Fencing stairs do it yourself. Installing handrails on stairs, walls - mounting options

1. Definition
2. Types of fences
3. Calculation of fences
4. Height
5. Width
6. Distances

Ladder railings ensure safe movement up and down stairs. Railings and balusters complete the design of the march, emphasize the style. Railings and fences can be ordered ready-made or made by yourself.

Definition

Railings are vertical structures installed along the edge of a flight of stairs. They ensure the safety of people when going up and down. Railings consist of several elements:

• A handrail is the upper part on which a person's hand rests when moving.
• Balusters are vertical posts that support a handrail. The extreme counter is a curbstone. Handrails are attached to it at the bottom and top of the march.
• Horizontal strips (bowstring) - fences under the handrails - are located parallel to the movement of the march. Replace balusters.
• Fastening system - elements for fixing the fence.

Basic functions of handrails and balusters

Fences must be installed on flights of stairs longer than 4 steps. From the side of the wall, the railing on the stairs may be absent, from the free side there must be... The elements are fastened securely so that the structure can perform its main functions:

• Support. Staircases have different lifting angles. People with different physical fitness overcome these obstacles. Ladder handrails should help people of different ages, weights and physical abilities when lifting to distribute the load on the legs when going up and down.
• Security. Correctly designed ladders provide not only the stability of the climber, but also prevent falling in case of loss of balance.
• Decor. Stair rails adorn the march and accentuate the style. It is important when choosing the design of wooden and metal handrails to combine them with the surrounding space.

Types of fences

The stair railing can be made of different materials and have different shapes, therefore, these structures are classified according to several criteria.

Fences can be:

• metal;
• wooden;
• polymer;
• glass;
• concrete;
• combined.

Metal railings and railing posts are made of aluminum or forged steel. The former are distinguished by their impeccable shine and smoothness, the latter have decorative properties, since they are made according to individual sketches.

Railings made of wood are most often found in private houses: they are warm to the touch, smooth, fit into any interior, and affordable.

Polymer fences are made of hard plastics, which are installed on special fasteners. Compared to other materials, polymer is the cheapest.

Glass fences are installed in public buildings: in shopping and office centers. They are made from tempered glass.

Concrete railings are suitable for entrance buildings, on front staircases. Elements are cast from concrete at the factory, sometimes right on the construction site.

Combined fences combine several materials. The most common option is to mount wooden railings on forged or aluminum balusters.

The handrails also differ in the way of installation:

• A separate profile (tube, shaped profile, rectangular) is a product that is attached to the structure of the fence with special parts.
• Balusters and railings are a classic option for arranging a staircase. They are attached to each other and fixed on the flight of stairs.
• Modular ones consist of ready-made blocks (baluster or railing + handrail + fasteners). They are collected in accordance with the march plan on the spot.

By location, metal, plastic and wooden railings can be:

• external, they are equipped on the street. The main requirement for materials for manufacturing is resistance to weather conditions;
• internal fences in the premises can be made of any materials.

Calculation of fences

To make reliable railings, they must be correctly calculated

Height

The height of the wooden handrail is a basic measure that must be determined to ensure safety. According to regulatory building documents, the height of the railing should be:

• 0.9 meters for public buildings and residential buildings;
• in areas where a fall from a height of more than 5 meters is possible, it is necessary to fasten fences with a height of 110 cm;
• stair railings in a house or building with special requirements can be located at a height of 0.7 meters;
• in childcare facilities, handrails are installed at a height of 0.5 meters.

For institutions where there is a flow of children (schools, kindergartens), double fences of 0.9 and 0.5 meters are usually installed parallel to each other at a distance of up to 10 cm. This provides comfortable movement for children and adults.

The height of the railings in a private house may not correspond to the norm; an individual determination of this parameter is allowed. To calculate your ideal altitude, extend your arm forward as you descend. Then measure the distance from your palm to the step. This is the ideal height for you.

Width

The width of the handrail should be such that the handrail can be grasped. According to the standard, they are produced in widths from 30 to 70 mm; large sizes are also used for grand staircases.

