively priced – at least Ronnie can afford new fence panels :)

Picket Fence, Panel or Palisade Fencing?

2009-11-04T16:12:00.019Z

Unless you're a celebrity wanting complete privacy in your garden – picket and palisade fencing are ideal because you can partially see through them and therefore, they make excellent decorative fencing.

So which fencing should you choose for your garden?

Here's the main differences between picket fence panels and palisade fencing:

Wooden palisade fencing and picket fence panels look identical – both fences allow vision through and they are often used as a decorative boundary when full privacy is not required. Plus both fences are available with flat, pointed or rounded tops.

The main difference is that palisade fencing is sold in pieces and is constructed on site, where as picket fence panels are sold as as panels. AVS palisade fencing and AVS picket fence panels are both guaranteed for 25 years.

AVS sell ready made panels and separate components that need assembly on site. Separate components do cost slightly more but will produce a longer lasting and slightly studier fence.

Are all timber Fence Posts the same Quality?

2009-10-22T16:53:00.009+01:00

Did you know that timber fence posts are only as good as the chemical treatment they have received? Please beware! There are some very poorly treated posts on the market although they may look alike – appearances can be deceptive.

What do AVS ensure for you? All our posts are kiln dried prior to treatment to accept the treatment deep into the post. We have launched a range of timber fence posts that have been through a brand new treatment process for longer life. We use carefully selected pine (redwood) posts which have been kiln dried (to around 28% moisture content). The posts are then treated with a special ACQ treatment process to give the fence posts virtually total protection from fungal decay and insect damage. All this means that your Garden fencing will be the envy of all your neighbours.

Here a are a few interesting facts about timber which we sourced from the UK Timber Frame Association.

Did you know that wood is effectively a carbon-neutral material (even if you allow for transport)?
Did you know that 77% of the energy used in the production of wood products comes from wood residues and recovered wood?
Did you know that concrete uses five times as much energy, and steel uses six times more energy to produce than timber?
The beauty of wood is that when it has reach the end of it's life it can be easily recycled.

There you go, who thought that we 'would' help you with your pub quiz knowledge!

Are concrete fence posts a good choice?

2009-10-13T11:23:00.012+01:00

Your home boundary needs to be defined to create privacy, improve security and to help shelter your garden from some of the elements. Garden fencing from AVS comes in a great selection of ready-made fence panels and timber and concrete posts.

Ready-made fence panels are a great addition to the DIY enthusiasts, however it takes more than sticking up a few posts and screwing a few panels! If you want your fence to last, as well as look good, it is a good idea to use concrete fence posts because they are much longer lasting than Timber posts.

All AVS fencing panels will fit into the slotted posts. Slotted concrete fence posts are great because if a fence panel gets damaged, you can lift it out and replace it with a new one without any hand tools!

Timber posts still have a 15 year life, and are visually more attractive. However, it is best to extend their life by concreting the timber posts! Who knows what weather we will have in the UK this Winter.

Building a raised bed with railway sleepers

2009-09-22T14:57:00.009+01:00

AVS Fencing Supplies are a huge supplier of railway sleepers for garden and landscaping projects. This means you can have great confidence in the product with competitive prices and rapid delivery. Railway sleepers supplied included are both new and recycled in hardwood and treated softwood and are creosote-free.

The advantages of raised beds are:

You can add soil which is suitable for herbs, vegetables or plants you want to grow.
They save you back strain because you don't have to bend down so far!
They need less watering than containers.

The disadvantage of raised beds is:

You have to design and build them.

We can help to take care of that for you. Here are a few important points to bear in mind:

Remember that raised beds are for the long term, so choose their site carefully. Do your plants want a sunny or shady position?
Don't make your raised bed wider than you can comfortably reach.
A height of 30 - 60 cm deep is sufficient for most small and medium sized plants.

How to make a wooden raised bed out of AVS railway sleepers.

