Resources
Welcome to our resorces page where most common questions are answered. We are constintly improving our aluminum fence site so call if you have another question not answered here. Some important information to help you understand how a fence is laid out and the correct materials calculated. See what racking or stepping an aluminum fence is. How posts work with our fencing plus other information.
Our fence is easy to install if you’d like to try a DIY project. We can assist in all aspects of the fence installation and design.
Links are provided to jump to a topic or simply scroll through them all.
FENCE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
We carry 5 brands of aluminum fencing. Our minimum rail wall thickness is .072” which is over 30% thicker than most of our competitors and our thickest wall is .082”, almost 50% thicker.
They are all durable, easy to install and maintenance free. A great solution for your pool, home, or commercial property. With the 5 brands we offer, you have an unlimited selection of styles and accessories, not to mention custom design work.
Whether you choose to install yourself, hire a contractor or are a fence contractor, we have the materials at the best wholesale price available. We will walk you through your fence project from beginning to end as we have done now for close to 30 years. Rest assured you are in great hands.
A list of each manufacturer’s installations instructions is located here and on each fence style page:
ALUMINUM FENCE LAYOUT EXAMPLE
The following image is an example of what most fence installation will include to complete your project. We will include a step-by-step run through after the image as well as a list of materials.
Section A will have:
- 1 End Post or 2 Wall Mounts
- 2 Fence Panels
- 1 Line Post
- 1 End Gate Post (thicker wall for gate support)
Ultra – Gemstone – iDeal Gates are all made to fit the opening of the size. Meaning a 4’ wide gate will fit a 4’ wide opening between gate posts on the inside.
OnGuard makes the gate exactly 4’ wide so 1-1/2” needs to be added to the opening between the gate posts. Measure all gates prior to setting posts to confirm.
Section B will have:
- 1 Gate Posts (thicker wall for gate support)
- 2 Fence Panels – (same as section A, either cut equal or a full panel and scrap)
- 1 Corner Post
Section C will have:
- 6 Fence Panels
- 5 Line Posts
- 1 End Post (adjustable wall mounts will attach on opposite side to create angle)
Section D will have:
- 3 Fence Panels
- 2 Line Posts
- 1 End Post
- 6 Adjustable Wall Mounts (for 3 rail fence – 4 for 2 rail)
Section E will have:
- 3 Fence Panels
- 2 Line Posts
- 1 End Gate Posts (thicker wall for gate support)
Section F will have:
- 1 End Gate Post (thicker wall for gate support)
- 7 Fence Sections
- 6 Line Posts
- 1 Corner Post
Section G will have:
- 7 Fence Sections
- 6 Line Posts
- 1 Corner Post
Section H will have:
- 3 Fence Sections – (cut equal or 2 full and scrap)
- 2 Line Posts
- 1 End Gate Post
- 1 Blank Gate Post
Material List
33 – Fence Sections
3 – End Posts (2 End Posts
& 3 Wall Mounts)
3 – Corner Posts
25 – Line Posts
5 – End Gate Posts
1 – Blank Gate Post
6 – Adjustable Wall Mounts
1 – 3’ Wide Gate w/Hardware (self-closing hinge with gravity latch – Pool Code Magna Latch or other Latch Upgrades available)
1 – 4’ Wide Gate w/Hardware (self-closing hinge with gravity latch – Pool Code Magna Latch or other Latch Upgrades available)
1 – 10’ Wide Double Gate w/Hardware & Drop Pin (self-closing hinge with gravity latch – Pool Code Magna Latch or other Latch Upgrades available)
ALUMINUM FENCE RACKING vs STEPPING
Your slope, fence style and personal choice will determine what method to us. Most fence brands will accommodate typical yard slopes with OnGuard being the best out of the box to handle more slope without modifications.
Most Aluminum Fence Styles Can Rake by pivoting on the screws that attach the pickets to the rails. The average is 8″ per 6′ run of fence. We can custom “Double Punch” each section to increase this to 24″ or as much as 28″ with a triple punch depending on the style for those steep slopes you might encounter. If you are measuring off plot plans, you’ll need to add more fence to cover the steep slope. If you tell us about the drop over a certain sloped area, we’ll figure out the correct amount of fence.
Some styles can only be stepped. (“Stair Stepping” because of the appearance) This is done by ordering end posts and attaching brackets on the opposite blank side from the punched-out holes at the appropriate height that your slope demands. Steep slopes might cause a need for a custom extra-long end post. We’ll explain more if needed. Another reason why we walk every order through to completion as opposed to ordering from an online shopping cart. We want our customers to get the correct materials the first time to make their installation as painless as possible!