How to determine the width of the handrails convenient for yourself: in case of a possible fall, it should be convenient to grasp the handrail without risk of injury.

Distances

The reliability and strength of the structure largely depend on the distance between the balusters.

• The number of balusters and their parameters are determined by the size and weight of the handrail. When using flexible or heavy railings, the balusters should be installed on the stairs so that the profile does not sag or the supports are overloaded. If spans of more than 15 cm are formed, it is necessary to install a protective bowstring parallel to the railing.
• Balusters in the classic version are installed on a wooden staircase at each step, sometimes several at once.

• For childcare facilities, it is necessary to install supports on each step every 15-20 cm to prevent children from falling.

Manufacturing of wooden fences

For a summer cottage or a private house, you can design and manufacture fences yourself. This will allow you to get an individual railings that match the idea of ​​the owner of the house. The cost of homemade products is much lower than that of a purchased product.

A step-by-step plan for making a structure with your own hands.

Step 1. Drawing up a plan-scheme

If the house already has a finished staircase without a fence, the design must be done on the basis of its plan. If the construction is just beginning, and there is already an interesting idea for the railings, then the flight of stairs can be adjusted to suit these wishes.

A plan is created, which takes into account:

• the height of the staircase railing;
• type and pitch of balusters;
• handrail width.

Step 2. Choosing wood for the manufacture of constituent elements

For the production of balusters and handrail profiles, different tree species are used:

• The most durable woods are beech, ash and oak. It has a pleasant structure and an expressive cut.
• Coniferous wood is widespread and inexpensive - spruce, pine, larch.

It is undesirable to use soft deciduous woods to create fences - the products shrink and deform when dry, become covered with cracks.

The normal moisture content of wood, which can be used for the manufacture of railings and balusters, is 12-18%.

Step 3. How to make balusters

The way is determined by their shape.

They may be:

• flat;
• voluminous.

To make flat balusters, you need processed boards. A pattern is made on them with hand saws and a carving tool. There are many examples, some ideas can be gleaned from the presented photos.

To make a volumetric baluster, you will need a lathe. On the rotating equipment, the desired pattern is cut using various chisels and knives. A milling machine will help you get a deeper asymmetrical pattern that cannot be done on a lathe.

Step 4. Making handrails

To make a handrail, you need a rectangular or rounded blank of different lengths:

• corresponding to the span if its length is short.
• the span length can be divided into 2-3 parts for the convenience of manufacturing and installation of the fence.

For a spiral staircase, the workpiece must be rounded off by turning or split the length into many elements, so that they can then be glued together. Only the end of the handrail can be rounded.

Workpiece processing:

• We grind a bar with a square section, round and smooth the corners. The width of the railing should be comfortable for gripping with a brush, average - 6 cm. A rectangular workpiece can be given a relief: grooves can be carved along the timber to make it easier to grip, decorate them with small details, but everything should be smooth, without sharp corners and burrs.
• To obtain a round handrail, we grind a square blank with cut edges on a lathe. You can give a slight relief, but it should be smooth.

There is another way to make handrails - gluing boards if there is no suitable material. To do this, take boards of the same length, glue them together and, after the glue has completely dried, process the resulting semi-finished product using the methods listed above.

Step 5. Attaching the balusters to the steps

Installation of balusters on a wooden staircase can be done in two ways:

1. Self-tapping screws and bolts.
2. Using the glue method.

We will not consider the second option due to its dubious effectiveness, the masters use it in special cases. You will definitely need glue if the railings were made from separate fragments that need to be connected.

Before proceeding with the installation, markings are made on the steps where the balusters will stand. The master tells more about this process in the video:

To attach the balusters to the handrails, you will need screws or self-tapping screws 80 mm long, 10 mm in diameter and washers.

For fastening you need:

1. Drill a screw hole in the step along the markings.
2. Prepare the same hole in the baluster.
3. Put a washer on the screw and start it from the bottom of the step.
4. Place and fix the stand.

The upper and lower end posts are attached in the same way to the screw, but welded to the embedded part on the landing.

When the installation of the balusters is completed, the guide is attached to them with clamps along the level of the handrail. With a pencil, the corresponding marks are made on the posts, along which the cut will be made.