What you will need:

Four railway sleepers;
eight tree stakes;
saw and hammer

Lay out the railway sleepers on edge in their final positions. Ensure that the best edge uppermost.
Hammer the two tree stakes into the ground, about 4cm from each corner, to hold the corners together.
Cut off ensuring the top of the stakes are flush with the railway sleepers. If you are making the bed on a paved surface use coach bolts to hold the sleepers together.
Fill your brand new sleeper raised bed with a suitable soil or compost. Top tip: If you want to grow herbs, then mix the top soil with grit.

Hitting the Decks - Autumn Decking Ofers

2009-09-18T10:06:00.010+01:00

Autumn may almost be here, but decking is still a popular purchase. We bring to you a great offer. Our 3.6m decking has been reduced from £10.56 to £7.13.

AVS decking is tough and durable, just like Eddie Izzard it seems. If you didn't know this, Eddie Izzard celebrated completing 43 marathons in 52 days! Wow. Eddie raised over £200,000 for Sports Relief. Eddie said to the Guardian newspaper "I feel really good. My legs hurt, my body hurts, I'm very tired. I lost my toenails, had blisters and stuff, but to finish – it's kind of like science fiction in a way."

Eddie obviously needs to sooth away his aches with the help of a nice glass of something sitting in a lovely decked garden. Therefore, he would be pleased to hear that AVS deckboard is a quality reversible decking board made using more slowly grown imported timber of a 5th grade Scandinavian Redwood quality, for better reliabilty. It is smooth on one side and reeded on the other. The decking is a robust with a healthy thickness of approx 34mm unlike some cheaper decking which is only 28mm thickness. AVS decking helps create a sturdy deck without spending a fortune on timber for the base. Our timber is slow-grown so it is close grained and therefore has less chance of splitting and cracking in the sunshine and rain.

AVS decking is produced in species classified as Redwood meaning it accepts the timber treatment well for greater durability. AVS decking board is produced in the UK specifically for AVS to our own specifciation and design.

So if anyone out there who knows Eddie, point him over here so we can assist him with some ultimate R & R.

Fencing makes good security for your House

2009-09-09T16:25:00.005+01:00

Recently, my step-mother's brand new limited edition Mini-Cooper got stolen from their driveway whilst they are sleeping. If they had installed 6' high timber fencing with good quality gate bolts, they would still have their pride and joy.

The UK planning law says that you need permission for a fence over 2m tall and for 1m tall adjacent to a highway. Normally no notice is normally taken of a trellis added to the top of a 6' fence, so you are most probably safe to do this too.

Tall fences also add privacy and security for children, pets as well as your property.

Building a Railway Sleeper retaining wall

2009-09-02T14:48:00.005+01:00

Did you know why sleepers are called sleepers? Are you ready for this? Well ... according to Wiki Answers - when sleepers were added below the railway lines, the trains ran more smoothly and people fell asleep on their journeys.

One would normally build a railway sleeper retaining wall in your garden to support soil when they need to achieve a rapid change in ground levels usually created by forming a level area for a lawn or building.

The height of your railway sleeper retaining wall will be determined by difference in ground levels.

Most people only need to retain up to 600mm of soil so this is an easy task, which often creates an interesting and attractive feature in the garden.

The method you choose for construction will be influenced by the height.

Sleepers laid horizontally
Sleepers can be either stood on edge, which needs fewer sleepers but will need some additional supports or laid flat which is great for raised beds and lower height walls needing less additional support often just landscaping screws to join the railway sleepers.

Sleepers placed vertically
Great for medium height walls of about 1 metre high using hardwood sleepers

Joining Sleepers
Landscaping screws are great for joining sleepers together they are screwed in without needing pre-drilling and hold sleepers very firmly.

Drainage
It is advisable to place shingle behind the railway sleepers, particularly for taller structures. This can aid the life span of the sleeper and assist drainage, ensuring any water drains to the bottom and doesn’t run out between sleepers. Use a membrane on the back of the sleepers if the shingle is likely to spill through any gaps left between the sleepers.

Health & Safety
Sleepers are heavy and care should be taken when handling. Second-hand sleepers are treated with creosote so skin contact should be avoided. Taller structures may collapse if not constructed properly so if in any doubt consult a qualified engineer.