POST TYPES
The photos below are Ultra Posts. All other brands have the same post types with a different post hole punch size.
END POST
LINE POST
CORNER POST
BLANK POST
GATE POST
BLANK GATE POSTS
FENCE RAILS BY BRAND
These are the residential fence rails from each manufacturer. The complete rails choices will come later. Specifications show the exact dimensions on every fence style page.
Ultra Aluminum™ Rail
20% More Aluminum
Ultra uses 20% more aluminum in all the rails. There are 8 ribs for added lateral strength. Even when rails are punched for pickets. it maintains Ultra-Strength!
Gemstone Aluminum™ Rail
Thickets Rail
The thickest rail in the industry at .082” with 4 ribs for added lateral strength.
OnGuard Fence Systems™
Heavy-Duty Rail
The thick rail is at .080” with 4 ribs for added lateral strength.
iDeal Aluminum™ Rail
Heavy-Duty Rail
Heavy-Duty rail with .072” with 3 ribs for added lateral strength.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If your fence line bends, the sections can easily be angled in the posts to follow most curves. For a very tight curve, just cut the sections in half and put another post between the two sections. The sections themselves can not be bent without ruining their structural integrity however.
Most of our standard aluminum fence sections can follow the contour of the ground. This is called either raking or racking. The fences drop about one foot over the 6' length of a section. If a greater slope is needed, sections can be specially fabricated as "double-punched sections" to traverse a 45-degree angle. See diagram of Rake & Step.
Each manufacturer is different. Ultra, Gemstone & OnGuard are 72-1/2” center to center for residential fence. iDeal is 72” center to center for residential fence. Spacing is listed in the details of each fence.
Black and bronze are standard colors across all brands. Many brands offer many color options.
Yes, but there talk to us about other color options. Custom can be expensive.
Yes, we have wall mount castings that allow the fence sections to connect to any flat surface. These fit over the ends of the rails and attach to the flat surface with two screws. We also have adjustable wall mounts if you need to come off the flat surface at an angle up to 45 degrees.
The distance between columns is the standard post spacing multiplied by the number of sections you want between the columns, less the width of one post. For example, for three residential sections between columns, 3 sections times 72-1/2” (the standard post spacing) minus 2" for the post, equals 215-1/2" between columns, not 217-1/2” as you might expect.
To fasten a post onto a concrete slab, we recommend that you core-drill the concrete if possible. We do offer welded deck mount castings at an added cost.
NO! Our fences are not designed to be used as railings and we will not warrant their use as a railing.
We do have an Aluminum Railing system by Ultra and iDeal aluminum.
All sections & gates are shipped assembled. Certain styles require finials and/or loops to be installed in the field. We can send sections broken down for UPS shipping for an additional charge of $ 20.00 per section plus the normal UPS charges. Gates always ship by freight and cannot be broken down for field assembly.
Except where it is noted, the fence height is the actual length of the pickets. The post usually extends an inch or so above the pickets.
Our swing gates are sold in 2 different ways. Ultra, Gemstone and iDeal all by their opening size, so a 48” gate fits into a 48” opening between posts. OnGuard makes gates full size so a 48” gate is 48” wide and you need to add 1-1/2” to accommodate for hinge and latch. The gates will hang flush with the face of the hinge post and latch onto the face of the opposite post.
Any two gates can be combined to make a double drive gate. When you need a double drive gate, notify our Customer Service Department and we will supply two drop rod assemblies. Double gates are also made to fit a given opening size, so a 12’ double drive gate will fit inside a 12’ opening.
For a single gate only, you will need to allow 1½” extra to attach the latch keeper onto the column. (So, a 48” gate needs a 49½” opening.) Let your Customer Service Representative know when you are ordering a gate for this type of installation.
Special width and/or height gates are available. We need the exact opening size to fabricate the gate correctly. Extra charges can apply, or we typically charge up to the next full width and height gate. Speak to a customer representative.
Yes, heavier posts are needed to both support the weight of the gate and to withstand the constant impact when the gate latches.
The size and weight of a gate determines when you need to use these larger gate posts. Typically, all gates over 24 square feet need 3” or 4” posts, especially when an operator is placed on the gate. Consult your representative to see if you need a 4” post for a smaller gate or when a 6” post will be needed. We do not punch 4” or 6” posts. Instead, we include wall mounts to attach the rails of the fence to these posts at a charge.
For special posts or “T” posts, we use wall brackets to make this work.
Yes, let your sales representative know you are doing this. This is very common.
We have small bottles of touch-up paint and spray paint. Spray cans are difficult to ship and require a special hazardous cost.
