Fence Metal Post Strength


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Old 11-05-18, 10:54 PM
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Fence Metal Post Strength

Hey All,

I planning on building a fence that use a combination of 6' and 10' metal posts, 2x4 wood rails, and steel roof sheets. I was thinking of using metal sheets like these: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Metal-Sa...3249/204254776
Those are quoted at 17.6 lbs. The rails are going to be pressure treated 2x4s.
This fence is for a residential property. My question is how thick of post do I need? I have been told I might need ss40 fence posts to withstand the weight. However, those posts are double the price of the typical .065 16 gauge posts.

Thanks in advance.
 
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Old 11-05-18, 11:23 PM
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Your link is to steel roofing material, that isn't going to work for fencing material, too thin to support itself!
 
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Old 11-06-18, 05:35 AM
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How high is your fence going to be?
How far apart are you spacing your posts?
 
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Old 11-06-18, 08:19 AM
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Buy lots of extra material. The wind will destroy a fence built with solid metal roof sheeting. A fence needs open spaces for the air to pass through.
 
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Old 11-06-18, 01:53 PM
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the weight will be much lighter than any normal privacy fence but wind will be an issue and you would want heavy duty post well anchored for that reason, I have only seen this in really rural areas like on a barn lot not in some ones yard it looks ok but the roofing material is very sharp on the edges.
 
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Old 11-06-18, 08:16 PM
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The fence will be 4' above ground in the front yard and 8' above ground in the backyard. The spacing will be 6' apart. The metal sheets will be mounted vertically and overlapped about 2'' and I will be using three wood rails throughout (top, middle, bottom).
@alan73, what would you consider heavy duty?
 
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Old 11-07-18, 06:00 AM
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An 8' high solid fence is going to need a lot of support. Even more if you are in a coastal area or anywhere prone to high winds. I would not even consider whatever cheap posts you mentioned. I would use SS40 as the minimum. 2" for your front yard where the fence will be 4' high and I'd go for 3" diameter where your fence will be 8' high and where it's that high I might even consider putting the posts closer together for more support.
 
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Old 11-07-18, 06:36 AM
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chain link post are often 16 gauge so assume the poster was going to use them, you see chain link terminal post on wooden 6ft privacy fences a lot they are probably plenty adequate for a 4ft high fence but at 8 ft would probably also want the thicker gauge post and probably 4 rails instead of just 3.
 
 

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