DIY Aluminum Fence Installation
If you’re familiar with basic tools and you’re even a bit handy, you should be able to install your own aluminum fence. Aluminum fence panels are easy on the wallet and they require little maintenance.
Should You Take the Plunge?
Most of our customers install the fences themselves, and the majority of them haven’t put up a fence before. Aluminum fencing is designed to be easy for ordinary people to install. The panels fit a system that you will quickly learn, and they are not heavy or hard to move about.
You can download an installation manual from our website, which should tell you all you need to know to install your aluminum fence. We’re here to help if you have any questions, so just give us a call.
We do recommend that you have a helper when you install your fence. You can hire a handyman to help or to do the job if you really don’t want to do it. They come a lot cheaper than professional installation crews.
If you’re ready to go, just figure out what you’ll need and order through our website.
Installing Posts
Installing aluminum fence panels really starts with the posts. Unlike other fencing materials where you install all the posts first, our prepunched posts require you to install each post with each panel. Remarkable, it’s actually faster this way. That’s for mounting your fence in-ground. For surface mounting, such as for a porch or deck, you will need to order welded plates which are flanges welded to the bottom of your posts with pre-drilled holes. Anchor bolts are purchased locally.
Our website has post product pages that show the post lengths you need, depending on the fence panel height. For smaller posts of up to 2.5” square, you’ll need to dig holes that are around 6” diameter. You’ll have to increase that to 8” diameter holes for 3” to 4” square posts. You can get an idea of the amount of cement you will need by referring to the chart that should be on the cement bag. It’s not an exact science; however, after filling a few holes, you’ll be able to gauge how much you’ll need to complete the install.
You may want to use your own posts, or the fence may end at a column or wall. We have various types of mounts you can use for this purpose. We have straight mounts for normal fence runs and horizontal swivel mounts if you need to make an angle. You can even get vertical swivel mounts to run fences up slopes or stairs. Our posts are pre-punched for normal runs. You can get blank posts for other situations, such as when you rack panels to go up slopes or stairs or angle.
Installing Gates and Fences
Installation should start with the gates. Set your gate posts and then hang the gate. Work outward from there to install the fence. Be careful to leave adequate space so the gate will operate properly. Check the spacing and then dig your gate post holes. Position the hinges, drill the holes and fasten the gate with the screws we include with your order.
After you’ve set the fence posts, just insert a fence panel into the slot in each post. We give you screws to make the connections. Check your fence’s alignment each time you’ve installed four sections. It might be necessary to cut a section using a hacksaw or any metal blade saw to finish a run. This is easy to do, and you will then have to cut a notch to connect the post, which is also easy.
Those are the basics. Take a look at the installation manual, get comfortable with the process and you should be good to go.