In order not to damage the fixed wood, wooden pads should be installed under the clamps of the clamps.

Marked cuts can be made on a miter saw; other tools will not give you an even cut at the desired angle.

This process can be clearly seen in the video:

After installing the balusters, we prepare the handrail. Using the previously installed guide, we measure the angle of abutment of the handrail to the extreme rack, cut it off on the prepared product. Then we make a groove for the mounting plate. We take its width as the diameter of the ends of the balusters, and the height - 5–10 mm. We fasten the bar to the balusters fixed with clamps and a beam with self-tapping screws, embedding the cap in the bar material.

In the handrail with a jigsaw, we cut out a recess under the bar. It will have a depth of 5-10 mm and a width equal to the width of the rail attached to the balusters. How to do it, look at the video:

It remains to fix the handrail on the rail. To do this, we launch the fastening elements from the bottom of the rail, pulling the prepared product with little force. The stair rail is ready! We suggest watching a short video summary.

When manufacturing a staircase, it is impossible to ignore such an important structural element as a railing. This obligatory component of the stair railing performs several useful functions at once - it increases the safety and comfort of the system, and also gives the staircase structure a complete aesthetic form.

This article will tell you what types of railings for stairs are most popular today, as well as how to install them with your own hands, guided by the installation instructions. Also presented to your attention are magnificent photos of the railings and a useful video on their own installation.

Handrails play an important role in the entire staircase - they provide not only comfortable movement, but also are a decorative element of the staircase

Railing for stairs in the house - classification by type

A railing is an element of a staircase that is responsible for the convenience and safety of a person's movement along staircases. In addition, handrails are also a stylish and effective decoration of the stepped structure itself.

When designing a stair railing, you need to know what the main types of railings exist in the construction of these systems. Today, the most popular among consumers are the following types of handrails:

The most popular and often used by developers are wooden, metal and wrought iron railings. Let's talk about these types in more detail.

Metallic

Very often in country houses you can find stairs with metal railings. They are placed on stepped structures made of various materials - concrete, metal, wood, plastic, and so on.

For the manufacture of metal fencing, the following types of metal are used:

• steel;
• aluminum;
• cast iron;
• brass and others.

Aluminum, for example, is good because it is not afraid of corrosion and is also easy to install.

Wrought iron

The wrought iron railings are delicate, weightless and very beautiful. However, only those craftsmen who are familiar with blacksmithing can make them. Therefore, if you dream of just this type of staircase fence in your home, then you will have to turn to a professional craftsman in order to order these magnificent products.

Wooden

The most common material for stair railings at all times was wood. This popularity is due to the mass of unconditional advantages of this material, including:

• environmental Safety;
• beautiful natural view;
• ease of handling and installation;
• economical price;
• long service life.

In addition, the wooden railings are unusually comfortable and pleasant to the touch. It is this material that is most preferable for making a do-it-yourself fence. Therefore, later in the article we will look at step-by-step instructions for installing wooden railings on your home staircase.

The main components of the fence

Before you start installing the railing with your own hands, you need to have an idea of ​​what these parts are and what constituent elements they include.

So, the handrails of a wooden staircase consist of:

• two main support legs;
• balusters;
• handrails;
• decorative elements.

The photo below shows a diagram of the fence with a picture of its main constituent parts.

DIY handrail installation instructions

The whole process of installing handrails made of natural wood consists of the following basic steps:

1. Railing calculation.
2. Preparation of material and inventory.
3. Mounting.
4. Decorating.

Let's consider each of these points in more detail.

Design

At the very beginning of work, you must clearly imagine what the fence should be at your staircase. Then sketch your vision on paper. In this case, you can also use ready-made design drawings, of which there are a lot on the Internet.

It is important to remember that the height of the fence for its comfortable operation should not be lower than 90 centimeters.

After that, you can safely go to the nearest building supermarket for the necessary accessories for the railings.

It should be noted that it is not at all necessary to buy wooden blanks, and then saw out handrails from them. Today on the construction market you can find a huge variety of a wide variety of finished products. You can simply choose the ones you like the most.