Will my fence survive the winter?

2009-08-26T18:24:00.010+01:00

The Met Office have not yet predicted the UK weather for autumn/winter 2009, but even if they did – would we believe them after the barbeque summer we were meant to have? The main threat to your fence is the winter storms which normally begin with gales in October - remember 1997? The taller and more exposed your fence is – the more at risk of damage your fence is.

What can happen to my fence? Normally one of three things ... Your fence posts can break usually at ground level this normally affects timber fence posts or become loose in the ground and sometimes the fence panel can be damaged.

To answer the question, we recommend walking the fence line whilst doing the following:

First, look for signs of rot at the bottom of the fence posts and try wobbling the fence post backwards and forwards. Beware! Some posts may break, but at least you will not get a sudden surprise on a cold wet winters morning. This will also detect posts that are loose in the ground.
Inspect the Fence Panels for signs of rot of damage or if you have closeboard fencing, check the ends of the rails join firmly with the post specially the top rail.

For further information on fencing, please call our sales team on: 01403 740200.

Met Posts – Love 'em or hate them!

2009-08-19T13:52:00.005+01:00

Met Post is the leading brand of metal fence post bases. The most common style used is a spike which is the type we discuss here. The purpose of these fencing accessories is to secure your timber fence post into the ground without having to dig a hole or using concrete to backfill it. Sounds great doesn’t it, so what are the pro’s and con’s?

Pro’s

Met Posts are easy to install. They are simply bashed into the ground with a large hammer.
There is no fence post hole to dig

Con’s

If the ground is to hard or stony, the Met posts are hard to bash in straight and you would possibly need to dig out any obstructions
If the ground is too soft they give insufficient support to the fence post. Similarly on exposed sites they may not hold the fence post firmly in the ground. Therefore you would need the longer spike.

AVS now stock a direct alternative to the met post called the fencemate. So if you have a new fence to erect, visit our website by clicking here. Don't forget, we also sell a great range of decking, railway sleepers, gates, mesh wire, ironmongery fixings, and fencing aggregates.

Why is Ready Mix Post Mix so popular?

2009-08-12T17:27:00.003+01:00

Whether your fencing is for domestic or commerical purposes, most fence posts require concreting into the ground to prevent the wind loosening the fence post. Ready mix post mix is dry ready mix concrete in a bag. It is really easy to use, just tip it in the hole around the fence post and add water – job done simple as that! No messing around and no need to premix in the wheelbarrow or on a board.

What’s more the post mix is made from rapid hardening cement that goes off faster than conventional concrete meaning your fence is very soon safe and can’t be damaged by the wind during erection.

What is the other option? Buy ballast (a mix of pebbles and sand) and to mix this up firstly with cement powder and secondly with water to produce concrete which is added wet to the fence post hole.

Interesting Fact: Did you know that the Romans invented concrete, which when fused with their engineering expertise, allowed for the creation of villas, temples, towns, baths, walls, roads – the list is endless. So next time you think about Ready Mix Post Mixing your fence post – the Vatican City isn't that far away!

Fencing colour, what’s it all about?

2009-08-05T16:37:00.006+01:00

What does the colour of your fence say about you? It says that you care about your wallet and the planet, as well as your fashion sense. Remember the good old days of Ground Force? We can't promise you Charlie Dimmock, Tommy Walsh or Alan Titchmarsh! However, we can promise that if you go for a coloured treated fence, you will save money as the fence will last for years longer.

Our fences are dipped (immersed) in treatment producing 2 colours. Brown now most popular – gold less popular now – although fashions do change! Our third treatment option is pressure treating. The side effect of this is an attractive natural light brown wood colour. Very now ...

Closeboard fencing, also known as feather edge fencing) is available in two options: brown or green – both are created as part of the pressure treatment process. Brown is a dark brown and
green is actually a light beige brown with (at times) a slight greenish twinge from the copper used in our special treatment.

Fence posts also come in the same treaments and finishes as closeboard fencing.