Preparation of accessories and tools

For more efficient work, make sure that all the necessary accessories and tools are at your fingertips in advance.

So, to install the railing, you will need:

• electric drill with drills;
• jigsaw;
• screwdriver;
• hacksaw;
• screwdriwer set;
• hammer;
• chisel;
• building level.

Mounting

This stage is the most time consuming and responsible. Follow this step-by-step instruction:

1. On the staircase, measure and mark where you will have the posts. At the same time, remember the basic requirements for the railings:

2. We proceed to the installation of two bearing racks, for which, using a drill in the treads, we make recesses (pits) up to 1 cm.

3. Between the installed posts we stretch the fishing line or rope, focusing on the markings made for the balusters.

4. We proceed to the installation of the balusters themselves, setting them exactly using a level.

5. At this step, we mark the railing and make holes in them for attaching to the balusters.

6. We screw the railing to the balusters.

Decorating

At this final stage, we eliminate all burrs and roughness that arose during installation using sandpaper or a grinder. Then we cover the installed railings with varnish or paint with wood paint.

Video: installing a wooden handrail on the stairs with your own hands

You can purchase beautiful and reliable staircase structures with magnificent railings already installed in the Ladders Master online store at the lowest and most affordable prices in Moscow and the Moscow region.

Although stair rails are considered a minor structural detail because they are not always used, they are important enough to tell about them. The main function is to ensure safety and convenience when moving on a flight of stairs. The design of the railings plays an important role.

Wood, concrete, metal and glass are traditionally used for manufacturing. The latter is usually used to fill the gaps between the posts.

In this article we will talk about metal railings for stairs. .

Railings and railings - stock photos and pictures

Railing sketches are an integral part of the design and help to present the final picture in more detail. For these purposes, photographs of railings, computer graphics or freehand drawing are suitable.

Stair railings

Railings - these are staircase fences that protect a person from falling out and ensure convenient operation of the structure. Railing accessories:

• Balusters ... Support posts with which the railing is attached to the stairs. Carry out load-bearing and decorative functions.
• Filling the fences ... It is necessary in order to close the space between the posts, and thereby ensure the safety of movement on the stairs. Partitions are required if there are children in the house. There are several basic types of filling (shown in the photo).
  1. classic. Consist only of vertical or inclined balusters;
  2. solid panels. Such a fence is a set of wide sheets. As a rule, they are used when combining railings with glass.
  3. filling with crossbars. In this case, the space between the balusters is closed by horizontal metal rods - crossbars or rails, located parallel to the handrails.

Handrails - elements of the fence, which are installed on the balusters on one side of the flight of stairs or on both. Can also be wall-mounted. The handrail pads provide a comfortable and pleasant grip.

Types of handrails for stairs - materials and manufacturing methods

Before explaining how to make a railing for a staircase, we need to choose which metal is best for our purposes.

• aluminum;
• iron;
• cast iron;
• railings made of steel.

The choice of material depends on many factors, but the most important is the purpose of the product. For example, stainless steel is the best choice for outdoor railing, which makes nickel-plated railings. Or cast iron, products from which can be seen in old porches or on bridges.

Aluminum railings are great for indoor use and can take on more complex shapes (screw or pivot). Iron is usually used for mass production. It is difficult to process and not suitable for homemade products.

According to the manufacturing method, the following types of railings are distinguished:

Prefabricated stair railings

The railing is assembled from steel or aluminum parts. In the first case, upon completion of the work, the railings are painted, in the second, a special protective coating is applied. Aluminum railings have the following advantages:

• ease of installation (the ability to do it yourself);
• cheapness;
• low weight of the structure.

The listed advantages are due to the fact that prefabricated fences are made without welding. If necessary, the structure can be easily dismantled.

By the method of applying a protective coating, handrails and handrails are divided into:

• polymer-coated fences;
• handrail in anodized aluminum.
• steel with chrome plating.

Welded railings for stairs - photos of metal railings

Welded railings for stairs are made of steel or ferrous metal. Their advantages are strength and durability. However, with proper finishing, such products are also very beautiful. To shape the stainless steel railings, we use the “cold” metal bending method. This type of construction is characterized by the presence of geometric ornaments.

The disadvantage of welded iron railings is their susceptibility to corrosion and the need for periodic painting. Stainless steel railings do not have this drawback. The service life of such products is about 50 years. They do not need painting or additional maintenance. If necessary, the handrail can be repaired with your own hands. The surface of the steel is processed using polishing, grinding or satin finishing.

Railing welding is divided into two types:

• semi-automatic;
• argon arc.

The disadvantage of the first method is the large amount of splashes. The second method is devoid of this drawback and therefore is more common. The seam with argon welding turns out to be more accurate and lends itself well to further processing, which includes cleaning and polishing. The handrail is fastened using a hardware assembly or by gluing with a special glue.

Wrought iron railing for stairs - photo of stair railings

The wrought iron stair railings are distinguished by their exquisite appearance and intricate manufacturing process. They are carried out by the method of artistic forging, often according to an individual project. Any options for finishing and mixing styles are possible - from light, openwork, airy structures to massive ones that create a feeling of reliability.

Forged stair railings will give any product or interior a peculiar charm of antiquity and good quality.

Wrought iron stair railings provide a huge variety of colors: gold, silver, copper, etc. The only drawback of such products is their extremely high price.

Cast railings and railings

To make cast railings and railings, a sample of the future product is first prepared, according to which the mold is made. Further, molten metal (bronze, cast iron, brass) is poured into it. After the material hardens, it is additionally processed. Casting has a number of advantages:

• durability and strength;
• variety of forms.

Combined stair railing

Combined fences involve a combination of different materials. For example, powder coated chrome railings, steel handrails and glass inserts, or aluminum handrails. This variety makes the combined railings a versatile solution, suitable for almost every staircase.

Stair Railing Requirements - Handrail and Handrail Standards

Requirements for fences (GOST and SNiP) are due to their main function - to ensure safety during ascent and descent. In this regard, the design must comply with certain standards:

• the height of the staircase rails is from 90 cm to one meter.
• racks are installed from each other at a distance of about 60 cm;
• the space between the balusters is filled with one of the above methods;
• if the handrail is attached to the wall, then the distance from it to the wall should be 7-10 cm;
• handrail overlays must be smooth and continuous, have a cross section of 5 cm;
• handrails for stairs protrude 30 cm beyond the step line and have a rounded end;
• the structure must withstand a load of at least 100 kg per meter.

On ladders installed in childcare facilities, the handrail should be duplicated at a height of 50 cm. And the distance between the racks is reduced to 10 cm so that the child cannot stick his head in.

Do-it-yourself handrail installation - installation of stair railings video

It is difficult to overestimate how important reliable installation of stair railings is. First of all, the safety of people depends on this. If you do not know how to install the railings, but want to do everything yourself, choose one of two methods:

Fastening the handrail to the wall - installing on a ladder

Fixing the handrail to the wall is used if the ladder is located near the wall. In this case, the racks are not needed, the handrails are installed using special brackets, the size of which is calculated in such a way that the distance from the handrail to the wall is about 7-10 cm.

The handrail bracket can be of two types:

• cast;
• articulated.

When using the second type, it is possible to adjust the slope of the handrail, which is very convenient. The structure is easy to assemble and can be quickly dismantled if necessary.

Fastening balusters to steps - railings to stairs

Installation of balusters can be done in three ways:

1. single- the simplest and least reliable way, when the stand is fixed only on the anchor (dowel). But, as a rule, it is quite enough;
2. flange mount- involves fixing the flange with self-tapping screws. For maximum reliability, use three self-tapping screws;
3. anti-vandal fastening of fences- the most reliable. With the help of a drill, pits are drilled in the steps and embedded in them are placed on which the pipes for the railing are attached.

Fastening to a step

1. The installation of the railings in this way begins with the fact that the places where the racks will be located are outlined on the steps. They should be located at a distance of 5-10 cm from the edges of the step and at a distance of 30-60 cm from each other.
2. First and last pillar are installed first. Single mount for this, pits 12 cm deep and 16 mm in diameter are drilled in the steps. Anchors (dowels) are inserted into the pits, on which balusters are mounted.
   