TOP TIP: Use Green colour if you want to re-treat or paint a different colour.

Be kind to your fence and the planet – USE GRAVELBOARD!

2009-07-30T13:03:00.010+01:00

You don't have to join The Green Party to help planet earth. You can simply use gravelboard when you are erecting your garden fence! Why? Because then your fences will last longer, and you will be saving lots of trees, as well as saving yourself heaps of money and backbreaking work in the future.

What are Gravelboards?

Gravelboards fit under a fence at ground level. They can be timber gravel boards which are used withTimber Posts or Concrete Gravelboards used with slotted concrete fence posts. These are normally 6”/150mm or 12” / 300mm high.

Whats the purpose of Gravelboards?

Gravelboards keep expensive timber fence panels or fence pales ends off of the damp ground thus protecting from rotting. Timber gravelboards are cheap and easy to replace so can in a way be sacrificed.
Gravelboards are essential for fencing on sloping ground. Fence panels have to be stepped which can leave a gap at ground level – a gravel board can help as one end can be buried into the ground meaning the other end will fill the gap.
Concrete gravelboards (the type used for fence panels and with concrete fence posts), can be used to hold back soil if ground levels on each side of fence different. For example, between your garden and your neighbours garden.

Remember to allow for longer posts to accommodate – sometimes you can use lower panels so the fence does not become too tall. Like Fence Panels, gravelboard is normally fixed between posts rather than on the front face, therefore, wood blocks called cleats are normally used to aid fixing with nails.

Gravelboards can be used anywhere there is garden fencing, not forgetting, commercial sites like factories .

House prices rising! Fix those fences in time for your house sale!

2009-07-22T12:35:00.012+01:00

According to rightmove.co.uk, who represent 90% of the UK housing market, house prices are set to increase towards the end of 2009. So now is the time to start finishing those jobs you've been putting off for ages, such as fixing fence panels. The good news is that we have four easy ways to help you fix and improve your garden fencing.

Fixing fence panels is easy, here are four simple methods:

• Nail through the side framing batten into post – use galvanised nails to avoid rust stains – size 65 or 75mm long nail front and back separately using 3-4 nails on each face

• Use Panel Fixing Clips – use 3 clips per side for a 6’ 1.8m high fence panel

• Use Slotted Concrete Fence Posts – no fixings are needed as these are H-shape posts, therefore the panel is located in slot. The advantages of this are that the posts last for years and panels can be lifted out and replaced in minutes

• Always use Decking screws for all fencing panels and trellis, particularly when using our Grange Elite Range of fence panel. The AVS range of Carpenter Mate Decking Screws fix easily with a battery screwdriver without slipping as they have a special square socketed head (driver bit provided) and are coated for maximum corrosion protection. They self-drill through timber without splitting.

AVS Top Tip

Why not use Lap Panels for your garden fencing? They are not only cost effective, they are attractive too.
AVS supply lap panels in 4 different sizes, each Lap Panel is 6 foot wide with heights that vary between 3, 4, 5 and 6 feet (these are 915, 1220, 1525 and 1830mm respectively).
As well as variations in size, a range of colours are on offer, these being either a light beige (our pressure treated lap panels), orange-brown or darker brown.(our dipped panels).
It is important to remember when buying a panel that posts come in only 2 colours, light brown (known as green) or dark brown. This type of fencing is simple to erect making it an excellent choice for your garden fencing.

Beginners guide to Decking

2009-07-13T16:22:00.002+01:00

You are thinking of building a garden decking this summer and are not quite sure where to start. Simple start here with a guide that will help you through the maize that decking. There is nothing easier so read on. What is a garden deck in its simplest form? A garden deck is a platform covered in timber which can be either at low level, near the ground or high level, raised from the ground. There are no real rules about what you can and cannot do with decking as long as the space is firm and strong to support the deck boards then you will have successful decking.