   
   For flange mounting three holes are drilled with a depth of 8 cm and a diameter of 1.2 cm, into which dowels are inserted. The flange is fixed with self-tapping screws and the stand is attached to it. An example is shown in the photo. During installation, you must ensure that the entrance pillars are vertical, as they will be a guide for the rest of the balusters.
   
   
   
3. Pull the cord along the top of the outer racks and install the balusters, aligning them along the cord. Then check the verticality of each and attach to the steps.
   

   The stainless steel handrails can be attached either over the balusters, with self-tapping screws, or from the side, using flanges.

4. Before installation, cut the stainless handrails to the required length at right angles. Determine where to drill holes by attaching the handrail to the uprights. Place on hinges and secure.
5. If the space between the posts is filled with crossbars, then it is necessary to cut them into pieces of the desired size, determine the attachment points on the posts (usually 2 or 3) and drill holes. Fix the deadbolt to the balusters.
   
   
   
   If glass panels are used as filling, then it is necessary to install special holders on the rack and fix the panels with their help.
   
   
   

The disadvantage of fastening "on a step" is that the fence reduces the width of the march. Therefore, this method is undesirable for narrow staircases. In this case, it is preferable to mount the racks in the end.

Fastening balusters to the end of the step

Such fastening of the railing is possible when the distance between the flights is at least 70 cm. The baluster is installed on the butt end using two anchors. There are four possible ways:

1. Fastening of balusters on two expansion anchors through a sleeve. It is used in cases when it is necessary to place the rack at a short distance from the step. At the end of the step, 2 recesses are drilled into which expansion anchors are inserted through the holes in the posts and bushings with decorative overlays so that the end of the anchor protrudes slightly. A cap nut is screwed onto this end, expanding and fixing it.
   
   
   
2. Side mount. In this case, the balusters are threaded into special holders and fixed. And the expansion anchors attach them to the flight of stairs.
   
   
   
3. On two expansion anchors without a sleeve. In this case, the rack is closely adjacent to the end of the step. It differs from the first method only in that the sleeve is not used.
   
4. Fastening to a chemical anchor. Chemical or liquid nails are an adhesive that penetrates deep into concrete and holds it firmly together. This method is used if it is necessary to fix the railings of staircases into a concrete structure. So, an anchor and a hairpin are inserted into the hole filled with the mixture.
   
   
   

After the balusters are fixed, the residual installation of the railing is carried out. In the same way as when installing the HA stage (described above). Stainless steel stair railings are ready.

• racks cannot be installed in places of height difference and bending of handrails (fracture);
• during installation, in places of branch and fracture, it is necessary to adjust the docking as accurately as possible;
• the joints of the crossbars, if possible, should be performed so that they are closed with fasteners or special fittings;
• When installing the racks on tiled steps, a mark must be made on the surface so that the drill with the diamond crown does not slip.

Subject to these rules, you will be able to assemble the railings for the stairs with your own hands. This is a very real task if you approach it methodically and slowly.

What is polycarbonate? It is a lightweight and completely transparent material from which barriers are made. Consists of honeycombs (longitudinal cavities), in addition to fences, it can also be used to equip greenhouses, roofs, etc.

Variety of polycarbonate colors

The material appeared on the market relatively recently, but it is already gaining popularity. He looks great, handsome enough. As for the cost, in comparison with it is much more affordable.

Advantages of polycarbonate and its disadvantages

Among the positive aspects, it is worth noting:

• Resistant to rust and corrosion.
• Temperature drops are not terrible for polycarbonate.
• The material is not afraid of mold.

Let's consider other advantages of the material. On the one hand, polycarbonate fences are translucent. They close the house, so no one can see what exactly is happening in your yard. But on the other hand, such a fence does not shade the plants, so anything can be planted near the fence. And the polycarbonate fence looks much more spectacular.

By the way, light transmission directly depends on the color. The most popular is bronze. It goes well with supporting structures - for example, brick, metal. Green is no less popular, which goes well with the color of the grass.