You certainly don’t need to be a master carpenter to create a great garden deck, create the base for the deck out of timber fence posts and timber joists. Typically the fence posts can be 100x100 in size or slightly larger if the deck is raised off the ground by more than a couple of feet. Timber joists typically 150x47mm and 100x47mm can then be used to form a level framework on which to lay the deck boards. The timber support posts are normally connected with a beam and the timber joists can be fixed to the beam using joist hangers, other timber connections between the timber joists can be done using landscape screws, our carpenters mate range of landscape screws are ideal for this.

The look and feel of the finished deck will be influenced by the type of deck board you choose, two main types of decking boards are available from AVS hardwood and softwood treated. The softwood treated decking boards are available in grooved, reeded and smooth options. The best method to fix the decking boards down onto the timber joists is to use AVS Fencing decking screws which avoid splitting the timber and normally avoid the need for pre-drilling, unlike nails can be removed if the boards need to be lifted for any reason.

I believe building a timber decking is a job that most people who are fairly practical can easily do and will make a great addition to your garden. All of the decking materials are available from AVS Fencing for building your garden decking, the first step to your garden decking would, I suggest be sketching out a plan of the size of decking you want. Mark it out in the area you have allocated for it then you can check ground levels and get a feel for what this would look like when it is completed within your garden.

On a final safety note if your decking is going to be raised off the ground you will also need to consider balustrading or timber hand railing to prevent people falling from your deck.

Which is the strongest fence panel?

2009-07-02T08:40:00.004+01:00

With so many fence panels to choose from how do I know which is the strongest fence panel to buy, with so many to choose from with on line shopping. If we ignore decorative panels like the continental and grange elite range the choice of fence panels basically comes down to two, Closeboard fence panels and Lap panels. You can easily tell the difference the closeboard fence panel is constructed from timbers running vertically and the lap panel has horizontal timber slats.

So to answer the question the strongest garden fence panels are the closeboard variety but don’t stop reading because there’s much more than just a fence panel to making a strong fence we should to consider the fixings, the height, how the post is fixed and in what location you are using the fence in.

Let’s just examine the closeboard fence panel for a minute and look at what we mean when we say this is a stronger type of fencing panel. It has strength in two ways the closeboard panel will stand stronger winds than the lap panel before the fence panel blows out between the posts. It is also constructed from heavier weight timber featheredge boards which means that if the fence panel is subjected stress via either a dog or vandals holes are less likely to appear. It is important to fix your fence panel securely to the post. It doesn’t really matter how you fix it, some people use clips and others use nails. If you choose to use met clips you should have a minimum of 6 per fence panel and if you choose to nail through the batten and into the post you should have 4 nails on one side of the batten and 3 nails on the other a total of 7 nails on each side 14 overall.

If your fence panels are in a reasonably exposed location or a windy location and you want to reduce the wind effects on them consider a reduced height panel with a trellis sat above, you can mix any height of trellis with a fence panel instead of a 6ft high panel you could consider a 5ft high panel with 1ft trellis above still giving you a 6ft high fence or even a 4ft fence with a 2ft trellis above. Trellis will reduce the wind resistance of the fence and allow the wind to blow through the trellis and reduce the pressure on the fencing panels.

Having considered your fencing panels next consider the fencing posts, if your timber fencing posts are not securely fixed into the ground and they move around the wind this will weaken the fence because of the movement which will be present in the fence. AVS recommend a fencing post for a 6ft high fence panel should be inserted between 2ft and 2ft. 6ins into the ground. The most secure method of fixing a fence post is to place concrete or use post mix a rapid hardening ready mix cement which comes dry in the bag and you pour into the fence post hole and add water, a very easy way to fix a fence post. Once the post mix has gone off the post will be completely rigid. Overall the aim is to try and stop the fence post moving at all in the ground.

Met post fence post spikes are another option for fixing your fence these are in our opinion only suitable where the ground conditions are favourably and where your fence is not subject to much wind.

Finally are there any locations which are not suitable for fence panels? In our view very exposed locations are best fenced with closeboard fencing which is assembled on site rather than using ready made fence panels, it is generally constructed using larger post sections and strong horizontal rails which can be increased where there is a risk of frequent high winds.