The polycarbonate fence does not need special care. All you have to do is wipe the surface with a damp cloth from time to time. But it acts like a shield, protecting the territory from unnecessary noise. If you live close to a busy road and motorway, railroad tracks, a polycarbonate fence will protect your site from unnecessary noise.

Of course, if polycarbonate were the ideal material, all landowners would have switched to it long ago. There were some drawbacks, but in our opinion, they are quite insignificant:

• Relatively low strength. The surface is easily covered with scratches, and if some "bad" passer-by throws a stone into the fence, it can crack.
• The stiffness of the sheets is also weak. This means that you cannot use them as a supporting structure.

The rigidity depends on the strength of the frame itself. This is why it is so important to choose a metal of sufficient width.

How much does such a fence cost?

An impressive part of the costs during the construction of the fence will go to polycarbonate sheets. Prices on the market change very quickly, so we cannot give an exact amount. But you should know: the cost of polycarbonate sheet depends on many factors. For example, on the quality of raw materials and their thickness. Thanks to the use of quality raw materials, well-known manufacturers produce goods of the highest standard. Below is a table with the price list of one of the firms in Kaliningrad for an example.

When buying cellular polycarbonate, ask the seller if their product has UV protection. By the way, this is a very important parameter that you should always pay attention to. It directly affects the durability of the material. If there is no UV protection, the fence will definitely not last more than 3-5 years. Under the influence of sunlight, it will turn yellow and become fragile. But if there is UV protection, the purchased material will be able to serve you 15 or more years. If the installation was done correctly, the polycarbonate will retain its original characteristics.

What should be the optimal protection for the UV layer? For sheets with a thickness of 4 to 6 mm, it is 25-30 microns, for 8-10 mm - at least 30 microns.

Also, the cost can be influenced by design features:

• or metal.
• Whether the foundation needs to be poured or not.
• The base will be or not.

When buying polycarbonate sheets, always pay attention to the thickness. For example, a thicker layer always looks smoother, has no waves and is better protected from various things. It can withstand low temperatures without any problems. If the sheet thickness is from 6 to 10 mm, it can be considered optimal. Thick and dense variations are mainly bought by residents of cold, northern regions.

Installation features

To install a sectional polycarbonate fence, you need metal ones - usually, the section of which is 60x60 mm. Installation directly depends on the type of soil - it can be either ordinary driving or backfilling, or concreting.

The pillars are reliably buried in the ground to a depth of 1 meter and concreted. How to fix transverse joists? The most convenient way to do this is by welding or self-tapping screws. Sheets are attached to the frame from the outside; for this, self-tapping screws with washers are used. Under the influence of heat, the material expands, so it is better to make holes for self-tapping screws 2-3 mm larger.

It doesn't matter if a forged fence or a welded one is installed. Sooner or later, corrosion can overtake it. To make this happen as late as possible and with minimal consequences, all metal elements are cleaned, coated with a primer, etc. Then the structure will last many times longer.

Polycarbonate fences: the main varieties

Below we will consider the main types of polycarbonate fences:

Type-setting, sectional

What is a Section? This is a frame made of a shaped tube or a metal corner. A polycarbonate sheet is attached to its back with self-tapping screws or clamps. The section turns out to be very neat. It is incredibly convenient to work with, and the installation does not take much time.

Polycarbonate + brick pillars

Fences with brick posts look no less attractive. Their installation will take much more time - you need to prepare the foundation, and the work itself is time consuming. However, in terms of reliability and durability, such designs have no equal. The construction technology is no different from fences with a sheet made of a metal profile.

Forged fence + polycarbonate

An interesting solution would be a forged type fence with polycarbonate sheets. Sheets are installed behind the forged sections (courtyard side) using welded brackets. A great way to protect your territory from the prying eyes of your neighbors!

What conclusion can be drawn? Polycarbonate is, albeit a new, but demanded and quite reliable material. Negative reviews about him in most cases are associated with the choice of low-quality products. This is why it is so important to buy products from trusted suppliers. With the use of high-quality sheets and proper installation, a fence made of polycarbonate will serve you at least 15 years.